Thanksgiving

Four years and one month ago we lost Bette, one month from now is Christmas. 

What am I thankful for?
I am thankful for meeting Bette 36 or so years ago at college. I am thankful for Bette marring me. I am thankful for all the time we had together.  I am thankful for family and friends - past, present and future. Everyone that has shaped me to be the person I am today. Sure I like the "stuff" I have but that is all replaceable.  As I and everyone Bette's life has touched or anyone who has lost someone close know, it is the people in our lives that are not replaceable. When we loose someone we need to go on. But while going on we should not forget them or their legacy. How they made us feel. How they influenced us, what they taught us. We are the sum of everyone we have met. 

Thank you all...


http://youtu.be/xzMtXUWO8pQ

Four Years Ago Today The Love of my Life Died

I have been debating with myself about what I would write today.  I was first thinking I would speculate about what life would be like if Bette had not died. But how would I do that?  I could say things like Bette would by now have finished school to become a teacher.  However what happens after that? Would we still be in Sandown? Would I still be doing the job I am doing now?  Would we have moved someplace where there were more teaching opportunities? In the news there have been stories about teachers being hurt or killed at school.  Life is so fragile.  How can I possibly know or predict the future?  Sure I know what we had planned. The main thing is that we had planned on living together to a ripe old age. Walking arm in arm supporting each other - forever!   Bette, I miss you so much..

So please take this thought with you - embrace your family and friends now. You never know what awaits you.

September 2013

Its going to be short and sweet for this month

Since last time I have gone to a NASCAR race in New Hampshire.  I had great seats thanks to Don. Other than that not too much new. Here is a video of the house and land around it taken with one of my newest toys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd3ZXwH3RHk&feature=share&list=UUzZ__tPvRSf73F8If1PqGMw

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK ABOVE DOES NOT WORK COPY AND PASTE THE LINK INTO YOUR BROWSER.

34 YEARS

This weekend has been the 34th anniversary of my marriage to Bette.  We always considered it to be the holiday weekend not the date.

I had an interesting visitor yesterday. Peter and his wife, Annmarie.  Of significance is that this is the anniversary weekend of being married like I stated, but not known by too many is Peter was suppose to be my Best man. However he was not able to make it back to Massachusetts in time. So my next choice was family friend Ken P.  Bette would remind Peter of this just about every year so of course I had to!

It was very nice visit yet kind of sad for me too.  Peter showed me a bunch of photos of his vacations with some old photos of our College days in Fitchburg... It is nice seeing pictures of Peter and family being happy at the same time it reminds me of losing Bette.

I'll end with this (dumb) question:  Since I went to Fitchburg State and now it is a University have I retroactively graduated from a University?

:+)

Later

It is again the 25th of the month.  There were all sorts of things I was planning on writing about but they all pale in comparison to what I experienced this morning.

Pease Greeters:

There is a group of people that meet and welcome every plane of our Troops that lands at the Pease airport in Portsmouth New Hampshire.  http://www.peasegreeters.org/
Since 2005 they have greeted more than 600 flights and 170,000 troops.

This morning I, and some friends participated in one of these greetings. I made a short video http://youtu.be/AoxObeYG62o that you can watch part of what goes on. To say the least it is emotional! I would recommend that if you ever get a chance - DO IT! This may have been my first time but I know this will not be my last time.

Some of what is done  as well as greeting the Troops they are offered phones to use, food, people that are happy to talk to them and welcome them home, and time off the plane after a long flight.  From what I have heard the troops do not know about the Greeters before they land.

There were several people from work there which was good to see.  My friend Kit was chosen for the ceremony of presenting a shirt (see the video). By the way this was the 100th flight they have greeted this year. They are there no matter what time of day the plane arrives.

I think Bette would be very happy I did this.

Until next time...

It is finally Summer time

It is finally Summer time and my Summer vacation is over.

I had a wonderful time on the shore of lake Canandaigua NY. with Bonnie, Jenny, Brenda, the young mister Bill, Jane, the staff of Camp Letourneau, and their families. We got there in time to see Art and his Wife off.

They retired and bought an RV to travel around and visit family and see America. Seeing them off was real bittersweet for me. While I was happy for them to be able to do this it reminded me that Bette and I were planning to do the same thing...

There was much good food, conversation, fun, fishing (not me), and play.  There was even a little Shakespeare, pool, and Password.  A little rain, a little coolness, much sunshine and warmth. In short something for everyone. The only thing missing were Drake's Cakes products.

And the best there was much LOVE!

I brought three of my Traxxas Radio Controlled trucks for vacation.  On the first day I almost killed Bonnie by accidently running one of the trucks into her ankle. After that I had to watch it every time Bonnie had the controller. You can follow this link to a short youtube video I made (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDYSgT2MkYg) Click here to see video of RC trucks at camp. By the end of the week all three trucks had injuries that retired them from use until I can get new parts. One the drive shaft broke. Second one has some sort of transmission problem (smoke coming out of the tranny). Last the shock absorber came loose on the right side.  I recorded probably several hours of video shot from the trucks.  Eventually I will edit some more of it and put it on YouTube.

The Raptor drove very well and used about 60 gallons of gas. Going out it got about 14.4 miles per gallon and on the way back 15.6 MPG.  My only explanation is that the camp is at a higher altitude so going home was downhill.

On the home front

The garage is almost painted. Only one more side to go. The Gas company is coming out to move the propane tank away from where the electric goes into the house. When they finish the pavers are coming to pave the dirt in front of the garage and a walkway to the back door of the garage.

The Sunday I got back I went with some friends to New England Dragway.  It was the first time for the BIG guys of the National Hot Rod Assoc. (NHRA) to come  to New England. It was HOT and the competition was stiff.  The Funny Car finals came down to John Force vs his daughter Courtney Force. The last race was close and the younger Force won!

Now it is back to reality.  Or at least my own version of reality.  

until next time...

Better late...

Yesterday was one of those cool rainy lazy days where all you want to do is nap. Today looked like is was starting out the same but around 11 AM the sun came out. Then I went over to some friends for their cookout.  It was a cook out but an eat in because of the cool and wind.  Along with good food was watching the Red Sox come from behind and win!!!

The last month nothing much happened. I got new racing tires for New England Dragway (NED).  They are on the car but it has rained every Wednesday since then.

The Car Show season has started (last Monday).  I am planning on going to one tomorrow afternoon weather permitting. I'll have to wash the Shelby. Then there is another one on Thursday evening.

Next month I should have more to write about.  There will be a vacation and I will have gone to a professional Drag Race (watching not racing). It will be the NED's first NHRA national level race.  I think I was the first person to buy tickets for it.  NED regulars were able to purchase tickets a few weeks before they were released to the general public.  When I was asked where I wanted to sit I was told I had my choice of any seats. Which kind of tells me no one else bought any before me...

And in case you are still wondering the answer to last month's question - April showers bring May Flowers, What do May flowers bring.  Well the answer is... Mayflower(s) bring Pilgrims.

I would like to end by thanking all of our Veterans for their service to our country, and I would like to add our police, firefighters, and all that unselfishly serve for the better good.  

April Showers bring May flowers, May flowers bring...

Not too much has happened in the last month.  I’m still working on the video from my visit to the NC RR museum from last month. It finally seems like spring might actually be here.  I did hear a weather forecast for tonight predicting it getting into the 20’s.

I have been to the drag strip twice this year - opening day and the second Wednesday Street Night.  Not many cars yet.  Not much competition either. I know there were faster cars than mine but I never went up against them.  So far I am undefeated.  That includes a couple “races” where I only got up to about 70 MPH. I need to get some new DOT street legal drag tires before I do much more racing. I’ll try to include the video from one of the runs last week. 

Sal and Cheryl cleaned up my yard.  All those nasty leaves and twigs are gone.  Also the BIG tree branch that broke this winter is gone. Sal has all the really cool toys.  Like a Kabota tractor with a backhoe, a dump truck, and a bunch of smaller tools.

Here’s to spring and warmer weather.  Until the next posting.

Just back from visiting some of Bette's family (and mine)

I have spent the last several days in North Carolina.
I have now visited all of Bette's Brothers and Sisters this year. It was really nice seeing everyone. Too many people to mention so I will not. (LOL) (tired) But Bonnie must be really tired she drive home today.

Today was a travel day. I spent it in airports and planes times two before finally landing in Manchester. Can they make the plane seats any smaller? But now - Home sweet home.

Once home I picked up the right front wheel for the Shelby.  It had a scratch that was just fixed.  Now I am all ready for spring...

Below should be a few photos, in no order, showing some of what I did in the last week.

On the ground on way to jetport.

Where in New Hampshire is this?

Or is it in Mass?

We are cold.

What can happen when you get too close to an alligator. Even a brass one.

I don't like spider or snakes but that's not what it takes...

Choo choo. I'll be putting a video on my youtube channel. More about that later.

Had a good ride.

Big cat sanctuary and lots of rain.

 I feel safe now...

Baaa till next time....

Photos from 2003 to 2006

I ran across some photos from 2003 to 2006. Thought you would like to see them. I spent a snowy Sunday going through them.  They appear here in random order. Most are from Florida and a few are from New Hampshire.

Florida beaches

Hampton NH Seafood Fest.

Karaoke Party

Fast cars (not ours)

Painting

Swimming

Boating

Hampton NH

Everglade City FL.

Karaoke in FL.

Bonnie not fishing

Florida wild life.

Painting "Florida" post cards.

Twins....

Christmas (silver Mustang with black stripes - who would have guessed?)

Bette loved the holidays.

More postcards