Happy New Year, and God Bless you all!!!

I have no pictures to go with this entry... sorry. . .

Still as the final minutes of this year pass, I wish to extend to each and every one of you who reads this a wonderful, memorable, and very safe and happy new year! May 2009 and all that it has in store for us bring you nothing but Warmth, Positive Energy, Light, Fond Memories, Happiness, and Lots and Lots of Love!!!!
From our house to yours... Happy New Year!!!! and may God Bless you all in this coming year!

Tom (Dad) , Jane, and Charlie

What a GREAT Christmas this was!!!

It never ceases to amaze me how things just seem to fall into place as if that is the only way that they can be. Today, was a Truly Wonderful Day to be able to experience. The pace was one of total relaxation, and comfort... The warmth in the air was not from the sweltering heat outside (though we did have blue skies and sunshine - no snow)... but, instead from the Happiness that we shared just being us, together.
Jane has a calming, comforting, effect on me that causes me to slow down and experience life, instead of just going through the day, and letting time fly by. We shared stories of our own family traditions, and started some of our own. We opened presents and laughed at Charlie as he explored every ribbon, piece of wrapping paper, box and bow... we talked to our family in all the different places that they call home. It was nice to hear how all of your days went as well, and to catch up on your weather, and how you all are as well.
We went for a walk in our little corner of the world and felt the cool air on our faces, though we were warm in our new clothes, and gloves. We can still walk in the woods (as there are many lots that are still undeveloped here) just walking along the different roads here.
We cooked a very nice dinner together ( though Jane did most of the cooking - I did help) and we had a very nice candle light dinner at our dinning room table for the first time. We had baked ham, mashed potato's, cheesy cauliflower, broccoli, crescent rolls and baked veggies. A couple that I had never had before . . . but Jane likes them so I tried them... it's okay, she knows they aren't my thing... LOL We had champagne and Hickory Farm Fudge for a nice decadent desert.
For the rest of the evening we relaxed in front of the "tellie" and watched "The Lake House", as there was nothing but "rubbish" on comcast. Now it is time to bid you all a warm farewell and hope that the rest of your holiday season is as Great as our Christmas has been.
Warm wishes to you all, and Lots of Love!

Tom, Jane, and Charlie . . . PS... the last four pics are of Charlie doing what HE did this Christmas! Find him if you can!

Well... What can you do!

It pretty much still looks like this!

So here's Charlie... being... Charlie.
















There's not much happening here. We went to Berkley Springs today and walked Main Street and visited some antique shops. The wind was terrible and the temps were in the Low 30's... with clear blue skies.

Charlie likes the Wrapping paper almost as much as he likes the ribbon... and the fire.

Well, another week done!

Today was a good day at work. . . This unit allows civilian attire for special days so I got to go to work in jeans and a chamois shirt with thermals under to keep me warm. We did NOTHING today except launch an airplane for a cross country. We had our Technician lunch today so Jane made a Shepherd's Pie last night and I took that in.. . . as Always... it was REALLY GOOD!!!! Along with the other goodies that everyone brought in it was nice. I came home and fixed the Christmas lights as they went out last night. Two blown fuses and all is working again. Hopefully I will not have any more problems.
I only have to go in on the 23rd for a launch (civilian clothes again - and not until 1000!) then I might have to go in the 31st for a launch too. other than that... time to relax and watch the fire with Charlie. He is so cute sometimes. . . He waits until I sit down to watch TV and then he casually walks in and sits down in front of the fireplace (mouse is always there) and stares at me like "okay, I am here now... make it work!" If I do he curls up with mouse and goes to sleep. We keep the camera handy because sometimes it's REALLY CUTE!
I keep watching the weather... hoping... Snow before Christmas, Snow before Christmas, Snow before Christmas!!!! only rain so far. hmmmmmm

I sent Jane a picture of a nice dog that I would like to get... well, actually either/or...
that would be a Bloodhound puppy, or a Irish Wolfhound puppy(though... those in the picture are all grown up!)

Either way I don't think I get one until I retire and I can take care of it.

My Christmas card...

Merry Christmas!!!!
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
May you have a Christmas Season full of Warmth, Comfort, Happiness, and Love.
Lots to eat!
Plenty to drink!
LOADS of Naps!!!
and all the time you can ...
with those you Love!!!

Charlie, (and my mouse)

It's not beginning to look alot like Christmas... here!

I had a look at the kids blogs today, and I found Jen has snow and it was enough to play in with Hank! I liked the short video... that's cool. I will post a picture of Hank (He is Jen and Ryan's dog - and I think is to them as Charlie is to us.. a part of the family). I also have a picture of Jadon I will change as well, I just posted two of Colton a day or so back. ..
I got to tell you, I really like this blog thing... It makes me feel like I am still a part of my family's lives, even though I am not near them where I could see them more than I do. I can only imagine what it would be like to have them just come walking in the door, asking what's for dinner, or if we wanted to do something together. . . The things that dreams are made of huh! LOL...
It's Christmas and I Miss you kids even more during the holidays... I Love you all!... even Hank!
Well, it is now 64 degrees! Well, I am home now (of course or I couldn't be doing the blog) and I have removed the thermal underwear and winter coat I went to work with this morning. . . even then, it was not bad... no ice on the windshield or nothing. I have to dress for the worst though in case I end up outside on an engine all day.
We have our lights up, and we even have a neighbor that has the music machine hooked up to his lights... but, not loud. You can bearly hear the songs from here. I just would like to see some snow for a change... it HAS been 10 years of Brown Christmas (felizzz navidaaad esseah!)...

Jane mailed off the packages we needed to send today. If you get one in the mail that says "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 25 DEC, 2008" that means it has only the package it came in, just put the ugly brown box under the tree and remember kids... Dad's rules apply! Nothing but your hands! Merry Christmas (this won't be the last time you read that I am sure!)

Us in West Virginia... Jane, Tom ... and Charlie!

















These are of Hank... Jen says he is part Husky... hmmmmm.... okay! LOL... I see it in the feet!

I don't think I want to know what the bone is from either!

It's always good ... finding those special smiles!

We received a lot of pictures today from Alex and Colton... It seems the "Chevelle Project" has begun. It has been around 14 years or so since a wide eyed teenager came home from the gas station he worked at and asked his parents if he could trade his little brown Nissan for a real Chevrolet Chevelle. . . Even back then that was an odd and suspect venture. I scrutinized the car and the person who had it skeptically... but, in the end Alex ended up with the car.
He was able to build memories in the car in his High School years and though I would call it tinkering when he was down living with me over the summer, He was fixing it up. It has now been sitting for a number of years and while not much to look at right now... it is something wonderful that He and my Grandson Colton can do together which makes it a Wonderful car!
So boys... have at it! ... And laugh, learn and build a million and one memories in the process.
Thank you for the pictures and I look forward to more of them.


It's a wonderful thing to see the light in a childs eyes, when they are doing something they Love. It is something a Dad keeps with him forever.

I have found my Christmas Spirit!

Well, I did it... I know the entire house is not lit up, but I am here to tell you... I was one scared puppy putting the lights on the roof! The roof is probably a 6-12 pitch, which is hard to stand up on, let alone get a good grip with sneakers. .. but, I went all the way around the garage, and the second gable over it too. The weather broke and it was around 65 degrees today which was nice. The deer are up and all that is left to do now is to put the ornaments on the tree and wait for Santa. I took half the day off to get this accomplished... AND ... to surprise Jane as well. Since today marks our 1st wedding anniversary. She didn't expect the flowers that came, or having me home early. I had plans to take her to a nice dinner, but that has to be on hold as she is not feeling her best at the moment. . . This seems to be amplified when she eats anything so... we instead had a quiet evening in by the fire place and just relaxed enjoyed each others company and exchanged cards... ( we had already agreed that the things we have purchased for decorating the house {you know pictures, furniture... etc...) would be our presents to each other this year). As you can see by the couple of pictures below, Charlie was quiet content to lay in front of the fire and relax too.

We all Love the fire... but, I think Charlie... gets the most out of it!

Somebody has to post something on here!

Hi,

It's me Charlie... It seems that Tom and Jane just can't find the time to put anything on here... So while I have been sitting here in the office . . . and YES ... it IS MY CHAIR!!! I decided between naps, playing with the boxes that I get when we buy something new, eating and well... doing the necessary things cats do... that I would put a new post on here.
Tom seems to like it when I am doing something cute, to get out his camera and take some pictures of me. Well, He tried and HE FAILED!!!! HA!!! I woke up. .. kind of... well enough that he didn't get me curled up tight holding onto my back feet with my front ones - don't knock it until you can do it! . . . I like sleeping that way okay! Anyway... I let him take these of me anyway.
So, since he hasn't put up any Christmas lights yet. It hasn't snowed yet, and he hasn't taken any more "scenic pictures" you get me. I hope you like it, and maybe soon he will have some better pics (what? better than me in all my kitty splendor???!!!!!) to share with you.
Well, like they always tell me . . . "Gotta Go" or as I like to say "kih-kih-kih" (I know it sounds corny when you people do it, but they really like it when I meow or chatter when they tell me bye). You people are just as amusing to us cats, as we are to you! Thanks!!

ps. Thanks for the use of the 49er's blanket Derek

- Charlie

It's Holiday season!!!!

Well, Thanksgiving is just around the corner! So I guess it's time to shift into gear and get in the "festive mode". The Bell ringers are out with their pots collecting money for the Salvation Army ( At least I haven't seen any Santa Suits there yet! ). After Thanksgiving weekend I will get with my co-worker Ryan and borrow his 40' ladder and put lights on the house. Tonight I saw 3 does in the neighborhood just up the street across our intersection where they have cleared the lots of trees to build, but, there is no construction going on there, just nice green grass to munch on. ( I don't suppose they'll want to stand in my front yard with lights on them - so the ones in the basement will come out when it's time).
Jane told me today that Mum and Cath are reading our Blog! Too cool! . . . I guess this means we've gone International! How cool is that! LOL Hello Mum! and Hello Cath!
I had to ask Janie if the UK celebrates Thanksgiving? She looked at me funny and said... no, you know "we" don't... Well, she's going to this year LOL... I don't know why I thought they did... oh well.
I was wrapped up like that little kid in "The Christmas Story" today, The wind was blowing, we had snow flurrys and it was cold!!! We were putting panels back on one of the engines. Fun Fun!!! I managed to stay warm in my thermal coveralls, and gortex jacket and pants. I think Winter is coming early!
Tomorrow we are having a little Thanksgiving lunch at work. The boss is cooking the Turkey, There will be Dressing, Vegetables, and of course kids... Dad made his home made apple pie, with home made crust. Jane has a Dental appointment and so won't get to have any of this one. But, I have to make another one for Thanksgiving Day and she will have all of that one she wants... ala' mode with French Vanilla Ice Cream! So in case you have forgotten what they look like here is a picture!

PS. If you come see me... I'll make you your own pie, and you won't even have to share it! LOL

We have replaced the Intrepid

Well we got up yesterday and drove down to Manassas VA armed with a large hand full of Car-fax reports and a list of dealers that stretched all the way down to Stafford. The Car we went to look at was a disappointment, as was the "alternate" like model that they also had. The dealership was a bit unnerving in many ways, so it was a good thing to move on. We went to another dealership that was in my opinion better managed, they even had the prices on the cars and there was no pressure. .. But, though they had nice cars, the ones we could afford were all older, and mileage over 125k. So we went and got some lunch and frustrated, sick, and tired we thought we would head back towards home. Stafford was just too far for Janie to drive home too and she wasn't feeling well, so we opted not to press further away from home.
Coming out of the McDonalds we saw a lot with cars that had potential, but they were closed. SHEESH!!! LOL... As we were headed back up the road we saw another lot and stopped there. This is where we found and purchased our car. It's a 2006 Chrysler Sebring Touring. It has a bit highter mileage that we would have liked for it to have for it's age, 62k. But it is a nice clean car, it drives well and for the money we spent I don't think we could have found a better deal.
It was a long day and we dropped the rental off on the way home so we could take it easy today as this is my off Monday. Jane is feeling a bit better today and we are not doing much at all so it should be a good day off for us both.
I posted a new pic of the house with the trees stripped of their fall colors. Sorry, I will get a good one next year! It's a bit odd here. I can't say it's ever really ugly, or "gloomy" here. To me it seems that there is a subtle beauty around no matter where you go ( I may opt to change my mind about that come January!).
Hope you are all having a Wonderful Day!

Hmmm. . .

It's nice to log on and read what everyone says and we feel a little more connected when you interact with us in this way... Thank you! We are both a long way from home ( kinda in the middle actually - between the two parts of the world we came from) and it is nice to hear from you...
I missed getting the pictures I wanted of the beautiful trees changing leaves here, It is truly a sight to behold. Coming from Pine, Fir, Spruce, Ceder, Redwood forest... I have never had the opportunity to see a "disiduous" forest before. I always looked forward to those country magazines you see in the Dr or Dentist office this time of year with their beautiful pictures of Autumn. I must say that seeing it first hand is better! We have this little road that brings us to our development. It goes down through a small and narrow valley and it has a stream (or creek) at the bottom of it. When the leaves were changing, and the sun hit them in the evening I was in complete awe of the beauty and splendor of it. Sorry I didn't get pictures this year. Maybe next year!
Today felt like Fall. It rained heavy all day at work, and fortunately I was in the hanger all day working on a plane inside for a change. I don't mind the rain, Time spent in Oregon in my High School years cured that. But, It was the cold wet day that made it feel like Winter is not far away. I raked the leaves away from the house yesterday, and then used the riding lawn mower ( my little tractor ) and chopped them up and put them in the bagger. Once I had them all picked up and dumped under the trees I passed over the lawn again and picked up everything I missed. . . It looked great! . . . last night... and when I left for work at 6:00 this morning. Now there are leaves everywhere again, only now they are wet! So I will wait before picking them up... Had my Grandson's been here I would have raked them into a great big pile and we would have had to have jumped in them! Yep... there was even enough to make it fun for me!
I guess this weekend we are driving to Manassas Virginia to get a car for Janie. A replacement for the Intrepid of course. That's a couple of hours drive from here, but for some reason the further away from this area you get, the better the prices get... Insurance was good to us so we can get something nice, but not brand new and not have payments. . . WHEW!!!!
I think I know what Mom has meant all these years when she says "It's a good life! . . . If you don't weaken!" So here we are hanging in there, Living and Loving each day as it comes to us.. . We miss you all! and We Hope you are having a Really Great Day!

It won't be long now!!!!

Yippee!!!! . . . I will leave to drive to Dulles (Chantilly VA - just outside Washington DC) in just a few minutes to pick up Jane from her trip to England to visit family and take care of some other things with the house there. She has only been gone "only" for two and a half weeks and I am going crazy here. I didn't think it would be a problem! After all we began our relationship with her here for 90 days and then back over there from two weeks to three months over time. So I had told her to go for 3 weeks, take her time and do all that she wanted and needed to do at a leisurely pace. Well, she didn't want to be gone that long and BOY AM I GLAD!!!! I have missed her so much!
I am happy that she got to go and see Mum, Cath, Barb, Duncan and Doug too. Also she saw Lynn and Glen and that is cool! But, next time... I wanna go too! We will just have to get a Charlie sitter!
I think Charlie will be glad too... He's been trying to dart out the door with me every time I leave for work in the morning. (I don't think he likes being home alone! {no mommy to play with and all}.
Well I guess that is it for now... except to tell all our family in the UK... I am glad you had a good visit with Janie! ... but I am certainly glad that she is coming back home to me (us - Charlie too) now.

I don't always do the right thing! (big suprise there!)

My oldest ( Alex) got onto me last night on the phone. I took a trip in the Intrepid over past Baltimore towards the Atlantic coast to a place called Aberdeen Proving Grounds. It was a long planned trip for me ( kind of a quest, I guess ). I finally located and am on the same side of the United States to go see the last remaining Artillery piece (only 100 were made and used in World War II) that my Dad drove and operated. Though it had been moved from the Museum grounds to a fenced in storage area because it was leaking oil, I still got permission and went over and took pictures of it (through the fence), big sense of accomplishment and a little more understanding of what my Dad did.
What does that have to do with Alex getting onto me? Well, That was the reason for the trip. It was also the reason I was in the car accident. I AM NOT HURT IN ANY WAY!!! . . . sigh! it was though my fault. I was looking at my Map quest directions (in reverse order because I didn't do the return trip - I know where I came from!). I saw what route to take, looked up and saw what lane I needed too... just as I ran a red light. . .
It was raining hard, roads were slick... and I got hit by a Dodge minivan in the passenger side door. I saw the van too late and I tried to steer out of his way, but too little too late. It spun me around and parked the car in the median facing the base I had just left. . . I got out and the man driving the van (it was a taxi) initially thought he was okay but I saw him holding his neck and I had the officer call an ambulance. In both vehicles no glass broke, and no air bags deployed... and I did not get a ticket. But, I learned today the Intrepid is totaled.
So with all that being said...

Kids, and any family that reads this. I am sorry I didn't call and tell you. but, I didn't think it was an issue because I am not hurt... other than my stupid pride. I promise to keep you better informed no matter whether I think it is significant or not.

Where to begin?... What to do?

Hi,

I guess there is no better way to say it than this... Jane is gone to England... and boy... am I ever lost!!! She just left on Saturday, I went down to Glouster VA to visit one of my very dear friends from Klamath Falls (Tim Reinhardt - for those of you who remember him). Man it was good to see him, and to finally meet Mary. I had a great time and the only things wrong were 1. not enough time, and 2. Jane wasn't there to get to know them as well. But, I have talked to her and we will be going back to visit ( hopefully in November - its not a bad drive!).
Well, once home... Charlie was very glad to see me, but... the house seems really big, and empty! I Miss Jane! . . . I bought a water softener to put in while she is gone. I have upper and lower ball joints and a power steering pump to fix on the truck, as well as winterizing the vehicles... I have made an offer on an attic ladder for the garage and I need to reinforce the rafters and sheet it so I can store things up there... Oh, and set up some shelves and get my tools out of the boxes in the basement, and onto the shelves.
So, it's not like I don't have something to do! . . . BUT... It's so much better, and more fun with Jane doing these things with me.
Hopefully I will get out and take some pictures this weekend. The fall colors are in full bloom and I would like to try and get some of the wondeful colors on camera. This (I am going to butcher this word!) disiduous forest is really beautiful! Coming from the North West I have only seen it in pictures. So, I am really enjoying it~! ... again... Jane usually enjoys it with me.
Well she doesn't get back until the 5th of November. . . So I guess I will have to kick it into gear and get on with the things I have set out to do.
Sorry, no pictures this time... ( what would I share? a pic of the water softener? it's not even hooked up yet!

Today was a day trip to Gettysburg... Wow!

The top two pictures are from area called Seminary ridge. They are cannons from the Confederate side. Its on the edge of the tree line and from the area where General Picketts famous charge came. The bottom two more scenic pictures are from the other side of the battle field just below "Little round top", over looking a huge area covered in boulders nicknamed the Devils Den.
I was quite interested as a child in the Civil War. I read a lot about it and I know that from the 2nd to the 4th of July when this battle took place, it was one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Civil War. Being here... over looking the tremendous area that the battle took place in. The numbers of men who were killed and wounded here. It's hard to get your head around all of it.
I never realized that the Civil War actually reached this far north... We were 62 miles NORTH of Washington DC. Being here, being able to visit such sites... it gives them new perspective.

This is the view from Seminary ridge overlooking the battlefield.

This is a view of the Devils Den.

The pictures came out good... But, they don't do any justice to the size of this place.

The fall colors are coming out... and as promised... Pictures!!!

This is going to be really fast... because My Cardinals are winning! and... I get to watch!!! WOO HOO!!!! AND... they are beating DALLAS!!! even bigger WOO HOO!! The game is over! The Cardinals won in overtime!!!!! YIPPPEEEEE

Yesterday Jane and I went to Brunswick and walked a different part of the Canal. So a couple of pics from there... here's some very bright fungi that was on a tree!


This was just a really cool shot looking towards the foot bridge over the collapsed aqua duct.



Okay, now for the house...



Living room and Dining room

Kitchen That's it for now...

Office

Taking a very much needed break!

Yesterday was a difficult day for me. I got to work early and checked my email as I always do, and I had an email from one of my co-workers and friends there ( for those of you who know her, it was Ms. Cathy). The news from Tucson was unexpected and it really put me on pause for most the day. I learned that Matt Merritt, a man I worked with passed away from Cancer. He was a smoker and the cancer had spread to his bones from his lungs before I left Tucson, but he was doing well and I expected he would some how make his goal ( just a couple more years to go he used to tell me). He just wanted his 20 years in so he could take care of his family. I don't think he made it. Though I am certain his family will do well as they have been preparing for this for some time. For Matt I think it was just a matter of when. . . not if! maybe that is just the way I saw it looking in. Matt was a friend, a co-worker and I will miss him.



I took the day off, I needed to as I knew I couldn't keep my head in the job of fixing engines. After a rest at home and a quiet morning, Jane and I went to a stretch of the C & O canal we hadn't visited. It did us good to get out and walk, and talk, and sometimes ... just think. . . I really needed that.
I have had other friends in the military pass. And it never gets easier. This time it made me think about my age, how long I have been in, and I have even wondered if I will get out of the uniform before it's my time. When I finish up I will most likely have 40 years in (I could have 38 to 42 depends on me. . . I have to go at 60 no matter what and that would be 42). I joke about it being two consecutive life sentences without parole... hmmmmmmm... I am just over 33 years by a couple of weeks now.




The weather was beautiful for the walk, the leaves are just starting to change. The Potomac river was clear and lazy as always in that area. We saw squirrels, a blue jay, lots of trees and rocks, flowers, bees, a centipede, a catapiller, and a turtle and an elusive heron . I picked him/her up and moved him/her to the trail so I could take a picture. Jane tried to get him/her to come out and eat a leaf...


The turtle was NOT amused! so I put it back and we went on our way.



I didn't get a clear pic of the heron... so I played with it a little.

All in all, we walked just over 4 miles I think and though our feet and legs hurt. . . inside, it was just what I needed. Now that we are pretty much settled in the house pics will be coming, and we can spend more time on our weekends travelling, and exploring.

You're not going to belive this!

Sorry,

Still no pictures, but they are coming. .. Monday I had my boss come over and take a couple of dead trees down for me (I don't have a chain saw, or I would have done it myself). Anyway. .. The first one was a little one and it came down fine. The second one was rotten at the base of the tree and when Mike went to notch it, he took too big a bite. . . The tree bit back and he couldn't get his saw free. We then got my truck and put a strap around the tree to pull it up off of the saw. This worked well! The saw free, Mike finished the cut. The tree fell as we thought it would, but... ( there's always a "but" in a story like this) The tree was so tall it fell into the branches of the nearest Oak tree and stood there at an angle. I lowered the strap and was going to pull the bottom away thinking the tree would continue to fall strait down and land on the ground. . . Someone forgot to tell the tree what it was "supposed" to do. SO... instead it rolled off the limbs of the mighty Oak tree, bounced off the roof of the bathroom and onto the garage. It poked a hole in the roof of the garage! . . . AAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!
Needless to say, I for one feel like a truck load of Horse Hockey! I broke our brand new house! Well, I had to get up on the roof and get the tree off of the roof. The tree was so tall it snapped off and laid on the side of the garage over the porch. The roof is steep. . . REALLY ... R-E-A-L-L-Y STEEP! ( I can not stand up strait and keep my footing - steep!). Well, we managed to get the tree, limbs and all the debris from this fiasco off the roof and Mike cut everything up and will be burning it in his fireplace this winter. Everything else will go to the landfill in the spring.
Jane and I went to Lowe's and I got a sheet of OSB plywood and some contractor's cement and roof sealer that is water proof. and some wood screws. I got up in the attic and cut away at the hole and made a plug that fit nice and tight. I sealed it, glued it in place and then put another piece of OSB under it and glued and screwed that to the good part of the roof surrounding the hole. I then got up on the roof and did the same with the other side of the plug. For now the area missing the shingles is covered in the roofing adhesive and sealant. Mike knows a contractor who can match the shingles and when I get those I will go back up and repair that as well.
I really don't believe I did that!

SHEEEESH!!!

What? No Pictures???

Well,

It's been kinda busy around here and we are finally getting settled in. I had a flu bug or something last Sunday and Monday but am doing okay now. We have managed to get a lot of the little things done that really have begun to make the house feel like our home. . . The rooms haven't even shrunk too much with the pictures we have put up. We are still planning the deck and of course... the horseshoe pit!!!!
I have to work this coming weekend as well, the job is picking up a little more. We now have 11 birds and so of course there is more to do. It's still a good job and a good place to live so... leaving AZ? No regrets! I also have to apply for another work leader position in the shop. So I will be busy with that too. As well I still have not built my website for my Amsoil sales. There is a lot of interest on base and hopefully with the folks that have already converted to using it, word of mouth will help me sell more ( something to help keep me busy after I retire and maybe make a little money too!).
On another note. Moms younger sister Jean has had a stroke in the past two weeks or so. She is home now ( I guess something happened with her heart as well ) is on a pace maker, and she has to go back in because she has I think three clots on or in her brain. I think they are going to tell her what needs to, or can be done about them when she goes back to the doctor. As for Mom and Dad they have checkups coming and when I hear from them I will share for those of you who have not heard lately.
Charlie has adapted well to the new house and except for seeing his first squirrel from the patio door as it ran across the yard) causing the poofy tail and a great deal of concern for him! He seems to be one really happy camper. I poured out all of his toys in the basement with his cubes, and magically they are all migrating up the basement stairs to where mom and dad seem to spend time and play with him. . . He REALLLLLY doesn't know he is a cat!!!
I promise pictures soon! I had planned on posting some of the kitchen, but was told the counters needed straitened up first? I thought they looked fine! So that was delayed... a bit longer. But, soon! . . . I Promise!
ps... Jennifer... This is Dad! . . . I know you must be terribly busy now that you are a teacher out there in the real working world... but we haven't heard from you! Are you alive and well???


I do hope so!

Airshow today!!!!

Today Jane and I went to the Martinsburg Air show. It was Wonderful! Jane was a really good sport about it and willingly went with me (She is WONDERFUL!!!). The whole point in going was to see the P-51 Mustang, and the P-40 Warhawk (Flying Tiger). After 21 years of being with F-16's it was not the highlight of the event for me to see them fly. Besides They put on a show when they arrive at the base for us anyway. So, for me... today was about the Mustang... and the other classic aircraft that were there.
As time goes by I fear we will see the end of such a wonderous and beautiful part of our World War history in the skys. Aircraft that served a purpose in their day to keep the world free from Tyranny... Now they are only beautiful and poetic aircraft taking to the air to impress and please those fortunate enough to see them fly.
I tried to get Janie to let me take her picture next to one of the planes... but, it wasn't going to happen (Maybe ... had there been a Spitfire there! LOL).
When we arrived we found not one but TWO BEAUTIFUL Mustangs, as well as the P-40. There were other aircraft there as well, for those who can appreciate them, there was a PT-19, BT-13, SNJ, Beech Stagger wing, Waco bi-plane, home builts, ultra lights, a couple of ugly warthogs (A-10's) and two F-16's... oh... and one of our C-5's as well.

The day was perfect for an airshow, I got to see the Mustang Fly and the P-40... and then we spent a nice afternoon together at home, and shopping for the house. We aren't done yet but when we are there will be pictures of the house I promise.