DEAR DAD

                    Today's post , that am doing right now I have no idea where it my lead me , but this I do know I will write this as if I am talking to my father whom passed away recently . Let me start this off with this statement , I have idea if there is Internet access in the after life . I have stated this in a couple of letters to Mom earlier . I gonna go on the believe that it is available in the after life .

Robert Dale Rome U.S.N. retired February 1930 - July 2013

                     Well Dad , I know I have not been the best son I could have been , but this I know I would not have made it this far in life with out your example . Yes I know there were times that the navy came first , but that was your job . When came time for family your were always there . When we were young , I remember playing on the abutment's at Valley Forge when we lived in Pennsylvania .
                  The time you had to come home from duty to look for us . Mom had told us to stay close to the house because dinner was almost ready . Us boy’s didn’t listen though , we went fishing for eel , with the neighbor . We were gone till dark . We did get in trouble for that one , sometimes I think I still feel the sting from that paddle of yours right now . The main thing is you were there looking for us . You were there for the family .
                     What I always thought is that you would always be there . I thought you were invincible . You had those big arms and that tattoo of the eagle carrying the American flag and arrows .  The one gold tooth , at times when I see a John Wayne flick ,I hear you talking . You often told us growing up if you fell froggy leap . None us took you up on it , We knew in our hearts what the outcome would be . I myself did not like the thought of a beating like I never knew before . I can definitely say , you were always a fair man .I learnt a lot from just watching you .
                    I remember all of us going out to the side yard , in the fall and getting a game of touch football . This where you tried to teach me the basics . I never really got any good at it though , as my High School career in football can attest to that . The one thing that has carried on is that I am still a fan of the Michigan Wolverines . You and Mom made it point to watch or listen to the games on Saturday afternoons . The excitement in the house during those games , were something else . I find my self getting that excited during the games now still .
               I have tried to stand on my own two feet my whole life , but you and mom were always there to pick me up when necessary . I know you have done more than a few times . In the past ten years I had made it a point to try to do it on my own . Dad I have got to admit it been rough at times . I also worked hard at staying in this relationship I am in right now . Its been a hard eleven years , I don’t know how many times I wanted to walk away . But  some reason I didn’t .Relationships are hard Dad . But yet you stayed by Moms side forty plus years , I now know how much work that was for the two of you . If there were any problems , You and Mom did a good job keeping it from us . Although I do miss hearing the two of you fussing at each other .
                  What all this boils down to Dad is I want you know that love you and the thought of you not being there will at times will be hard because , I thought you would always be there . This promise I will work hard at making this relationship work , and try by your example to be there for those in my new family group . I have got make at least make one thing work and last in my life . Because I look at all you have done and gone through through out your life , what I have to face is small to all that you accomplished . What I am trying to do now Dad is tell you all that never had the courage to tell you . Yes , I know its late but I at least had to get of my chest . It is my hope , that this finds you in the after life and that will share it with Mom . Also , I know that I will see you again , every time I look in a mirror , at times I swear at times I see you there . You will be missed .
                               Thanks Dad for listening .

THE ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT YOU WANT TO LIVE

                       Well this is hard topic to write about , because one could let his imagination and lose a sense of reality in . The are many places that we all would wish to to live , but with that are you being realistic ? Everybody daydreams of that ideal get away spot that we could while our days away in leisure . Are really going to be happy with that , yes for awhile , but soon boredom would set in .
                       So what is the one place in the world that I what live ? Well I lived in Michigan as a youth as well as Rhode Island and Pennsylvania . Those are the places I have lived while my Dad was in the service , that I remember .
                       Pennsylvania I remember because of one sad incident and a welcomed Christmas present . Well the sad thing is that I lost my best friend in first grade ,due to a auto accident . I never really found another best friend since . Bucky was to be my friend through out live , you know how boys are , we became blood brothers . Silly thing I know , but to a young boy it is important . As for the welcomed gift , it was transistor radio . It looked like Walkie-talkie , it had a picture of Vic Morrow from the TV show Combat . I liked that show . I even remember the first song I ever heard on it . Downtown by Petula Clark . Something about the lyrics really stuck on me . It made believe that downtown was a wonderful place , where you could forget your problems . So since I always thought the happening place was downtown no matter where I have lived .Of course there many other memories of Pennsylvania , of all those are the one most influential .
                    Rhode Island  , there was a place full of adventure for a young boy . We lived on a island in Narragansett bay . On the island there was a navel shipyard , it was exciting to for me to the ships come in to port , especially the one my father was assigned to . The cooks on board  ship loved my brothers and sister and me also . We ate there one day in the chow hall on ship , they served us what is called SOS on toast , and we all loved it . we thought that was a big deal . Then  .there was the beach we used to go to on the other side of the Island . On it was what was called Hangman's rock and off to the right there was a cliff with a house on it . To me it looked some what like the house it the show Dark Shadows ,it looked rater eerie on those could New England fall days .Then there was the Jazz festival at a park near by with all the hippies walking around . It was a sight to see by a young teenager to see and the music was something else . I do not remember who was their but I do remember hearing it . To me it was another  world and I wanted to know more about it . But that was not to be for a few years later for we moved to Michigan .
                 Now for Michigan We moved to an area in the country far removed from what was happening in the nation and the world . Our only connection to it was the radio for the music and Walter Cronkite on the six o clock news , where he provided a picture of the happenings around the world ,good or bad . During this time my Dad served in Vietnam at the Great Lakes navel station before he retired . This where I my best friend , Marmaduke , my German Shepard Collie mix . She was shades of brown and black stripes . She loved the snow and outdoors ,oh yes can't forget her Frisbee . She loved chasing after it along with running through the corn field next door . I could take her for walks through the woods and talk to her about anything and know she would not tell mom on me .
                Michigan was also where I discovered the underground college FM radio stations . It was here you could here the music that the Am stations would not play . It was listening to this that expanded my taste in Rock and Roll and Blues . Do not forget Saturday nights with the Doctor Demento Show . The Demented music that he played just cause my imagination to run wild .
              Oh yes , there were the winters that we had there and the camping trips with Boy Scouts in that weather . They for some reason seemed more fun than they looked . I enjoyed them , very much as a young man . There to many other memories to mention some good and some bad .
            I finally came to the decision to leave home as most young men do . To do this I joined the Air force . They promptly sent me to Texas for training . Most of my memories consist of Basic and Tech School . I remember the day before I went I was at the AFEES station in Detroit . We were allowed to leave post to go to a movie , of all movies it was the Texas Chain Saw Massacre , the original version . So I left with definite idea of Texas . When finished Basic training , there was the long bus ride to tech school . We went down this road that seemed to go on forever . We saw this tree ahead of us , we would drive what seem hours and not caught up with it . It was this ride I envisioned this guy jumping out of nowhere with a chainsaw in hand and that creepy mask .As we rode I kept looking for him ,but thankfully he never appeared . My sitting writing this blog attests to that fact .
            Well its on to my first duty assignment , I was California Dreaming . Yes it was California , that was to be my first assignment . The valley near Yosemite was to be it . The are where American Graffiti was filmed .This where I really opened up . This where I started Disc jockeying disco at the clubs on base . I know ,Yes it was Disco and some nights it would be Rock and Roll . It was all week at the club and Saturdays at the lake . Where we would practice our Disco moves in the grass .Then there was the coastal drive from San Francisco south to Santa Cruise with a stop at Blacks beach . The ride was a an adventure in itself . I would tell you all about it but it was one of those things , that really you had to be there . While I was here it was fun in the sun , a little partying at night and do not forget the work that I had do to be there and enjoy it .
              Well off to the next stop , West Germany as it was known at the time . The very first thing I was introduced to was the beer . Oh ,did mention my love of the taste of a beer . Man I sure in in the right place now . Do not let forget to mention all the good German food . There were all the festival to go to . Just about every village had one , some time during the year  . The beer tents , with the beer , brats and the Polka bands .The dance floor always filled up with chicken dance . It was so silly it was just fun . The drive down the Rhine River were so scenic on a bright spring day with the top off on my truck . The castles , grape vines on the side of the hills , the ships cruising down the river . and all the villages along the way . Each with its own story .Then there were the all day rock fests to go too . I went so many its hard to count . I also enjoyed my all night drives that I took along the auto bahn , when I could not sleep . I always wanted to go back someday .
                I guess what am trying to say , the only place I ever wanted to live is where I am at , at the moment . If you always wishing to be somewhere else , you may miss out on the the small memories that may mean the most to in later years .I have not gone into everywhere I have lived , But I can say I was glad to be where I needed to be at the time . Just like I am where I need to be now . Who knows what memories are to come and which ones I will remember most , but I am sure they will come . Maybe I will share them here in my blog . Only Time will tell .

Thoughts from the head ;ABOUT

                    A mission statement and how the idea came to be . Well , it started over a year ago , when I decided to buy my first computer . I bought this laptop through my company . And in my excitement of owning one I wanted to delve into this new world that opened up to me . Yes , this new world has been a learning experience . I saw this blogger site and I decided to try it and in a over a year latter I am still at it .
                   When started this , the question was what do I call it and what will it be about . As I thought it over , an idea came to mind . I wanted it to about my thoughts and stuff like that . Then I also though something my old man use to say all the time . He would get up and excuse himself from the the room and announce he was going to the head . Another term for the restroom . It’s a word that has many meanings depending on how you use it , and what kind of background you come from . So now I have a tittle “Thoughts from the head “ .
                    Now that got a tittle , what I write about . First of when sit in the head and when we spend a little quality time to our selves , be honest a lot of stuff does run through our heads . Some off it insightful some of it is just utter nonsense , Am I right . me my self I spend a lot of time , by my self , walking my floors at work . So I do have quite a bit time by myself to think . Man do I come up with stupid thoughts at night .Though some are good . A lot of times I think about what I would do if I won the lottery . I do believe I have good plan in my head ,if it should ever happen . Fat chance . So I guess what am saying , this blog is about what ever goes through my head ,that passes for a real thought .
                 First test is can I remember it long enough to even write about it . Next would be can I come up with it to write about it . Can do it with out going of on a tangent in the left field . Also , one concern I have is does make any recognizable sense , will it be understandable . Oh yes , one more thing which is the most important , will any one take the time to read it . Apparently ,some one is reading it , otherwise I would not still be doing this after a year .
                My next project is grow this blog . To try to get it to where I have more than thirty readers a day . I do post it on G+ ,twitter , and face book . That brings to mind am I interesting enough to keep bringing them back and pass the word around . I know in the grand scheme of things I am still the new kid on the block . So still have a lot to learn .
                 But one of main reasons I do this ,is , so that some one in the future does a family record search ,they will find a lot more than a birth certificate and the like . They will find what I thought about and more . Because I do write little stories about some happenings in my life . So guess this is mission my mission statement for my blog . DON’T LET A GOOD THOUGHT GO TO WASTE .

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EXCUSE ME MADAM

                    This is a a small story from my past that is kind of funny . In my youth ,just after graduating from high school , I fell in the kind of job that every guy dreams of . I had a job as handy man at a girls camp . This was back in seventy-five 
                    At the time I had long hair , which many of us had at the time . I never left the house tell my hair was in all the right places . I would wash it then blow dry it ,then brush it till I had the right look . I had what would call a feathered shag . I was proud of that long hair . I thought it was cool But back then leisure suits and platform shoes were cool too.
                   Well a couple of weeks into camp on one of my nights off , my parents came by to take me out to dinner . They thought I needed an escape from being the only guy in camp , other than John  the year round caretaker of the camp . He was what call a cool laid back man . Come to find out he was a Veteran of Guadalcanal ,during World War Two . He didn’t talk much about it , but it kind of made him bigger than life to me . Because he was were I only seen John Wayne in the movies . I think that was because ,He was right there in front of me and I worked with him . I had a lot of respect for him . Well there goes my mind again wondering of from the topic .
                   So here I was this longhair working at Camp Shawadasse , a camp in southern Michigan . Just imagine your bringing your daughter to camp on her first day .  Here I  was helping in loading of the girls gear on the trailer ,to bring it back to there campsites . Back in the day fathers would look long and hard at me and wonder . I have got to admit ,at this time I have long hair only a little bald spot on my forehead that was not there back then .
                    Well back to the dinner my parents were taking my out to . We left the camp  to go to this Steak House in Kalamazoo . I was wearing my camp staff tee shirt and a pair of jeans . Well we walked in , and at the counter we gave them our orders and then we at down at our table to wait on our order . We were carrying our conversation . You know, the usual how things going , and are you making out all right and all that parental sort of stuff . A few moments had passed an the girl whom had taken order , approached our table ,with my back to her . She politely asked  “ Madam I forgot to ask you ,how did you want your steak .”  I then replied politely to my parents “ Think I should find a new job “  We all laughed including the waitress . She quickly apologized and left our table with my order and little embarrassed . I kind off flirted with her the rest of the night .
                I know not why I remember this , but it makes for a good story . I think it one of my good memories of time spent with my parents .

THE GUARDRAIL

                              I suppose your you wondering what I could be writing about a guardrail . Well this is a a story about something that happened to me many years ago . So long ago ,it seems a lifetime . I do not remember the names of the people involved , Even if I did I would not include them anyway .

                             This happened in a time of my life when partying was everything . The fact that I was in the Air force was only minor then . At the the time it was something I just had to do just to get to party time . I was station in West Germany at the time and my wife were separated at the time . We would eventually be divorced .So I guess I kind of went wild . Heck my , roommate she was even concerned that I was trying to be like Jim Morrison . At the time I read everything there was to be found ,that was written about him . I listen to my Doors albums almost constantly . Every night I looked for a reason and place to party . I tell you this to give somewhat what life was like form at the time .
                          On this cold winter night , I went to a rock club in a village nearby , it was one of my favorite haunts . I borrowed my roommates 60’s model 2002 BMW sedan . The main reason I went to the club was one of my favorite bands was playing there , Mallet . I hand become friends with members of the band .So when ever they came to town , I found a way to be there . While there I ran into a group of people that I and roommate knew . So the partying just escalated to another level . A god time was had by us all . I stayed longer than I intended .
                     On this Particular night , the roads had been wet all day . This mixed with the cold nights of Germany , the drive can get treacherous . Mix that with a hard night party, well that makes for a bad mix . Throw in some one that did not worry about consequences of his actions . I was just out for the good time .
                     My plan had been just to go straight home , but we all know what happens to plans . I hate say it , the best laid plans of mice and men always go awry . My friends needed a ride home , I could not just leave them there . They lived about twenty miles away . So I loaded them all up and off we went . I then proceeded to head toward the Autobahn to bring them home . I pulled on the on ramp , All was going well . I was accelerating to a speed to match that of the other traffic . I was getting confident in how I was handling everything ,the road , the load music from the radio and all the laughing and singing from the group in the the car . Yes , the party continued .
                   Then it happened I hit a patch of black ice , the surge of the autobahn . We all were warned about this in our safety classes , that we had every day in our units on base . Well the car began to spin , the rear end of the car tried to met up with the front end . We span for a while , the noise and confusion , I could hear my German friend profess his priorities at the time . I could hear his concern for his beer at the time . The statement , “my beer” could be heard above all else  . He then promptly place a finger on the opening of the bottle .
                Shortly after , there it was the  guardrail . We hit it with such impact that shook us all over the car . We slide along the guardrail for awhile before we came to a complete stop . As we sat there in the car in shock , it came to us what just happened . We slowly climbed out of the car to check the damage to the car and ourselves . Thankfully all we had was a few bruises , we all came out all right . This was silence among us for the first time the whole night as we checked out the car ,guardrail and each other . Them German friend proudly pronounced , “ I saved the beer “ . After which we all began to laugh as we began to pass the bottle around .
              Don’t ask me why I remember this night , I really have no idea . There must be a reason ,for what I don’t know But remember this fondly . Chalk it up to just a memory .

I DON’T GET IT !

                     I one day at work , over heard one of my team mates say this . I thought to my self this would make a good title and topic for a post . That statement alone is a very deep subject to cover , mainly because it can cover many area’s . There are many things that just do not get . To many of you all , you will think it is obvious . What is not to get .
                      All the years through growing up I just could not get the idea of religion . To me going to church was something we had to do on Sunday .Mainly , because Mom said we had to go . I just could not get the idea of going there on my day of from school .The one thing I did get out of it though is I did not like being late . We would have to sneak in the back door all the time . Every would stare at us as we would slide in . The one thing I did look forward to was the coffee and doughnuts ,that was waiting in the basement after the service .Yes , I did Sunday school classes , but to no avail . I really did not get much out of it . It being a Catholic church it was mostly memorising questions answers . I did not get much out of that , how could I . I wanted reasons for the answers . All I got was that you do not question the church .
                  As I got older I came to realize most of the major religions in the world originated for the same part of the world . Most of the people in the old testament were also part of there teachings . The one thing that really gets me is , how do you put so much theory into a simple story or statement . In some cases I see people just adding something that just isn’t there . Another thing to the  statement of ,Put it in the lords hands . To me your saying that your waiting for some one else to to take care of things , your relinquishing ownership and control your responsibilities . when you should be taking personal ownership of the problem yourself .
               Your waiting for for the change , change does not happen unless the change comes from within . In the past few years I have noticed one thing . everyone is waiting for things to get better . Its seems that our government is expected to make that change . Change can not be legislated , how can you expect a government come up with a solution when it is wrought with problems ,that it is not working for the people anymore . I guess this where some of the population get that the government is to provide for us . No the government is not responsible for us , but it is to be responsible to us . For without us there would be no government . But as in the church , the government  some men think it all is there to control us .
              Back to the I don’t get it ! idea . The main reason I don,t get it is . I just do not see this blind faith . This is the way it is because god said so . We got to remember , the books were written by man ,just as over government is ran by man . So how can we put so much into faith ,when it is written ,interpreted , taught and preached by man . So how am expected to put faith in the church , when there is not really all that much faith in our governments .
              Don’t get me wrong , I don’t think all this is a cosmic accident . There is some thing out there that caused all this in the universe to happen . The awareness of our existence , did not just  happen . Some how the seeds of all this had to be planted . I just don’t get the explanation's that are being offered by our religions or even science . It is all theory , no matter which you follow it requires some kind of faith . That is my dilemma , so how do I separate what is truth , legend , lies or something that is used to control the population  . Yes there are some things I do believe are real . mainly I myself have seen them . Like ghosts , I had lived in house that had them . Back in the seventies I seen UFO's , and I heard this odd scream coming from the woods around our home in my youth , that we believed to be big foot . I could prove that it so but they shown me , myself that they are so . There I go again let my thoughts wonder again . But that's what this blog is just my thoughts .
             I guess there is no way I will know for sure . I have been looking for some kind of answer for year’s . Through the year’s explanations have been offered , none have made the the case . I even done the bible study thing . I got good at reading into it the theology , but none of it really took hold . Yes , I learned to live my life through the accepted boundaries of our society . I must say though what is accepted today ,was not accepted centuries ago . Shoot there was a time all thought the world was flat and if you went far enough you would fall off .Heck they even thought they we were the center of the universe . Are you getting my drift , these are the same people whom started all the worlds believes .
              So end this with offering no explanation or answers ,because I don’t get it ,and don’t know either . I know one thing for sure ,there will some people will offer explanations . They will try to lecture me on why it is so . Yes I will listen ,and read them .I just want you all to know ,I think there is a higher element , force or whatever it is . It just has not made it known to me . I will accept all answers and will not condemn any ones believes .So fell free to offer them as long as they are respectful of others thoughts . We have no way of knowing who is right . What maybe right for one , may not for others .So be respectful .

JUST TALKING TO MYSELF I GUESS

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             Well ,here I am again , my little rest period almost over . Today I learnt how to use one of the tools on my laptop . It took me a year to realize it was there ,and a good part of the mourning to figure out how to use it . In fact I am using right now to write the blog posting . It’s the Windows live Writer that I have connected to . So far I like it ,because I can work on my posts ,without going on line . Which is great , now I really have no excuse to keep up with my blogging . So this day of my vacation was not a waste . I learnt something , and was productive at the same time .
             Today , is a nice day out . We have the classic Carolina blue skies with the occasional white puffy clouds . Where stay ,every few minutes you can here the planes coming in for a landing . I would go out there to try to take some pictures of them . But , it is a bit warm and humid out . All this rain we have for the past month is not helping much . Tomorrow , we expecting some storms to roll through again . Yes through my vacation ,it has pretty much rained every day . That is a good thing in a way , everything is green ,though it has brought out the bugs and the streams around the area tend to overflow .
               Maybe later on , I will get out there with my camera as it cools ,and go for a walk . Yes , I realize my blog is of no social relevance .But as I have said in blog in past year . I write this so that when some one in my family researches the family history in the future . They will find more than a few documents and photos . They may find this blog and learn more about who I am . That one of great things about the internet . Historians , in the future may be able to put a bigger picture together about our time . Yes , of it may be nonsense , but none the less they will learn more about us than they could about past generations . They will have more than just cave paintings to go by . Man, here I go again off on one of my tangents . I took a left hand turn some where .
               Though that why my blog is called; Thoughts from the head . There is anther reason for its title too. I can thank my dad for that . When ever he left the room he would excuse him self from the room , and he was going the head . Another term for the rest room . You got to understand he was retired navy . That's what they called it in when he was in . I have know idea if they still call it that . Lets be honest though , this is the one room when in use , we do some most serious thinking at times . I know I do .Well I guess I rambled enough for today . So I guess I will go for now , daylight is burning . I need to get out there before it gets to late to do anything .

SOME THOUGHTS ON A RAINY DAY

            As I sit here looking my window ,writing this post on this rainy outcast day . I am listening to my music ,with the lights dim enjoying this cool air brought on by the weather we are having here in the Carolina's . I have really have no idea of what topic I am going to write about , at first thought I was looking at my vinyl collection of music that is at least thirty years old . Now that I think of it it is a reflection of my years of young adulthood .
           If  you were to go through them ,you would see concert tickets glued to the covers of some them .There would be news paper articles slide into some , magazines slide into some . In my collection you will find various forms of rock , jazz , blues ,disco, soul, funk ,and classical music .My tastes are wide and varied . What I listen to depend on my mood . To get of the subject I just noticed the rain is coming down pretty heavy now . We have had so much rain here lately I think it has rained every day for the past month . The ground is saturated . We have been having some flooding problems and trouble with tree falling because the ground is so wet . I have only used the pool once since it opened too .
           There I go off in a tangent again . I have been enjoying this rest I have been getting . Watching movies , listening to music ,naps  and some reading . Tomorrow looks like its going to b.e a nice day , maybe a chance to go out and take more pictures . Of what I do not know , I guess it will be what ever catches my eye .
            Back to my music collection , there was a time I would walk into the store and by at least a hundred dollars worth . That was a lot of money in the early eighties , but that did not matter to me I was in the service . I was living in the barracks ,ate at the chow hall . Lets just say I ate good there . I was in the Air Force . I went a lot of music festivals , and quite few beer and wine fests through West Germany at the time . They always had a tent with a stage ,where had bands play every thing from Polka to Rock . There was even country ,that was good for drinking beer .
             Before going to Germany , I was in California , while stationed there I DJed the on base clubs in 78 and 79 At Castle . It sort of broke me out of my shell . Man I partied my butt off . We played Rock and Disco .That was two wild years . We were even trying out our Disco moves when we were out at the lake near by .
             Back home in Michigan I would walk through the corn fields listening to my eight track player ,with my dog Marmaduke keeping me company . Oh don't forget when I finally got my first car ,a 76 Ford Maverick . I would cruise the dirt roads playing the radio as load as could with out the speakers cracking . Or the late nights listening to the underground FM college radio stations and listen to the rock that was not on the play lists of the Am stations.
           Oh yes , least I not forget the Sunday afternoons My Dad would break out his old 78 collection . We would listen his Big Band music . There would some Frank Sinatra ,Dean Martin and some country thrown in for good measure . He would sit there in his mothers rocking chair , puffing on his pipe .
          Music and a rainy day go good together . They also bring so many different memories to mind while sitting there . Not mention that this day also falls on a Sunday . The rain , the musics ,and the thoughts of memories , how perfect .

WHAT TO TO DO ,OH WHAT TO DO

        This mourning is a little cloudy but it is nice enough to sit and relax by the pool where I live . It is the first full day of a long deserved vacation . There are no plans to do any thing at all . Maybe I will take a day to run around town and play with my new camera . Just find places to take some interesting pictures .
          This will be a good time to rejuvenate my soul . I have a lot of pent up frustration , also combined with the recent passing of my father and also some guilt of my own to deal with .
        At times I may seem like a care free individual ,but that is far from the truth . Thanks to my parents and my past , I am in reality very conservative , I believe in hard work and accepting personal responsibility for one actions . Lord knows I have a lot to be responsible for . But that is for me to deal with on my own ,one by one . Lets face it there is a lot that happens in life that we all would like to change but that will never happen in any way ,shape and form .
        Enough about that , lets see . How am I to occupy my time for this next week . I have got admit Last night I suffered a little quilt for not being at work . So to make up for it I need to feel productive this week while I am off . For starters , I am starting with making this post on my blog . Trying to figure out where I am going to try out my camera . I thought may a trip uptown and try the different setting out on the camera .I really need to learn how to use the new camera .
            You some thing , I just noticed it feel mighty pleasant sitting here by the pool . There is a nice cool breeze . The sun is not out . they are calling for some rain later today . Earlier this mourning I went to the store , it was real nice . You could hear the birds singing like they do as the day starts . I as i passed this lilac bush ,there was a pleasant smell as I walked to my bus stop on the way to the store . Yes , I find the best time to go to the store early in the mourning before every one wakes up . On Saturdays people have a tendency to sleep in after a long week of work.At that time of mourning I find I can get in there and out fast , and the shelf's are still fully stocked .
               Well I think maybe I have bored you all enough . I think its time for me to get on with my rest and relaxation . So I say every one enjoy your weekend doing what ever you do to occupy yourselves and I will do the same .

LOST IN TIME OR ARE WE LOSING IT

                      Ever notice that at times time goes so slow and other times it goes by so fast . I always wonder wonder why that is . Remember when we were young the school year went so slow , it seemed summer would never get here . When it did it flew by . Now that we are older it seems the years just fly by . There never seems to be enough time . It just goes to show how important right now is , how procrastination is a urge that needs to be fought . With some of us that hard thing to do . Wasted time is opportunities lost , some of which will give you feelings of regret the rest of your life . Those chances will never come back and you can not make up for lost time . You can only work with what time you have , what is done with it is up to you . I know I have wasted more than my share time , and it came with many regrets .
                  What comes to mind this statement , BE HERE NOW . I do not know where I am leading my self with this thought . I only now have as of lately been thinking a lot about this . Shoot it seems as if at least to me that we just began this year ,and and now it is almost over . Christmas will be here before we know it . We have so little time , and how to best use it ,is probably the oldest question in time . I often wonder am I doing the right thing or am I just passing time . Change that you can not pass time , it only passes you by never to return . See how important it is that time be used and occupied by our actions . Insuring that either forward progress ,or lasting memories are being made . Sitting in front of a TV , Game console , our computers , or staring at our smart phones are just ways of using time if not being used for making some kind of progress .
                   I am not saying I have any of the answers , if fact I don't  . All I am doing is putting the thought out here . Because I am still looking for the answer ,if there is one to be found . I do not presume that there is a one size fits all answer out there . There may not be . The answer may be in us to be found for our own needs . Now that I put the thought out there , now to let it go and see what happens to it . I do want to hear others thoughts and opinions .

MY DAD , SOME OF WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT ME

ROBERT DALE ROME USN [RETIRED ]
FEBUARY 1930 TO JULY 4 , 2013

              This week I have been thinking about the lessons I learned from my dad as I grew up . The first of which that came to mind is when I was a freshman in high school . I went out for our schools football team with grand illusions of becoming the big man in school .
                You got to understand that it was a hopeless cause for me . I was a scrawny 5'10 at 145 lbs. I could put on any weight even if tried , man did I try , I ate every thing that was not nailed down . In our house there was no such thing as left-overs .
         Well back to  what I started telling you about ,lessons learned. I went through the practices in the hot August's of Michigan . It was hot that summer all you had to do is walk across the practice field and you were soaked . As went into the beginning of the season I came to the realization I was not that good .
              In one of the first games the coach put me in . I don't remember what play it was I do remember I was on defense . Some how I ended up in a neck and neck race with the ball carrier .It was as if I was playing tag with him . He ran  a good way down the field , thankfully he ran out bounds and did not make the touch down , I just frooze I could not make that tackle , I could not bring myself to sacrifice my body to do it . Some how I could not bring my self  to tackle this man . Needless to say ,coach pulled out of the game and I got a royal but chewing from him to . What it boiled down to is he sat me on the bench and told me not get up from it either .
                 While sitting there I had made up my mind I was going to quit . After the game Dad picked me up from the locker room to bring me home . I mentioned to him that I was thinking of quiting the team . He explained why I shouldn't , He said if I did , I would regret doing so . I would be having all these what if's running through my head the rest of my life . Also if I did I would doing so every time it got rough in my life .
                 He went every one of my games , I may not of played very much but he was there none the less . The position I held was End , Guard , and Tackle . I sat at the end of the bench , Guarded the water bucket and  tackled any one who got near it . My dad would show up with an antique car horn , and it was loud ,too . Every one at the field knew he was there . Dad and Mom just enjoyed going to the games every week .
              The lesson I learned though was just to hang in there ,till the job was done . What it was I have done with every job I have had since then . I have always stuck it out with my job's a couple of years or more . I have found that that had payed off in the long run . It always looked good on my resume's . It the small lessons that your dad gives that mean the most .