The Men in Black
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Black Sunglasses
Here are two pictures from last November of myself with Phil and Vickie. We were at Lake Huron. It was a Sunday, and we had gone up to speak at a small branch. It was a very nice day!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
My Trip
My "number one" son, Stephen, drove me from Fountain City to Connersville to catch the train at 3:00 am in the morning of June 14.
An exciting train ride from Connersville, IN to Indianapolis was uneventfull. The ride from Indy to Chicago was one to remember. A small tree was blown down across the train tracks. The engineer stopped in time to avoid any problems. However, it took several hours to locate a contractor with the proper equipment and insurance coverage to remove the tree from the tracks. After about six hours we received the report that the tree was safely out of the way. However, the train could not be moved until someone with the proper credentials could be located to certify that the rails had not been damaged, and the train could safely run on those tracks again. That took another two hours. We passengers were assured that we would miss our connections in Chicago, but Amtrack would put us up in a good hotel and give us food money to hold us over until our train left the next day.
We were ushered into a section of the Chicago train station where we were instructed. Then we lined up in a line that seemed two miles long to get our tickets changed to the next day, then a line to get our $25.00 food allowance and a third line to get our hotel pass. Then we waited for hours for the buses to take us to our motel, the Chicago Hillside Best Western. It was a huge motel. I don't know how they happened to have that many empty rooms. There were two bus loads of us. My room was really great. Two king-sized beds. We had dinner in the motel dining room. I slept like a log. Next morning the buses picked us up and returned us to the train station. We stood in several lines, generally the wrong line, until we were ready to board the train. We waited at gate "C" for an eternity, and then were told we only had a few minutes to board our train which was parked about a mile away. Red Caps hauled those who couldn't walk, the rest of us ran. (I was glad that I had checked my big suitcase to Lincoln, NE. I only had to carry the small one.) Finally, on the California Zephyr #5, I went to sleep and woke up in time for some food. I went to the dining car and was informed that I had no reservation. I could eat at the snack bar. I tried a DiGiorno pizza, which wasn't too bad. Then I went back to sleep and before I knew it, the conductor woke me up to get off at Lincoln, NE. It was a short trip. (About two hours late.) Amy picked me up about 3:00 am, and I zonked out in her home. Next morning I felt like a new (85 year old) man.
After breakfast, Hallie and grandpa colored pictures.
Hanna wanted to entertain grandpa a few minutes, and then we all took a nap.
An exciting train ride from Connersville, IN to Indianapolis was uneventfull. The ride from Indy to Chicago was one to remember. A small tree was blown down across the train tracks. The engineer stopped in time to avoid any problems. However, it took several hours to locate a contractor with the proper equipment and insurance coverage to remove the tree from the tracks. After about six hours we received the report that the tree was safely out of the way. However, the train could not be moved until someone with the proper credentials could be located to certify that the rails had not been damaged, and the train could safely run on those tracks again. That took another two hours. We passengers were assured that we would miss our connections in Chicago, but Amtrack would put us up in a good hotel and give us food money to hold us over until our train left the next day.
We were ushered into a section of the Chicago train station where we were instructed. Then we lined up in a line that seemed two miles long to get our tickets changed to the next day, then a line to get our $25.00 food allowance and a third line to get our hotel pass. Then we waited for hours for the buses to take us to our motel, the Chicago Hillside Best Western. It was a huge motel. I don't know how they happened to have that many empty rooms. There were two bus loads of us. My room was really great. Two king-sized beds. We had dinner in the motel dining room. I slept like a log. Next morning the buses picked us up and returned us to the train station. We stood in several lines, generally the wrong line, until we were ready to board the train. We waited at gate "C" for an eternity, and then were told we only had a few minutes to board our train which was parked about a mile away. Red Caps hauled those who couldn't walk, the rest of us ran. (I was glad that I had checked my big suitcase to Lincoln, NE. I only had to carry the small one.) Finally, on the California Zephyr #5, I went to sleep and woke up in time for some food. I went to the dining car and was informed that I had no reservation. I could eat at the snack bar. I tried a DiGiorno pizza, which wasn't too bad. Then I went back to sleep and before I knew it, the conductor woke me up to get off at Lincoln, NE. It was a short trip. (About two hours late.) Amy picked me up about 3:00 am, and I zonked out in her home. Next morning I felt like a new (85 year old) man.
After breakfast, Hallie and grandpa colored pictures.
Hanna wanted to entertain grandpa a few minutes, and then we all took a nap.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Rode to San Antonio, Texas with Terry and Ann, Paul and Tim. Christina and Marley had a great Reception. I enjoyed seeing Sara and Melissa and their families. Rode to Bay City Texas with David and Cyndy.
We had a great Christmas in Texas. It's been great to visit with Michael and Alison. Today I have eaten WAY TOO MUCH, way too many times. I hope to starve a few days and see if that compensates. I doubt it, but I have to try something.
Picked up sea shells on the beach of the gulf of Mexico. Went target shooting with David, Tim and Paul. I learned that a scope doesn't necessarily make it easier to hit a target. It's very difficult to hold the gun steady. A good support helps.
Thursday, Cyndy and David are flying me home. Cyndy has a wheel chair at the airports to haul me around. I like the wheel chair, I'll try it again. I get to stay in Indiana until Christina and Marly pick me up and bring me to their Monterey, Mexico reception. Cam and Kathleen called today, they're picking me up the end of January and I get to return to North Carolina for a few days. Life is so exciting!
I signed up to digitize census records on Family Search. It's a great chance to use my computer. I've finished about a page and a half, so far. I've been doing 1910 California records. Some of the foreign names, Sweedish, Portugese, and etc. are so dimly written, that it's fun trying to decipher them.
Jan. 4 We had a birthday party for Lauren this evening. We went to the Cracker Barrel. Lauren' parents and her sister Tabitha came. Stephen and Ramona and about ten others. We sat at two large tables. The waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Lauren. I enjoyed visiting with Lauren's mother and dad. I think we all had a good time getting acquainted.
I'm happy to be home, but I had a great visit to Monterrey, Mexico. Christina's Marley Davis, has a marvelous family in Monterrey. His parents live in San Antonio, Texas, and his mother's family lives in Mexico. His grandparents and uncles, aunts, and cousins put on a fantastic reception for Christina and Marley. Those Spanish speaking people dance, and dance, and dance. I danced until I dropped. They laughed and said, "Too much Tequila!" They fixed my food with just the right amount of hot sauce, everything was delicious. I must have put on 50 pounds. They gave me a room to my self in their beautiful home. They sent me home with a trunk full of gifts. Nearly every one spoke better English than I did. I didn't practice my Spanish very much, but they were very helpful when I did try. I had no idea that there was such a huge city as Monterrey in Mexico. They started building in the valley, but now they're building up the side of the mountain. Church was interesting. I understood a few of the words, but I felt the Spirit. I sang the hymns in English. They didn't have enough Hymn Books to go around for me to sing in Spanish. Shopping was fun. The prices were frightening until I learned that 1 dollar was worth 10 Pesos. I fell down and broke a bag of glassware. I'm getting clumsy in my old age. The knee I landed on is still quite sore, but I'm not using crutches any more. Christina got on the computer and arranged for a wheel chair at each of the airports, so I didn't have to run to catch my planes. It is great to be home.
Marley's parents' and grandparents' names:
His parents are:
> Ana Luisa and Michael Davis
His grandparents are:
> Begonia and Eugenio Hernandez
We had a great Christmas in Texas. It's been great to visit with Michael and Alison. Today I have eaten WAY TOO MUCH, way too many times. I hope to starve a few days and see if that compensates. I doubt it, but I have to try something.
Picked up sea shells on the beach of the gulf of Mexico. Went target shooting with David, Tim and Paul. I learned that a scope doesn't necessarily make it easier to hit a target. It's very difficult to hold the gun steady. A good support helps.
Thursday, Cyndy and David are flying me home. Cyndy has a wheel chair at the airports to haul me around. I like the wheel chair, I'll try it again. I get to stay in Indiana until Christina and Marly pick me up and bring me to their Monterey, Mexico reception. Cam and Kathleen called today, they're picking me up the end of January and I get to return to North Carolina for a few days. Life is so exciting!
I signed up to digitize census records on Family Search. It's a great chance to use my computer. I've finished about a page and a half, so far. I've been doing 1910 California records. Some of the foreign names, Sweedish, Portugese, and etc. are so dimly written, that it's fun trying to decipher them.
Jan. 4 We had a birthday party for Lauren this evening. We went to the Cracker Barrel. Lauren' parents and her sister Tabitha came. Stephen and Ramona and about ten others. We sat at two large tables. The waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Lauren. I enjoyed visiting with Lauren's mother and dad. I think we all had a good time getting acquainted.
I'm happy to be home, but I had a great visit to Monterrey, Mexico. Christina's Marley Davis, has a marvelous family in Monterrey. His parents live in San Antonio, Texas, and his mother's family lives in Mexico. His grandparents and uncles, aunts, and cousins put on a fantastic reception for Christina and Marley. Those Spanish speaking people dance, and dance, and dance. I danced until I dropped. They laughed and said, "Too much Tequila!" They fixed my food with just the right amount of hot sauce, everything was delicious. I must have put on 50 pounds. They gave me a room to my self in their beautiful home. They sent me home with a trunk full of gifts. Nearly every one spoke better English than I did. I didn't practice my Spanish very much, but they were very helpful when I did try. I had no idea that there was such a huge city as Monterrey in Mexico. They started building in the valley, but now they're building up the side of the mountain. Church was interesting. I understood a few of the words, but I felt the Spirit. I sang the hymns in English. They didn't have enough Hymn Books to go around for me to sing in Spanish. Shopping was fun. The prices were frightening until I learned that 1 dollar was worth 10 Pesos. I fell down and broke a bag of glassware. I'm getting clumsy in my old age. The knee I landed on is still quite sore, but I'm not using crutches any more. Christina got on the computer and arranged for a wheel chair at each of the airports, so I didn't have to run to catch my planes. It is great to be home.
Marley's parents' and grandparents' names:
His parents are:
> Ana Luisa and Michael Davis
His grandparents are:
> Begonia and Eugenio Hernandez
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