Right Truth

To be 14 again

Maybe not 14, but I would settle for being 21 again.  Our 14 year old grandson is spending some time with us and watching him and all his friends makes me remember how simple things were at age 14.  They have no idea how lucky they are, with their entire lives ahead of them.  They don't understand the importance of making the right choices and how every choice they make will influence them for the rest of their days. 

I cannot concentrate on all the important issues of the day.  There is too much, it is overwhelming.  The Muslim Brotherhood wins elections in Egypt.  Hamas is firing rockets into Israel.  Greece is going down the tubes.  Europe heading toward democratic dark ages.  Syria's president is allowing mass murder to continue with no opposition from other than a few semi-harsh words from the media and civilized nations. Our secrets are being leaked for political purposes by a sinking administration.  On, and on, and on.

Maybe later I can concentrate on one of these awful topics, but for now I think I'm going to listen to the Somewhere in Time soundtrack and let the children play.

Sweet hubby and I watched this movie again last night.  It seems a friend of ours is an extra in the movie. Yes it is old, 1980, but a classic -- actually a cult classic.

Somewhere in Time is a ...

... time travel romance film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written by Richard Matheson and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer, Teresa Wright, Bill Erwin and including an early appearance by then-unknown William H. Macy.

Reeve plays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes smitten by a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel. Through self-hypnosis, he travels back in time to the year 1912 to find love with actress Elise McKenna (portrayed by Seymour). But her manager William Fawcett Robinson (portrayed by Plummer) fears that romance will derail her career and resolves to stop him.

The film is adapted from the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by science fiction writer Richard Matheson, which was subsequently re-released under the film's title. The film is known for its musical score, composed by John Barry. The eighteenth variation of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini also runs throughout the film.

We did not see our friend in the movie, but we enjoyed snuggling on the couch together and escaping the troubles of the world for a time.  Yes, I teared up as I watched the movie, I do every time.

The movie was filmed in Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Hubby and I visited there a few years ago and it was a wonderful vacation.  I'm revisiting it in my mind now...

 

Move over handicapped parking...

Make room for Fuel Efficient Vehicle Parking.  Sweet hubby and I took a trip on the motorcycle today, stopping at Johnsonville State Historic Park, the 600-acre park on the eastern side of Kentucky Lake that overlooks the site of the Battle of Johnsonville.  The Park has a new visitor center which has only been open for one month. 

As we pulled into the parking area we could not help but notice that the first 4 parking slots on one side were not for Handicapped Parking.  Those prized parking places were reserved for Fuel Efficient Vehicle Parking. (click images to enlarge)

I'm imagining a battle between the Left-Wing kooks over who should get those spots, handicapped people or their cause fuel efficient cars.  Apparently the fuel efficient cars won the battle saying 'screw you' to the handicapped.  (Well, not really, there were handicapped spots right in front of the entrance, but can't you imagine the agrument??? tee hee)

We did enjoy the visitor center, the movie about the battle, the great motorcycle ride and dinner at Loretta Lynn's Kitchen.

About the park:

Johnsonville State Historic Park is named for Tennessean Andrew Johnson, Union Military Governor during the Civil War and Seventeenth President of the United States. This 2000-acre park located in Humphreys County, commemorates the site of the Battle of Johnsonville and the historic town site that existed from 1864-1944 prior to the formation of Kentucky Lake.

At Johnsonville on November 4, 1864, Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry took up artillery positions on the western bank of the Tennessee River. Forrest’s confederates sank four Federal gunboats and transports and finished out the day by destroying the Union supply depot at Johnsonville. This Confederate victory, however, was too late. As a result, Union General William T. Sherman managed to cut his own supply lines (including Johnsonville) and instead commence living “off the land” as his troops left Atlanta and embarked on his famous march through Georgia.

Two large forts, the Upper and lower Redoubts, located in the park are open to visitors. Additionally, Original Union breastworks (rifle pits) are beautifully preserved throughout the park in various areas. Visitors may contact the park’s Welcome Center to schedule Interpretive tours by calling (931) 535-2789.

Look for these new Fuel Efficient Vehicle Parking signs to be popping up across the nation.  See more about Johnsonville State Historic Park here.

It was another wonderful day.  Sweet hubby and I have had a lifetime of wonderful days and I'm so thankful.

 

You Can't Escape The Grim Reaper

I had a disturbing telephone call this afternoon.  A neighbor man died today.  I had no idea he was sick, although I had noticed that he had not driven by lately on his golf cart as was his daily routine.   Apparently two months ago he complained of a cough and sore throat and he started losing weight.  His nurse practitioner ordered a CT scan and the result was not good -- cancer spread throughout his body.  He was admitted to the hospital and attempts were made to treat him with chemo, but it was too late.  His wife brought him home and with hospice care, that's where he stayed until his death today.

There is no escaping death.  None of us know what disease will invade out body.  We don't know if we will die suddenly or suffer an extended illness, plagued with pain and suffering.  We don't know and it's probably best that we don't.

The moral of this story is we need to make the most of each day. We have no guarantee of tomorrow. 

If you are a Christian, you know your destination after you leave this world.  You can have peace in that knowledge.

But for today, if there is something you want to do -- DO IT.  If there is something you need to say to someone -- SAY IT.  You may not have tomorrow.

Saturday afternoon motorcycle ride

With new contour mesh armor jacket for cool comfort and protection.

Here's sweet hubby (the Grouch) and his jacket:

Cool, protected, and sharp looking.

Here is last week, no jackets:

What a nice day

Sweet hubby planned a full day of activities for/with me yesterday as part of an early birthday present. (He's so sweet!)  A 280 mile total motorcycle ride which started with breakfast at a little local restaurant.  Destination the Jack Daniels Distillery where we took a tour of the entire process for making Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey. (photos at FaceBook)

Whether you drink whiskey or not, I don't, doesn't matter.  This is a success story and an education. Jack Daniels draws a quarter of a million tourists every year.   We had people from all around the world in our tour group, with visitors from the three top recipients of Jack Daniels exports - Germany, Australia, and the UK.

Jack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is the best selling whiskey in the world.^[1] It is known for its square bottles and black label. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which has been owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation since 1956.^[2] Despite being the location of a major operational distillery, Jack Daniel's home county of Moore is a dry county, so the product is not available for consumption at stores or restaurants within the county, although the distillery does sell commemorative bottles of whiskey. (more)

The weather was perfect yesterday for a motorcycle ride and it was also perfect for touring Jack Daniels.  I cannot fully describe the smells around the distillery, but think yeast, fresh baked bread, yummy smells.  The distillery is based where it is because of the cave spring water where the pure, iron-free cave spring water stays the same temperature all year

Like most companies that are prospering these days, (they produce 23 million gallons of amber gold Tennessee Whiskey, about a billion dollars worth every year), Jack Daniels is taxed out the wazoo - nearly 60 percent of the price of a bottle of Jack Daniel’s is in some form of tax.  

You may remember late last year a private citizen wanted the local government to require an additional $10.00 per barrel tax, saying “We are entitled to more money from the only industry in the county...to pay the bills for new schools, roads, bridges, even a new water treatment plant" because "Moore County is “entitled” to more money because Jack Daniel’s used bucolic images of small-town life in Lynchburg to sell its product".  Isn't that the attitude of too many local, state and now the federal government?

... the distillery sells more than 100 million bottles of whiskey every year, it quickly adds up to about $4 million a year. That’s a million dollars more than the entire county budget. And a cost, says Beam, that could affect the company’s growth. (Fox)

The general manager of Jack Daniel’s suggested that the company might move it's business elsewhere, saying the idea of taxing someone just because they’re successful is fundamentally unfair.

“That’s not free enterprise and that’s not what this country was built on,” he said. “I saw a quote the other day that said that a person used to look at a successful person and say now, what do I have to do to become like that? Whereas now, they might look at him and say, what can I do to get what they’ve got.” (Fox)

In the case of Jack Daniels, sanity prevailed.  In November 2011:

  The Moore County Council in Lynchburg, Tenn., voted this week to kill a proposal that could have taxed Jack Daniel's up to $5 million annually. All the revenue would have gone to local coffers. 

The proposal called for a referendum on a plan to tax Jack Daniels whiskey by the barrel to bring it up to $5 million annually. The drive by some residents was killed after a 10 to five vote by the Moore County Council. The company that owns the distillery currently pays one-and-a-half million dollars in local property taxes. (NPR)

The company has taken strides to reduce its environmental footprint and maintain an efficient process for producing a high quality product.  They are good neighbors, good employers, great business managers and produce a product purchased around the world.  But be sure, they will be badgered again by politicians, citizens, and government organizations who will put more roadblocks in their path.  That is the reason so many of our businesses are suffering today.

Thanks again hubby for a wonderful day, a wonderful life!

 

 

Personal Note to Readers

 Sweet hubby and I have been taking a little time for ourselves, all is well, nothing to worry about.  Yesterday and today we took some little day trips on the motorcycle.  The temperatures here have been in the 80's, clear sky, trees just budding, red buds, dogwoods, buttercups, forsythia in full bloom.  What a beautiful March we are having. 

Yesterday we took the Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad to Pickwick Dam and visited the state park there. Then on to Shiloh National Military Park.   Then we gassed up in Selmer and went on up to Jackson for supper/dinner.  Today we headed to Middle Tennessee, took the Natchez Trace Parkway.  What a beautiful ride and so much history.  Beautiful areas for resting, breathtaking overlooks, lovely picnic areas.

No politics.  No internet.  No social media.  Just my honey and me, the open road, nice breeze.  God's creation, it's good for your soul!

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The band has also been playing almost every weekend.  They played for a big St. Patrick's Day party last Saturday night, and of course I would not miss listening to hubby play his bass guitar, sing, and play the keyboard.  Rock-N-Roll, Blues, (and even a little country)  --  it's good for your soul!

Posting at Right Truth has been a little slow the last few days, at least posting by me.  I'm thankful to the other contributors for taking up the slack and writing some fine articles for you.  Life is good!

 

 

The Mighty War Ships

While visiting Key West Florida recently, we had the honor of visiting and touring great war ships, The USS Mohawk CGC and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham, the only Coast Guard Cutter in history to receive two Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham.

With over 50 years of service around the world, USCGC INGHAM is a quintessential portrait of Coast Guard history from 1936 to 1988. Her humanitarian missions were many and she contributed her services in support of scientific operations as well.

Receiving anti-submarine and increased anti-aircraft weaponry just prior to WWII, INGHAM was assigned to temporary duty with the Navy as an escort to convoy operations on the North Atlantic.  [snip]

No other cutter carries such a proud tradition of diligence, vigilance and mission completion. And it continues today on her final mission as an interactive museum, tribute and education center.

Located on the Truman Waterfront on the western edge of Key West, the USS Ingham provides a dynamic and enriching experience "from boiler to bridge". A visit to the Cutter Ingham instills a greater appreciation for courage, freedom and service to country.

 

USCGC INGHAM .

This is how the Ingham looks today.

The Captain's dining quarters.

Dining for the Captain and officers.

Radio Room

The USS Mohawk CGC:

America’s Greatest Generation, the men and women who served in our armed forces during World War II, are no better represented than by those who served as crew aboard a little steel ship named Mohawk ...

USS Mohawk, originally built for limited patrol duties on the Hudson River and the Verrazano Narrows in New York, was constructed in a small shipyard in Delaware for the U.S. Coast Guard in 1934.

Built to heavy scantlings, her bow and bottom were massively constructed of multiple layers of steel to enable the ship to serve as an ice breaker at the mouth of the Hudson River to allow commercial shipping to pass freely in and out of the port of New York. Her designation was that of CGC (Coast Guard Cutter).

In 1940 Mohawk’s operational management was transferred to the U.S. Navy. Originally designed to berth 76 Coast Guard officers and men, the ship was reconfigured to berth 128 for its new role.

Mohawk was assigned to escort duty in the icy, often storm-tossed waters of the north Atlantic. Her primary job was to act as an intercept vessel to detect and destroy Nazi submarines, which at the time were decimating convoys sailing from the United States to Europe to deliver war material to the Allies.

During her 38 round-trip voyages to Europe, there were times that she carried as many as 300 people after picking up survivors from freighters that had been torpedoed. Crew members could hear torpedoes scooting under Mohawk’s hull on their way to hitting the deeper draft ships she was escorting. (continue reading)

 

The image above shows how the ship looked in 2007.  Owned by a private group that had financial problems, the ship has now deteriorated and will soon be scuttled.  The lower picture in the above quote is from 1942.  Visitors can no longer board and tour the Mohawk.

The Mohawk today:

Very sad situation.  The sides and bottom are rusted out.

We both really enjoyed visiting these old warriors, but were disappointed to see the condition of the Mohawk and also disappointed that we could not board her.

Another wonderful day in a fantastic vacation.

 

 

Shipwrecks, salvage, gold, silver, emeralds, pirates

Every child has dreamed of searching for treasure and finding it.  Some adults actually follow that dream.  Mel Fisher is one of those who followed his dream of searching for, and finding, the treasure from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, the Spanish galleons that sank during a hurricane on September 6, 1622, near Key West, Florida.  Sweet hubby and I visited the MelFisher’s Maritime Museum and saw much of the treasures Mel Fisher salvaged.  In fact, I brought a little piece of that treasure home with me as a memento. 

Mel Fisher suffered many personal losses to keep his dream alive during his 16 year search and endured over 100 court battles which ended in victory in the US Supreme Court. The riches Mel Fisher, his team and investors had worked so hard for all those years were finally theirs. The $450 million dollar treasure cache or "Atocha Mother Lode" would be found on that momentous day, July 20, 1985. Over 40 tons of silver and gold were located including over 100,000 Spanish silver coins known as "Pieces of Eight", gold coins, Columbian emeralds, silver and gold artifacts and over 1000 silver bars.

The immensity of the Atocha's treasure is staggering. (MelFisher.com)

Click the images to enlarge.

Do you love emeralds like I do?  My very favorite precious stone.  The one below is a huge uncut emerald salvaged from the Atocha.

I'm betting pirates wish they had all this treasure. 

The Mel Fisher group has taken small amounts of gold, silver, and emeralds from the original bars that were salvaged from the shipwreck of the Atocha and made replicas of the actual jewelry they found in the recovery.  These are exact replicas of the treasures that the rich passengers on the Atocha wore.  Below is my little memento, made from the actual silver and emeralds, into a replica necklace/pendant.  The image is greatly enlarged so you can see the intricate design. 

Lucky me!

Did you know pirates had a code?

I cannot imagine crossing oceans on ships like these.  Tossing around in the storms and waves, no fresh fruits, veggies, meat, month after month.  Yet this is how the rich, in this case, traveled.  They brought their treasures with them.  If the ship went down, so did the treasures.

We also visited the Shipwreck Museum.

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In case you missed the pictures of our visit to the Ernest Hemingway house, here they are.  Also here are the pictures to the Fort Jefferson excursion.

What a wonderful vacation.

Ready to go out on the town with my necklace in Key West.

Ernest Hemingway House

One of my favorite places to visit in Key West Florida is the home of Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway House, 907 Whitehead Street, near a prominent lighthouse close to the Southern coast of the island.   Sweet Hubby and I visited Hemingway House about 11 years ago, but this is a place worth seeing more than once.

Step inside and take a look.  You will be greated by the famous six-toed cats that Hemingway brought to Key West.

The cats are all named after famous people and when they die they are buried in the Cat Cemetery with appropriate headstones.

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Don't miss the "cat house" outside.

I love the windows/doors throughout the house.  Open them and feel the cool breeze.   

There are beautiful chandeliers  in every room of the Hemingway home.  One of Ernest Hemingway's four wives replaced all the ceiling fans with chandeliers, which looked lovely but only added to the Key West heat.  Give me the ceiling fans anytime.

The bathrooms were pretty interesting.  Look at that old 'birthing chair' and also the floor tile.

The following image shows the steps up to the room where Ernest Hemingway did al of his writing.  These steps lead to the second floor of a free-standing carriage house next to the main house. 

The Hemingway House was originally built by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker, in 1851 in colonial southern mansion style, out of limestone quarried from the site. As testament to its construction and location, it survived many hurricanes, and the deep basement remained, and remains, dry. (Wiki)  More on Asa Tift in another post.

This is the swimming pool one wife build while Ernest was away from home.  He was not happy because the pool cost over twice what the entire estate cost.  Formerly known as the Tift house, for it's builder Asa Tift,  in 1931 it was purchased at a tax auction for $8,000 cash.

Pauline Hemingway spent $20,000 to have the deep well-fed pool built for her husband, while he was away as a Spanish Civil War correspondent in 1938. When Hemingway returned, he was reportedly unpleasantly surprised by the cost, and exclaimed: "Well, you might as well have my last cent." This penny is embedded in concrete today near the pool.^[1] In the "Tropic" article, Patrick Hemingway referred to this story, and others told by uncertified guides at the house, as "apocryphal". (Wiki)

Pauline loved entertaining prominent guests, so Ernest obtained  a urinal from his friend's establishment, Sloppy Joe's bar, in Key West after renovations at the bar.  He placed it near the pool for the cats to drink from.  Pauline covered the urinal with fancy tiles, had someone place the large urn on a rock above the urinal, thus making a fancy water feature and hiding the urinal as best she could.

Hemingway House is a truly beautiful place. It looks so peaceful when visiting.  But when we know the history of Ernest and his troubled personal life, many loves, and four wives, I don't envy him at all.

Learning about the troubles of others makes me so thankful that I am lucky enough, blessed enough, to have found my soul mate many years ago.  Money and fame cannot buy true happiness, and that is exactly what I have.

As sweet hubby points out here, our visit to the Old Town included more shops, more stores, MelFisher’s Maritime Museum, the Truman White House,  Red Fish Blue Fish restaurant in the center of Mallory Square in the waterfront district, my second piece of Key Lime pie (yum yum) and much more.  Look for pictures of each place in upcoming posts.

In case you missed the pictures of Fort Jefferson, here they are.

 

Key West Florida

Sweet hubby, the Grouch, spent the last few months planning a much needed vacation to Florida for the two of us, and what a great time we both had over the past two weeks. The sweet Grouch has a detailed post on our trip with great pictures here, don't miss it.

We spent two days with my brother and his family near Tampa.  While there we were lucky enough to attend the party of the year, the 50 year wedding anniversary of my sister-in-law's parents. 

Click images to enlarge.

Then we headed to Florida City where we spent the night and ate the finest seafood platter at one of our favorite restaurants, the Mutineer.  Yum Yum.  Only one of the fantastic meals we had during our trip.

Next morning we headed South to Key West.

Driving the long road to Key West.

Stopping along the way to enjoy the sites.

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The sweet hubby who planned our perfect vacation.

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So much to see in Old Town Key West and I don't think we missed anything.

Ship wrecks, museums, salvaged gold, silver, emeralds, oh my!

Below is a real bar of silver recovered from one shipwreck, heavy, and valuable.

More on shipwrecks and recovered treasures later.

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Beaches, palms, sand, sunshine, and critters.

Roosters, chickens, and baby chicks are all over Key West running wild and begging scraps .

 

 

Churches of every denomination, beautiful buildings for worship.

 More later...