FIFTY YEARS AND COUNTING

This shelve hung in my mothers house many years. When she passed away several years ago, it became ours, which I suppose was apporiate, because I built this when I was a junior in high school. It was my first woodworking project. It is made of solid mahogany. If my memory serves me right the material cost between 5 and 6 dollars. Now you have to realize that I said if my memory serves me right, which it does'nt always at my age. The same lumber today would probably cost 50 or 60 dollars at least. The shelve use to have a finial on top in the middle. I don't know what happened to it. It was missing when we got it. Maybe one day I will start up the old lathe and turn a new one. The shelve has some nicks and scratches, but I must say that 50 years latter it looks better than it's builder. I enjoy building things, but I don't like finishing, and I remember the teacher that we had. His name was Mr. Phelps and he was a perfectionest. So it seemed like I sanded on it for 6 months. I would sand and sand and sand and he would find a small scratch and it was sand some more. But I must say it did look pretty good when it was finished. I have even thought about sanding it down and refinishing it, but I got to thinking no one can sand me down and refinish me, so why should'nt I let it show it's 50 years also. Until another time, Jim.

This is my sweethearts first day on the job. She has been sick the last few days. I went with her on her first day to encourage her. After all I'm an old pro at school crossing guard. She did a good job, even though she was nervous. I told her that in a couple of weeks it would be old hat. I'm very proud of you and it is no doubt in my mind that you will do a good job, just like everything else that you have done. To celebrate we went out to eat at the Baytown Seafood resturant. Had a good time just being togeather.

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED TO DO A ME ME ME

I have been tagged by Connie of "Connies-thoughts From The Heart" to do a Me ME ME.

HERE ARE THE RULES:

01. Post the rules before you give the facts

02. Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves

03. People who are tagged need to write their own blog

04. At the end of your blog you need to choose eight people that you tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment, telling them they are tagged, and to read your blog.

01. As a little kid, I was horrified of flushing toliets and airplanes. I had rarely seen a flushing toliet as a child.

02. I got my first false teeth at age 18.

03. I started smoking at age 12 and quit at age 32. PRAISE GOD!!!

04. I always love hearing and telling a good clean joke.

05. I had my tonsils removed at age 32, that was fun. Yeh ?

06. Woodworking is my hobby but I never seem to have enough tools.

07. I retired as a Dow Chemical Carpenter in Noverber of 1994 after 27 1/2 years.

08. I love meeting new people.

HERE IS THE LIST OF THOSE THAT I AM TAGGING:

01.Bill of "Quill of Bill."

02. Larry of "PawPaw."

03. Jeremy of "Considerations Of A Contender."

04. James of "Fully Persuaded Baptist."

05. Jason of "Peace Keeper."

06. Jeff of "Texas True To Lone Star Blue."

07. Daniel of "Titanic Station."

If any of you do not want to do this, please feel free not to do it. Jim, Dad, Grandpa

Well it's been a few hours since I've posted, so I guess it's about time. Really I was trying to hold off until Jason, Jeremy and Jeff posted. Well I waited out Jason, but Jeff and Jeremy still hasn't posted, so I give up.
As most know I went back to work full time about a month ago. I say full time, and I have only worked 40 hours one week. Part was at my request, and at other times it was because there was nothing to do. My understanding is that they have work coming soon. I enjoyed it so far, but I'm not to dissappointed when they send me home to be with my sweetheart. I am working for G.S.I. It is a contracting company that does work inside the chemical plants. I hired in as a carpenter, but I was told that I would be doing some sheetrock work, such as taping and floating, and textureing, which I would like to learn. I always enjoy learning new things. My big concern was being on my feet for 8 hours, and when I went to work I found out I would'nt be on my feet 8 hours, but instead they work 4 10 hour days, so instead of being on my feet for 8 hours I'm on my feet for 10 hours. On top of all that I found out that I was required to wear steel toed shoes, so I'm on my feet 10 hours a day breaking in a new pair of steel toed shoes. My feet hurt terribly bad for a few days, but it is much better now. It's Tina's (my daughter-in laws) fault that my feet hurt. Let me explain. The last time that they were at our house, she noticed that I had bunnions on my feet, and she asked me if they hurt and I told her no, but they have hurt ever since, so it's her fault, because she brought it to my attention. I always thought everybodys feet looked like that.
I will try to post more often, because I have decided that I can't out wait Jeff, and Jeremy.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

LITERARY MEME

How it works:
01. grab the book closest to you
02.open it to page 161
03. find the fifth full sentence
04. post the title of the book and author's name
05.don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that
is really next to you
07. tag five people to do this meme, if you want to

The template can be of any configuration.
The title and author, "The New Router Handbook" by Patrick Spielman

A few months ago my next to the oldest son did a post on a pair of old boots. I'm not sure if he was going to throw them away, put them on or what. But as he started to looking at them it brought back a lot of memories. So I thought I would do the same with my roofing hatchet.

Over the last few weeks 2 of my sons have mentioned the times that we were roofing houses and the memories that they of those times. So you may look at the hatchet in the picture and say "thats a roofing hatchet", but its more than a roofing hatchet. It's a memory hatchet. One of the first jobs that my brother and I had, was helping my dad roof. I hated it at the time, but now that I look back on it, I have some very fond memories of our roofing times. It also taught us good work habits.

That is only the begining of the story. After we moved to Freeport, and the boys got older, we also started to roofing houses. I'm sure they did'nt like it any more than I did, but from their own testimonies, they look back on it with fond memories, just as I did. On many Saturdays we would be up at daylite, and on our way to roof a house. When we first started the 2 oldest boys and I would be roofing, while the 2 youngest would be cleaning the yard. We would stay on the roof all day, and then go home to a delicious home cooked meal that my wife and their mother had prepared for us. We always knew that she would be there to meet our needs. She always had two gallons of tea made, one for me, and one for them. Ha. I look back on those times now and have good memories of those times that I had to spend with our boys. We worked, we talked, and we laughed. They also learned what it was to work. They have always been good workers and are to this day. I did'nt tell them that at the time, because I did'nt want them to get the big head, But boys, you did a good job, and I am very proud of you for what you have become. Sweetheart, I'm glad that you were always home when we got home, and just as glad to see us as we were to see you, and always making us feel like men, and bragging on us for what we had accomplished that day. I'm sure ther are a lot of things that I will think of later, that I should have said on this blog, but I will have to say it at another time. So that is not just a picture, it's a memory.

MY SOAPBOX OFTHE DAY

I have listened for the last several days about the outrage of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton over the remarks of Don Imas. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton both have the word reverand before their names. I have never listened to Don Imas because of the filth and vile things that comes from his mouth. However he can go on his radio show and use Gods name in vain, call christians all sorts of names, and say anything he wants to about Jesus, my Lord and Savior and not a peep from Jackson or Sharpton. How much more should they be offended by his remarks about Christ, than the girls basketball team. You will not find me using the name reverand before their names, because being a christian I'm ashamed that they even call themselves preachers. Now don't get me wrong, I think what Imas said was terrible, but he has said things before that was much more offensive to me and should have been to them if they are truly men of God.
Another thing about their outrage of Imas's remarks and calls for him to be fired. They have certianly been silent about the misjustice of the Duke Lacrosse players. In saying this, I think the boys have to take some responsibility for this themselves. They should not have the sttippers in their house at all. The Bible says that we are to abstain from the presence of evil. But my question is this, why are Jesse and Al not calling for the firing of Nifong, and punishment of the woman that made the false accusations against these boys. I can't help but wonder if the reason is because she is black and they are white.