Older Folks and Vaping Back Porch - Part Three

[Iffy]

.. it was likely one of the saddest few moments I had ever experienced ..

Those that been overseas in third world locales are no strangers to such heart breaking encounters (re our recent Semi and Sushi sojourns)! It's just an ephphin' shame that it happens here... let alone elsewhere.

I, you, they and 'them' can impact, and hopefully address the issue. But as long as there are those two legged 'leeches and poly-ticks' (alas aka homo sapiens), not counting the gro$$ wa$te within our $y$tem$, we're tiltin' windmills. But, hopefully we press on!

I'll continue to tithe, support charities and pray for human compassion and understanding. My reality is that I have 'earned' my 'comfort zone' in the winter of my years. But I'll never forget the experiences that got me here, through the good and ugly (bad is redundant).


BTW, went into Walgreen's this PM to purchase 'Red Nose Day' noses for all of my family. Spoke with the manager and he took the time to do a store search. They are OOS within 60 miles. He apoligised and I said, "Are ya kiddin'? That wonderful news!" He, "Yeah, your right. Hadn't thought 'bout it that way!" He had no idea as to when they will get more in stock. I'll drop in daily until I get 'em...

Sorry fer da rant! I'm now an old man and 'somewhat' cynical. But I still love and embrace the human experience (even if it ultimately is sourced by our survival instinct!)

Nonetheless, I have found a comfortable cushioned rocker in a wonderful and giving environment!!! Luv ya'll...

 

[Iffy]

I was coming out of church one Sunday and standing against a tree on driveway from the parking lot was a young girl of around 14-15 years old. She was holding a sign that said Mom and brother needed money for this months rent or they would be on the street. She wasn't a street urchin looking girl, dressed decent and all. I walked past her wondering if it was a scam. Got to my car and said - my gut says no - so I went back and gave her some money. When I got home to my nice house - I regretted not giving more. Went back but she was gone.

Mike,

Most times when we leave our Sunday brunch locale, there is someone (varies over time) with a pity sign. Our church is VERY active in supporting the down & out. So I hand the 'unfortunate' a church contact card. I normally get a "Didn't get any help there." BS and subsequent drive bys with no guilt.

I found out that only one person (single mom) out of at least a dozen made contact, and was joyously received and assisted.

 

[MikeE3]

Mike,

Most times when we leave our Sunday brunch locale, there is someone (varies over time) with a pity sign. Our church is VERY active in supporting the down & out. So I hand the 'unfortunate' a church contact card. I normally get a "Didn't get any help there." BS and subsequent drive bys with no guilt.

I found out that only one person (single mom) out of at least a dozen made contact, and was joyously received and assisted.

We really don't see any pan-handlers or folks w/ signs asking for handouts in our town yet alone standing outside the church. That's why I took her plea as serious. I was hoping someone from the church saw her and gave her some help/guidance.

 

[MattB101]

I won't be home that night - but I'll try to 'Hangout' in the afternoon. I don't do mornings.



Yepper - know dilligaf. Twas my motto the last couple-few years of my job. Corp management was 'running amok' all the while giving themselves huge bonuses mean while salaries were frozen for the working class. After years of doing my best at the job - I just gave up.

Me too and you know what? I think my boss knew it.

 

[MattB101]

I didn't give a lot to the downtrodden and homeless growing up. I lived it. My mother would cruise the beach working to convert kids to Christ and get them off the street. She brought some of them home to live with us. My father foot the bill for no less than 15 or 20 kids to live with us at one time or another.

 

[MikeE3]

Me too and you know what? I think my boss knew it.

Yeah, I know mine did. I cut my hours to around 45-50 hours a week and no catching up on the weekend. It wasn't unusual for me to be putting 60-70 hours a week prior to gaining my sanity of what life's priorities were really about after our daughter's husband was lost when his Seahawk went down.

 

[Iffy]

Anyone heading over to Deb's hangout dis PM?

Just replaced my blueberry nautilus coil and now I'm in a face-to-face 'unload' mode...

Roto,

Maybe we get a few porchers to cuss & discuss your vaping issues!

 

[MikeE3]

Field Trip Report:

We took Katie and Miles to a local family run Chocolate Candy store/factory. They make it all on site in a nondescript building in their backyard that looks like nothing more than an oversized garage. It was started by the current owners grandfather in 1935 and been operating continuously since. I think that's just great that a Mom & Pop business has survived that long. Katie has been eating these chocolate candies 'forever' but had never been to the facility.

Kate and Miles

A shot of the 'vintage' equipment still in use his grandfather purchased when he opened up. And the owner said his grandfather didn't buy any of it new. So it was 'old' then, in 1935-1940.

I was amazed at the rheostat on the wall to control one of the instrustrial sized mixers. Look at this thing.

Janet and Miles at the checkout counter. The little fellow actually got that box open while we were talking with the owner.

 

[Janet H]

Good morning Good Folks,

I don't have to work until 2 this afternoon, so been playing this morning.

Some of y'all will remember back when I was refurbing my grandma's 1936 Singer? Well, I got it cleaned, oiled and adjusted, new belts, bought some heavy duty needles and thread for it, patched a few things... and promptly lost interest for a time.

My plan for the venerable old Singer is to design and make pouches, holsters, and outdoor accessories for use either on a belt or MOLLE/PALS vests.

To get me started, I slightly modded an old holster by sewing some extra velcro in the flap so it'll hold my PV in better.

This one was a cell phone holster from back in the "flip phone" days (click the thumbnails for larger image):

View attachment 457213 View attachment 457214 View attachment 457215

When I started on the Singer, it had some old red thread in it so that's what I played with first... figured that's likely the last thing Grandma Ruth sewed with. That led to me deciding to make red thread my "signature"... since I'll be sewing primarily black or dark colored 1000 denier cordura, and red makes a good complement/contrast. So I bought some 100 and 110 needles and a large spool of red #69 nylon thread.

Next, I want to design and make a PV holster from scratch. I have some cut-off blue jeans legs I'm thinking real hard about.

Very nice Uman!! Good job! That PV holster looks like it would come in very handy while riding around on your lawn tractor.

 

[Iffy]

Mike,

Dat's absolutely priceless, your family and a 'surviving' family business (3 gens)!

 

[MikeE3]

Mike,

Dat's absolutely priceless, your family and a 'surviving' family business (3 gens)!

One of the things I got a kick out of today when he was giving us the back room tour. He referred to the workers on the 'Lucy in the Chocolate Factory' conveyor belt line as 'the girls'. I've seen the 'girls', anyone could be my Mother or even Grandmother but yikes they know how to work that line. I have no idea where/how he'll ever replace these women.

All the work is done by hand. There's not one 'modern' piece of equipment in there. Every piece hand cut / hand formed / etc. The only real automation is the conveyor belt and the 2 stations the coat 1st the bottom of the candy, then the top of the candy. Really all old time process.

 

[MattB101]

Anyone heading over to Deb's hangout dis PM?

Just replaced my blueberry Nautilus coil and now I'm in a face-to-face 'unload' mode...

Roto,

Maybe we get a few porchers to cuss & discuss your vaping issues!

Not tonight Dear, I have a headache (watching racing and going to bed early) see you tomorrow. Probably not tomorrow night either, it's the Allstar Race. Biffle and Boyer raced their way in tonight and Danica Patrick was voted in by the fans. Oh boy!

 

[MattB101]

Field Trip Report:

We took Katie and Miles to a local family run Chocolate Candy store/factory. They make it all on site in a nondescript building in their backyard that looks like nothing more than an oversized garage. It was started by the current owners grandfather in 1935 and been operating continuously since. I think that's just great that a Mom & Pop business has survived that long. Katie has been eating these chocolate candies 'forever' but had never been to the facility.

Kate and Miles

A shot of the 'vintage' equipment still in use his grandfather purchased when he opened up. And the owner said his grandfather didn't buy any of it new. So it was 'old' then, in 1935-1940.

I was amazed at the rheostat on the wall to control one of the instrustrial sized mixers. Look at this thing.

Janet and Miles at the checkout counter. The little fellow actually got that box open while we were talking with the owner.

Looks like you had a great time. I would love to see that place sometime.

 

[MattB101]

Hey Iffy, If your talking to Semi at the hangout tell him I said Goodnight.

 

[FranC]

Evening,folks

 

[Kenna]

Still nursing my neck & shoulders,so typing hurts, but am in the Hangout w/ Mike, Iffy & Omg right now. For awhile, anyway.

 

[seapeach]

Anyone heading over to Deb's hangout dis PM?

Just replaced my blueberry Nautilus coil and now I'm in a face-to-face 'unload' mode...

Roto,

Maybe we get a few porchers to cuss & discuss your vaping issues!

I stole my husband's camera to force him to buy a new one. I still have my air traffic controller's head set for a micro-phone, but I'd like to see if I can get my camera operating. How do I link up? Blueberry, Humm...that sounds a lot better than what I have going on.

 

[seapeach]

Field Trip Report:

We took Katie and Miles to a local family run Chocolate Candy store/factory. They make it all on site in a nondescript building in their backyard that looks like nothing more than an oversized garage. It was started by the current owners grandfather in 1935 and been operating continuously since. I think that's just great that a Mom & Pop business has survived that long. Katie has been eating these chocolate candies 'forever' but had never been to the facility.

Kate and Miles

A shot of the 'vintage' equipment still in use his grandfather purchased when he opened up. And the owner said his grandfather didn't buy any of it new. So it was 'old' then, in 1935-1940.

I was amazed at the rheostat on the wall to control one of the instrustrial sized mixers. Look at this thing.

Janet and Miles at the checkout counter. The little fellow actually got that box open while we were talking with the owner.

 

[seapeach]

Don't ask me what that last post was....fluke?

 

[Janet H]

Sorry I can't join everybody at Deb's, but I'm just tuckered and my friend is here chatting. Next week she and our daughter will be leaving and things will quiet down a bit. Miles was a joy this morning, but he fought a nap like crazy this afternoon so he was cranky. I was thinking earlier though that if you're tired and can't sleep what you need to do is watch a baby as they fall asleep. As their eyes droop it's hard not to have your own droop too! Hear that Matt? What you need is a baby in the house!

Willie, I heard about BB King this morning and just knew you'd come through with a great story and music. What a life you've lived! We saw Mr. King at the Electric Factory before Mike and I were married. I didn't know anything about him. As I stood there listening to him playing his guitar I suddenly understood that he was making that guitar talk to him! It was so amazing! I still remember that feeling of realization so clearly and have never heard anyone else be able to do it like he did. And you're right, you actually felt him enter the stage. So sad that he's gone, but what a legacy he left!

Oh, and we'll stop tomorrow to see about getting some red noses!!