Now that your unpacked and got to test drive the area for a bit, encountered some locals and yokels, and hopefully some actual people that moved to the area from your home town or state its time to list the likes you have of your new or semi-new, or heck if the area is your native home than by all means and ways list what you like! Y'all got it? Well here goes!
Weather! You like or not!
Year round flowers!
Long springs!
Longer Autumns!
Shorts year round! For the hearty ones that is.
Variety of sub divisions to chose from!
Snow is a neat event versus a ho-hum not again event!
No rust on older cars! Amazing if your from the Northeast!
Can fish year round without cutting holes in the water (ice) for us North Easterners!
Pretty country side is usually only 5 minutes or less from where you live anywhere in the triangle.
People R People. No matter what they say!
Day trip to Mountains!
Day trip to Ocean!
And in a lot cases no trip at all to the many lakes, ponds, river, and streams that spot the area!
Good food can be had by all and more is always welcome irregardless if they are called viddles or pickins!
Out away from the city lights the sky at night explodes with the many stars that fill the emptiness of space with the occasional flying star to catch a dream or two on!
Groceries can be cheaper but we all have to eat!
Sure it takes time to get use to this place, remember the place you came from was called home and that is never a easy place to replace! But give it time, explore the area and get involved and this place too will be your new home not only in name but in feeling!
May the triangle, RDU, RTP, Crossroads, the Quay, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Zebulon, Oxford, Mossisville, Franklinton, Youngsville, Chapel Hill, Henderson, ...seems like I am forgetting somewhere.
...????......Oh yea! and Cary, be with you!
Oh Tarheels! I forgot to number the above as I did say I would count thy ways!
Weather! You like or not!
Year round flowers!
Long springs!
Longer Autumns!
Shorts year round! For the hearty ones that is.
Variety of sub divisions to chose from!
Snow is a neat event versus a ho-hum not again event!
No rust on older cars! Amazing if your from the Northeast!
Can fish year round without cutting holes in the water (ice) for us North Easterners!
Pretty country side is usually only 5 minutes or less from where you live anywhere in the triangle.
People R People. No matter what they say!
Day trip to Mountains!
Day trip to Ocean!
And in a lot cases no trip at all to the many lakes, ponds, river, and streams that spot the area!
Good food can be had by all and more is always welcome irregardless if they are called viddles or pickins!
Out away from the city lights the sky at night explodes with the many stars that fill the emptiness of space with the occasional flying star to catch a dream or two on!
Groceries can be cheaper but we all have to eat!
Sure it takes time to get use to this place, remember the place you came from was called home and that is never a easy place to replace! But give it time, explore the area and get involved and this place too will be your new home not only in name but in feeling!
May the triangle, RDU, RTP, Crossroads, the Quay, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Zebulon, Oxford, Mossisville, Franklinton, Youngsville, Chapel Hill, Henderson, ...seems like I am forgetting somewhere.
...????......Oh yea! and Cary, be with you! Oh Tarheels! I forgot to number the above as I did say I would count thy ways!
Wake Forest, Gosh its a pretty nive place to live!
Posted 03-09-2009 at 08:59 PM by dansdrive
Wake Forest, NC. located in Wake County NC. Some call it Wake's Forest of the Triangle....Ok maybe that's just me. But if you come from the North East, Wake Forest seems to fit. It has some rolling hills and many farming areas.
It has a small town feel but close to Raleigh, you could be down town Raleigh, depending on time of day in about 15 to 30 minutes. You can be at the Virginia border in less than an hour.
It has old Historical homes and some new subdivisions. It certainly worth a look see if your looking and seeing the area. It has transplants from New Jersey, New York, and many other NE State and Mid West and California and....well you get the idea people from all over this great country now calls Wake Forest home!
C'mon down, over, left, or right and check it out you may just like what you see.
It has a small town feel but close to Raleigh, you could be down town Raleigh, depending on time of day in about 15 to 30 minutes. You can be at the Virginia border in less than an hour.
It has old Historical homes and some new subdivisions. It certainly worth a look see if your looking and seeing the area. It has transplants from New Jersey, New York, and many other NE State and Mid West and California and....well you get the idea people from all over this great country now calls Wake Forest home!
C'mon down, over, left, or right and check it out you may just like what you see.
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Monday August 26, 2013 and its a wonderful 56.1 degrees outside heading on up to a high of 86 degrees with plenty of sun and plenty of sad faces as its the start of the traditional school calendar here in the south land. Summer vacation has come to an end and far to soon for the students and not a day to early for the parents I suppose.
Brings back a many a memories of my first day of school. In the elementary days, I can remember the first day of kindergarten. Half days back then and our moms brought us to school. My older siblings were already at the school so I was the last one to enter. I will never forget how many kids cried that they did not want their moms to leave. My best friend was one of them. I could not figure out why. This classroom was cool! We had giant crayons and along one wall there was a play kitchen area and all kinds of neat things to explore. I remember we did a half of year of early starts and a half year of afternoon starts. The first day of kindergarten is all I remember of that year. Than it was onto first grade and second and so on and so on. I do remember bringing in roses to the teachers on the first day. My Mom had a real rose garden with many different colors and us kids got to bring flowers in that first day. For my sisters that was pretty cool but for me, a guy.....oh man!! That was rough.
I also remember seeing friends on those first days of school that I had not seen all summer. That was the time to size up as they say your competition. Who grew over the summer, who got faster, who got better looking, that last one was really for Middle and High school. For elementary school it was all about who was the fastest in the class in running and who was the strongest. It sure was a blast and I wish all the kids starting the new school year all the best!!!
Quote of the day from John Dewey:
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
Happy Monday, Happy First day of school, Happy for this past weekend and Happy to the one above that make it all possible.
Song of the day......Heartlight!.......Kenny Loggins - Heartlight (with lyrics) - YouTubePosted 08-26-2013 at 05:37 AM by dansdrive
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August 30, 2013 and its was a high of 86 degrees and settled into 71.1 degrees now. This week went by so very fast. Finally get to take a breather and decided to post. The long Labor Day weekend is here.....Sweet!
Sweet for the 3 day weekend. Sweet for the having the employment to recognize and be thankful for the Labor Day. Sweet to remember back to the days growing when he Labor Day weekend was the last big Hoo-Raw for the summer time off. Sweet to give thanks to the one above who made everything we do even possible...
Which brings me to an interesting Labor Day thought...as per Wikipedia....Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September, that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.
If you are a worker....are you working on Labor day? Taking care of those that can't take care of themselves, or Police, Fireman, and Emergency Operators. Yeah I can see that. All others....Hmmmm. Kind of hard to celebrate your contribution to the economic and social well being of our great country when your working, No?
One would think more businesses would close and let their workers celebrate the day our Federal Government officially recognizes as the day you should enjoy. So to those that will be laboring on the day you earned I say, Thank You!
Quote of the day by Ulysses S. Grant:
" Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor."
Happy Friday and I know you are not the ones that disgraces labor and for that I Thank You!
Song of the weekend including Monday....Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen tons - YouTube
Have a Happy and Safe Holiday weekend! :0Posted 08-30-2013 at 07:45 PM by dansdrive
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Tuesday September 3, 2013 and its 72.3 degrees outside rumbling and thundering up to 90 degrees with some sprinkled in sunshine. Well another Labor Day tucked into the memory banks of our life's journey.
It was a busy one of just running errands. Nothing really done around the property as it was really to hot and humid to do allot of outside work. It was a bitter sweet weekend in retrospect. Sweet for the three day weekend but bitter for the news on the young man I was trying ot help with his addiction to illicit drugs. Turned out he never finished his 30 day drug rehab program. Checked his self out and went to his mom's. Things were going good for a couple of days, in fact they were down right positive until... He was caught in the bathroom shooting up as they say. Things tumbled from there, I was told and now he is back out in the streets looking for his next high. In sharp contrast there is nothing lower that knowing that for him, his mother, and his family. For the families going through that I have gained new insight and respect.
What I have learned thus far; for the addict lying is the truth in their minds, interpersonal relationships with family and friends is very compartmentalized. They separate all of us into categorizes. Some to be high with, some to lie to, some to cheat, some to just simply avoid....so sad.
I also give thanks to the one above for the direction and fortitude I was given not to do drugs and thus far my children. Even though they are grown up one never is far from the evils of drugs, both illicit and prescribed, and alcohol. What a scourge of the human body and soul. So sad, so very sad. But there is always hope and prayers. Hope this young man sees the light of the world and drive the evil from his life's habits. Prayers for him and the countless others that the dignity of life itself and helping others is far more important than being the one that needs the help. They have so much to offer this Topsy turfy world we all live in.....they just don't realize it!
Quote of the day from Isaiah 48:17 NIV:
" This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."
Happy Tuesday, Happy to be free from the evils of drugs, Helpful to the ones that need our help! Who will you help today?
Song of the day....sing it now......The Capris -There's a moon out tonight - YouTube
Posted 09-03-2013 at 06:45 AM by dansdrive
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Wednesday September 4, 2013 and its down to 72.8 degrees from the high of 91 degrees. No rain but some scattered clouds. The scattered clouds is what my mind was like today. Last evening my mom called with the sad news that one of my Uncles had passed away. The uncle I had written about many times in my Blog who we camped with and fished with.
My uncle was a special person. He never married and was a bit of a mommas boy I suppose. He worked everyday from his school boy day till be was about 6 years old. He always worked in the shoe manufacturing business at least up to the point that it left the US. After that he formally retired. My Grandmother has passed and he got the family home. He lived a life of solitude for the most part. He had a few close friends and family of coarse. He was the youngest of 9 children and growing up his was one of my youngest uncles. he was 27 years my senior but we always had a bond with fishing and camping. He was a funny guy, not splashy just humble. He loved to talk about politicians and those women in Nanticoke Pa. Never quit knew what he meant by that but he did and that is all that mattered.
He enjoyed kicking back having a beer or two and listening to the radio. He knew all the Polka channels. He enjoyed buying things in pairs. I remember as a kid digging out his basement bucketful by bucketful so it could be a finished basement. He made one section into his fishing equipment. He had more lures hanging on the way than some sporting goods store. Don't think they ever hit the water but you had to know my uncle to appreciate his idiosyncrasies.
He was a true American from a yester-year. He taught me right from wrong and to smile even though I may not want to. He kept life simple and pure. He will be missed by all of us but his memories will last my life time and all he encountered.
Quote of the day by Mark Twain:
“I was standing in our dining-room thinking of nothing in particular, when a cablegram was put into my hand. It said, 'Susy was peacefully released today.'
It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live.”
Happy Wednesday, Happy to honor the life of my uncle and say in great honor thanks for everything uncle.
In tribute to my uncle my song of the day is.......Frankie Yankovic And His Accordion -- Beer Barrel Polka (VintageMusic.es) - YouTubePosted 09-04-2013 at 08:15 PM by dansdrive
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Friday September 6, 2013 and its 61.2 degrees outside heading on up to 81 nice degrees. Plenty of sun and a bit cooler than the last few days. These were the tough days back in my school days. Still summer temperatures and back in school. All the schools I went to were not air conditioned so they would get pretty hot in there.
The teachers would open the classroom windows but that was the best they could do. They did give us more frequent water fountain breaks. When I went through school we did not have soda machines in the schools. My grade school never even served lunch till I was in 5th grade. Lunch consist of a brought in plastic try that one could chose to have a hot dog or a hamburger or a slice of pizza. The delivered lunches were on Friday's only to start and I believe that was the start of the school lunch programs.
Our Jr/Sr High school had a cafeteria but most kids brought there own lunch from home. Most did not have the money to buy lunch everyday and free and reduced lunches were not in vogue yet. Yet somehow my generation survived. Amazingly enough absenteeism was not an issue as no kid ever wanted the trune officer showing up at their house to bring us back to school. That would be a fate worse than steeling from someone. Times sure have changed........
Quote of the day from Benjamin Franklin:
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do."
Happy Friday, Happy to be part of the era called the Baby Boomers in America, Happy to have had the opportunities and experience of a different time in America when a persons words and actions meant something more than just words and actions.
Song of the day....enjoy....Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight - YouTubePosted 09-06-2013 at 06:16 AM by dansdrive
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Sunday September 15, 2013 and its 65 degrees down from the high of 82 degrees. A truly spectacular weekend weather wise. Friday night had some friends over a enjoyed the bonfire till about 12:45 AM for me but it went on till about 3 AM is what I was told. A full bag of marshmallows were roasted over the hot flames. One individual really was getting into roasting those marshmallows. As if for the time they were roasting them they had a rush of memories come back from their childhood in southern California.
A lot of wood was expended on that bonfire but far more words were exchanged between all of us. Pretty darn awesome! It brought back a lot of memories for me too. Last week my Uncle that we use to camp with had passed away in a nursing home. So many stories came to mind about his life and the time spent with him and my Dad and cousin around our campfires. My uncle was one of those guys that loved to talk politics and always had names for the politicians. I remember some of them, like Pennsylvania had Governor Milton Shapp at the time and he called him Uncle Milty. Nixon was tricky Dick. He never married and I can't ever remember a time he had a girlfriend so fishing and just hanging out was his deal. He truly enjoyed hitting the lake after a days work on a Friday and camping out. Kicking back with a few beers, the Polka's or country music playing on his battery operated radio with the campfire burning brightly in the nights air. Yea, I will truly miss him now that he has been called home.
I have not been posting the last couple of weeks due to my work has been busy as a slot machine in Vegas and this week I am on the road so may not get to post to my Blog but we will see.
Quote of the day from 1 John 4:16 NIV:
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
Happy Sunday and Happy to give glory and praise to the one above because he makes all things possible....all things!
Song of the day.....sing along and who doesn't....Alphaville - Forever Young ~Official Video - YouTube
Posted 09-15-2013 at 08:56 PM by dansdrive
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Friday, September 20, 2013 and its 62.5 degrees outside heading on up to 84 degrees party sunny skies. Very nice! Where did the week go. It went into the upper mid west, the days were long but the good people of the mid west made it all worth it. There is truly some great people that live in the Minnesota and Wisconsin stated! Friendly and wholesome is the best way I can express it. But as they say there is no place like home.
I started a new book last week that I have been reading as I get time. It is by Alf J. Mapp, Jr. named "The FAITHS of OUR FATHERS'. Each Chapter is one one of the founding father and what as best historians and autobiographers could ascertain the religious belief's or lack their of our founding fathers possessed. I picked the book up at Barns and Noble for like $6.98. Its interesting and some of the information I have read before about the founding fathers. Bottom line irregardless of their beliefs they sure created a pretty awesome country.
One thing I am impressed with regarding the founding fathers is the eloquence they spoke with back in those days. Good gracious if we spoke that way today we would be deemed a geek or brain-iack. They had a passion for this country that few had and very few since than. They were not perfect in themselves but created a near perfect system of self government. But in the end they knew that self government only works when its citizens are educated to understand reason. As in most things the creators understand the flaws and weaknesses of their creations. Even our creator knew the flaw of man was Sin.
Hard to believe the end of September is right around the corner. Sun shall set on the summer next week and Autumn shall begin. Our memories of summer will be locked away for the right future moment that adds that smile to our face or a tear to our check. The ones that warms our souls through the cold winter days and night before the dawn of spring.....the cycle repeats again and again and that is pretty dawn sweet!
Quote of the day by Patrick Henry:
"Reader! whoever thou art, remember this; and in Thy sphere, practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others."
Happy Friday and WOW! Mr. Henry was a great orator and not really known for his softer side....please re-read his quote above, it speaks volumes of what we are so lacking in this great country of ours....
Song of the day, its a repeat but I sure like it...Waiting For A Star To Fall - Boy Meets Girl - HQ Video - YouTube
P.S. I ask the one above to guide the readers of this Blog the strength, courage, and fortitude to exhibit virtues in their walk of life this day and always!Posted 09-20-2013 at 07:57 AM by dansdrive
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Monday September 23, 2013 and it is 53.3 degrees outside heading on up to 73 sunny degrees. For the first full day of Autumn its a keeper! Another weekend has come and gone. I did not do much this weekend. Saturday I spend some time burring my Satellite cable that goes from the house to the dish. It's about 30 feet between the two. The wire as only a couple of inches below the service and in one spot its was actually exposed.
I am having the lawn aerated and seeded this fall and last fall they managed to cut the cable and I did not want that to happen again so I placed it between 8 inches and a foot below the surface. My soil is hard clay and it was a bugger to dig by hand but it got done. Last night built a nice big bonfire and let the evening slip away like sand through an hour glass. Except this hour glass was a couple of hours long. It was a beautiful autumn night. The leave cover was over the fire pit so the rising blue smoke had to navigate its way through the leaves and up into the nights sky. The fire burned brightly but not as bright as the thoughts racing through our minds and conversation. There is something about a fireside chat with family and friends or just between you and the one above. It is something that has played out since fire was invented. It also gives me a chance to burn up the old dead limbs that fall around the property as well as the ones I trim back.
The topic of conversation last evening was our public school system. The stark contrast from the days we used it to what it has become today. It seems to speak volumes of our society changes more than our school system changes. One can say our school as always represents out society. Here are a few of the changes we witnessed. In our day, and we came from poor to middle class inner city surroundings. Our parents feed us breakfast, albeit a piece of toast with real butter and jam on it. Today a high percentage get a school supplied nutritious government approved breakfast at little to no cost. Our homework was done mostly in school as we did not have the luxury of back packs. We carried our book in our arms. It was a neighborhood school so we went home for munch or Mom packed us a lunch to eat in the classroom. Our school did not have a lunch room. Today most kids get a school supplied nutritious government approved lunch at little to no cost. To start the school day, and this was a honor, kids were chosen to raise the flag out front of the two story school house. At the end of the day two or three other kids lowered to flag, folded it and put it away under the supervision of one of the teachers.
We had our classrooms, a Gym, and a blacktop paved playground for recess. Today kids have all that plus real grass for a playground and play equipment, a resource room, and a computer room. We also had a set of caring parents that were typically not on drugs nor in jail. Who saw that we were feed and prepared for school. We walked to school and home again. We never wanted to let our parents down by doing poorly in school or have a teacher call the house to say we acted up or were not paying attention in school. A lot has changed since those days in our society and is reflected in our schools. Which was better? History will be in the judge of that but early indicators are not promising for the latter generations and that is oh so sad.
But there is always hope!! It starts with me and you. Ask your child how they are doing today in school. Have them tell you what they learned, be involved....our future depends on it!
Quote of the day from Patrick Henry:
" This book is worth all the books that ever were printed, and it has been my misfortune that I never found time to read it with the proper attention and feeling till lately. I trust in the mercy of heaven that it is not too late."
Happy Monday.....Happy Monday!
Song of the day....get ya moving on this Monday.... Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride - YouTubePosted 09-23-2013 at 05:26 AM by dansdrive
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Tuesday September 24, 2013 and its 54.4 degrees heading on up to a sunny 70 degrees! WOW! As we meander towards the end of September it a great time to reflect on the summer that was. Another summer that started with the renewal of spring blossoms and fresh green grass. That winded its way through the dog days of summer with the smells of flowers and fresh cut grass. With the aroma of the countless grills cooking the hamburgs, steaks and ribs! The sweet taste of summer fruits and vegetables. The relaxing hours by the side of the pool or lake or seashore even! The laughter of children running through the sprinkler or taking that first dip into the pool or ocean! The screams of the amusement park riders shrilling into the air as they speed down that first hill! The cracking of the bonfire as the flames glow in the nights air! Yes, that was summer my friends!
Quote of the day frm Kenny Chesney:
“it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!”
Happy Tuesday and Happy Memories of the summers past and thanks to the one above who made is all possible!! Thanks!!!!!
Song of the day....turn it up and fun with it.....Billy Stewart - Summertime - HQ - YouTubePosted 09-24-2013 at 07:34 AM by dansdrive
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Wednesday September 25, 2013 and its 56.6 degrees outside heading on up to 72 degrees. Fantastic! Does it seem like the word 'Truth' is in vogue today? Seems like everywhere you look the word truth is on billboards, advertisements, book covers, newspaper articles, and countless other places. But have you ever thought what 'truth' is? Are we capable of understanding 'truth' or is 'truth' just a catch word to use when we want to make a point?
We know truth can be stretched and molded into words and actions that fit nicely in our lives. We are so good at half-truths, and truth-like answers. They are to make us and the ones we almost tell the truth to, feel good and not to question our answers or proclamations. Yea we know all about those 'truths' but what about real 'truth'. Truth that hurts ourselves and the ones we love or the ones we may have just met? Surely 'truth' can't hurt. Its right and just well at least it starts out that way but realities and embarrassment and reflections get in the way. But if we don't have 'truth' what do we have?
The nice way to say it is, we have simple truths, convenient truths, partial truths, but at the end those all still equal 'Lies'. But that is such a blunt word and in our world of everything and everyone must feel good there is no room for that word. It is so Politically Incorrect to say someone is lying. It is much better to say they a professing falsehoods. It makes one feel better. That is what it is all about after all is it not? Your own definition of what truth is and is not will be able to answer that question.
Now back to what is 'truth', I learned that Jesus Christ was sent to the earth by his Father to 'Testify to the Truth'. That was a mission that ultimately cost him his life on earth. Obviously not a message man wanted to hear. But it had to be said and 'Truth' literally hurt both physically and mentally but oh that 'truth' for the believer has led to eternal life and forever and that is a really long time! Longer than that Starbucks Coffee, longer than that pull or two of a slot machine, longer than that wait you had in line at the local Walmart store the other day.....
Quote of the day from Albert Einstein:
"Anyone who does not take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in larger ones."
Happy Wednesday and somewhere today there is a real Happy Camel walking around proclaiming Happy Hump Day!!!
Song of the day.....it does; be ready....The Police - Truth Hits Everybody - YouTubePosted 09-25-2013 at 07:18 AM by dansdrive
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Thursday September 26, 2013 and its 57.7 degrees heading on up to a sunny 72 degrees! The clouds will clear....the weather person said so...so it must be true! Of there is that word again 'true'. The trip in this am had cars with their pedals the the 3/4 mark not the middle. They were flying by me like a Dolphin swimming passed a Manatee! Zoom!
We are coming up on Indian summer. These were the days in school when we studied the Indians and played cowboys and Indians in the backyard. Our town up in the N.E. PA had a few tribes that ran the place before the settlers. So we got to read all about how live was back in the 1700's when the Indians were there and when the early settlers came. Needless to say it was not a friendly exchange. They were not helping each other cook Thanksgiving day turkey or popping Maze together. It was just cool to think what our town along the river looked like when the Indians were there. No city center just Indian canoes going up and down the river with a few Indian settlements along the river. Winters would get mighty cold up there with evening temperatures below zero for sometimes a week or so in January and February. Can't imagine sleeping in a Indian tee-pee in that kind of weather. But they did and they survived.
Goes we lose electricity for an hour and we are freaking out, we lose heat for a while in the winter and we think the end of near. Just imagine what it was like than. Tough spirited people lived back than. How far we have come......
Quote of the day by Evo Morales:
"We Indians are Latin Americas morale reserve. We act according to a universal law that consist of three basic principals; do not steal, do not lie, and do not be idle."
Happy Thursday and they are three really good principals to live by.....I could only add one more and that is to give praise and thanksgiving to the one above daily! Now if you can do those four each and every day you will really be special!
Song of the day........How!........ Cherokee Nation-Paul Revere and The Raiders - YouTubePosted 09-26-2013 at 05:38 AM by dansdrive
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Friday September 27, 2013 and its 57.5 degrees heading on up to 70 sunny filled degrees. It is Friday! Oh yea! These cool fall mornings remind me of football games growing up. Not the ones in high school but the ones played in the street or in open fields around our neighborhood. The ones that meant more to us than any Super Bowl. The ones for that brief moment in time when we got to be Mean Joe Green, L.C. Greenwood, Roger Staubach, Johnny U, Fran Trarkenton, and the list when on and on.
These were the days when school let out the time left of daylight was rapidly diminishing. So, we would race home, change, grab a drink from the glass milk jug, maybe a slice of white bread and out the door. Ops, run back to the yard and grab the pigskin. We would congregate on the corner in front of my cousins house a block up from mine and wait. There was a small empty lot next to his where they ripped down a old house. It worked out nicely for warm ups. Throwing and kicking the old football until more kids showed up. Once we had enough kids we would hop on our bikes and head a few blocks away to a large grass lot that was next to a garment factory. night after night and on weekends we would play football and baseball in that field.
Depending on the number of kids that showed up would set the rules of the game. With enough kids we could have real kick offs and not just someone heaving the ball for the kick off. We had defined markers for first downs or we would say three complete forward passes was an automatic first down. Officiating was self controlled and led to many discussion, arguments, and consternation. But reflecting back, I think it was less than we see in NFL games today. In the end all everyone that went there wanted to do was play football!
Some days was the thrill of victory while others were the agony of defeat! For that day....as we all won that participated in that clock-less football match!
Quote of the day by Vince Lombardi:
"Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority."
Happy Friday and Mr Lombardi knew a bit about football and probably more about life itself!
Song of the day...and to many of us....Unitas we stand! NFL Films Music - Unitas We Stand - YouTube
P.S. Listen to the song that follows the NFL Theme Song!
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you!
Psalms 86:5 NIVPosted 09-27-2013 at 07:34 AM by dansdrive
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Monday September 30, 2013 and its 50.0 degrees outside heading on up to 72 and sun, sun, sunny! That is sweet, sweet, sweet! Where did the weekend go? Some of the places it went for me is two oil changes and a tire rotation and a few car washes. It also went sawing up some firewood and stacking it up. It went in cleaning off the shed roof from the summer build up of pine needles. But the best part of 'went-ing' if that is a word of sorts was just sitting by the bonfire Saturday night and relaxing.
Relaxing and thinking and praying. Praying for friends and family. Praying for this day I was given and everyday. Praying for the lost, lonely, and fallen that they too may find peace, happiness, and courage in the one above. Finding the one above that leads the restless to tranquility. Finding the one above that leads the lonely to encounter new found friends. Finding the one above that makes each and everyday a gift and a promise for the future. Yea, it was a wonderful weekend......just plain wonderful!
Quote of the day by Scott Hamilton:
"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Happy Monday, Happy last day of September, Happy are the meek at heart for the kingdom of God is theirs!
Song of the day....sing it and live it...... Bon Jovi - It's My Life - YouTubePosted 09-30-2013 at 05:31 AM by dansdrive
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Tuesday October 1, 2013 and its 47.2 degrees heading on up to a sunny 75 degrees. October, can you believe it? The month of Columbus day, Halloween, and pumpkin harvest. The month mother nature puts on a dazzling color display on her countryside.
October weekends were the days of great fishing in our local river and the the time Dad loaded us up in the wagon and took us to see the changing leave colors on our way to the Apple farm. We use to name the colors we seen and what kind of tree made that color. The apple farm was really a store that sold apples and anything else one could make and bake with apples! I remember it as an old farm home converted into a store. It would be packed on the weekends. We bought apples by the bag, bushel, and individually. We even got caramel coated as well as candy coated apples. We use to eat them on the way home from the apple store.
October has lots of memories for me as a kid as well as an adult. For our kids we use to go to a Pumpkin farm, where one could buy any size pumpkin from 50 cents to 10 dollars! They also sold vegetables, apples, corn stocks, hay bales, candy, and you name it and they sold it! The places were packed on the weekends as well!
Something about the fall of the year, the time to reflect on the spring and summer of the year. Time to evaluate the year gone by so far and make some corrections as needed. Time to spend a few moments to give thanks and praise to the one above the the year so far and the hope and appreciation for the gift that lye ahead in ones life. Yea, fall is a great time of the year for that A-Ha moment when you see the dazzling colors of the fall leaves! Breath taking!!!
Quote of the day from Benjamin Franklin:
"Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants."
Happy Tuesday and Mr. Franklin said a lot of amazing things but maybe nothing more than the above quote. Read it again and again and each time its truth gets stronger and stronger!
Song of the day......enjoy!............James Taylor - October Road - YouTubePosted 10-01-2013 at 10:48 AM by dansdrive
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Thursday October 3, 2013 and its 54.8 degrees heading on up to 79 sunny filled degrees! Fan-SUN-tastic! That would we the word for today if it was a word....
This is one of those weeks where I can't seem to get caught up with my work. The more I get done the more comes my way. That is what makes life interesting. just when you think you have enough on your plate more comes on it. Sure some falls off but for the most part you manage to get the place cleared for the next batch. That is this weeks my friends. So, my Blog will be short.
My quote of the day is Psalms 24:4 NIV
"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false."
Only thing I can add to that is simply....Amen!
Happy Thursday and Friday is almost here, are you ready?Posted 10-03-2013 at 05:05 AM by dansdrive
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Monday October 7, 2013 and its a light rainy 71.8 degrees outside sprinkling its way up to 73 degrees. Being it is so dry we will take it! Another Monday, another work week, another day to do something great!!!!
Speaking of great, it was a great weekend. The weather was great! I got a job done that was on the back log for a few years. Finally installed a post lamp outside the front of the house. The task was simple enough, dig a hole for the post, dig a trench for the wire and run it to the house. One tricky part, get the wire underneath a almost 4 foot wide sidewalk. That is where the brute force came in and a bit of ingenuity. Digging the who for the lamp post was fairly easy, the 35 foot trench to bury the cable pretty easy. The route under the sidewalk.....tricky! I used a steel rod and sledge hammer and slowly pounded my way under the sidewalk. Stopping every so ofter to twist the steel bar and pull it our with a 2 foot pipe wrench. Inch by inch I pounded that rod in unto I could not pound it anymore, as the rod was to short for the length I had to traverse. So, plan B for the extra length I had to tunnel. I got a 5 foot piece of 1/2 inch plastic electrical tubing and pounded that in. That stuff is strong and bendable. I pounded and pounded until I felt I was on the other side of the sidewalk. Went to that side and no pipe in the whole I had dug. Gee Gads! My eye says it should be there. The length of pipe that is traversing under the side walk said I should be there. Hmmmm. Well I dug the hole about 4 inch deeper and there was the gray electrical pipe. Hot diggity dog!
Now to pull the pipe back out as the side I was pounding in was filled with dirt. It was a tough pull getting it out but finally did. As expected the inside diameter of the pipe that drove through the dirt was filled with...GOLD!!! Naw, dirt and clay! So got that out of the pipe. Ran my wire through the pipe and proceeded to pound the pipe with wire back through the hole. Much easier this time! Ran the wire another 30 feet to the house and buries the wire in the trench back to the pole. To save money on the pole I bought the basic pole with no receptacle. So I drilled out the pole so I could add a receptacle. Ran the wire through the pole out the hole for the receptacle and up to the light fixture. Mixed up a bag of Sakrete I had in the shed and cemented in the pole, checking to make sure it was plumb with the ground. Let it dry for about 30 minutes and proceed to connect the light fixture up and tied off the receptacle for Sunday's job. Attached the other end of the cable to the house switch and wa-laa, light as never before in the driveway area!
Yesterday I installed the receptacle and my better half decorated the pole for fall and from now on we can exclaim, 'let there be light!'...as we throw the switch on of coarse. And that my friends was the weekend. Well almost, there was Bible Study early Saturday morning and church Sunday morning! To give thanks and praise to the one above. Through him all things are possible.
Quote of the day by Helena Rubenstein:
"Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit "
Happy Monday and Helena said it right, after all who wants wrinkles...anywhere!
Song of the day...sing it...you know it.... Bachman Turner Overdrive "Takin Care Of Business" Live '74 - YouTube
May the peace from the one above be with you this day and everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!Posted 10-07-2013 at 05:34 AM by dansdrive
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Tuesday September 8, 2013 and its a cloudy 58.2 degrees outside heading up to 61 degrees. Rain and sun on tap for today. The rain yesterday was welcomed as it has been really dry here. The rain is welcomed by the garden as my fall cucumbers are actually doing better than my spring/summer ones. Plants are healthier and producing more cucumbers. Now I wish I had planted more fall crops. Next year!
Speaking of next year. Can you believe 2014? Gosh I remember as a kid talking about the year 2000 and here we are already 13 years past it. In face we were less than 13 years old when we talked about what the year 2000 would be like. We would be driving! We would be able to go anywhere we wanted. We would all have jobs that provided us all the money we ever needed. We would go live were ever we wanted and most of us achieved that proclamation. As most all the kids I grew up with do not lice in NE PA. Some I am in touch with and some I lost track of but almost all of them moved away for not a better job but for just a job. Our home town was filled with Machine Shop jobs, Garment companies, shoe manufacturing plants, small job shops, bakeries, peanut plant, and a number of other small business. For the most part those places of employment are all gone.
In my day one could come out of High School and go to work in one of the Machine Shops or garment or shoe factories and work their way up the company ladder. The money they made paid the bills and allowed them to raise a family in the place they grew up. Their kids went to the same schools they did. Basically they were fulfilling the American dream and swelled the middle class.
Today its a dream but in my day it was reality. Was it perfect, no. Was it better than today? I believe so. There was a sense of community and people cared what was going on not only in their community but on their own block they lived on. I remember seeing Dad's and Mom;s walking to work with their lunch pails because the factories were walking distance from where we lived. hard to do that today.
Quote of the day by Benjamin Franklin:
"It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man that is the miserable man."
Happy Tuesday and wonder what Ben would have said about today's America? Oh boy........
Song of the day.....Its the news!..... Huey Lewis And The News - 1982 - Workin' For A Livin' - YouTubePosted 10-08-2013 at 07:02 AM by dansdrive
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October 9, 2013 and its 55.5 degrees down from 63 degrees. Its raining and about the same for tomorrow. Its a late edition to the Blog as its been a busy day. Finally slowing down for the night.
Wishing all a great night and a wonderful tomorrow. May the peace from the one above be with you and your family.
Thanks Lord for another day, filled with busy time, filled with <SMILES>, filled with <HELLOS> to friends and ones I have never known. Happy Hump day, indeed!!!!Posted 10-09-2013 at 09:06 PM by dansdrive
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Friday October 11, 2013 and its one day before Christopher Columbus day and also a wet 58.1 degrees heading on up to a wet 64 degrees. In fact for the next several days wet is in the forecast! But now back to Christopher.
Way back on October 12, 1492 Christopher discovered America! Well at least he discovered it for the Western European's! He did not fall off the edge of the earth. He sailed and sailed the ocean blue and finally hit land! The rest as they say is history. A rich history indeed! A history that is still acting out. Did Christopher ever contemplate what he really discovered? As a kid I remember getting C.C. day off! In school we learned about that famous ocean voyage, with the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria! Left Spain near the height of the Atlanta Hurricane in early August without Doppler radar or an inkling on the next days weather. They did have a mission...discover the new world or fall off the end of the earth and be eaten by the monsters that live at earths end! Oh my!
As a American with Italian Heritiage I am always proud that is was an Italian that sailed the ocean blue without a clue. To prove that there were no monsters at the end of the earth and that he was not able to find a end to the earth. He sis not prove it was round but he did prove he did not fall off. He was also extremely fortunate he did not hit a hurricane that would of sunk his ship. I am sure he hit storms and maybe parts of past and future hurricanes but did manage to make it through. So, I for one will remember Christopher Columbus this weekend and be grateful for what he has accomplished and will always remember that the Indians were here long before Christopher came on the scene.
Quote of the day from Christopher Columbus:
"I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvellous Presence"
Read more at Christopher Columbus Quotes - BrainyQuote
Happy Friday and Happy weekend and Happy Christopher Columbus day.
Song of the day......Fantastic..........A Whole New World - Aladdin - Inglês (English) - YouTube
Posted 10-11-2013 at 07:06 AM by dansdrive
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Monday October 14, 2013 and its a rainy 61.1 degrees outside heading on up to 64 wet degrees. A real wet patch we are in, for the last 8 days it has been cloudy with sprinkles of rain and some down pours. Another day or two of it and the sun should come back to illuminate the Carolina Blue skies!
Rain or not it was still a great weekend! Not that I got a lot done, no that I had a lot to do, no even that things I wanted to get done I did not. It was great just to be off and relax! The two things I managed to get done this weekend were changing the oil in the lawn mower and taking apart the refrigerator to see why I have a overflowing drip pan below it at times. The oil change was a success. Lawn mower is ready to tackle the lawn on the rains have stopped. The refrigerator, well its very clean now. No signs of trouble that I could find. I did manage to learn more on how the refrigerator works from the inside out!
Quote of the day from Will Smith:
"Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you."
Happy Monday and Mr. Smith sure made a powerful comment. Each day I ask the one above for forgiveness and to harden not my heart. To love all God has filled the earth with. I asked all the above from the one above, Amen.
Song of the day...fits today..........The Carpenters - Rainy Days And Mondays - YouTubePosted 10-14-2013 at 05:44 AM by dansdrive
