Meeting Kai

Well I was very excited when I finished work today and got to go over to Nancy and Ray's house. Yes they are back from China with my new grandson Kai. I could tell that he was a little timid at first, but after we broke out the stacking cups it was all fun from there. Well the McDonald's french fries, and the Cheerios didn't hurt. By the time I was getting ready to leave he was sitting in my lap and singing to me. You can tell he has been sung to by the orphanage workers.

Kai is so lucky he has such a wonderful Mom and Dad that already love him so much. He will learn that he will find love from everyone in his new family. As much as Kai is lucky, we are lucky to have him in our family. He is very funny, alert, and very much a young BOY.

I look forward to many bonding moments with Kai, and all of my other grandchildren.

Back at Work

Well I have entered the ranks of the employed again. This job may only last for a few months but it is nice to have a positive cash flow again. I am working for a company only 30 miles from Happy Road, but the project I am working on is in Oklahoma City. We are dismantling a can plant and shipping it to China. I am working on tagging all of the equipment and getting it ready for the manifest to be shipped.

This work is interesting, but after being off for so long it is hard to go straight into 10 hour days, 6 days a week. It is just real nice to be doing something again. I hope this turns into more work after this project. The company is family owned and seems to be a good group to work with.

My work is only 5 miles from Nancy's house, and it was nice to go and get a great meal the other night.

Well it is late and I need to get to bed and get my rest for tomorrows day at WORK.

UP, UP, and Away

Last Saturday I was able to work with a group of people from the Dallas area to launch a balloon from the Clarksville Texas airport. Well you may be thinking that is what a little kid does before he gets in the car as they are leaving the fair. This is much more complicated. These balloons are designed to go to very high altitudes, and they carry several pieces of electronic equipment. Some of these packages are radios that allow people to make contacts from all over the country while at the high altitudes.

ARBONET III was the designation for this balloon launch. ARBONET stands for Amateur Radio Balloons over North East Texas. The balloon flew for about 2hrs and 44minutes reaching an altitude of over 80,000 feet. From the report filed online at http://www.arbonet.net/ The descent after the balloon burst was fast and furious. At the high altitudes there is not enough air to open the parachute. Then when it does hit the denser air the parachute opens, and it is like slamming on the brakes when going at a very high rate of speed.

Several pieces of the equipment failed during the descent, but because of a Ham Radio operator in Alabama who had experience with over 300 balloon flights, he was able to use computer programs and calculate the landing area which was SE of Shreveport LA. The landing area where the balloon was found was 20 miles from where the last electronic position report was given. This equipment may have never been found with out the help of this Ham Radio Operator in Alabama.

I learned a lot about Amateur Radio Balloons, and I am looking forward to next year for the launch of ARBONET IV.

"This is not good"

Last Friday we went to Dallas to pick up some new suits I was having altered. We went to to the Church bookstore and picked up a few new books. We had a good lunch at Furr's and everything was going well. We had a good drive down and back to Paris. Then when we turned into the driveway I saw water running down the driveway and coming out of the garage. I told Virgie "This is not good", and wow was I right. When we opened the garage door a large rush of water came out like a dam had just broken. We got in the house and found water about ankle deep in the kitchen and flowing from room to room through the house. I located the leak under the sink in the kitchen and tried to turn off the valve and it did not shut off the water. I then had to go out to the meter box and dig out the valve and get the water turned off.

Well after all of that we got a plumber out and it only took him about 30 minutes to fix the problem. It was a gasket that had blown out of a fitting on the line to the faucet. Then the next contractor showed up and started pulling up carpet and placing fans all over the house to get things dried out before everything started to mold. On Saturday the contractor came back and started tearing out baseboards and cutting holes in the drywall.

Then with all the fans running you can't hear anything in the house and we have to watch out what we turn on or we will blow a breaker because of all the fans running. Virgie came to me this morning and said there was water on the floor in front of the freezer. I told her "That is not good", and what I found next was that the contractor had unplugged the freezer and did not plug it back in.

Well tomorrow I am flying to Florida to interview with Florida Power and Light and I know things are going to get better. We all have trials and we are graded on how we handle them and get through the test we have before us. Tomorrow is another day and "It will be good".

Looking for a lost Senior

Yesterday I spent all day in the rain helping search for a 71 year old lady who has Alzheimer's and wandered away from her home. This was the third day for the search and the only thing they have found so far were her shoes. The bloodhounds picked up a scent and followed it down a road to a bridge where it was lost again. It has been raining for several days and the creeks are out of their banks. This is not a good situation, and we may not find out anything about this lady until the water goes down. Hopefully there will be a positive out come.

We rode our 4 wheelers as much as we could and the areas that were too dense were worked by foot. As I participated in this search I could not help but reflect on my own mother. Mom had Alzheimer's and continued to get worse until her death in 2000. Mom got to where she did not know us kids, but would tell stories about her youth in Alabama.

I hope there is a positive outcome with this lady from Bonham Texas. This search gave time to reflect on how important our family is, and how fragile it can be also.

Back to the Mountain

Every year around the end of August I try to make the trip back to the Mountain. The mountain is located near Mena Arkansas and is the home of Queen Wilhelmina State Park. From the time I was 10 years old, and we moved to Cove Arkansas, which is located about 15 miles south of Mena. I have always been intrigued by the lure of this mountain. Of course the over two hundred hot rods and classic cars that are there at the end of August does not hurt either.

I can remember when I was young my Dad would load us all up in the VW bus we had, and we would take out on trips through all the back roads up and down the mountains. I was always drawn back to Rich Mountain where the State Park is now located. The lodge started back in 1898 as a resort for the Queen of the Netherlands. It has decayed, burnt, and been rebuilt to the current lodge. You can learn more about this State Park by going to http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/history/default.aspx

The trip up the mountain was fun this year as Casey (my niece's son) and I drove up in the 1955 T-Bird. Just to drive around in this old classic will take you back in time.

I look forward to the trips back to Arkansas. It is a time to remember the good times, and sometime the not so good times. We all need a rock to draw us back into our history, and remind us of where we have been, and who was with us when we were there. My rock is a mountain in Arkansas called Rich Mountain.

Fallen Hero

Last week I was able to participate in two PGR missions for a Paris native Fallen Hero. Sgt. Hoskins was only 24 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan by an IED. Sgt. Hoskins was brought back home on Thursday of last week. The Patriot Guard helped with the escort of this hero from the airport to the funeral home. There were 168 motorcycles in this escort and it was a very moving experience. The part that was the most moving was to see how our small town of about 25,000 had an estimated 10,000 people show up along the 6 mile route to the funeral home.

The funeral for Sgt. Hoskins was on Saturday and it was just as moving. At the cemetery there were full military honors and a local flying group performed a fly over with smoke trails from a formation of three military bird dog planes. I am very thankful for these young heroes who maintain our freedoms we enjoy each and every day. I am also thankful to live in a small town that knows how to show the proper respect for this honorable service man.

I have been to several PGR missions and I enjoy having the ability to show my respect to those who have given their all for our freedom. I do believe with out a doubt this escort last week was the most moving, and had the largest community support I have ever seen.

Nancy News

Well how things can change in a couple of weeks. On the 11th of July I blogged about going to Nancy and Ray's house and having a good visit with them. I talked about all of the things she was doing to get ready for Kai who will be here soon from China. After our visit Nancy called me one day and with a very excited voice told me "she is pregnant". That was not supposed to be able to happen. They had been told by the Doctors that there was no way she was going to get pregnant. Now we have number 13 and number 14 grand babies on the way.

This is such a wonderful blessing, and I know that Nancy will be a good mother to Kai and the new little one due in March. Maw and I look forward to having these wonderful small spirits within a 3 hour drive from Happy Road.

Tour de Paris

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to help with the Tour de Paris here in Paris, TX. There were 800 cyclists that raced in the 15K, 40K, 70K, and 100K races. To help with the event were 450 volunteers. I was one of the volunteers with the local amateur radio club, and we provided communications through out the course. My station was near the end of the race at a road crossing. We were lucky at our location and had no events to report, and all went well. At another location there was a crash that caused several riders to be transported to the hospital. I believe the injuries included broken collar bones, and a possible concussion.

I was so impressed when the lead group of the 100K race went by me. After 70 miles of racing this lead group was around 20 cyclists, and were in perfect tempo at a very fast rate. It was as if a car had just passed with a pronounced swoosh.

When I was setting up my shade, generator, fan, boom box, radios, and getting ready for the long day I was assisted by the missionaries who came by before starting their day of teaching.

I enjoyed this day and I think it is a great opportunity for the community of Paris Texas.

Kids come to visit

Well this weekend we had the M's come to visit from McKinney. Mitchell is going to EFY in San Antonio this week. EFY is a very spiritual training event for young people in our church. We are so proud of Mitchell and the decisions he is making. He is getting to be such a tall, handsome young man. This is a picture of Mitchell taking his bag out to the car and Mason trying to go with him. Mason really loves his big brother.

We had dinner on Saturday with everyone and our Church Missionaries who are working in our area as part of their 2 year mission. Then I dropped off the Missionaries and we went over to Karol's house and the kids got to try and wear out the swimming pool.

On Sunday we had a good day at Church and then a bunch of the kids and grandkids came to the house for lunch. The Missionaries got another meal because Shelly was to suppose to have them over for lunch today, but she is getting remodeling done on their house. So Maw agreed to help out and it was a great meal with Taco Salad.

I really enjoy it when our kids and grandkids come to visit on Happy road.

Visit with Nancy and Ray

On Wednesday of this week we took a trip to visit Nancy in Mustang OK. Nancy and Ray are doing well, and we are so proud of them. It was great to see all of the new pictures of Kai and look at the websites which show him in China. Nancy will be such a good mother. She is all ready getting anxious about getting this little boy in her arms, and letting him know how much he is loved. I think I even overheard discussions from Ray on when they can start the process on the next baby. It is such a blessing to be a parent. For Nancy and Ray it is a special blessing to take a special spirit from halfway across the world and provide such wonderful care for him. This type of care may not be available in China.

To see Nancy tear up was very touching when she was talking about having a conversation with one of the workers in the foster home where Kai is located. She wants to know everything about her new son, and is even searching the Internet to see if she might be able to find a video of him, and maybe hear him.

From our visit this week there is no doubt Kai will be very loved and taken care of when he gets to his new home in Mustang OK. Nancy has almost finished one quilt for Kai, and has his room planned out to every detail.

I look forward to a trip from Happy Road to Mustang in the near future to meet a new grandson, and watch a great daughter at work.

40 Year Reunion

Wow, were has the last 40 years gone. This weekend I went to my 40 year high school reunion. It was a lot of fun to see most of the 22 class members I graduated from high school with. I got to see some classmates that I have not seen since we graduated. It was fun to see how some had changed so much (like me), and some looked just like they did when they were in high school.

In the picture to the left are Mike, Steve, and Dudley. Mike is one that I had not seen since high school. Mike lives up around Fayetteville, AR and plays in a band. He played in a band when he was in high school. He now still plays with his brother Andy, but his bass player is his son. Steve and I got caught fighting one time in front of the Ag building and the teacher made us stand in front of the class and hug for the entire hour. That will leave a memory.

This is Betty and Margie. Margie was always the smartest one in school.

We had class members come 1300 miles to be at the reunion, and there are some that have never been to a reunion and live less than 150 miles away. I guess I am too nostalgic, but I really enjoy going to these, and I am looking forward to the next reunion in five years.

Job Search

If you would have said I was going to still be unemployed by the end of June, I would have said your crazy. Well it looks like that is what is going to happen and we still don't know where the end is. I was laid off the first of December 2008, and I thought this will be a little bump, and we will be back working within a couple of months. I really did not have a clue as to how this recession has impacted the work force. The Chemical Company I was working with in Houston made chemicals that would go into the plastics for new cars. Well we all know what happened to the car business. The Chemical Company is now in Chapter 11 and trying to reorganize. Part of their problem was they could not get banking to provide cash flow for the business. This all happened at the time banks were getting bailed out and getting Billions of dollars just to stay open. I am sure that I will never understand all of the things that had to happen to create this economic mess we are now in.

Even with this dismal news I am optimistic that I will find something soon, and be back in the ranks of the employed. I have been trying to find employment closer to home this time, and I know there is a reason for this. If I am able to find something close to home this will be much easier on me by not having to travel to Houston every week.

I have learned to enjoy the time we have here on earth, and look to the positive. During my time off I am thankful for the time that I have had to take care of a lot of STUFF. I will admit seven months is plenty of time to take care of most guys honey do list.

Happy Fathers Day

Picture of me and my Dad in 1960

My how things have changed over the last 45 or so years. When I was growing up we had a party line and before you started dialing you had to listen and make sure the neighbors were not on the line. If it was an emergency then you had to ask if you could use the line to make your call. Emergency calls were not 911, you had to actually know the number. So everyone had the numbers posted next to the phone. My father had several heart attacks while I was growing up. It became natural for our family to do what we could while taking my father to the hospital.

My Dad on his Harley around 1940

I miss my Dad who died from one of those heart attacks in 1982. He taught me many things about life and most importantly to be fair and honest with your fellow man. He taught me how to work on all types of things from toasters to trucks. My Dad grew up in tough times and was forced out to take care of himself when he was very young. My Dad taught me to work hard. I can remember when my Dad would load up his speakers and PA system so he could announce the little league games I played in. I was talking to one of my classmates from the class of 1969 and he reminded me of how special it was to have my Dad there and announcing the games. My Dad would be so impressed with the technology of today. Today you don't have to call people to tell them hello, or how are you doing, you just text them. I am still fond of the old way where you still talk to people.

I am thankful for my kids and all of the blessings they give me in my life. I hope that I can pass along some of the great things I learned from my Dad to his grand kids and great grand kids.

Thanks Dad-------------Happy Fathers Day

Maw is back Home

Well last night at about 2am I was able to go and pickup Maw as she had returned to Paris from her trip to Salt Lake City. She had a wonderful experience with her sister, daughters, granddaughter, and niece. The first item of business on their trip was to get Evan at BYU for her 5 days of swim camp. After Evan was safe and secure then it was off to see, and be a part of the sites of Salt Lake City. It was such a wonderful and spiritual experience to get to go to the Salt Lake City Temple. This is such a Holy place that was built over many years by the dedicated pioneer craftsmen.
Another item of interest was when they were able to go and listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir while they practiced for the tour they are about to begin.

During the week they were also able to go to the Open House for the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. This was a wonderful experience for all. They got to go through the Temple before it is dedicated for it's Holy work.





Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple


On Thursday they went to the location where Brigham Young said "This is the Place". They were able to feel the spirit that is there and see the sacrifices the pioneers had to endure to make the journey across the plains. This enabled the early members to come to a place where they could live in harmony, and away from the persecution that had caused them such sorrow.




I know that we will be blessed by this trip to Utah, not only for the wonderful memories of being with family, but to have a look at what it may be like some day when we have the opportunity to live with our families for all eternity.

Our attempt at Blogging

Well this should be interesting. I think we are falling behind, and I want to stay up with the younger generation. I have a T-Shirt my daughter gave me that says growing old is Mandatory but growing up is optional. I really believe this, and have tried to stay young. So with all of that we are going to try Blogging. If nothing else it should help me improve my typing skills. After being off work for the last 6 months I am looking for ways to stay engaged and this seems like a good way to do that and keep others informed as to what is going on. Maw has been on a trip this week to Salt Lake City and she is sure enjoying the time with her daughters, sister, granddaughter, and niece. I sure do miss her, and I can't wait for her to get back tonight.

All I can say is we will try and keep this blog up to date and we appreciate your feedback.