Connect 4

The Connect 4 game was a favorite of my son and we played many (and I do mean many) times.

When we started he was about 4 years old. I never deliberately let him win. I would be just playing along with not really thinking about the game. His mom would ask that I "let" him win.

I told her that life never just rolls over and"lets" you win. As time went on, he started winning more games and I had to start paying attention to keep it keep him from winning easily.

By my not letting him win, he started trying his very best and we began having a lot more fun and he was learning to compete and not just participate.

He is a strong young man today and I think a lot of it has to do with that little $5 game from his youth.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Thankfully no one in my family has died in combat.
Two of my brothers and myself were in the service but only my brother George was ever "in harms way".

George called me "little brother" because he was 6 years older and I called him "little brother" because from the time I was 12, I was taller than has 5'8" frame.

We lost him a few years ago and he is buried in Fort Scott National Cemetery with honors. He served two tours in Vietnam and was highly decorated.

That means without a doubt someone has their soldier with them today because of him. I'm sure they are grateful.

I, too, am grateful for I am sure that in two long years in combat that someone did the same for George.

My hope is that person did not have to give his life for my brothers safe return.

I do not believe in the war we are in today but that does not mean I am not grateful to the men and women that are over there doing the job. They deserve our support and admiration.

Alien invasion

He landed in the woods south of Pine Bluff, Ar.
He doesn't appear to be intimidated by Earthlings.


I was able to walk within a few yards and snap these pictures. He didn't appear to notice me, or was he just waiting for me to come closer so he could do what ever aliens do.


He was made with two old satellite dishes and a mannequin. Some people just know how to have fun.

Mirrors

Yesterday I was in a different truck. This truck only had mirrors on the doors with the round spot mirrors under them. My usual truck also has spot mirrors on the front finders. A big difference.
I will try to explain.
The next time you sit in your car put your hands (palms facing forward) on your face beside your eyes so that you can only see what is in front of you. The seatback should be the imaginary line of vision. Now if you could not turn your head, that is a truckers vision.
While you are looking in your mirrors imagine you are taller than everything around you.
Your mirrors show things behind you but what if your 2 year old child was setting on the ground beside the front door. You would not see them. Scary thought.
We truly have "blind spots" and the mirrors on the front fenders help.
So the next time you are just behind the drivers door of a big rig check out his mirrors. If you can't see his face then you are invisible to him. Move forward or fall back until you can him and you will know how large the blind spot is.
When you are about to pass another car, you first check your door mirror and then glance over you shoulder just to make sure. Why, because you have a blind spot too. Just a lot smaller than ours.

May 22

I was born on May 22, 1948. So yesterday was my 58th birthday. I am in "great shape for the shape I'm in".
At 58, I am a year older than my dad when he died.


A to Z things about my life.

A= Army, served in the VN era.
B= boring, I offen am.
C=child, I have one.
D= dad, never really knew him. Died when I was 11
E=everyday, I try to learn something.
F=funny, but looks aren't everything.
G=Gurdon, Ar. where I graduated HS.
H=humor, I try to find a little everyday.
I=interracial, I do not believe in.
J=Judy, that's my wife.
K=kindness, show some.
L=love, great to have but even better to give.
M= mom, I had the greatest.
N=no, never take it for the answer if you do not believe.
O=open minded, sorry that's not my strong suit.
P=people, I love to talk to.
Q=quantom physics, hell I don't know what that is.
R=retire, sounds great to me.
S=Sam, that be me.
T=trucks, what I drive.
U=understand, I often don't.
V=Vivian, the only sibling I have left.
W=war, we shouldn't be in this one.
X=marks the spot, I seldom hit it.
Y=youth, wasted on the young.
Z=Zachary, my son, none better.

I tried not to think ( I know it shows), but say the first thing that came to me.

An Arky Welcome

As you enter Arkansas at Ft. Smith from Oklahoma on I-40 you will be greeted by a new Welcome Center.




It is truly a thing of beauty. The buildings and landscaping are outstanding.




The buildings are "post and timber" construction with thru dovetail jointery.



The thru timbers are formed by
laminating nine 2x12 boards together.




The wall timbers are five 2x12's. Enlarge the photo and I think you will see what I am referring to.



This picture gives a little better overall view of the corners.




Inside you are greeted by a lovely rock fireplace that will be in use on cool days.



They offer free coffee and you can connect to the internet with your laptop at this desk.



This is the inside hall that leads to the restrooms. As you can see the beautiful jointery carries thru to the inside. The smell of the wood surrounds you as you enter the building.
If you stop by it will be ok to wear shoes and they will know you are just "visiting Arkansas".

Land between the Lakes

Last fall we took a few days to ride around and found ourselfs at "Land Between the Lakes".


We stopped at "The Homeplace".


http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/lbl/homeplace.htm



It was an amazing place. This is the fence for the corn field. The garden had a tall picket fence.





This is the hogpen.







The horses were big and ugly. They were Percherons. Big is not the word, they were huge.







This is just one of several buildings. If I remember right, this is the oxen barn and lot.







Every Saturday (this was the last Saturday they were open for the year) they hold a workshop for the work happening for the week. This is the tobacco shed where they were drying the crop. If I lived close enough I would go every Saturday. I just can't get enough of this stuff.

Please open the link and visit this place. I asked about an outhouse and told told there would not be one in a country homestead as there was no neighbors and it was just another building to build and keep up. They would use the woods or the chicken house.

Vacation

We have been planning a vacation in early June. We will be attending Judy's family reunion (as always).
It will be in Camdenton, Mo. this year for the third time.

I love to go on vacation but it is a real dilemma for me. Most people think I am a "tightwad", but I think I spend way to much money. For the first couple of days I have trouble with the cost of it all. After that I fall right in with the spirit of vacation and by the time it is about over I always wished we had another week.

I always enjoy vacations so much. Just wish I could "lighten up".

Night run

I'm off to Indianola, Ms. in about 15 minutes. I was thru there once over 20 years ago so it will be new to me from Greenville, Ms.

It will be my regular Wednesday night run for awhile. It has been leaving Little Rock at 4am put for some reason this week we have to leave at 1am. That sucks.

It takes a time or two on a run to find a place to park a big rig when an interesting place is spotted. Can't just pull a 63 ft. rig in a small parking lot.

I'm sure I will find something out of the ordinary, after all it is Mississippi.

I was fired today

Yes, canned. About 10 am my cell phone rang and I was told my services would not longer be needed.

I work for Coleman Dairy and our bitter enemy has been Hiland Dairy. They merged in order to better screw our customers. Still being run as separate companies to hide the fact.

After the merger my run was cut but Hiland had a driver fall out of his truck and I have been running his run. "Sleeping with the enemy". He will be back tomorrow and I can go back to working for Coleman.

Still don't know what I will be running but it doesn't really matter. I will be 58 next Monday, so I need to work at least 18 months.

My boss is the best and he will work with me to come up with something I can live with.

The Hiland run has been a piece of cake and I hate to see it end but it lasted a week longer that I expected.

If your raw milk all comes from the same area, there is only a small taste difference in the taste from one dairy plant to another. The grasses the cows eat is what determines the taste.

Even though Coleman and Hiland are only 200 miles apart, they get their milk from different regions. Coleman receives its milk from the "southwest" (Texas and New Mexico) and Hiland from the "midwest"(Kansas and Nebraska) and the milk truely tastes different because of the grasses. If you like one you will find the other one "off flavor".

When the smoke clears both dairies will produce milk under both names so loyal customers will have no idea what is going on.

Don't you just love big business?

Down but not out

I spotted this rig Friday. It looks rather sad to some but it was traveling the Interstate and didn't appear to be leaking any fluids. I didn't get a chance to talk to them as they had a dog tied
to the front bumper.

I'm sure it would have been an interesting visit. Rich people have very boring lives compared to people living on the edge.

I would be glad to have this as compared to being homeless. To have a roof over you head and a bed means you may be "houseless" but not "homeless".

Would you turn up your nose or welcome the company of this person? Your honest answer says a lot about your true character.

Large tow truck needed

This park has been closed for some time and I thought Homeland Security closed it do to being a source of city drinking water. Boy was I wrong.

They are moving the park. How large a tow truck will that take? When I first read http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/park.asp?id=18 about this I thought they were moving the lake. The lake is being enlarged and the old state park will be under water.

Kid's day

Just arrived home from UofA graduation where my son received his 2nd Masters degree. His first was in Economics and this one was in French.

After teaching for a year in Le Mans, France he will pursue his PhD in French.

Not much time to celebrate as he had be at work at 5:30. While working on his Masters he has taught under-graduate French and worked at Home Depot.

I tease him about not being able to go from college to drawing his SS.

I am very proud of "my little man". No son could offer more pleasure to his dad than mine has.

I love you Zachary

I'm an Idiot

I would like to think I am a fairly intelligent person. I can do most anything I see someone else do. That being said. "why can't I spell".

I can look at a word and tell you it is not spelled right. If I know it's not right then it should stand to reason I know how it's spelled. Ain't so.

Also when I read something I can tell if it is well written or not. There again, if I know what constitutes a well written blog, why can't I made mine make sense.

Another First

Today a young woman passed me driving a 18 wheeler. In the passenger side she had a young baby buckled in a child's seat.

I have seen families traveling in trucks but most of the time the woman is not driving. I think her husband was in the sleeper. Women usually pull van trailers and she was pulling a flatbed with a tarped load.

Blog Cards

I guess that is a new phrase. When someone tells you their e-mail address or the URL to their website, do you ever remember it? I sure don't, but then I am blessed with lots of "senior moments".

This is a great little way to give out your info in a more personal way. I just love it.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=lt&page_id=20962&v=11

Thanks to Ron and Nancy.

Sorry, I had to steal this.

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"Then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life.

"The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty or twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife, and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral is: Know where you're going in life ... you may already be there.

Rest Area?

I-40 westbound, mm 36, Ozark, Ar.
Is this the ultimate rest area?







Actually this small cemetery is fenced in on the grounds of this rest area. It has 3 graves all dating 1899, but not the same day.




This 100+ year old Mulberry tree is inside the fence. Maybe it was planted to mark the graves.





What can I say about the tree. Well, it has character . Many people use this rest area and never see this. It is on the side that the trucks park on.