I cannot say it enough, Grandchildren are the golden reward for being a parent. I had a three day weekend break from work. Friday I picked Nolan up from daycare by myself. He was a little stunned to see his Pappy when he walked out of the school. The ride home was non-stop talk about everything. Gin had lunch just about out of the oven when we arrived home. I sat on the couch with Dean laying next to me. Nolan brought my plate of fish sticks and tater tots. Then he set his plate on the chest in front of the couch and ate his lunch. He went back to the kitchen and retrieved a fork for me. Then he went back for a butter knife for himself. The knife wasn't needed but he knew what to do with it anyway. 

Gin told me about the battery operated toy drill of Nolan's and how the batteries needed to be changed. She was in the living room and heard Nolan digging through the tool drawer. He picked out the Phillips head screw driver and and removed the battery compartment screws by the time she could check on him. He's two years old! He understands how a tool is used! He understands how batteries need to be replaced when the object they power don't work properly. He's two years old!

Dean has gained almost six pounds since his birth two months ago. He's an eater and very vocal about what he wants. He is also very active when he is awake. As you see above, he has a great little smile. I'm not rushing things, but I can't wait for the days when these tow boys are running around together playing and carrying on.

Saturday Gin and I stopped by our friend, Christy's house to drop off a donation for a friend of hers. Christy is helping the Grandmother of a preemie girl who is in need of items to care for the baby. We managed to drop in on her garage sale and spend a little time catching up with her, Lynette and Carl. 

Christy and I met during the 2008 March for Babies campaign in Greenville. We were Family Ambassadors for that year and shared our stories with countless volunteers. Since then, our families have kept in touch and provided moral support for each other whenever needed. 

After the visit with Christy, a quick lunch and some shopping, Gin and I were back home for our DVR reduction plan. aka watching a lot of recorded shows. I took a break from the TV around 7:30 to cut the grass that was at least knee high in some places. Two weeks away can take its toll on lawn care. The lights on the John Deere helped get the job done into the night.

Today was once again a day of rest. Sure we had a few little chores, but nothing too difficult. The biggest chore is deleting thousands of duplicate tunes in the iTunes folder.

Most of you have a holiday coming up. Please be careful in your travels and adventures. Take your time and enjoy the people you spend the time with.

P@

entry for August 22, 2010

The pictures above were taken by my colleague, Reiner, with his Nikon D300 and a macro lens. 

I learned how to tie the small Turks Head knot in 1982 during my shipyard apprenticeship. The handle wrap is a Moku whipping which is used to bind the ends of rope to prevent fraying. Ornamental knot tying has always fascinated me. The Turks Head design gives the appearance of never ending. It was developed to repair splits in a sail vessel's mast or the oars of a boat. Today you can find it on the main deck of most any Navy vessel. 

I completed the work on the walking stick June 1, 2002 during an unemployment period. You only see a small portion of the stick. The rest is just as spectacular from top to bottom. The story behind it's second life is amazing to me. During that particular jobless period, I spent time replacing shingles on my storage building, then clearing the overgrown bushes and tree saplings. The brush clear became such a monumental task that I created a brush pile that could fill a dump truck. I rented a chipper and proceeded to transform the waste to something useful. This walking stick was a long branch of a Red Maple tree that was covered and wrapped with vines. I had my hands on it  for the toss into the chipper and then looked at a little differently. I wondered what was behind all the tangled mess of vines. So I tossed aside.

I spent a few weeks of peeling bark, sanding knots and cleaning out the grooves. During the cleaning process, more and more beauty was revealed. From there the walking stick idea was created and the idea to search for more. There were 80+ more that followed, but none as beautiful as this one. 

I spent this weekend in Chattanooga. My turn to cover the weekend work for the project. It is the necessary evil of the job and this weekend wasn't a good time for it. I feel my duties at home have been compromised due to my short time on the weekends I am home. I failed to check the coolant in both vehicles last weekend. Gin's truck overheated Thursday afternoon. The funny thing is, she said she saw and waved at our mechanic just as she left Inman for Lyman/Welford. We think he jinxed the truck. She managed to get it to the repair shop that evening. Good thing for AAA. My car flashed the low coolant light for Gin on Saturday. She managed to get some fluids in it. I guess I've got some making up to do next weekend. 

Come on Friday!!!

Enjoy your work week or vacation or whatever you have to do this week. 

P@

Entry for Monday August 16, 2010

I write to keep my sanity. I also want my children and grandchildren to have something to look back on when my days are gone. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was eight. I remember very little about him. My fraternal grandfather was around until I was thirty three and I remember a lot of things we did with him. I didn't know his personal thoughts about life in general. I wasn't much of one to ask and he wasn't much of one to tell. He would tell you what he thought about a particular situation, but would not provide the deeper thoughts he lived with. I'm the same in many ways. I tend to back myself into a corner when in a crowd. I end up day dreaming and missing out on what is really happening. Its not that I  don't care. I just drift off and think of how much I love being with my family and how I don't want the moment to end.

After two weeks in Chattanooga, I returned home last Friday for a weekend break. Caris and Thomas arrived Friday evening and so did the rain. 4+ inches fell in our area which was a big relief to the water tables. 

Saturday we did a little shopping for upholstery fabrics for Caris. Then lunch was at the Olive Garden with Patrick, Jessica, Nolan and Dean. Nolan sat between Jessica and me. He gave the googlie eyes and smiles to a little girl at another table. Nolan eats pretty good for a two year old and also did a pretty good job sitting in the booster chair. Dean did prety good sucking down a bottle of formula. After my meal I released Dean from his car seat and helped him with a burp and some free movement. Most of that time, he was watching big brother.

Caris and Gin attended their hair dresser's wedding while Thomas and I hung out at home, computing, reading and a little television. I did manage to sneak in a thirty minute nap to take the edge off the yawning. Shortly after Caris and Thomas left for home, Patrick called. He and Nolan drove to Charlotte for the monster truck show. Nolan had fallen in the bleachers and cut his chin bad enough to need stitches. He was bandaged at the speedway, then Patrick drove him home to get Jessica before going to the Emergency Room. He received five stitches under his chin to close the cut. It reminded me of all the little accidents I had in my youth and all the ER visits I made with my Mom.

Sunday was a day for Gin and I to catch up on chores before I departed for Chattanooga. I managed to get the lawn cut and deliver the mower to Patrick for his own grass. We did a little shopping and picked up an extra tall safety gate for the stairs. After Nolan's accident Saturday and his climbing over the gate we had, it was a no brainer to do something immediately. The gate was easily mounted and appeared to be a good solution. The rest of the evening we watched shows recorded on the DVR.

I'm in Chattanooga for I don't know how many more weeks. I hope you enjoy your week and are thankful for the things you have. I am!

P@

Entry for Sunday August 8, 2010

Ocoee River Bridge at Olympic Park

Someone before you thought about crossing from here to there. Maybe they made it without too much trouble. The creek was calm and the water flowed gently between the rocks. The loss of footing resulted in a sprained ankle or knee, but nothing major considering the risk. They looked back and were not impressed by the accomplishment. It was just another day and another obstacle to contend with.

Then came the day when another who ventured to cross this same place was detained by the rushing torrent of rising waters, unknown depths and jagged rocks protruding at piercing angles. The journey needed to continue but not by risking life and limb. Certain destruction was inevitable if the risk was taken. 

Calm minds prevailed and developed a scheme to make the journey as safe as if there was no danger at all. The idea was developed into such a plan that all who followed behind would be safe from the ever present dangers that could occur at any time. Bridging the gap and making safe passage became a reality and lives were saved by the thoughtfulness.

Like the bridge builders, we have the opportunity to make things easier for those who follow our paths. Sharing information and ideas. Learning about fears and developing ways to overcome them by education, discussion and support. Family and friends build the bridges that cross the rough waters of the river we call life. I cannot count how many bridges have been built by my family and friends. At the same time I cannot count how many have been torn down for reasons good and bad.

I hope that the bridges I am building will one day help you cross the rough waters that flow through your life. I look forward to crossing the bridges you have built and plan to build. I believe there are good intentions in each of you.

I usually write something in my Blog about family events of the week or weekend. Not this time. It's difficult to that this time when I'm staying the weekend in Chattanooga due to work obligations. No family or friends to hang out with. 

I did manage to visit the local Catholic Church for Mass Saturday. Father Charlie was a little long winded after he discussed the Gospel and Testament readings, he concluded with a pleas for funding the economic recovery of the parish. As I sat there, listening and thinking of ways the church could save on expenses, a few ideas popped in my head. The lights in the Sanctuary were halogen flood lights and I figured if they replaced every light with florescent or L.E.D. lights they could save some money. I also thought they could  raise the temperature setting on the thermostat a few degrees, but maybe more people would fall asleep during such a long Homily (sermon for you non Catholics). Then the idea hit me, reduce the length of the Homily, change the lights, get rid of the electric organ and sing a'Capella, and do not mail out the large envelopes to each family requesting pledges of support. Yes they are mailing the pledge requests in 8.5x11 envelopes. Why not hand them out and have each family sign for them that they received the information.

Maybe Father Charlie will read my Blog and his Parish will be saved because of it?

I can't wait to be home again next weekend.

Peace!

P@

Entry for Monday August 2, 2010

A river in the morning can have a calming affect on me. The peaceful dew floating above the water. The wet rocks and stones surrounding the banks. Trees glistening with the sun's rays streaming through. Laying in wait before man releases the flood waters of adventure. The silence of this scene takes all my cares away. Reflecting on who I am, where I have been, all the lives that I have touched and those who have touched mine. I need times like this to catch my breath and be thankful. 

Last weekend I traveled home and back to Chattanooga with Reiner, a German photographer and company manager. On the way to Chattanooga we stopped at the Nantahala River in Western North Carolina (pictured above) and the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Riener made a statement that I may never forget. "This is such a beautiful country." It made me stop and think about this because it came from a person whose home is on the other side of the world. We are so lucky to have all these natural surroundings within a few hours drive. The back roads can give you such a wonderful side of our country. A side you never really get to experience when traveling the interstate roadways.

I challenge you to slow down every once in a while and ride the scenic highways through the small towns and forgotten places hidden by the fast lanes.

Friday and Saturday we spent the two days with my parents and their first time meeting Dean. Friday we gathered at Patrick and Jessica's house. We got to meet a very distant cousin of ours from the other side of the tree. What would the other side of tree be? How about 10 generations up our side then 9 generations back down George Hairston's side. The strange thin is, he resembles my Father and Grandfather being that far apart on the family tree. Needless to say, it was nice to meet another Hairston family. After a pizza dinner and some discussion about the family tree, Mom presented Patrick with framed pictures of her parents, my one year old picture and my Grandfather's garage. My Grandfather build his garage, then made a scaled model of the garage. Mom gave Patrick the scaled model of the garage. It was great to see my son receive such a special gift.

Saturday we regrouped at our house for lunch and dinner as well as the usual catching up. Caris and Thomas joined us for the day as well. Mom presented Caris with framed pictures of her parents, my one year old picture and a picture of her Mother in her kitchen. My Grandfather also build the kitchen, and as you probably guessed, he made a scale model of that kitchen. Caris received the model of the kitchen and all the little details of knick-knacks that were in that full size room.

We took a break mid afternoon to attend Mass with my parents. I think they enjoyed the small church and acappella  hymns. I never really thought of it before, but it is nice hearing all the voices in the church sing without being drowned out by the organ or piano.

Dean was passed around to nearly everyone and he did his best to grunt, whine, cry, fuss, fart and burp. He had a few hard times getting a good burp out, but over all he did fine with all the family love that was provided.

Sunday proved to be the day of rest. Both Gin and I were pretty worn out from the previous week as well as the weekend. I managed to squeeze in a two hour nap in the afternoon, which may have been the cause of my not sleeping well last night. It also didn't help having a possum eating the outside cats' food at 3:30 this morning on the front porch table. I need to teach the cats to clean their bowls when fed at night. Who would have thought the ugly little possum would be so noisy. 

Time to go back to the river in my mind. Time to relax and forget about the worries of the day. 

Goodnight all!

P@