DAY 6

The day started with rain...continued with rain...finished with rain. We picked up Mason and headed to the movie theater. Of course the show he wanted to see...wasn't on for 2 hours. So we walked the mall...had a snack...played in the play area...until it was movie time. A large drink and popcorn...and we headed for theater 11 to see 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen...but Mason liked it...and it kept us out of the rain for a couple of hours. Hopefully it rained itself out today...and will be nice tomorrow...since it's our last full day. We're hoping for a relaxing day...poolside. The week has flown by...as all vacations do. Dan

DAY 5

Our assignment today was to be at Julie & Eric’s at 900am. We didn’t make it. But we did make it by 930. (They weren’t ready anyway either). We finally got under way to Ocala…about an hour away. Our trip was to meet Eric’s parents…Jay & Ann. They have a beautiful 15 acre ranch with cattle and horses. Cindy & I both agreed that granddaughter Anna would think she had arrived in heaven if she had been with us. Anna is our horse lover and has taken riding lessons for 4 years and this summer will be in a local 4-H program to show horses. Jay & Ann are obviously into animals…they train their horses to become ‘search and rescue’ horses. This region of Florida has some dense forests and water areas and it’s not uncommon for people to get lost in these locations. Because of the land make up…cars can’t always be utilized to search for these people…but horses can be. Their horses are not only beautiful…but well-trained…beneficial animals. We enjoyed a nice lunch at a local eatery and then back to the ranch to visit and give Mason a chance to swim in their pool. Jay & Ann and Cindy & I had a few minutes to talk alone about our concerns and hopes for Eric & Julie and particularly Mason. We all want the best for them and agreed to support their efforts however we can. After a fun day, we headed back to Julie & Eric’s. A storm had passed through the area while we were away…and their home was without power. Cindy & I headed back to the hotel to grab a bite to eat and hear from the kids that they had power back. One of our other concerns during the day…was the news of whether our Purdue basketball coach was going to leave and go to another school to become their new coach. We sure didn’t want him to go…and by later in the day…the word came that he had decided to stay at Purdue. We breathed easier after hearing that. A fun, enjoyable day…to meet some nice folks. Dan

DAY 4

The weatherman was wrong...it was a nice day today. We sat by the pool and sunned...and headed over to Downtown Disney. We grabbed a bite to eat at 'The House of Blues'...and walked the boardwalk. The weather remained nice and the weatherman must have scared off the crowds because it was a non-crowded day. At 530, we headed for the Cirque du Soleil and watched La Nouba. What a head spinning...exciting...fun program. Gymnasts...tight-rope walkers...high-wire acts...tumblers...and the like. The little girls were the hit of the show. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel...grabbed a pizza...some cheesecake and a couple of beers...and headed back to the room to unwind. A great date night out with Cindy. Dan

DAY 3

The weather has done a 180. As beautiful and sunny as yesterday was...today was rain...rain...and more rain. The locals were glad to see it as it has been dry here...but we were spoiled by yesterday's sun and 90 degrees. Today...I'm not sure it hit 70. After breakfast...we looked up Cindy's cousin Susan. Susan is 18 months into her cancer treatment...and looks good. She is in her 'off' week of chemo so she was feeling good and up for a visit. We took time to catch up on her and her family...and ours. She took us for a drive around the area...including the school that Mason would attend next fall here in Florida. Ironically...it's the same school her 3 children attended years ago. After our visit with Susan...we headed back to our hotel for a diet coke and a nap...and then headed to the Florida Mall to see if we could find anything we couldn't resist. We didn't find it. We had a nice dinner at Buca di Beppo. Then back to our hotel to sit up again for awhile...as our bellies were too full to lay down. A rainy day...and rainy night. But it's 67 degrees here...it's 37 degrees back home. We'll stay here a little longer...and hope the rain moves on through. Either way...another great day. Dan

DAY 2

Cindy & I got a nice breakfast in our bellies...and headed for the pool. There was 1 cloud in the sky when we got there...and it soon went away. The temps finally hit 90 degrees and the water felt good. Julie had to work today...so Mason and Eric came over and joined us for the day. They have a fun water slide and a water fall to swim under...and Mason enjoyed every moment. When he and Eric finally headed home...Cindy & I guessed that Mason was asleep long before they got to the house...maybe before the 1st stoplight past the hotel! Cindy & I cleaned off the sunscreen...we both found a few sunburned places where we didn't get enough sunscreen...and headed out for a bite to eat. We ended up at Landry's Seafood House and had a great meal. As we headed out of the parking lot on the way home...a guy flagged us down in the parking lot...I thought maybe he might need a jump for his car. He goes on to tell us a 'hard luck' story about losing his job in Michigan...living out of a van with his wife and daughter...and needing some money...any money...for a meal. I asked him if he was pulling my leg...and gave him some money. As we pulled away, I asked Cindy if I was a fool...and she said I did the right thing...and if he was lying to us...then 'that' was on him. Finally back to the hotel...to sit up in bed for awhile...as we were both too full to lay down. A good second day. It's been a great time with Cindy. Dan

THE TRIP...DAY 1

Woke up early at our Indy hotel and Cindy, grandson Mason, and I headed to the airport. Everything went about as well as could be...landing 10 minutes early in Orlando.

Julie & Eric met up with us while we waited for luggage and car rental. Followed them to their house...what a nice place in Ocoee (O-KO-EE). Decided we were all hungry and headed to get a bite to eat. A good lunch...Cindy & I downed 2 big ice teas...and we've been peeing ever since.

Stopped at Walmart to buy some drinks and snax to take to our hotel. Had to pee while at Walmart...and guy was talking on his cell phone...while doing his business! Now...that's a phone call I don't want to answer!!

Headed to our hotel while Mason went to J & E's. Got to our hotel...Caribe Royale...what a nice place. Texted the kids to let them know we were in. Julie texted back that Mason was playing in his room...loving it already.

A little sales pitch for those of you who don't have one. Three letters. G-P-S. If you don't have one...get one. I don't think I could get around in a place having to use maps and reading it...driving...missing a turn...blah, blah, blah. I just entered the address I needed to drive to...and let the GPS tell me where to turn, what road to get on, and how much further it is. Cindy calls ours...Stella...the Street Talker.

We are relaxin'...and feelin' good. Day 1...has gone as good as we could ask.


Dan

MY BAD KNEE

Yesterday was a nice day...temperature in the low 60's...which felt really good...after what has been a loooonnng winter.

The grandkids got the bikes out and got their first bike ride in of the early spring. After a number of trips up and down the street to the 'circle'...Mason had an accident...that required Shawn and I to walk down to the scene of the crash.

He scraped up his knee but was otherwise just fine. I told him...from my experience...if you ride a bike...you're gonna have a wreck now and then.

Mason's crash took me back to my early days of bike riding in Owensville. I didn't have a small bike to learn to ride on...I had to learn on Jean and Dave's bigger bikes. Because of that...I had a number of crashes.

My most memorable crash was within a few blocks of our house. I rounded a corner quickly and the bike hit some gravel and the wheels slid out from under me. Fortunately...my knee helped me to skid to a stop over about 15-20 feet!

My jeans were ripped to shreds...with the good part of the jeans that was remaining...soaking up the blood from my bloody knee.

I recall dad trying to clean it up and put some iodine on it...which I knew would 'burn like hell'. I beleive it was my sister Jean...who told me years later...that dad had to wait until I was asleep to finally clean my wound.

I don't remember that part thank goodness...but I was reminded of that accident by the huge scar on my knee for years and years.

I'm looking forward to spring...and will likely have to help the grandkids through several bike accidents. Hopefully we'll have nothing more than minor scraped knees.


Dan

I'M RESTING

For my faithful followers...you may have noticed I haven't had many postings in the last few months. Since the inception of my blog...I've found about 20 or so things to talk about each month. For one reason or another I haven't found 20 things I wanted to talk about in the last 2 months combined.

Maybe I have "writer's block". Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I've been busy with other things.

There's still lots to talk...and read...about. The world hasn't stopped spinning.

The tragedies in Japan provide lots of stories. The Mideast is up to its' usual stuff. Gas prices are on the rise. The stock market rises and falls. States...including my own...are trying to make 'bad guys' out of union members. Teachers are getting laid off in droves. NCAA tournament time is here...one of my favorite times of the year. Young athletes are in the news...for dying at a young age.

Oh...there's plenty of news out there. Plenty of things to bring up as topics of discussion.

I just don't feel like talkin' about them right now. Ever felt that way? Ever just needed some space?

I'm taking some time to recharge my batteries. Maybe I just need some sunshine to cheer me up. Hang in there with me. I'll be back.


Dan

LOSS OF A CHILD

A sad story in the papers made me think back to a conversation with my dad.

A family in Pennsylvania had a fire at their dairy farm house. The father was away from the house delivering milk...the mother was in the barn milking cows.

A fire broke out in the house containing their 8 children...all under 11 years of age. The 3 year old woke up and ran to the barn to tell their mother of the fire. According to the news...by the time the mother got the father...the house was engulfed in flames...with the loss of life of the remaining 7 children.

The circumstances don’t add up…but the end result...is the loss of life of this family's 7 children.

Within the last month or so, a similar tragedy occurred in Western Kentucky. A couple...and their 7 children...were on their way home from a relatives’ house...all riding in the family horse and wagon (an Amish family).

A recent rain storm had caused the creek...that they had to cross to get to their home...to rise to high levels. As they crossed, the swiftly flowing water overturned the wagon and 4 of the 7 children were swept away to their deaths.

A parent can hardly imagine...never wants to imagine...the loss of ‘one’ child. These parents lost multiple children at once.

In the later years of my fathers’ life...I spoke to him about many of the past events of his life. During one of his stories...he spoke of my oldest brother…his first son…Durward. Durward had died in an accident at age 37.

Fifteen years after Durwards' death...it was still a crushing loss to my father. He whispered softly how he still missed him.

These two families lost...not one child...lost 4 of 7 and 7 of 8. Only someone who has had a similar tragedy could even begin to fathom what they have gone through.

I'm sure...until the ends of their lives...these parents will have that inner pain that will never go away...of their lost children...and how they missed them.


Dan

UNDER MY SKIN

For many years...up until a few years ago...I was a ‘check’ writer. If I bought it…I wrote a check for it. I didn’t like using credit cards and was amazed at people who seemed to use them for everything…milk at the grocery store…happy meals at McDonald's…it seemed I saw it a lot. I felt they were putting themselves in real financial jeopardy, knowing that people with no self-control use the...‘buy now pay later’...mentality and then get themselves in serious trouble when the bill comes. So…to not become one of those people …I wrote checks…lots of them.

Then one day…my thoughts changed and I gradually switched over to ‘their’ way of thinking. I knew I had the control to pay the card bill off every month when it came…and I’ve been able to do that for the most part. Now I probably write less checks in a year than I used to write in a month.

Recently I read that Europe is wanting the United States to change our credit cards to the type they use, to make things easier for 'them'.

You’ll notice on the back of your credit card is a black strip. This is simply a piece of magnetic recording tape that our card information is loaded onto. When our card is ‘swiped’ through a reader, it detects those numbers that appear on the front of our card, along with other information the business needs and the charges are put on our account.

It seems that in Europe, they’ve gone from the magnetic strip…to a computer chip that’s embedded in the card. It’s easier and better for 'them' and they want us to do the same...so that when we ‘crazy Americans’ go over there to spend our money...we can make their life easier by having credit cards like theirs.

So don’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen some day, whether it’s for the Europeans…or just considered a good idea by us.

I also read that MasterCard is now making a card that has a small display window on the front. By pushing a few buttons on the card, it will display your card balance, your recent transactions and similar functions. Don’t be surprised if you see more of these smart cards in the future, too.

But I think rather than putting a computer chip in my credit card, I'll have my bank install one under my skin...that connects to my bank accounts. When I buy something...I’ll wave my arm under the reader and...DING...it's done.

Hey we can put those chips under our dogs skin and track where they are in the neighborhood…why not track my spending with one.

Lots of other people seem to bet getting under my skin. I’ll just add my credit cards too.


Dan

I AGREE WITH TOM

Yesterday... a controversial decision was handed down by the Supreme Court. It is not a popular response...but I believe the right response.

A Kansas church...for some years now...have had some of their members appear at military funerals...with placards and shouts of 'God killed your son because of His anger at our nations support of homosexuals'...or something to that effect.

One particular man had sued the church...and it had gone all the way to the Supreme Court...stating that those church members violated his right to bury his son...and mourn the loss of his son...in the way a father should.

Now...not a one among us...(and if you disagree...please feel free to NEVER read my blog again)...would agree with what this 'radical' church sect is doing. Shame on them. I believe that when 'their' judgement day comes...God has a special place...(HELL!)... that they will be sent to.

With that being said...one of the things that makes America...America...is the freedoms that we have. And...one of those freedoms is our freedom of speech. As wrong...and hurtful...and cruel as the words these church members say...that group has the right to say them.

I believe I saw a comment from Tom Brokaw...the old NBC news anchor...that basically said...that the best thing we could do would be to outnumber those church folks...with our veterans...and those who support our veterans.

So the next time those church members come to protest...they need to be outnumbered by those who 'support' that grieving family. If 10 of 'them' show up to protest...let 100 veterans/supporters show up. If 20 of 'them' show up...have 200 supporters show up.

Ten or twenty people blocking the view...or holding placards of support...or shouting louder than a protester...can overshadow what that '1' person can do.

I agree with Tom on this one.


Dan

CALCULATOR +/- 50 YEARS

The word 'calculator' jumped out of an article at me today. For some reason...my thoughts flashed back 50 years...to my brother.

A calculator...of sorts...back then was called a 'slide rule'. I recall Dave having one to do his homework. I don't know if it was a design class...a math class...or a science class...but it was there for his use.

I saw 'his' specific slide rule in years past...in fact...I may still have it tucked away in a storage tub somewhere.

I bet if I showed a slide rule to my kids...they'd have no idea what it was or how to use it. Since it's been many, many years since I've used one, it'd probably take me a few minutes before 'I' could even show them how to use it.

Today...we don't have, or need, slide rules in our 'every day' world. As I remember them, I could multiply or divide and get an estimate of a number...but rarely an exact number.

Instead...today...we have calculators (the size of credit cards...or they come as a function on our cell phone) that can give us the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide with an answer that can be carried out into multiple decimal points.

The slide rule...one more thing from the old days...that's no longer applicable...and is unrecognizable to today's kids.

Another clue that I'm getting older.


Dan