Hope this shows up because it is worth the time spent enjoying it....
These boys ain't from Kansas.....or maybe they are....I'm just glad their descipline is on our side...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWGU3mpfRoM
these ain't girls with batons.......
TC...you can gloat now.....
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
I think it's that guy's fault
there are a couple missing here, but the longroof has photos....besides, I blaming the guy in the middle of the last photo for all of this mess...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Twelve Days
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a cartridge in a bare tree!
Another reason
during this season of our birth to............
CELEBRATE LIFE........
Merry Christmas Bear.....
Whom I saw Today.......
preface this by a phone called received Sunday while at the ball field in lovely Winter Haven Florida.....came in on my cell phone and the area code was 850...
the panhandle......little sis Joan is calling......FAIL.....my sister Carol.....she wished to speak with my bride, not so much to me.....hand the phone off to my bride and ten minutes later she hands it back to me, with the message that my two older sisters had organized a couple of boxes of stuff shipped to them from Mother's estate and Carol was dropping them off at our home on her return trip north on Monday.....had a couple of commitments on Monday so I was home when Carol and George dropped by....I haven't seen Carol in about 7 or 8 years and was experiencing an awkward moment when she stepped out of her suv....ended up to be a nice visit...short, as I had an appointment 20 minutes away and they were on their way to visit their grandchildren in St Augustine....
never even occured to me that Carol might have grandchildren...never even thought of her as being old enough to have grandchildren.....turns out she has several kids.....when she spoke about them, her entire face beamed like a sunray was shining on her, and her alone....the joy I was able to feel looking at her as she talked about her kids was truly a blessing.....kind of like the bus when he talks about the boys.....or Ganey when she is looking out her kitchen window to see if the blinds are up on the house next door, and seeing that they are......
I hope that one day I am able to enjoy that too...I was glad to be exposed to that side of my sister....this is what enabled me to.....
CELEBRATE LIFE...................on Monday
the panhandle......little sis Joan is calling......FAIL.....my sister Carol.....she wished to speak with my bride, not so much to me.....hand the phone off to my bride and ten minutes later she hands it back to me, with the message that my two older sisters had organized a couple of boxes of stuff shipped to them from Mother's estate and Carol was dropping them off at our home on her return trip north on Monday.....had a couple of commitments on Monday so I was home when Carol and George dropped by....I haven't seen Carol in about 7 or 8 years and was experiencing an awkward moment when she stepped out of her suv....ended up to be a nice visit...short, as I had an appointment 20 minutes away and they were on their way to visit their grandchildren in St Augustine....
never even occured to me that Carol might have grandchildren...never even thought of her as being old enough to have grandchildren.....turns out she has several kids.....when she spoke about them, her entire face beamed like a sunray was shining on her, and her alone....the joy I was able to feel looking at her as she talked about her kids was truly a blessing.....kind of like the bus when he talks about the boys.....or Ganey when she is looking out her kitchen window to see if the blinds are up on the house next door, and seeing that they are......
I hope that one day I am able to enjoy that too...I was glad to be exposed to that side of my sister....this is what enabled me to.....
CELEBRATE LIFE...................on Monday
Sunday, December 13, 2009
What did you do this weekend....????
The weekend started Saturday at 05:00......rise and shine....we got a 2 hour drive ahead of us.....gotta be at the fields by 08:00.....haven't been to these fields before...softball, not baseball......on the road, iced the cooler down at our local stop and rob and hit the Eisenhower Road at 05:45...(John is not sure what these are, Interstate 4 for him).....call the kid at 07:00, John is still not sure what time I am talking about, but he can figure that out on his own.....make sure the kid is awake...he has to be at the ballfield in South Daytona, baseball for him as he is the assistant coach on a traveling team heading to Cooperstown, by 08:00....07:30 the kid calls back checking directions to the ballfield......07:45, we arrive at the Diamond Plex in Polk County Florida....
Field 5 for our first game.....nice complex....i.e. clean bathrooms.....we are a 'B' team and faced 3 'A' teams on Saturday....lost the first 2 and tied the 3rd.....basically got our hats handed to us......first game at 09:00.....got blown out.....second game at 14:00......got blown out again......third game at 17:00..... tied that one.....all against 'A' teams......guess we aren't as good as we wished.....
the kid's sister got to catch a game and half....no plays at home and she did a good job...no errors and she got a couple of good sacrifice bunts down.....not bad for playing up two years....I keep telling myself that....so it's off to find the hotel and await notification of Sunday's game schedule.....quick dinner provided by the kid's little sister's Mother and we wait.....and wait...and the phone rings around 21:30.....08:00 game Sunday...same complex.....hey when you lose all three on Saturday, don't expect to sleep late on Sunday......got to the complex at 07:00 Sunday only to find out we are scheduled to play at another complex 20 minutes away.....follow the leader and we arrive at a softball complex to the sound of cows mooing, chickens crowing, dogs barking, and horses neighing.......
loser's brackets are NOT glorious.......
umpires give us 20 minutes.....our first game is against the spring league State Champions who threw their Saturday games in order drop down a bracket....not real sportsmanship....but some people take this stuff way to seriously.....guess they were looking for an easy way to the finals......(loser's bracket and all).....but the kid's team played like there was no tomorrow.....they held the Spring State Champions to a tie game though the time limit....on to the Texas tie breaker....
put a runner on second and you get three outs....the result is....a win.!!!!!!!!...took the former Champs two innings to lose.....talk about an emotional high.......get a 60 minute break and it's back to playing ball.....ranked 18 out of 20 teams so the confidence level is not real high despite the recent victory.....the second game starts and it is now win or go home......a tripleheader later we are heading home......what a day.....parental stress level was extremely high as the girls played their way up the loser's bracket.....lost our last game in a tie breaker againest a team coached by an abnoxious SOB.....kind of took the fun out of it....finished fifth so it was a fanatastic weekend by all standards......as usual the longrooffan was no where to be found to record the weekend on film, (I am throwing the blame on him because I forgot we own a camara on Sunday)....however, I was able to catch a couple of photos.....not surprising the most intesting to me was the osprey nest on the light pole....I was unable to record the transfer of a fish from one adult to the chicks...but at least I saw it....unlike the Bear, I often forget to get the camara ready for the next shot.....but got home and was able to download a couple of photos of the weekend's activities......hopefully next year I'll be a better photographer....but then spectating gets in the way.....
local birds of prey......
chilling out before the game...
go...........
only action shots of the kid's sister we recorded.....
Field 5 for our first game.....nice complex....i.e. clean bathrooms.....we are a 'B' team and faced 3 'A' teams on Saturday....lost the first 2 and tied the 3rd.....basically got our hats handed to us......first game at 09:00.....got blown out.....second game at 14:00......got blown out again......third game at 17:00..... tied that one.....all against 'A' teams......guess we aren't as good as we wished.....
the kid's sister got to catch a game and half....no plays at home and she did a good job...no errors and she got a couple of good sacrifice bunts down.....not bad for playing up two years....I keep telling myself that....so it's off to find the hotel and await notification of Sunday's game schedule.....quick dinner provided by the kid's little sister's Mother and we wait.....and wait...and the phone rings around 21:30.....08:00 game Sunday...same complex.....hey when you lose all three on Saturday, don't expect to sleep late on Sunday......got to the complex at 07:00 Sunday only to find out we are scheduled to play at another complex 20 minutes away.....follow the leader and we arrive at a softball complex to the sound of cows mooing, chickens crowing, dogs barking, and horses neighing.......
loser's brackets are NOT glorious.......
umpires give us 20 minutes.....our first game is against the spring league State Champions who threw their Saturday games in order drop down a bracket....not real sportsmanship....but some people take this stuff way to seriously.....guess they were looking for an easy way to the finals......(loser's bracket and all).....but the kid's team played like there was no tomorrow.....they held the Spring State Champions to a tie game though the time limit....on to the Texas tie breaker....
put a runner on second and you get three outs....the result is....a win.!!!!!!!!...took the former Champs two innings to lose.....talk about an emotional high.......get a 60 minute break and it's back to playing ball.....ranked 18 out of 20 teams so the confidence level is not real high despite the recent victory.....the second game starts and it is now win or go home......a tripleheader later we are heading home......what a day.....parental stress level was extremely high as the girls played their way up the loser's bracket.....lost our last game in a tie breaker againest a team coached by an abnoxious SOB.....kind of took the fun out of it....finished fifth so it was a fanatastic weekend by all standards......as usual the longrooffan was no where to be found to record the weekend on film, (I am throwing the blame on him because I forgot we own a camara on Sunday)....however, I was able to catch a couple of photos.....not surprising the most intesting to me was the osprey nest on the light pole....I was unable to record the transfer of a fish from one adult to the chicks...but at least I saw it....unlike the Bear, I often forget to get the camara ready for the next shot.....but got home and was able to download a couple of photos of the weekend's activities......hopefully next year I'll be a better photographer....but then spectating gets in the way.....
local birds of prey......
chilling out before the game...
ready......
set......
set......go...........only action shots of the kid's sister we recorded.....
another reason to.........................
CELEBRATE LIFE......
Sunday, December 6, 2009
At least she didn't cry about it..and other things to keep us busy
hard to imagine this is the baby girl of the family.....caught an elbow playing b-ball and she couldn't understand why the coach wouldn't let her go right back into the game......hard to explain liability to a young kid wanting to play ball.......
started to turn yellow tonight.....she got a shiner for sure....
and boy is she proud of it.....at least the eye is clear....
so guess how my weekend was spent.....
No, not at the ER....
Saturday AM at the training center for olympic atheletes in Clarmont Fl.....very nice complex sitting atop a hill in central Florida......not a hill like in the mid-west....but anything over 200 feet high in Florida is considered a very large hill......and I think we were at the peek of the highest, non man-made hill in Florida......very cold winds in central Florida on a 40 degree morning with 20 knot winds....softball and cold weather do not go together.....good for hot dog and hot chocolate sales....bad for cold beer sales....good for cuddling in bed together.....bad for standing on top of a hill watching kids play softball......good for a nice fire in the fireplace....bad for a day of forgetting where you stored your cold weather clothing......good for maybe even a jeep ride through the woods......bad for softball weather.....especially if you are a spectator.....seems Florida and 40 degree weather are not designed to be experienced at the same time.....unless you are inside with a blazing fire and a warm friend close by......
Sunday was spent at another complex enduring the cold while the kid and her team played another two games......2 outa 3 on Saturday.....1 outa 2 on Sunday.....got to figure how to get past the second round on Sundays...........short day today....left the house at 6:30 and got home at 4:30......even had a chance to watch some afternoon football before dark.....enjoyed a fantastic dinner prepared by the sungoddess and am able to record it now....
the kid has gotten a job that now requires him to subsidize our goverment....a couple of side jobs coaching the kid's sister's basketball team and another coaching a AAU baseball team heading to Cooperstown this spring....keeps him busy borrowing my truck.....but these are the reasons we.........
CELEBRATE LIFE
started to turn yellow tonight.....she got a shiner for sure....
and boy is she proud of it.....at least the eye is clear....
so guess how my weekend was spent.....
No, not at the ER....
Saturday AM at the training center for olympic atheletes in Clarmont Fl.....very nice complex sitting atop a hill in central Florida......not a hill like in the mid-west....but anything over 200 feet high in Florida is considered a very large hill......and I think we were at the peek of the highest, non man-made hill in Florida......very cold winds in central Florida on a 40 degree morning with 20 knot winds....softball and cold weather do not go together.....good for hot dog and hot chocolate sales....bad for cold beer sales....good for cuddling in bed together.....bad for standing on top of a hill watching kids play softball......good for a nice fire in the fireplace....bad for a day of forgetting where you stored your cold weather clothing......good for maybe even a jeep ride through the woods......bad for softball weather.....especially if you are a spectator.....seems Florida and 40 degree weather are not designed to be experienced at the same time.....unless you are inside with a blazing fire and a warm friend close by......
Sunday was spent at another complex enduring the cold while the kid and her team played another two games......2 outa 3 on Saturday.....1 outa 2 on Sunday.....got to figure how to get past the second round on Sundays...........short day today....left the house at 6:30 and got home at 4:30......even had a chance to watch some afternoon football before dark.....enjoyed a fantastic dinner prepared by the sungoddess and am able to record it now....
the kid has gotten a job that now requires him to subsidize our goverment....a couple of side jobs coaching the kid's sister's basketball team and another coaching a AAU baseball team heading to Cooperstown this spring....keeps him busy borrowing my truck.....but these are the reasons we.........
CELEBRATE LIFE
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A Day in the Country.....playing softball.....
what a way to spend the day.....
this Sunday, my birthday plus one, yea I know, one more year closer to being an old man, was spent in beautiful Flagler County Florida at their county fairgrounds....nothing like getting up at the crack of dawn to drive 30 miles to a softball tournement....got to the field on time and the girls got warmed up and the games started on time....great start to the day.....the kid's sister started in right field and then was moved to catcher in the third inning.....she made no errors catching the second pitcher and even got a good hit on her third at bat.....along about 10:30 a sound starts to come from the stock arena located about 400 yards north of us.....a LOT of stock trailers and BIG Ford trucks encircle the arena.....the kid's sister's team won the game and during the 2 hour game break I take a stroll to see what is the reason for the woman's voice on the loud speaker.....I walk into the first honest, authentic, down to earth, say a prayer to our God before it starts rodeo.....
after the opening prayer and the playing of the National Anthem with the girl on a buckskin circling the arena carrying the American Flag...the festivities began.....the show opened with a Ford 39A tractor 'dragging' the area for no less than 20 minutes.....then 5 cowboys, based on choice of clothing they were Wranglers I guess, spent another 15 minutes setting up polls down the center line of the area.....as the big guy, maybe portly is a better word, at the entrance was directing the placement of these poles, all I could think of ......move this way, no now that way, adjust the top....was he looked like a scottish sheep herder directing his dogs.....then the loud speaker woman started calling out names like an auctioneer.....guess you better know who you are to get your turn.....after several attempts to set the timer the show began.....a whole lot of good looking horse flesh,and a couple of likewise riders, spent the next 40 minutes racing up and down the line of poles weaving in and out to see who could do it the fastest time without knocking down a pole....10 second penalty for a knock down......saw a lot of horses and the people that ride them for show.....a culture that is so far removed from my life that culture shock was a reality for me today.....when I found myself attempting to rationalize how I could enter this world I quickly retreated to the ball fields and the world from which I came.....too much temptation to buy a BIG truck and BIGGER trailer and spend a couple of year's wages on horseflesh and....like I said, back to the ballfields.....the second game of the day was againest a high school team from Jacksonville Fla...the kid's sister started at catcher and spent the entire game behind the plate....caught the starting pitcher and despite her Mother's concerns, performed errorless.....made good contact againest an 18 year old pitcher and the game ended in a 3-2 loss.....not bad for playing againest older kids......another hour game break and then "batter up" was called for the final game.....the kid's sister again started behind the plate....caught the starting pitcher again.....the kid's sister has game....a couple of stolen bases on passed balls during this game, but nobody scored on her.....she even scored from second after reaching first on a slap hit...(softball term for an intential mis-hit in baseball)...same game...but different....Yogie would love it......along about the beginning of the last inning I received a phone call from the kid.....seems the job interview he went to was a success....he is the newest employee of the Halifax Plantation Country Club.....guess they were looking for a dish washer in the restaurant at the club house when the kid walked in.....so he starts his financial contribution to our government this coming Friday.....couldn't force him to wash the dishes last Friday and he starts doing it professionally this Friday.....
go figure.....the kid's sister had a great day on the ballfield and the kid got a job........so I guess this is what enables me to ........
CELEBRATE LIFE.......................today
this Sunday, my birthday plus one, yea I know, one more year closer to being an old man, was spent in beautiful Flagler County Florida at their county fairgrounds....nothing like getting up at the crack of dawn to drive 30 miles to a softball tournement....got to the field on time and the girls got warmed up and the games started on time....great start to the day.....the kid's sister started in right field and then was moved to catcher in the third inning.....she made no errors catching the second pitcher and even got a good hit on her third at bat.....along about 10:30 a sound starts to come from the stock arena located about 400 yards north of us.....a LOT of stock trailers and BIG Ford trucks encircle the arena.....the kid's sister's team won the game and during the 2 hour game break I take a stroll to see what is the reason for the woman's voice on the loud speaker.....I walk into the first honest, authentic, down to earth, say a prayer to our God before it starts rodeo.....
after the opening prayer and the playing of the National Anthem with the girl on a buckskin circling the arena carrying the American Flag...the festivities began.....the show opened with a Ford 39A tractor 'dragging' the area for no less than 20 minutes.....then 5 cowboys, based on choice of clothing they were Wranglers I guess, spent another 15 minutes setting up polls down the center line of the area.....as the big guy, maybe portly is a better word, at the entrance was directing the placement of these poles, all I could think of ......move this way, no now that way, adjust the top....was he looked like a scottish sheep herder directing his dogs.....then the loud speaker woman started calling out names like an auctioneer.....guess you better know who you are to get your turn.....after several attempts to set the timer the show began.....a whole lot of good looking horse flesh,and a couple of likewise riders, spent the next 40 minutes racing up and down the line of poles weaving in and out to see who could do it the fastest time without knocking down a pole....10 second penalty for a knock down......saw a lot of horses and the people that ride them for show.....a culture that is so far removed from my life that culture shock was a reality for me today.....when I found myself attempting to rationalize how I could enter this world I quickly retreated to the ball fields and the world from which I came.....too much temptation to buy a BIG truck and BIGGER trailer and spend a couple of year's wages on horseflesh and....like I said, back to the ballfields.....the second game of the day was againest a high school team from Jacksonville Fla...the kid's sister started at catcher and spent the entire game behind the plate....caught the starting pitcher and despite her Mother's concerns, performed errorless.....made good contact againest an 18 year old pitcher and the game ended in a 3-2 loss.....not bad for playing againest older kids......another hour game break and then "batter up" was called for the final game.....the kid's sister again started behind the plate....caught the starting pitcher again.....the kid's sister has game....a couple of stolen bases on passed balls during this game, but nobody scored on her.....she even scored from second after reaching first on a slap hit...(softball term for an intential mis-hit in baseball)...same game...but different....Yogie would love it......along about the beginning of the last inning I received a phone call from the kid.....seems the job interview he went to was a success....he is the newest employee of the Halifax Plantation Country Club.....guess they were looking for a dish washer in the restaurant at the club house when the kid walked in.....so he starts his financial contribution to our government this coming Friday.....couldn't force him to wash the dishes last Friday and he starts doing it professionally this Friday.....
go figure.....the kid's sister had a great day on the ballfield and the kid got a job........so I guess this is what enables me to ........
CELEBRATE LIFE.......................today
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
THANK YOU
I wish there were more photos and space showing these veterans enjoying life as they have earned......and granted those of this Great Nation to enjoy....
Thank you Dad, Uncle Bill, Uncle Frank, Brother Bob, Brother Jim,
Brother Tom, and Sister Viola, for the freedom to enjoy the priviledge of your memories...
These Veterans and those unknown to us, enable us to........
CELEBRATE LIFE.......every day.....
THANK YOU
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The root cause of most problems are set in Fun.....
Seems Uncle Bob has been a larger influence than I ever realized.....
"Never go out with a chick that needs a boost into your Jeep."
Thanks Bob......
"Never go out with a chick that needs a boost into your Jeep."
Thanks Bob......
well, the cause of my overtime repairs to the kid's CJ are finally known to me...
hot damn.....................another reason to ..........
.........CELEBRATE LIFE......
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Where are we now...???
As I have spent the better part of the past week fixing a broken jeep.....cleaning mud and oil and grease off 46 year old parts...it dawned on me that I needed one of these....wonder if the longroofan has one of these stuffed in he closet.......
Sunday, November 1, 2009
STRESS....two broke jeeps in the driveway....
STRESS LEVEL....HIGH ALERT....
very high the past two weeks....
two broke jeeps in the driveway.......
one leaks oil like the Exxon Valdez....
the other doesn't have enough power to carry it's self across the street......
the blond I live with is going ballistic...
THE DRIVEWAY LOOKS LIKE CRAP.....
tore into the Valdez this AM...got into the left front as far as the spindle bearings....cross threaded spindle nut ruins a quick bearing repack and knuckle seal replacement in a heartbeat....
realizing that I am not going to get the kid's jeep on the road, I disassemble the right front as the kid removes the carb from the 46....
seems it doesn't want to run at anything over an idle since the weekend playing in the mud....
a quick cleaning does the 46 no good whatsoever....
off to the raceguy's house for help....
three beers....four take aparts and put together agains...one more beer and one more take apart and put together again.....thanks Vince for FINALLY showing up....
the 46 runs like a top....
seems the float was not set correctly....
I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS....
but at least the kid has a ride to school this week while I locate spindles.....
CELEBRATE LIFE..........
very high the past two weeks....
two broke jeeps in the driveway.......
one leaks oil like the Exxon Valdez....
the other doesn't have enough power to carry it's self across the street......
the blond I live with is going ballistic...
THE DRIVEWAY LOOKS LIKE CRAP.....
tore into the Valdez this AM...got into the left front as far as the spindle bearings....cross threaded spindle nut ruins a quick bearing repack and knuckle seal replacement in a heartbeat....
realizing that I am not going to get the kid's jeep on the road, I disassemble the right front as the kid removes the carb from the 46....
seems it doesn't want to run at anything over an idle since the weekend playing in the mud....
a quick cleaning does the 46 no good whatsoever....
off to the raceguy's house for help....
three beers....four take aparts and put together agains...one more beer and one more take apart and put together again.....thanks Vince for FINALLY showing up....
the 46 runs like a top....
seems the float was not set correctly....
I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS....
but at least the kid has a ride to school this week while I locate spindles.....
CELEBRATE LIFE..........
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
CELEBRATE LIFE....
Not sure why I keep going back to these....but it is where we came from and truly tells us who we are.........
another reason we CELEBRATE LIFE
http://volusia.org/beach/daytona.htm
just in case you need a moment of peace.....check the link....but wait until after dark EST...or not...just depends on where you want to be I guess....you'll have to copy and paste...you decide if it was worth the effort
just in case you need a moment of peace.....check the link....but wait until after dark EST...or not...just depends on where you want to be I guess....you'll have to copy and paste...you decide if it was worth the effort
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Every 30 days.....or there abouts.....
when you're 16, sometimes there just isn't anything good to eat in the frig...so what do you do.....as the longrooffan has commented several times, you just go out and get something to eat.....take out food FLA style.....another feast cuaght by the kid....prepared by the kid....and eaten by the kid....there never seems to be enough for everyone when the kid catches his own dinner......
another reason to enjoy being a kid when your dad has a connection....the kid got some new treads for his jeep today.....SuperSwampers.....32's which fit just right.....his Mother doesn't quite understand why.....but then she doesn't have to understand.....the kid's sister thinks it looks cool....not a wimpy jeep anymore...
the spare looks a little out of place...but the stock tires and wheels will be reinstalled later so no modifications can be made there...
damn good looking 2A in the driveway too.....
kind of looks like CJ-8...or 7....kind of lost count....
I'm sure the kid will let me know how it does in the mud sometime soon....just so long as it's cleaned before it's parked...
other than this....life is the same....work is work....never enough free time....grass keeps growing and that means it keeps getting mowed.....
but then....
the kid's sister is involved in another fast pitch softball season....this time with a team that is very competitive in it's league.....she jumped up two years and now is a little fish in a big pond....but she is holding her own....she has been playing positions that are new to her...outfield mainly....but she is a player.....batting 190 with a 360 on base percentage.....she has made a couple of game ending defensive plays that where a relief/pleasure to watch.....still adjusting to a 60 mph curve ball....but that will come with experience....
most important about this is that she is enjoying herself......
these are just a few of the reasons that we.......
CELEBRATE LIFE
another reason to enjoy being a kid when your dad has a connection....the kid got some new treads for his jeep today.....SuperSwampers.....32's which fit just right.....his Mother doesn't quite understand why.....but then she doesn't have to understand.....the kid's sister thinks it looks cool....not a wimpy jeep anymore...
the spare looks a little out of place...but the stock tires and wheels will be reinstalled later so no modifications can be made there...
damn good looking 2A in the driveway too.....
kind of looks like CJ-8...or 7....kind of lost count....I'm sure the kid will let me know how it does in the mud sometime soon....just so long as it's cleaned before it's parked...
other than this....life is the same....work is work....never enough free time....grass keeps growing and that means it keeps getting mowed.....
but then....
the kid's sister is involved in another fast pitch softball season....this time with a team that is very competitive in it's league.....she jumped up two years and now is a little fish in a big pond....but she is holding her own....she has been playing positions that are new to her...outfield mainly....but she is a player.....batting 190 with a 360 on base percentage.....she has made a couple of game ending defensive plays that where a relief/pleasure to watch.....still adjusting to a 60 mph curve ball....but that will come with experience....
most important about this is that she is enjoying herself......
these are just a few of the reasons that we.......
CELEBRATE LIFE
Monday, September 7, 2009
Got a New (to me) truck today
I really didn't mean to do it.....you see I was heading home after some changeorder work at the Bonnie View home....I was thinking that the kid and I would head over to the race dude's house and bolt the fenders on the new CJ-5.....maybe get the spare tire carrier off of it for the CJ-2A....and remove any other items that I wanted for my personal vehicles prior to selling it off....I think I remember the busplunge saying he needed tail gate chains, not sure and he must be at the lake because he hasn't answered his phone this weekend....so maybe we will wait for him to return to this world before we ship it off....but as with most things in life.....I got a little side tracked....driving home, I passed a used car lot and in the back it looked like a couple of guys were washing a Ford...YEP, NOT A JEEP, truck.....so in longrooffan style I whipped right into the place....got out of the trusty old Honda and walked back where these guys were washing a 2000 Ford Ranger.....struck up a conversation about I thought I was looking for a truck and while I was not sure, I was wondering what they had here....you know, the standard questions....is it for sale?....to which the salesman responsed comically, 'that's the business plan'....knew right away I was going to get along with these guys...spent about 20 minutes talking before the price was ever mentioned.....told them what I wanted to spend, they told me what they wanted for the truck....talked a little while longer and after a short drive in the old Honda, the deal was done....got the price I wanted and the vehicle I didn't go out to buy.....but most importantly, the blond I live with likes the truck and felt very comfortable dealing with the dealer....
quick, 2 hour buy, with no hassle or stress of car buying from a used car salesman..
photos will be posted later
CELEBRATE LIFE........
quick, 2 hour buy, with no hassle or stress of car buying from a used car salesman..
photos will be posted later
CELEBRATE LIFE........
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
In Case You Get Confused
Just in case you get a little confused.....
and for the record....these are the only two Jeeps in the barn tonight.....
Celebrate LIfe....tomorrow is another day.....another adventure......
and for the record....these are the only two Jeeps in the barn tonight.....
Celebrate LIfe....tomorrow is another day.....another adventure......
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
CJ-6
As my close friends say. "Man, you need help."
What seems a LONG time ago,
I started looking for a vehicle for my 14 year old son to drive when hit the prime mobilization age of 16....after several surveying trips to the parking lot of his soon to be alma mater, I concluded that there was no way I could afford to compete with the other parents in the 'buy your child a car to drive to school' contest.....so I began to look for a modest, yet cool, method of transportation for my soon to be 16 year old son...... several 'trades' later a 1967 CJ-5 Kiaser-Willies Jeep was parked in the driveway....this was a direct result of what my good friend Jim calls 'the ability to trade two match sticks into a Cadillac'...well, it was not quite two match sticks, but the result was the same.....and the story behind that is a long one and will require several products from that Belgium owned company based out of St Louis....but I got the kid a good looking, practical method of transportation.....a great beach toy, that doesn't have to be cleaned EVERY day....
"but Dad, the sand and salt water will just rust it away anyhow."
so in my driveway there sit two Jeeps....one, a vintage 1946 Willies CJ-2A that required a totally different approach to what I seem to do best and is washed almost every weekend, and a 1967 Willies CJ-5 that has never been properly introduced to soap yet....it gets rinsed out every time it rains, but has never known what a garden hose is.....there is about an inch of sand in the floor boards and it is readily available to convey several surfboards to the beach at a moments notice....
beach chair storage is available, but not required.....
so as happens a simple little phone call today has turned into what I call CJ-6...
not a true CJ-6, but the 6th CJ in my immediate past.....close enough for now...
anybody got a CJ-8 they wanna get rid of?..........
this is and watching my children grow is what allows me to CELEBRATE LIFE....
every day...
What seems a LONG time ago,
I started looking for a vehicle for my 14 year old son to drive when hit the prime mobilization age of 16....after several surveying trips to the parking lot of his soon to be alma mater, I concluded that there was no way I could afford to compete with the other parents in the 'buy your child a car to drive to school' contest.....so I began to look for a modest, yet cool, method of transportation for my soon to be 16 year old son...... several 'trades' later a 1967 CJ-5 Kiaser-Willies Jeep was parked in the driveway....this was a direct result of what my good friend Jim calls 'the ability to trade two match sticks into a Cadillac'...well, it was not quite two match sticks, but the result was the same.....and the story behind that is a long one and will require several products from that Belgium owned company based out of St Louis....but I got the kid a good looking, practical method of transportation.....a great beach toy, that doesn't have to be cleaned EVERY day....
"but Dad, the sand and salt water will just rust it away anyhow."
so in my driveway there sit two Jeeps....one, a vintage 1946 Willies CJ-2A that required a totally different approach to what I seem to do best and is washed almost every weekend, and a 1967 Willies CJ-5 that has never been properly introduced to soap yet....it gets rinsed out every time it rains, but has never known what a garden hose is.....there is about an inch of sand in the floor boards and it is readily available to convey several surfboards to the beach at a moments notice....
beach chair storage is available, but not required.....
so as happens a simple little phone call today has turned into what I call CJ-6...
not a true CJ-6, but the 6th CJ in my immediate past.....close enough for now...
anybody got a CJ-8 they wanna get rid of?..........
this is and watching my children grow is what allows me to CELEBRATE LIFE....
every day...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Hello Again.....
Damn the longroof is a slow worker..........
took three weeks to finish one small job.........
meanwhile I was able to find these classics......
and a parting shot
Monday, July 13, 2009
What a Way to Celebrate Life
Captian Brett at the Helm.......and other ways that we Celebrate Life.........
the following are photos from our visit to Uncle Brett and Aunt Shirley's weekend get-a-way....
Great Time had by ALL participants.....
Look forward to the next visit...........
Friday, June 26, 2009
and this one for all our brides.....
this should say enough......
just one more reason to.....
CELEBRATE LIFE.....
just one more reason to.....
CELEBRATE LIFE.....
does this mean I win a prize...????
let me guess, I win the fabulous, once in a lifetime, all beverages included, visit to the World Famous, Ozark Exclusive, Haven Lee Farms of the the Missouri....
One for the horsefarmer
I think if I did this correctly, the horsefarmer should enjoy the next four minutes....
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Another old time Classic
For some reason I can't seem to bring myself to write about what is happening in my life right now...the kids are doing great, and my bride is as bossy as ever....maybe it is just so.....but when it is late and I'm bored with what the cable company offers up for entertainment I do as most of the world does...I search the web....youtube and classic music seem to occupy most of my searches and I am amazed that some of these classics have survived....these are what allow us, each in our own way, to.............CELEBRATE LIFE......
Monday, June 15, 2009
Another moment to stop and pause
can't help myself.....fantastic American Music that can't be forgotten.....
another reason to....
CELEBRATE LIFE....
another reason to....
CELEBRATE LIFE....
Got Rhythm.....
not sure about much, but man this song says a lot when you listen to the words....
Classic American Music.....2 minutes and 14 seconds that say a lot about what to do when you a lacking something........
this is why He was able to........
CELEBRATE LIFE......
Classic American Music.....2 minutes and 14 seconds that say a lot about what to do when you a lacking something........
this is why He was able to........
CELEBRATE LIFE......
Saturday, June 13, 2009
when family visits we CELEBRATE LIFE....on the beach
Not much to write about here......two of the sungoddesses' sisters visited us the past weekend and these are some photos of their visit.....
started with a typical afternoon rain shower and got better from there......
Marcia, the younger, was in a vacation mode, and we did what we could to make her visit a pleasant one.....Shirley, the older, was just in for a little R&R time....I think she was successful in her mission........
the party started in the driveway under a sun shade....or rain in this case....Marc was happy thanks to those wonderful people in St. Louis, Mo.... Shirley was just happy as always....
here the kid is trying to figure out how to get over the wash out.....not when Dad is here kid...go around.....fewer things break when you don't push the envelope....
on the way to the surf......this is about 8:30 am so the girls haven't got out of the room for more than photos yet.....
still waiting on the girls, as this photo is from the 6th floor balcony.....
WELL...look who decided to join us on the beach......
can't remember who is out in the surf....but it was fun....
HEY...where is the beer guy..??????
....lot's of fun by the looks on the face's of these two.......
FINALLY he arrived.....
..
as expected, the kid had to get some fishing time in......
from here they headed off to St. Augustine...couple of good shots of the kids and the girls....and one of the kid's sister ready to go home......good time had by all.......
of course these are the reasons we............
CELEBRATE LIFE........
Every Day......
thanks for the visit girls.....
started with a typical afternoon rain shower and got better from there......
Marcia, the younger, was in a vacation mode, and we did what we could to make her visit a pleasant one.....Shirley, the older, was just in for a little R&R time....I think she was successful in her mission........
the party started in the driveway under a sun shade....or rain in this case....Marc was happy thanks to those wonderful people in St. Louis, Mo.... Shirley was just happy as always....
here the kid is trying to figure out how to get over the wash out.....not when Dad is here kid...go around.....fewer things break when you don't push the envelope....
on the way to the surf......this is about 8:30 am so the girls haven't got out of the room for more than photos yet.....
still waiting on the girls, as this photo is from the 6th floor balcony.....
WELL...look who decided to join us on the beach......
can't remember who is out in the surf....but it was fun....
HEY...where is the beer guy..??????
....lot's of fun by the looks on the face's of these two.......
FINALLY he arrived.....
..as expected, the kid had to get some fishing time in......
from here they headed off to St. Augustine...couple of good shots of the kids and the girls....and one of the kid's sister ready to go home......good time had by all.......
of course these are the reasons we............
CELEBRATE LIFE........
Every Day......
thanks for the visit girls.....
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