Avalanche Cowpoke

Father's Day 2008

2008-06-15T16:25:00.000-02:00

A Letter to Mom...

2008-03-04T23:32:00.002-02:00

Dear Mom,
I know it’s been awhile since I left home and I haven’t written you in way too long. I’m sorry. I hope this will make up for my negligence just a little.
I’ve had a few adventures which were kinda fun since leaving. Fun that is until I was caught and put in some sort of cage like place where I am writing from now. Leastways I ain’t found a way out yet and none of my companions have either. Ah, yes---my companions. There are four of them. They are all a few years older than I and have been here longer but seem quite content with life for the time being. Maybe I’ll get used to this place too after awhile… …but I do enjoy having the freedom to roam.
Part of the reason I am writing to you is because of an extraordinarily strange thing that happened to us all a few days ago. You never told me and the others of us siblings anything about this happening to you or dad when we all were growing up so I thought I’d ask you about it.
This place where we are held we get some variety of things to eat but the frequency is somewhat unpredictable. What usually happens is the roof opens and food is thrown down to us. Mostly it comes in random sized chunks which brings quite a scramble and the inevitable grousing and complaining about who got an unfair share. Sometimes we get a live critter thrown to us that we have to dispatch before eating. Some days ago a really strange thing happened. The roof opened and a live critter was thrown down to us. As we leaped to our feet, suddenly there appeared standing before us a man with a very stern countenance who firmly commanded us not to touch the critter nor harm it in any way and then he was gone. Of course being the sort of creatures my friends and I are we all proceeded to ignore this instruction and tried to grab the live critter for dispatch. None of us could do it! Not one of us could even open our mouths! I’m seriously glad I didn’t have a stuffy nose! Have you ever tried to breathe through tightly clenched teeth? Yeah, it was that bad. I thought maybe we all had suddenly got ourselves a serious case of lockjaw and lock limb or some other awful disease I never heard tell of. To make matters worse this live critter seemed very calm in our presence and even walked right over to us. It looked me in the face from quite close and reaching out with a paw even scratched my ears and patted me on the head. I must say if it wasn’t so terribly embarrassing and frustrating I might actually have enjoyed it---but just a little mind you! My fellow inmates were a-snorting with humor at my predicament through their clenched teeth until the same thing happened to them. One of them even got his long whiskers pulled. I guess the hardest thing came when the critter went and lay down at my side and put his head down on my tummy and went off to sleep. All any of us could do was roll our eyes! The whole experience was enough to make a fellow doubt his sanity! At least the critter didn’t snore much. Not any where near as much as my noble companions! The next morning after a whole night of this sort of thing, very early it was, the roof opened up yet again and a loud voice hollered down at us.
The critter leaped to its feet and yelled back, “Oh King live forever, My God sent His Angel and shut the Lions mouths. They have not harmed me.”
Then the critter was dragged back up outa our place on a viney looking thing.
Mom, might you know just who this critter is? Why couldn’t any of us touch him?

Lots of purring and nuzzlings to you.
Your prodigal son, Leo.

PS I did a lot of yawning and stretching of my limbs for an hour or so after all this and I’m hungrier than usual but I seem to be just fine so don’t you be worrying about me.

just another day

2008-02-22T11:33:00.001-02:00

Soft gray tendrils of smoke wind their way upward gently wreathing a face. The face is ordinary, if any face can truly be considered ordinary. Within it’s lines and the repeated flexing of various muscles there is revealed a concentration upon some task at hand. The nose acknowledges prior acquaintance with the acrid odor the smoke carries with a slight widening of the nostrils, the eyes squinting if ever so slightly. Protective lenses cover those narrowly focused eyes. Eyes of blue they are, behind which a lively, creative but well disciplined mind is at work.
“Take thirty thou, then another thirty thou, then five thou then stop and mike it.”
Fingers oil stained and scarred attached to work hardened hands with the simple deftness of long years of practice grasp a tool. The tool well used but always kept in perfect condition does its task one more time… …eight seventy seven, two more to go, the mind causes the finely lined lips to mutter and sends the hands back into action.
The hands pull the handle powering the machine to life yet again. The machine quietly emits whirrings, whinings and clickings among other sounds. Sounds familiar to the ears. Ears always listening alert for undesirable additions to the familiar chorus. Those ears all the while soaking up the familiar strains of a Chopin Piano Concerto.
The sensitive fingers reach out and rotate the cross feed handle, guide the carriage and grasp the lever engaging the automatic feed. A hand reaches for the small brush resting in the small tin of cutting oil. The hand delicately holds the oil laden brush gently against the whirling surface careful to stay clear of the sharp cutting tool. Long slim chips of hot stainless steel twist and roll away from the cutter falling to the pan below or bounce their way to the floor. There they join the many larger chips each sharp as a razor.
And the soft gray tendrils again wend their way upward. The eyes ever watchful, the ears attuned, the hands moving to the rhythm of the mind…

"KoolAid"

2008-01-09T23:17:00.000-02:00

A Christmas Story written by this blog's author...

2007-12-23T18:12:00.000-02:00

What the Angel Said

Christmas shopping is something I’ve always tried to get done early to avoid the last minute rush and crush of too many people all pushing and elbowing and grabbing for the same things at the same time from the picked over items still left on the shelves of over crowded stores. I do most of my shopping on-line at a variety of carefully chosen Web sites just to avoid going out in downtown Boston’s grid locked traffic. But this year just like every other year, it seems, my best laid plans were foiled yet again. I still needed to pick up one or two items, get them wrapped and carefully placed under the tree that graces the elegant parlor of our recently remodeled Brownstone home that faces on the famous Boston Common. My husband’s widowed mother called just last night announcing that her plans to be on a Christmas Cruise in the Carribean with one of her old college chums, Jennifer Jones, had fallen through due to that chum having the sniffles and a cough forcing her to back out at the last moment. Finding no one else whom she could persuade to accompany her she therefore decided to cancel her own reservations and bestow upon her only son, his wife and their three children her otherwise unoccupied self for the Christmas Holiday. And furthermore she would arrive by taxicab on the morrow, the 24th of December at 7:30PM.
Now I suppose some mother-in-law, daughter-in-law relationships are quite amicable but mine is–well–a bit less than wonderful. She likes to run things you see and especially, it seems, she likes to run my house. She bosses her son around as well as our children. She’s always calling Billy who’s 8 and Susie who’s 6 and little Maggie who’s only 5 by their proper given names which all three of them seem to despise at this stage in their young lives. It’s always William do this or Susan do that or Margaret do stop this or that. It drives them crazy and me bonkers. I think she would boss even Marmalade our fuzzy orange calm well behaved household cat if Marmalade lacked the wisdom to promptly depart the room at a fast trot when ever the proper Mrs. Alberta Louise Chalmers appeared. My husband Graham William Chalmers III a successful Architect and partner in the prominent firm Ambercrombe, Chalmers & Smith with offices downtown near the financial district usually just meekly does what ever Mom commands him to do and as soon as possible beats a hasty retreat to his den. Firmly shutting the door, he plants himself in front of his computer screen on the pretense of attending to some urgent bit of business that mustn’t be kept waiting a moment longer. And there he stays until bedtime! She even dares to boss ME around. What stings most is her complete lack of acknowledgment of the fact that I myself hold two graduate degrees one in Graphic Arts and the other in English and I run my own very successful Advertising Agency BESIDES managing my own house hold. Perhaps she’s just miffed because her son married a lowly mid-western girl who graduated from a small state college instead of her beloved Wellsley College. In any case I am Queen of my house and woe betide anyone who messes with my little fiefdom. I like being my own boss and I don’t like being bossed. I sense here that I am trying with only limited success to keep from melting down into a fuming fit of frustration. What a state to find myself in—able to run a business and my home with aplomb but doing a near melt down at the prospect of a little visit from my mother-in-law.
So here I am going from shop to shop in downtown Boston on what may well be the busiest shopping day of the entire year looking for just the right scarf or pair of gloves to serve as a Christmas present for my dear mother-in-law. It would be nice to find something that would really please the older Mrs. Chalmers for once, I mutter under my breath.
At last I find just what I’m looking for in a small Ladies Apparel and Accessories shop on
South Market Street. The shopkeeper even was able to take time to wrap them for me. I paid the bill with my credit card and headed for the door. Stepping outside where it was quite dark being a few minutes past 7PM, I pulled my scarf tighter around my face against the chilly night air and I began searching for a cab to hail. My eyes squinting against the flood of headlights to my left I tried to spot through the glare one of the tell tale lighted top knots that indicate there is a cab beneath. I don’t see one and that all too familiar sense of frustration sweeps over me again— where’s a Cabbie when you need one, I grumble to myself. I really need to get home and finish cooking supper. Here it is Christmas Eve and we always have Graham’s favorite meal—Baked Beans and Brown Bread. Now Don’t you folks go to laughing too much—I know it’s kind of a cliche having Baked Beans and Brown Bread in Bean Town on Christmas Eve, but WE just happen to like it. We like it a lot! Even the kids like it! And if both my husband and the kids like something—That’s a good thing! Especially if it means we can have a bit of peace and harmony in the midst of our hectic lives.
Suddenly I see a sight I never expected to see—not this time of year anyway—an open carriage and team of four beautiful matching Chestnut horses standing in the street at the curb right in front of me!
"Where did you come from?!" I exclaimed to the elegantly dressed coachman. He was immaculate in his attire all in white from top hat to boots except for the bright red cravat at his throat. His eyes seeming to twinkle with the light of at least a dozen stars were set just above a most amazing grey handlebar mustache extending fully three inches beyond his ears and looping upward and back on itself on its ends. He stood there his hand extended toward me with a slight bow.
" Mrs. Elizabeth Chalmers, Please step aboard," he spoke in a slight Irish brogue.
Astonished, I stepped into the carriage and allowed the coachman to tuck the soft warm lap rug snugly around me. In just seconds we were off, silver bells on the horse’s harness jingled merrily as down the busy street we sailed moving in and out of the heavy traffic almost as if it weren’t even there—all before I had the chance to collect my poor scattered thoughts enough to utter a word.
"How did you know my name?" I suddenly blurted out as my wits began re-gathering themselves.
"Oh, I know a great many things, Mrs. Chalmers" he replied without turning his head, "For instance, I know right where you live across from the Boston Common in that newly remodeled Brownstone. I know you grew up on your family’s farm just outside of a small town in Iowa called Green Mountain. I know as a young girl you loved fishing along side your grandpa on warm summer afternoons or riding upon the tractor seat beside your daddy as he worked the fields or playing with your kitten named Peachy. You named her that because your favorite fruit is the Peach and she had coloring just like a Peach. I also know as you grew older you decided you wanted to live in a big city—and now you do. What I liked the most about you was the way you and your family always remembered whose birthday you were celebrating at Christmas time... ...Oh yes, I know a lot about you Elizabeth—now you just sit back and enjoy the ride and have a good look at all the lovely Christmas lights and decorations and such—and close your mouth!", he added without turning around. He was right! My mouth was agape. I was filled with amazement at what he seemed to know about me. I quickly snapped my jaw shut putting my hand over my mouth not wanting to appear addled. I slowly resigned myself to be still and settle in for the ride. After all—how often does a girl get to ride in an elegant carriage and besides, the Christmas lights were quite beautiful this year—I might as well enjoy them and the gently falling snow that just began floating down in large fluffy flakes.
Soon the carriage rolled to a stop at the coachman’s gentle "whoa-up-there" and the next thing I knew he was helping me out of the carriage right at my door step. His hand deftly supported my elbow as he walked me the few steps to my door. He handed me my parcel containing the gifts for my mother-in-law.
"Elizabeth, Be sure you always remember who’s birthday it is you celebrate at Christmas time," he said, tipping his elegant white top hat.
Suddenly I realized with shame how swallowed up I had become in the constant busyness of life to the point of becoming forgetful of what Christmas is all about. Nearly in tears I grasped at my door latch and pushed open the door. Remembering suddenly I hadn’t paid the man I turned, "How much do I owe---" I stopped speaking abruptly. Where had he gone? The carriage, the team and coachman were nowhere to be seen. Stepping quickly to the curb I looked each way and saw only the usual headlights and tail lights of passing cars on the congested street. There was no sign of a carriage and team. How had they disappeared so quickly? Who was that coachman? How did he know so much about me? How very mysterious.
Slowly I turned back toward my familiar home and went inside. Removing my hat and scarf I slid out of my coat and hung them in their usual places. I took the recently purchased gifts and placed them with the others under the Christmas tree in the parlor and headed for the kitchen. As I attended to the Baked Beans and Brown Bread, I decided to add Plum Pudding with hot Lemon sauce for dessert to complete our meal.
At the supper table that Christmas Eve I recounted my tale of the mysterious coachman, his carriage and team. My husband Graham, Billy, Susie, Maggie and even Mrs. Alberta Louise Chalmers all paused in their eating and usual chit-chat. Each of them looked at me with a rather odd stare peculiar to each their own faces. They turned and looked at each the other and turned back again to stare at me. I was beginning to feel that odd uncomfortable sort of feeling you get sometimes when you are just realizing no one believes you. Then my dear sweet little Maggie, who’s only 5 as you may recall, said in a soft awe filled voice all could hear,
"Maybe the coachman was really an Angel, mom."
Slowly one and then another each in turn their heads began to nod up and down. Even Mrs. Alberta Louise Chalmers’ head nodded slowly up and down. All were in agreement with Maggie’s conclusion.
Our family Christmas went off much better than I had anticipated. Mrs. Alberta Louise Chalmers liked very much the scarf and gloves she said. She was somewhat less bossy and even used Billy’s, Susie’s and Maggie’s nicknames from time to time although not always but the children all seemed peaceful about it and I didn’t go bonkers. My husband didn’t evaporate into his den even once. Instead he became a rather jovial leader of games and such. He helped wash dishes in the kitchen once and even succeeded in persuading the children and his mother to help dry and put them away. Even Marmalade didn’t disappear when Mrs. Alberta Louise Chalmers was in the same room. Once he actually hopped up into her lap and curled up his purring furry self there quite comfortably. The poor lady was beside herself at first but managed to bring herself to scratch his head in the way Maggie showed her how to do and Marmalade actually seemed to like it.
In the days since then I still find myself pausing often in my active life with the memory of that coach ride, the Christmas lights, the decorations, the big fluffy snowflakes, the nicer than expected visit from my mother-in-law and most especially the words the coachman spoke. I have resolved ever since then: I shall never again forget whose birthday it is we celebrate at Christmas time.

Fiction: Written for Open Door Chapel McDonough, GA Christmas program Sunday 12/23/07

The trouble with Maxie...

2007-12-01T08:30:00.000-02:00

I am supposing that all of you are well aware by now that Maxie is our amiable household cat. What many of you may not know is there's a troublesome thing about him... ...it happens whenever he comes near us or sits on our laps or whenever we stroke his fur or scratch his ears or rub his head or if he should butt his head against or rub up against our legs and even when he curls up at our feet as well as other numerous situations. Perhaps some of you have noticed this kind of trouble with your own cats and can offer advice? The trouble is---Maxie rattles...

Recent Sightings...

2007-11-21T10:00:00.000-02:00

Just south of Jenkinsburg...

Head end of Northbound unit coal train empties in McDonough.

Pushers on the rear of the unit coal train in McDonough.

Head end engines leading a unit molten sulfer train southbound out of Jenkinsburg.

Northbound stack train in downtown Jenkinsburg.

Maxie, our amiable companion...

2007-11-09T08:39:00.000-02:00

Hang on to your luggage! I just saw this on Trains Magazine's News Wire...

2007-11-02T09:25:00.000-02:00

November 1, 2007
CHICAGO - On Oct. 21, two pieces of luggage vanished from an Atlantic Southeast Airlines plane after a cargo door apparently opened in flight, the New York Times reported.Shortly after the plane took off from Chicago's Midway Airport, its controls indicated an air pressure problem. The plane circled back and landed. None of the 70 passengers were injured, but the ground crew found a cargo door open. Two pieces of luggage were gone.Although other items like blue ice and plane parts have fallen in flight, Joe Brancatelli, who edits a Web site for business travelers, told the Times he had never heard of luggage falling. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating the case.A breakthrough occurred the next day when a railroad employee found a garment bag on the ground in a yard less than a mile from the airport. Kate Modolo, a spokeswoman for Atlantic Southeast, which operated the Delta flight to Atlanta, said the airline was thankful that "no one has been hurt during this very rare incident." The bag was on its way to its owner, she added, declining to describe its contents or condition. The second bag remained missing.

What say you folks???

2007-10-18T09:20:00.000-02:00

Swiss Cowbells

Not too many moments ago there was a near disaster in our home. Mrs. RF and I nearly collided at the doorway between our kitchen and Dining room. The result may have been a bending of noses, a scuffing of toes and worst of all the serious loss of a cup of coffee being splashed about. Mrs. RF's brakes sqeaked and I hurridly applied my own as we narrowly avoided danger.

Mrs. RF said: "Max wears a collar with various attachments that jangle as he moves around the house, maybe we should do the same."

I said: "Maybe we should wear anklets with small bells on them."

Mrs. RF said: "Hmmm, maybe we should."

What say you folks? What ideas do you offer us?

An idea for inventors?

2007-10-12T08:17:00.000-02:00

Most everyone who knows my wife realizes she is one of the most well organized people on the planet. It may surprise you all to know that this very morning after getting all ready for the day I heard her mumbling sort of to herself as she moved semi-aimlessly through the house how she really needed a beeper on her coffee cup... ...it seems she couldn't quite recall just where she had put it down---Ol' Lanche let forth a loud snort! 8~)

Sometimes I am at a loss for words...

2007-10-05T10:08:00.000-02:00

Very recently my wife of nigh on to 35 years and I were traveling in the car from New Hampshire to Georgia. At some point along the way, as I was driving southward along Interstate 81, I apparently made some move or other that she would not have done inducing her to comment that I am the reason she has white hair. My memory still being somewhat accurate moved me to remind her that she had mentioned to me in the past that she had started getting white hair as early as 16 years of age. She with great aplomb promptly informed me that she started getting all the white hair in anticipation of being married to me! ...an event that took place some 13 odd years later... (sigh)

...a pic seen on the Corvette Forum...

2007-09-23T13:12:00.000-02:00

Ya' just never can tell who you'll see-a-drivin' up the road next...

2007-09-21T08:38:00.000-02:00

Ya' just gotta check this out!!!

2007-09-16T07:27:00.000-02:00

http://www.lindwa.com/Train.htm

Is there such a thing as Historical Beauty?

2007-09-12T10:03:00.000-02:00

...this pic was taken from Trains Magazine's on line news: ...this nicely restored train pictured here ran on Sept. 8th, 2007 on former Duluth Missabe & Iron Range main line tracks now referred to as the North Shore Scenic Railroad near Duluth, Minn.

Check out a few more of my Aunt Linda's Pix of the sights around her home in Janesville...

2007-09-08T08:30:00.000-02:00

...this fellow was one member of a family of foxes living in a woodpile about 100 feet from the house---we didn't get to see any of them while we were there...

...here's one cool dude-er-actually this is what the squirrels do to stay cool in the warm summer weather. They will do the same thing in the winter too---except then the rock will be in a warm sunny place...

...this pic is for real---I was there when she took this picture from her dining room window...

There are no more...

2007-09-07T09:06:00.000-02:00

...that's right ya'lls---that's the last of the pix from our "month of July trip"---but there was SOOOOO much more we saw and did and lots more people visited. Would I do this trip again?---in a very short Heartbeat!!! It was AWESOME!!! ...are we thinking of doing another trip next summer? You betchya'!!! We've already begun to formulate a general plan for such... ...things desirable for another trip---a much better camera!!! ---a plan to see more than just seven National Parks---like maybe eight or even nine or... ---of course such things as the overall health of parties involved must be considered too... ...just the same---Ol' Lanche and the cowpoke feel like they could spend the rest of their lives perfectly contented traveling America's rural roads(just keep us away from them infernal Interstates)---there's always a new sight to see around the next bend or over the next hill and always someone new to meet...

...ayuhp---Ol' Lanche's feet are just itchin' to go---might'swell prop thet Ol' Cowpoke fellar up in 'is saddle and let 'em mosey... ...keep an eye peeled---ya' never know where they's likely to turn up...

Here we are in Colorado... ... crossing the Great Divide...

2007-09-06T07:38:00.000-02:00

...this was the highest point we got to this trip---and yes---you can still breathe at this elevation...

...and down near Canon City not far from Pueblo we saw these little beauties...

Canyon Lands National Park... ...still in Utah and just up the road a piece from Arches...

2007-09-05T07:30:00.000-02:00

...not this time---this wasn't our road but I'm-a-wishin' we coulda' traveled it...

...Now can't ya'll just see Ol' Lanche and the Cowpoke just a mosying along down thar in the vastness of that there seemingly empty landscape??? ...I'm supposing such dreams bear the responsibility of becoming inspiration for more than one novel...

...a pair of fellow visitors enjoying the huge vista...

...the pix just don't show the sheer BIG-ness of this area...

Arches National Park... ...Yep---it's in Utah too...

2007-09-04T07:30:00.000-02:00

...there were quite a few people visiting the park that day making for limited availablity of parking spots...

...these arches are quite large making people in the pix look very small...

...No. We didn't walk over to go under any of them---Pa didn't feel quite up to it...

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Lake Powel/Colorado River... ...yep---it's all one and the same...

2007-09-03T09:32:00.000-02:00

...we are at the Northeastern end of this very HUGE area... ...a long way from where the Colorado River enters the Grand Canyon...
...here you can see the bridge where we cross the river...

...here we cross the Colorado River/Lake Powel on Utah Rt. 95...

...a place called Capitol Reef National Park---and we're still in Utah...

2007-09-02T06:42:00.000-02:00

...the road was narrowish...

...and then it got NARROWER!!!

... and twistyer...

...and it went through many creek bottoms and fords...

...you could see where water had recently run across the road in MANY places... ...no place to be in a flash flood---and THIS is the place where they DO happen!!!

...we never did see the end of this road---it just kept on goin' and goin'---we just decided after awhile to turn around and go back... ...we did eventually find a spot wide enough to do it... ...although curiosity's small voice kept calling us to go back and see where this little track led to---we didn't listen... ...sigh...

..typical run of the mill Utah scenery---Ummm---as if we can call any scenery in Utah "typical" or "run of the mill"?

2007-09-01T07:32:00.000-02:00

Do you see it? ...the road? Yep! That's the one. The one we are traveling---er---or will be soon...

Just this sign here---no name...

...I was chatting with an older gentleman who lives in or near Monticello, Utah---he remarked that he and his wife don't really see all the mountains and rocks anymore... ...they've become common place... ...funny creatures we human beings, eh?

...and concluding our visit in Bryce we come to the end of the road and perhaps the "High Point"?

2007-08-31T08:30:00.000-02:00

...and continuing still in Bryce...

2007-08-30T10:12:00.001-02:00

...continuing with Bryce...

2007-08-29T07:42:00.000-02:00

Bryce National Park, Utah

2007-08-28T08:08:00.000-02:00

...on the way into the park the highway took us through these two tunnels---I stopped between them to take these two pix...

...I very much enjoy the Ponderosa Pines that proliferate the area... ...they seem to grow right out of the rock---do they not?

...Bryce continues on the morrow...

Panguitch, Utah. Elevation: 6624 feet... ...the name is Paiute Indian for "Big Fish" according to the lady who waited on us at the local Cafe...

2007-08-27T07:46:00.000-02:00

...this was the hotel we stayed in that night---notice the parking garage...

The Grand Canyon: North Rim... ...it's in Arizona of course...

2007-08-26T07:56:00.000-02:00

...the elevation here is said to be over 8000 feet...

...a sample of the road into and out of the North Rim area... ...there were lots of trees and large green grassy meadows ...the many Aspen trees promise bright yellows in the fall...

...just as we were leaving Zion...

2007-08-25T11:02:00.000-02:00

...now what would you do if you saw a sign like this?

Zion National Park...

2007-08-24T07:14:00.000-02:00

...the visitor's center is the place to catch the free shuttle buses that carry you into the heart of the park... ...G'Pa didn't feel up to riding a bus for the 1 hour round trip---so we didn't see that area... ...but what we did see was quite awesome!

...a bit of the typical scenery we saw while traveling through Nevada... ...the sheer BIGNESS of it all amazes a soul...

2007-08-23T07:22:00.000-02:00

...much of this country was "Open Range" territory---a watchful eye was needed to look for cattle roaming the highway...
...many times through the day we could see many miles ahead and behind us and not a car was in sight... ...when's the last time traffic was that light where you live???
...the usual speed we traveled at for nearly 600 miles that day...

...more Janesville... ...just a lookin' out the window...

2007-08-22T07:15:00.000-02:00

This is the home of my cousin Tim and his wife Laurie and their two children Andrew and Aurora... ...their home is just a short walk from Aunt Linda's...

...Laurie and Aurora chatting it up in the kitchen... ...Laurie is an old chum whom I used to work with and who played Volleyball with our group at my dad's place---there she met my cousin Tim... ...they publicly blame me for their getting together---'tis a good thing me thinks! 8~)

Janesville, Ca.

2007-08-21T09:23:00.000-02:00

...my Aunt Linda's home where we stayed several days...

...the deer would almost walk right up to you...

...I'm sure you see the deer lying down in the shade but do you see Poppa Quail and his two babies?

...Poppa Quail and the two babies coming for a drink...

Lake Almanor... ...Elevation 4500 feet...

2007-08-20T09:26:00.001-02:00

...in this photo you can just pick out Mt. Lassen (10,451 feet) in the misty background...

A Favorite place of mine...

2007-08-19T08:03:00.000-02:00

This is a very famous place called the Keddie Wye. It is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains close to a small resort town called Keddie, named for a fellow called Arthur W. Keddie who conducted the first survey for the Western Pacific RR through the Feather River Canyon in 1867... ...I first saw this bridge/trestle in the fifties as I traveled on the real California Zephyr from Oakland, Ca to Chicago,Ill. The train traveled over the right hand (south)leg of the wye crossing Spanish Creek as it made it's way eastward through the mountains in the Feather River country... ...this bridge was the meeting point of east and west bound track gangs constructing the Western Pacific RR where the "Final Spike" was driven on November 1st, 1909... ...the RR is no longer known as the Western Pacific as it became swallowed up in one of many mergers of rail roads that have continually changed the face of railroading all through American history... ...the railroad through these mountains and this bridge are now owned by the largest railroad in America---the Union Pacific...

A few of the folks we visited...

2007-08-18T10:47:00.000-02:00

...we stayed with Brad and Nancy (my Daddy's middle Brother's daughter) in Oakley, Ca...

...this is Nan with their son Chris...

...and Nan's doggie---sigh---I don't remember his name but he was a friendly fellow...

...we had a great time and dinner too with Glen & Dawn and their children in Pittsburg, Ca---from left to right: Dawn, Glen, Laurel, Leslie, Pa and Frank

The home in Danville where I grew up is GONE! This is what's happening now...

2007-08-17T09:05:00.000-02:00

We played Bocce Ball at Roy and Lee's...

2007-08-16T10:31:00.000-02:00

...and we visited with Mark & Elizabeth...
...here's Elizabeth's car that she works on herself and Drag Races too!

The California sea coast---near Pismo Beach...

2007-08-15T00:35:00.000-02:00

...yes, I got my shoes wet in the Pacific surf...

Solvang, Ca. A little town not far from the coast...

2007-08-14T10:54:00.000-02:00

...a field of flowers nearby...

At the north end of the Imperial Valley lies the Salton Sea and at the north end of the Salton Sea were groves of Date Palms...

2007-08-13T08:17:00.000-02:00

...at one of the Date Palm groves there was a gift shop with a Date sampling area... ...there were a dozen or so sample dishes of Dates prepped in various ways... ...my amiable traveling companion tried most if not all of them... ...he pronounced them goooood!

Imperial Sand Dunes Rec. Area---California

2007-08-12T09:25:00.000-02:00

Our trusty rental steed---No. We didn't try it out on/in the sand...

...the desert hills along I-8 were peopled with these big fellows in Arizona...

2007-08-11T08:30:00.000-02:00

...the food was gooooooood in Van Horn, Tx...

2007-08-10T09:11:00.000-02:00

...some of what we saw at the big bend in the Rio Grande River...

2007-08-09T10:14:00.000-02:00

YAY!!! I got to see 755 and 756...

2007-08-08T11:03:00.000-02:00

...a good place to eat if you're ever in Alpine, Tx.

2007-08-07T18:19:00.000-02:00

...as we rolled through the streets of San Antonio, Tx.

2007-08-07T17:57:00.000-02:00

Looking out the window in Janesville, Ca

2007-07-28T17:21:00.000-02:00

Hmmm...

2007-07-24T14:33:00.000-02:00

I wonder at seeing rafters on the Rio Grande---if it alerts our Border Control Folk's watchful eye...

A poem I heard today:

2007-06-17T15:53:00.000-02:00

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

by Rudyard Kipling

Peep!

2007-05-26T09:48:00.000-02:00

It's a Trust thing...

2007-05-07T08:03:00.000-02:00

...They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa 40:31 (KJV)

The Lyrics to a song I like by the Oak Ridge Boys...

2007-04-15T22:00:00.000-02:00

Thank God For Kids

If it weren't for kids Have you ever thought
There wouldn't be no Santa Claus
But, look what the stork just brought. Thank God For Kids!
And we'd all live in a quiet house,
Without Big Bird or a Mickey Mouse
Kool-Aid on the couch, Thank God For Kids!

Thank God for kids,There's magic for a while!
A special kind of sunshine in a smile;
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why?
The nearest thing to heaven is a Child!

Daddy, how does this thing fly?
And a hundred other wheres and whys
I really don't know but I try Thank God For Kids!
When I look down in those trusting eyes
That look to me, I realize
There's love that I can't buy Thank God For Kids!

Thank God for kids,There's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why
The nearest thing to heaven is a Child!

When you get down on your knees tonight,
And thank the Lord for His guiding light;
Pray they turn out right,Thank God For Kids!
Thank God For Grand Kids Too!

Recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys

Today's Sighting...

2007-03-17T17:59:00.000-02:00

What we saw in Jenkinsburg, Ga. this afternoon.

2007-03-10T12:41:00.000-02:00

Look at the birds---they don't plant or harvest or have barns to store away their food, and yet they get along all right-- for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!

Luke 12:24 (DLP)

Yes!

2007-03-03T10:42:00.000-02:00

O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
Psa. 107:1 (ASV)

Jesus said: Do not...!!!

2007-02-24T09:15:00.000-02:00

Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Matt 7:1-2 (NAS)

Ain't he cute?

2007-02-22T00:10:00.001-02:00

Words of Jesus:

2007-02-17T09:48:00.000-02:00

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matt 7:12 (NIV)

How long ago was this...?

2007-02-14T16:16:00.000-02:00

What are you doing first?

2007-02-10T11:59:00.000-02:00

...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness...
Matt 6:33 (NAS)

What can be sweeter than being named a member of God's own family?

2007-02-03T08:48:00.000-02:00

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matt 5:9 (NAS)

Where does this hunger and thirst come from?

2007-01-27T09:00:00.000-02:00

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "
Matt 5:6 (NAS)

Children learn a great deal by watching Dad & Mom...

2007-01-20T09:01:00.000-02:00

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Deut 6:5-9 (KJV)

They're just the same as always...

2007-01-13T08:40:00.000-02:00

"You shall have no other gods before Me.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

"You shall not murder.

"You shall not commit adultery.

"You shall not steal.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20: 3-17 (NAS)

Our Creator is!!!

2007-01-06T08:33:00.000-02:00

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:1 (ASV)

How do we do this?

2006-12-29T12:51:00.000-02:00

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Phil 4:5 (NKJ)

Happy Birthday Lord Jesus!

2006-12-25T20:08:00.000-02:00

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.
Isa 9:6-7 (ASV)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It is His birth we celebrate...

2006-12-23T11:46:00.000-02:00

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Rev 22: 13-14 (NAS)

This speaks...

2006-12-16T08:55:00.000-02:00

... don't ever forget that it is best to listen much and speak little...
James 1:19 (TLB)

Have you met any strangers recently?

2006-12-09T11:50:00.000-02:00

Don't forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Heb 13:2 (TLB)

Why a contrite heart?!

2006-12-02T08:45:00.000-02:00

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:3 (ASV)

Are You a Volunteer for Jesus?

2006-11-25T08:36:00.000-02:00

Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee {as} the dew.
Ps 110:3 (NAS)

I am Thankful...

2006-11-23T07:56:00.000-02:00

I am Thankful for our Merciful, Forgiving Heavenly Father who through His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has provided us with the opportunity to have Eternal Life.

I am Thankful for my wonderful wife of 33 years...

I am Thankful for my daughter Penny and her husband Nate.

I am Thankful for my son Brad and his wife Claire.

I am Thankful for all of my other "kids" too---because of them my life has been enriched more than I could ever have imagined...

Don'tchya wish there were more?

2006-11-18T11:52:00.000-02:00

What is desirable in a man is his kindness...
Prov 19:22 (NAS)

Does Worry Ever Rob You of Peace?

2006-11-11T07:45:00.000-02:00

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7 (TLB)

Do you know He cares for you?

2006-11-04T11:02:00.000-02:00

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jer 29:11 (NIV)

This is the way...

2006-10-28T12:30:00.000-02:00

Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation. For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed.
Rom 10:9- (TLB)

There is no other like Him...

2006-10-21T11:12:00.000-02:00

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NAS)

Jesus said...

2006-10-14T12:02:00.000-02:00

Your Heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you: but if you refuse to forgive them, He will not forgive you.
Matt. 6:14-15 (TLB)

Look for HIS eye...

2006-10-07T10:06:00.000-02:00

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, lest they will not come near you.
Ps 32:8-9 (NKJ)

Think Sweet...

2006-09-23T09:59:00.000-02:00

...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Phil 4:8 (NAS)

Saturday Nights...

2006-09-16T12:31:00.000-02:00

The competition is as fierce as it gets...

Black...

2006-09-01T09:30:00.000-02:00

Blue...

2006-08-31T09:23:00.000-02:00

Ain't that deep dark blue just downright gorgeous???!!!

Red...

2006-08-30T10:06:00.000-02:00

Green...

2006-08-29T10:01:00.000-02:00

Yellow!!!

2006-08-28T14:50:00.000-02:00

Since Monday is yellow---ain't this fitten??? ...Ol' 'Lanche thinks so!
See ljmax blog here.

Ice Cubes...

2006-08-15T11:45:00.000-02:00

I Like ice cubes. I like having them in whatever cold drink I have. I especially enjoy slowly crunching them one by one after I've consumed the drink. But that seems to be a problem for Mrs. RF. I can't do it when she is around for the simple reason that it drives her bonkers to hear the crunch. She told me it is just as bad as finger nails screeching down a chalk board... ...so I try very hard not to drive her bonkers---somehow life seems to be considerably more pleasant when I avoid the distinct pleasure of reducing my ice cubes to small bits in a noisy manner when she is around... ...does that make me a closet Ice Cube Cruncher???

Are there any other Ice Cube Crunchers out there???

A word...

2006-07-30T21:15:00.000-02:00

While reading a very entertaining novel a few weeks back I came upon an unfamiliar word. The author successfully gave it definition so I didn't have to stop and look it up. I am curious how many out there in blog land have come across this word and know what it means. I also would be interested to know how many of you think it a likely thing to take place some where in the course of human history. If so, will it be useful only for material goods or will people use it too?

The word is: Teleportation

What dare thee say all ye fellow bloglanders?

My Son...

2006-07-28T11:06:00.000-02:00

My son was born on July the 28th, 1977. From that day to this he has made me proud to be his dad. He is a man of excellant character, he holds good principles, he makes wise decisions, he's a hard worker and best of all he is my friend... ...let it be known to all---I love him!

Happy Birthday, Brad!!!

Express your Birthday wishes at: http://bradandclaire.blogspot.com/

A sign I saw...

2006-07-19T10:48:00.000-02:00

There are three kinds of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can't.

Warning:

2006-07-16T10:54:00.000-02:00

While eating our breakfast this morning the Lady of my ol' ranch hoose was a-readin' the label on a jar of Wal-Mart brand Crunchy Peanut Butter. Just below the list of ingredients in smallish print it said: Allergy Warning: Contains Peanuts.
We hope that all folks out there who have a Peanut Allergy and purchase Peanut Butter will be sure to read the label...

On July 8th, 1974, I became a daddy...

2006-07-08T10:15:00.000-02:00

On July 8th, 1974 I became a daddy for the first time! On that day my most favoritest daughter was born in Winchester, Virginia. She amazed me completely! She continued to amaze me as the years went by. She still amazes me and I fully expect she will continue to amaze me without end!
Like any man there were times when I needed to learn to have a more gentle heart. In a multitude of ways and a multitude of times my little girl melted my heart and taught me gentleness.
Penny girl, I love you!!! Have a Happy, Happy, Birthday!!! I wish you only the very best things this day and for all the days to come!!!

Please send Penny your Birthday wishes at: http://apennysthoughts.blogspot.com/

Quiet, Please!!!

2006-06-28T12:57:00.000-02:00

I'm supposin' that most folks have noticed as I have how very difficult it is to find a place where it is truly quiet. It seems that everywhere you go there is always something man is doing or is man made that is making noise. On many of our public transportation conveyances and even our automobiles noise has been a very significant problem that engineers have been tackling. They have made great strides in trying to reduce the problem but haven't been able to eliminate it completely. What they have done in some cases is to add even more noise! Yep! They call it white noise. A supposedly more agreeable noise to mask obnoxious noises. Imagine that!
Even in nature there is considerable noise. Birds chirruping and the wind blowing to mention only a couple of things. Yes! I have actually been awakened out of a sound sleep by the raucous chatter of birds at the crack of dawn on a Sabbath morning! Have you ever wished you could have it truly quiet for at least a little while? I have!
Now I know how some folks enjoy having something happening around them all the time. They like having a radio going or the TV and some even say they study better with a little music going. In many stores and restaurants there is what some refer to as supermarket music playing. There are some people who like having a radio going when they try to go to sleep. All that is OK with me but it isn't what I would prefer all the time. I enjoy a great many different kinds of sounds as much as anyone. Chopin's 1st piano concerto, a bit of country music, the sound of a good running V8 engine or the gorgeous sound of a V16 diesel locomotive or the screams of happy children or the plaintiff cry of a small kitten to name just a few. I would like to include in my list of sounds the lovely sound of quiet.
When I am able to have it quiet I find it so much easier to think. I read something awhile back by a person of intellectual renown expressing his observation of how there seemed to be less reflective thinking among people of the modern generations. I hope this isn't really true, but I do wonder how people can think with so much noise in the air.
I personally find it necessary to have regular times of quiet to achieve and maintain a quiet spirit. For me I find it necessary to have a quiet spirit in order to hear God's voice. Many people over the years have asked me the question, How do I hear or know God's voice or will? There is no doubt that God is able to make Himself heard or make His will known in any venue and will do so at times. But for me I find I hear God's voice speaking to my heart most often when I am regularly spending time quietly doing prayerful reflective thinking on His word with all of the world's clamour shut out.

T'other day...

2006-06-20T11:06:00.000-02:00

Ol' 'Lanche and I woke up early t'other day and we decided we'd just take us a little ride on down to Locust Grove just a few miles south from our ol' ranch. We moseyed right along next to ol' hiway 23 right on into town. Automobiles don't bother Ol' 'Lanche none like they do some hosses even when they toot their tooters and folks wave. You'd think folks had never seen a cowpoke ridin' hoss back before the way they act sometimes.
I hadn't had breakfast yet so when we got into town we stopped at the Grover Hotel on main street for a bite. I tied Ol' 'Lanche to the porch railin', tied his feed bag on him, sauntered on inside and perched my Ten Gallon on the available rack. I told Betty Sue I wanted to set near the front window so's I could see out as usual and she said ok. I gave her my order and she brought me out what I axed fer. Four aigs easy turned with a bowl o' grits and a two pound slab o' Top Sirloin done medium well. I topped thet off with a tall stack o' flapjacks with real butter oozin' everywhere and a great puddle of genuine Maple syrup. Of course I had coffee lest you was wonderin'---seems like that would go without sayin'...
I moseyed on out to the front porch when I was finished eatin' and sat myself down in one of the several wooden rockin' chairs to watch the automobile traffic roll by and catch a little snooze.
That's aboot the time when along came three younguns mebbe seventeen or so years old. Peerin' out from under my lowered hat brim I could see 'em eye ballin' Ol' 'Lanche with mischief in their eyes. Now I knowed Ol' 'Lanche has always taken good care of hisself so I just kept my peace and waited to watch the show. Sure nuff the shortish fellar pulled the feed bag off and tossed it on the ground. The taller rangy one untied 'Lanche and climbed into the saddle and proceeded to kick him sayin' giddap or some such thing and Ol' 'Lanche took a few slow steps and that's when it happened. He hunched his back a mite like I'd seen him do before and suddenly gave a hefty buck and off tumbled thet rangy bloke right into the street. 'Lanche then turned and ran at the short fellar and hit him with his shoulder a light tap knockin' him flat on his back in the dust. Ol' 'Lanche just calmly stood there and looked to me like he was almighty pleased with hisself.
Well, it seems the long rangy dude hadn't had enough yet. He'd picked hisself up some stones and was makin' like to throw them at 'Lanche. I decided aboot then to get involved. I stood up and told said rangy dude I reckoned he'd had enough fun and it was time to find sumpthin' else to do fer entertainment. He turned and looked at me and using a bad word or two remarked upon my advanced years. I could see clearly he wasn't aboot to stop his idear of wingin' stones at 'Lanche so I thought it was time to show him the handy hawgleg I carry for discouraging pesky varmints and suggest he choose a different form of entertainment. He gave me an invite to a low down place of great heat and commenced to chuck them stones. Now I ain't a hasty man to start trouble or get in the way of it. But since this trouble came along right at me uninvited like I thought I'd just better end it. So I proceeded to pull the trigger on my ol' .44 and duly sent a large chunk of soft lead into the stone in that fellar's right hand. The rock sorta exploded into small pieces and the shock of the striking bullet stung his arm enough to make him howl a mite. But he stopped his sportin' activities partly due to the pain in his arm and partly because his partners in mischief had long since hightailed it for different scenery. He decided to foller off after them at a fairly rapid rate. I paused to wonder what he'd think if I'd a-told him I was aimin' ta knock his hat off and missed...
Aboot then up drove the Henry County deputy sheriff in his brand new dark gray Chevrolet Avalanche with it's fancy emblem on the door and all lights a-flashin'. He moseyed on up to me and said howdy Mr. P. and I said howdy there Jimmy. He asked what happened. I told him. He smiled and allowed how young folks sometimes choose to learn simple things the hard way. I said I reckoned so. We shook hands and he climbed back into his truck and departed. I mounted Ol' 'Lanche and we went home. "All things considered", I said to Ol' 'Lanche, "it ain't been too bad a day." I sorta got the idear Ol' 'Lanche agreed...

Still here...

2006-06-12T13:48:00.000-02:00

It's been awhile since I've done a post so I thought I'd reassure folks that I'm still up and around and able to take in nourishment but have scarcely the strength of a louse (to quote a good friend of my maternal grandfather). Most of my days seem to pass in a more or less amiable fashion. In other words, I ain't got nothin' legit ta complain aboot. Quite the contrary actually!

We attended a well attended wedding near Tampa, Fla recently. It was great seeing J & F get hitched and wonderful to see so many friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in many years! We had an enjoyable trip to and from the event. We arrived home just in time to see that last dozen or so laps of the Indy 500.

Have you ever noticed how much the Human Race seems to enjoy a good race? I'll betchya there are more kinds of racing done than any three people could collectively come up with in a three hour concentrated effort to do so. Personally I've enjoyed various kinds of car racing. I remember my earliest visit to a dirt track in a place called Pacheco, Ca. My Dad and My Uncle David took me there to my first car race---I remember a blue car winning when the wheel came off the white car in the lead and the crowd cheered! I was pretty young at the time... ...the track there is gone having yeilded its real estate to the ever growing network of Interstate highways.

To this day my favorite form of car racing is Oval dirt track 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile with a class of cars named by some as Super Modifieds---some call them Outlaws. They are an open wheeled racer with a large wing on top of the car and one on the nose. The engines are usually Chevy small blocks that develop between 650 and 750 horsepower and all that in a car that barely weighs 1200 lbs! Twenty or more of these cars on a small oval dirt track make for some real adrenaline rush viewing when they get down to serious racing!

I also enjoy Horse racing. No. I don't do any bettin' on them! I especially enjoy races such as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. These being the races that make up the Triple Crown should a single horse win them in any given year. These horses can only run them once in their lives as a Three year old. In the 125 year history of Triple Crown horse racing in this country only 11 horses have won all three races and none since 1978.

There are many other kinds of racing I enjoy also, such as events held at the Family Convention at Fairwood each year, Olympic events and many others.

What kind(s) of racing do you all enjoy?