Peggies Challange

Childhood memories, let me see. Could it be the time Jim, Peg and I burned the white carpet in the 1 week old house? Or maybe the time we put Peggie in a box and pushed her out of the tree house. Bye, Bye tree house. Or even the time mom slammed the ketchup bottle so hard that ketchup flew up on the ceiling. Then there is the time I got my finger stuck in the handlebar of my bike, or when I got my finger stuck in the sprocket. (that one hurt)

I think I will tell about the 4th of July. Most years, in the New Jersey days, on the 4th of July we went along most of the neighbors and our Philly cousins to Robbins Beach. It was located just down the street in our neighborhood on the Rancocas Creek. We spent all day playing in the water, drinking Shop Rite cola and eating hot dogs. Who remembers the old hand well pump? We played egg toss, sack races and three legged races. Late in the afternoon dad and the uncles went back to the house setup fireworks between our driveway and grand mom’s. When the women and kids got home around sundown the show was ready to commence. I’m sure that roman candles and bottle rockets were all they had, but at that time it was better than anything Phips Plaza ever thought of. After the show a bonfire followed every year. I don’t remember who launched the flaming marshmallow and hit our uncle Bill in the belly but he must have deserved it.

Out childhood was much like Mayberry or leave it to beaver, but that was a much different time. I guess it is our job to see that the next generation has as good memories as we do.

P.S. It is amazing I still have all 10 fingers.

Happy Birthday Jim

Happy Birthday to Jim, and happy anniversary to him and Sue, smart move keeping one date. I started the weekend off with a Friday night Braves game. A good game but we lost. On Saturday I installed an outlet on the back patio. I figure 1 to 1 ½ hours. (sure) I went out directly behind an inside outlet and passed the wire threw, hooked black to black, white to white, ground to ground. I turned on the breaker and no power. The inside worked bit not the outside. I took it all out and reattached it, no good. I got my next door neighbor, Kenneth who works for our EMC. He checked it and found my new GFCI outlet was bad. Got a new one and all is well.

Sunday Deb and I worked in the garage all day. We started insulating and putting up plywood in the walls. We got the insulation at Lowes and I had the ply left over from a project at work 8 years ago. We got about half way and called it a day. We plan to finish next Saturday, by then we should be over the stiffness.

Talk to everyone later.

Remember 9-11

Tomorrow is the 7th anniversary of the attack on our country. As time passes it seems our memory fades. We all remember it, but now think of it more as history than a reality that is still possible today. Because the attack took place on our soil, the American people pulled together like no other time in history, with the possible exception of Pearl Harbor.

The following is my opinion only and not meant to offend anyone or discount any other opinion.

This is the land of the free, and the rest of the world want to join us or destroy us. I am the decedents of immigrants. On moms side 2nd generation and dads side 3rd or 4th generation. My feeling is that anyone who wants to come here is welcome. Do it legally. Having said that we need to make it possible for hard working, self supporting people who want to contribute to this country can do it in a reasonable time. If we help them they will help us. If you come here illegally you do not deserve an education, health care or the right to vote.

The people who want to destroy us do not get the rights of the constitution of the country they want to end. If they are locked up till they are old and gray so be it. They are terrorist. They do not wear a uniform or fight for a country. They hide in schools and churches and kill people that have different beliefs than they do. They decapitate Americans or drag the body of a fallen solder threw the streets and cheer. We take a picture of a prisoner with underwear on his head and that is an abomination. If water boarding saves one American life, line them up.

I need to end this but Americans need to stop giving this country away. The United States gives its citizens inalienable rights. If the rest of the world wants them they need to join us or change the government of their country.

Remember 9-11

Remember to vote. This truly is the most important election of our life.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Just another weekend

On Saturday I got up and met my buddy Dan for breakfast. We met in McDonough on the square at a a great place Called “Gritz”. 2 Eggs, Sausage, Grits and biscuit is only $3.85. Can’t beat it. We rode the bikes over to Newnan to a new Moto Guzzi / Aprilia dealer. I test rode a new Aprilia, Mana. It is a 850cc motorcycle that has an automatic transmission. It was cool. You can pick Sport, Touring or rain mode for the shifting pattern or shift yourself but no clutch. It would be a great commuter bike.
When we left there we headed to Thomaston, Ga. Dan had his parachute being inspected by the FAA, and it was ready to be picked up. When we got there he decided to make a couple of jumps. On the airport property is a DC3 flight school. They have 2 DC3’s for the school. As we were leaving I pulled up in front of one for the picture above. What I did not know was they were in the plain and ready to fire it up. As I was sitting in front of this thing, a guy stuck his head out and said what are you doing? He scared the stew out of me.
On Sunday we ran some errands and grilled out. Our weekends are about to start to fill up soon. I have some trade shows coming up in Orlando and Chicago. Then in October some trips to Tennessee.

See you all soon.

2008 Can-Am Spyder

Is that thing cool or what? It is made by Bombardier Recreational Products, the same people who make Ski-Doo. I have been reading about this thing now I found a dealer who will let me ride one. I’m going over Saturday to ride it. This thing has ABS brakes, Traction Control, and Stability Control. If you get 1 wheel off the ground, it cuts the HP back and levels the bike off. I don’t think I will be getting one, ($17,000.00) but I need to try one out.
We have had a quiet few weeks. Not much going on this weekend ether, we will probably cook some burgers on Labor day but that is about all. Just wanted to let you all know we are still here Have a good holiday.

Not much going on

Time to keep you all up on what is (or is not) going on. I had a very quiet weekend. Debbie went to Tennessee late Thursday; her mom had some minor surgery and had some complications. Everything is ok now but she wanted to be there in case she was needed. That left me to my own devices for a few days.
Friday I met some friends for dinner at a Mexican place in Conyers, and then we went to Starbucks for the evening. Saturday I got up rode my bicycle, then ran some errands. Micah came over around 1:00, he was borrowing Debbie’s car. I took him up to the shop and got his car back. I took my motorcycle for a ride and met my friend John for dinner down town. The weather was as cool as it had been in a long time so I took the scenic route home. I got home about 10:00 and watched some of the Olympics.
Sunday I rode the bicycle in the morning and just piddled around the house. I watched the NASCAR race and waited for Deb. She got home about 4:00 and we cooked dinner on the grill.
All in all a relaxing weekend.

Not much happening

Now it’s my turn to catch up. Not much going on with us lately. Last weekend I did the PGR ride in Cumming. The town did itself proud. So many local people were lining the streets that the town sent the school busses out and brought them to the church then the grave site. That was great.
Sunday I got up and met Micah at 8:00 and played golf. He came back to the house and we had a birthday celebration for him. He turned 30 this week. One of the highlights of the party was Deb’s “WII” . She got it last week and uses it to do the work out programs. This thing figures your body mass index and keeps up with your progress. The work out’s really get the hart rate up. It is also filled with the most life like games (bowling, golf, tennis, ski jumping) It is a lot of fun.
This Saturday I got up and changed the back tire on Deb’s bike. The new lift I bought is great. Keeps the old guy off the floor. The rest of the day we just chilled out. This morning I took my bicycle to the park and did a good long ride. I cut the grass when I got home, and Debbie is working on some new project for work. The NASCAR race is starting so I will say “ GOOD DAY”