LOST AT BIRTH - 9 1/2 OUNCES
04/06/05 01:05 PM
I swear, I do my best thinking in a prone position. I awoke this morning real early, 0500, and as usual I couldn't get back to sleep. My brain kicked into high gear, and I began thinking of the best ways to solicit funds for our WWII memorial. My mind kept telling me that there are 700 names to be inscribed on it. That means there are 700 families out there whose loved ones will be memorized for generations to come.
Like I mentioned before, when I went to school, 700 X 100 = 70,000. I don't think it has changed, has it? I wish it were that simple.
As I laid there, I said to myself, "Hey, wait a minute! It can be done." I have 10 committee members, and each of them has a phone at home. Give each member a list of 70 names, call these families at your leisure, Introduce yourself and inform them who you are, and who you represent.
Give them the name of the veteran, who may be one of their relatives, and inform them that you are checking on the correct spelling of the veteran's name. After you have verified the spelling, inform them of the price of the memorial, $100,000, and that we are hoping that the families of these veterans will make a donation to the project.
Perfect opening of the door, to get your foot in. The village of Canastota is an old village. Families have lived here for generations. When you call a person with the same last name, 9 times out of 10 they are related in some manner. How can they refuse to honor one of their own? I think I have something. What say you???
This will keep me occupied for awhile, getting my mind off politicians and their schedules. I really shouldn't complain too much, I believe we're doing pretty well with incoming donations. But, by the same token, we can't afford to become complacent. We have to keep focused on our goal. We don't have it, until we have it. I'll take a dollar wherever I can get it.
"All Hands, turn to" Let's get to work.
Confidence is half the battle, they tell me. All we have to do is win the second half.
I have never been one to have a negative attitude. I have always looked at the positive side of any question, or situation.
I have tried hard, in my simple ways, of instilling that attitude in our children.
Speaking of our children, Commander Dave attempted to inform me that I had better check with his Mother as to how much he weighted at birth. I stand corrected, he did not weigh 10 pounds, 2 ounces; he weighted 10 pounds 2 and a half ounces.
You can quit trying to lose that other 9 and one half ounces, Dave, you never had it. I knew about the half ounce I left off, but I didn't want to embarrass you. As for your "funny" shaped head, I knew you gave Mom a battle, and I was the proudest Dad in the world when you were born.
Not to say that I wasn't proud when the other 6 children came along. I was proud to be the father of all 7 of you. Each of you, in your own manner, and ways, have made Mom and I so very, very proud.
You guys, are a very close knit group of siblings. You're love for one another has been shown, and proven, throughout the years. Always stay that way. Be there, for one another.
Remember me always as a father who loved you very dearly. I missed a whole year of your lives by going back to sea for a year in 1966. I could have retired while I was on Recruiting Duty, but being a sailor, I wanted to retire at sea. I guess I was being selfish, thinking only of myself. For that I ask your forgiveness.
That too, comes with age. You grow smart, too late in life. If I had to do it over, I would have stayed home and retired while on shore duty. You can't change things that have occurred in the past. The future lies ahead, and I intend to live the rest of my life for my family. I am a proud old sailor, who considers himself a Patriot. "My Country Right or Wrong - My Country."
I had better get off my soap box. Every now and then I find myself reminiscing, when I should be looking to what lies ahead. You will have to excuse me.
The time is 1400 and I really am tired. I walked for over 2 hours this morning over at Wal Marts. I had better take my afternoon nap and sign off for now. So, God Bless and Keep the Faith. Sailor Jack
SCHEDULES - WHO NEEDS THEM
03/06/05 07:07 PM
Just past 1700 hours and I am finished with my cribbage games for the evening. I won the match beating Moshe 9 games to 1. The winner. and still champ, Sailor Jack! How about that.
I have nothing better to do this evening as Frisco is napping on the couch. I took her out to din din about 1645. We enjoyed a pleasant meal and came straight home.
It's been a very hot day, and when it gets that warm it snaps your strength. I took a nap myself early this afternoon for a couple of hours before going out to dinner. I didn't get a nap in yesterday, and it took it's toll on me later in the evening. At 2130 my eyes were getting heavy. I was doing my best to watch the baseball game but it was a losing battle. Frisco woke me up at 2215 and informed me that it was time for night-night. I didn't argue with her, she knows what best for me.
Went to the "Y" early this morning. I arrived before 0900, and felt pretty good so I boosted the pressure on the bike peddles to the top of the scale. When I had completed my bike ride the computer recorded me as having traveled 20.3 miles, burnt up 630 calories, all in the time of 32 minutes.
When I finished my bike ride I went to the leg curls and did 3 reps of 12 each with 70 pounds of weight. There are two machines I use for my leg curls. One you pull the weights down with your legs, the other you push the weights up with your legs. At any rate, I do 36 reps on each machine.
I then went over and tightened up my stomach muscles. I set the weights on this machine at 100 pounds and do 200, I call them belly smackers. You sit on the machine, push down the weight, sit upright, and push down again. I do this 200 times. When I am done, I have completed all my exercise routine I have been at it for an hour, or so.
That's when I go to Wal Mart and walk up and down and around the aisles for hour or two, depending on which day of the week it is. This morning I walked for an hour.
I stopped off at our Congressman's local office to see if his secretary had heard anything about his schedule, as yet, for the next couple weeks. Trying to get politicians to commit to a specific date is like pulling teeth -- they don't like to do it. They think they are the only ones that have important things to do. "Let me to check my schedule." Then you sit back and wait.
Well, I have to tend to my schedule also. A person can wait only so long before they have to take the bull by the horns and do what has to be done. I would love to have him here for the ground breaking. It's good for PR purposes, not only for our project, but also for letting his constituents know that he is interested and involved, in what is happening in his district.
I am a patient man, and will wait until Wednesday or Thursday. If I don't hear from the congressman by then, I"ll go with the groundbreaking on Friday, June 17th. I need time to inform the local TV stations, and to get TV coverage I need BIG NAMES. Any volunteers out there?
I'm sure everything will work out alright, but time has a way of getting away on you. We are already in the month of June and before we know it, we will be smack in the middle of winter. We have to get the foundation in this summer, or in fall at the latest.
We haven't even got the stakes in place for the foundation. The surveyor tells us he has been busy, and will get to it the first part of next week. I'll be breathing down his neck on Monday. Like I said, everyone has their own schedule.
We have two monument companies bidding the job. I will be contacting another one Monday, and we will be ready to commit the job to one of them the first week of August. Hopefully that will give them, whoever gets the job, time to inscribe all the names on the granite, and have them ready for placement in early spring.
I'm glad that I am not in business anymore. I don't think I could stand the pressure. I use to do my best work under pressure, but when you become an elder statesman, you slow down. It gives you more time to think, and when you start thinking, you find fault with everything. You begin to understand problems, and you have time on yours hands, so you sit down, and find fault with whatever somebody is doing.
When I was in sales, I visited a lot of high office buildings. When I reached the top floor, and looked down on the busy streets below, I observed cars coming and going, north, east, south and west. The people on the streets were busy, going hither and yon. Everyone had a mission. Everyone was saying to themselves, "Out of my way -- I'm the most important person there is." But to me they looked like an army of ants going around in circles.
Life is what you make of it, I guess. I enjoy what I am engaged with at this period of time. There are people in life that -- well -- that's s different subject that I won't allow myself to be drawn into at this time. Let it suffice to say, "to each his own".
I'll have to remind myself not to turn my back too often. You never know who, or what, lurks around the corner.
Well you wonderful people out there in cyber space, it has been nice, as usual, chatting with you. One of these days I may have the good fortune of hearing from some of you. I think I am easy to get along with, if you have some spare time and feel inclined why not drop me a line.
Frisco has arose, and is in her sewing room doing her thing. I'm calling it an evening. I am going to sit back in my recliner and relax before I hit the sack. Good night my friends, God Bless, Pray for Peace. Remember to Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack