I was in California toward the end February 2020 planning a trip with friends for later that year to some of the less-visited National Parks in that state. About that time, word was spreading about a virus, originating in China, that had the potential to spread across the planet. As I was settling into my seat for the flight back to Tampa,…
Random Stuff
Runway Light Bulbs
During the corporate phase of my work-life, I was with the hosiery division of the Sara Lee Corporation – I know, hosiery and Sara Lee pastry doesn’t quite add up. Two years before I joined them in 1981, Hanes Corp (consisting of Hanes Knitting – think underwear, t-shirts, athletic wear, etc. and Hanes Hosiery – nylon stockings, socks and L’eggs products) became part…
My Tattoos
Tattooing has been practiced across the globe since the stone age. According to Britannica, the oldest discovery of tattooed human skin to date may have been found on the body of Ötzi the Iceman, “an ancient mummified human body that was found by a German tourist, Helmut Simon, on the Similaun Glacier in the Tirolean Ötztal Alps, on the Italian-Austrian border, on September 19, 1991. His…
My Brother
As with most folks, my family members share with the others whenever they see a TV series or movie they think the others might like – especially over the last several months as we’re all hunkered down during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the last day of 2020, my son shared a link to the movie Uncle Frank saying, “Made me think of Uncle Carl…
25 Years Later
To celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, Joanna and I spent several days taking in the sights of Paris. That week in April of 1995 was a rainy one, but we didn’t let that keep us from soaking up (pun intended!) all that The City of Light had to offer. In her journal, Joanna described my anniversary gift to her (pictured…
The Warrior Games
The Department of Defense Warrior Games were established in 2010. The Games’ stated purpose is to “enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill and injured service members and expose them to adaptive sports. The Games encourage them to stay physically active when they return to their local communities, and inspire and promote opportunities for growth and achievement.” Britain’s Prince…
“Wanna Take a Road Trip?”
In the 1990’s, our son and his young family decided to relocate from northern California to North Carolina. Our daughter-in-law and very young granddaughter flew east. Rob & I drove the 2,700 miles in a U-Haul truck, pulling their car behind. We’ve always looked back (kinda) fondly on that adventure as “our road trip”. Fast forward 25 years: Rob called and…
Fire & Water
The Thomas fire, the largest in California’s modern recorded history, began on December 4, 2017. Before it was finally contained on January 12, 2018, it burned more than 280,000 acres; claimed just over 1,000 structures and resulted in two deaths – one civilian and one of the more than 2,800 firefighters who battled the blaze. The areas heavily impacted were in…
Where’s The Brisket?
In our 45 years together, I don’t recall Joanna ever serving brisket – maybe she did, I just don’t remember it. Fast forward several years… Rob is living in Dallas. On one of my visits, he remarked how Texans are in love with their brisket. On another visit, the girls’ school had a fundraiser at one of the many BBQ restaurants. I had…
Close Cover Before Striking!
Several years ago, I started saving matchbooks and matchboxes. Up until the early 1990’s they were ubiquitous – restaurants, hotels, bars, gas stations, convenience stores, etc. offered them. As the country woke up to the dangers of smoking, these give-away matches are almost non-existent today – gone the way of public telephones, LP records, cassette tapes and VHS recordings. After breaking my nasty…