Potato Pickin'

  Hey Gang,

  Even though I have been using the internet and sending emails way over 10 years I still get tickled by it and never take it for granted.  I have met countless friends and acquaintances through this modern age boob tube, it’s amazing.  For instance there is Dawn Slike whom I never met in person but we have been going back and forth through emails and blogs since 2008.  We fight and have disagreements like close friends, we send prayer requests and support like family and sometimes we are on the same page politically and other times we slide off the page

  So I like to thank Dawn for the potato picking invite. I bet you didn’t think a potato picking invite could inspire such sentiment, but with me it’s possible.

  As I said I never met Dawn but I did get to meet her Mom all because of potato picking.  Ruth, Dov and I drove all the way out to E. Springfield, Pa. to pick potato’s, get back in the car and drive straight back home.  Was it worth it for 3 bushels of potato’s? Money wise probably not but now I can say I dug up potato’s , it looks good on my resume.  But being serious, the opportunity to drive out to a little town that I have never been to before, doing something different and being out in nature made it worthwhile.  

  How I met Dawns Mom - We were getting everything packed when we heard someone calling a cat.  Ruth thought it was a kid.  I saw that it was Dawns Mom so I said hello over there you don’t know me but I know Dawn can I come over to meet you?  How did I know it was Dawns Mom?   Because I was informed her house was directly across from the potato field, brilliant deduction.

  I had a nice conversation with her.  I asked how is the scrabble battle going are you beating Dawn yet?  I commented on how I loved the look of her house.  She told me it was built in 1850 and more than likely a water station for passengers aboard the train that would pass from Erie to Pittsburg.  She said there are still remnants of the old tracks and features in the house that gives clues that there was a well and a cement basin in the basement.

  From there she gave me directions on how to care for the fresh picked potatos and then we talked about canning and yes she also cans potato’s which I didn’t know you could.  She told me simple instructions on how to do it but don’t tell her, I forgot.

  Her cat Eight Ball finally came in so it was time to go but not before she told me why she named the cat that.  It’s because is all black with a little white spot.  

  That’s all it’s 2 am and my French fry’s are done.  Well you didn’t think I would pick three bushels and not make fry’s - did you?   

                                           Gotta GoGo!!

                                           Carey

flashback to 2006

Hey Gang,
I am almost finished going through ALL my old emails.  Some went back as far as 2004.  I deleted, printed, and some will be used in my book.  Going through them all was a neat flashback.

 We think this summer was wet and cool.  In the summer of 2006 here in Lake County we had 10 inches of rain in 24 hours and it flooded large sections of the area.  I was on my way to Johnson, Pa. home of the great flood while the flooding was taking place here at home.  I made the comment I now know why we call this Lake County.

 Read this other email from 2006.  Global warming, global wetting, nahh the earth goes through cycles.  I am worried more of the global agenda rather than the global climate. 


 Date: Sunday, September 3, 2006, 3:18 PM
Hey Gang,   

 Its the last official weekend of the summer vacation season, another summer behind us, can you believe it? 
  For me it was one incredible - fun - busy summer, a few disappointments but mostly a lot of smiles and good memories.    I wanted the summer to start off right and boy did it with a trip to the Alleghenies with Allen, Jeff, and Lori and in between it was one adventure after another. 

 

   Mine and Jeff’s Birthday party in my back yard which the neighbors are still probably talking about, the beach outing, 4^th of July party at Colby, the drive in event, Kentucky with Nancy & Lori, Jamestown, Pa trip, the Wisconsin trip, the Rock N the RNC at the Rock Hall, won’t mention all of them but these are just a few of the high lights.    

 

The plans for this weekend got off really slow because of the horrible weather, high 50’s and rain so still not sure what is going on or where we may take off to.  There is talk of Geneva on the Lake or maybe a quick run down to W.V. to say hi to Ed, really not sure.   

 

BUT the real reason for this email was to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day, hope your enjoying it and that your summer went equally as well as mine or even better!

Your Friend Always,
Carey
 Gotta Go Go!!

save the drive in's

Hey Gang the irony here is that this is sponsored by Honda who is trying to save an American icon. 

http://projectdrivein.com/

 

Only 380 left in the U.S.

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

 

 

no words just photos

Hey Gang,
Enjoy the photos.

Summer 2013

Hey Gang,

My computer died so that’s why I have been away. The motherboard said goodbye. Gee the computer was only from 2004. I now have a good used one it’s from 2003.

Quickly have to add my book is coming along nicely. It is up to 21,500 words. Had a set back and quite angry with someone. I entrusted a friend with some of my writings. Well she told me she is no longer interested in the project and hopes that I have copies of what I sent her because she doesn’t have then any longer. I could use some colorful language but instead just gritted my teeth and moved on.  Some friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How the summer going for you? Here in NE Ohio it is chilly. I’m glad right before the big cool down I snuck off for a few hours with Ruth and Joe to Mentor Headlands Beach. That was the last day of real hot summer weather. Unfortunately the water had so much dirt floating around I didn’t go in. I am thinking it must have been from all the heavy rains we’ve been having.

Day trippin’! That’s what I have been doing all summer. Gone are the days where I could escape for my 2 to 4 day jaunts and visit people out of state. I miss it. I still haven’t found enough in my wallet to pay for gas. Now traveling no more than 100 to 125 miles from home. Just about every weekend and sometimes during the week Ruth and I have been out and about. My sister Cindi, niece Tiffany, Dov and the folks came along on a few. I am rediscovering places that I either went to as a child or haven’t been to in a few years.

This summer we went to Geneva on the Lake about 4 times, the drive in once, the Mesopotamia Ox Roast, a drive to Oil City, Pa., a trip to Canal Fulton for Canal days but the boat wasn’t running because of the flooding, Beaver Creak State Park, a few picnics at nearby metro, Pymatuning to feed the fish, Jeff’s wedding in Delphos and after that we visited Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Norwalk and Vermillion, 3 times to Newark for political meetings and each time on the return trip home we found interesting places and stores, and recently the Lake County Fair which was disappointing, I know there are probably more. 

We also had a few backyard gatherings, went to James and Margo’s house for a Sunday cookout and attended the Fest in Wickliffe that is a terrific event and one you should make plans for next year. I also went to many car cruise in’s. I put the GoGo Bus away for a few years so it was fun having people see it again, some for the first time. This past weekend we went to the African Safari in Port Clinton. Fun time. That’s the travelin’ report.

Now what about Dad? People ask me all the time, how’s Dad? An almost equal number ask me what happened to Jeff M., how’s he doing? Dad and Jeff are both miracles. Maybe I should also include my long lost friend Gwen from Missouri. She also had some serious health issues a few years ago.

Let’s start with Jeff. Jeff is doing fine and recently got married. The leukemia is in check. Excellent news. Gwen emailed a few months back and said she is fine and doing well. Now about Dad; if you remember in 2011 he was quite sick, so sick family and friends rushed to see him in the hospital. Dad started to recover, asked for spaghetti went home and has been home since. In fact he is constantly asking me to take him on more road trips. We definitely have seen some miracles here and that’s a good way to end this letter.

Enclosed are some photos, one is of Dad in 2011. Check out the difference in his face. Not bad for an 86 year old kid.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

flooded and wiped out

Hey Gang,

What a semi washed out two days I had.

Friday I had to drive out to Norwalk to deliver a dresser I sold on Craigs List.  The lady who bought it gave me additional money to bring it to her.

Ruth and my folks came along for the ride.  Dad’s been wanting to get out for sometime so he was anxious and ready to go.

After dropping off the dresser I looked at the map and realized I wasn’t to far from the Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue.  Dad took the family to the shrine years ago on one of our many family vacations.  I still remember some of it vividly.  The grottos with all the candles were so impressive as were all the statues.  I also remember the outdoor chapel.

The parents were as excited to see it again as I was.  We arrive and they had yellow tape strung up keeping cars out.  I had to investigate why so parked the car and walked under the tape.  The storm that blew through the past week toppled and destroyed many of the old trees.  The place was a mess and impassable in spots.  The outdoor chapel was left untouched but the shrine itself will be sometime and who knows maybe years to get it back in shape.

We also drove through the city of Bellevue and some business and residences still had no power.  Tree lawns after tree lawn were filled with debris from the storm.  Trees down all over the place.

That was Friday. Saturday I took Ruth out to Canal Fulton for Canal Days.  I wanted to see the Civil War reenactment and also take Ruth on a canal boat ride.  Both of those along with all the amusement rides got cancelled. The reason – flooding.

 Heritage Park where those events were supposed to take place was underwater.  Even the boat ride had to be shut down.  The towpaths that the horses use to tow the boat were submerged. 

Last year draught and not enough water and this year too much – oh well.

Enjoy the links and the photos.

http://sorrowfulmother.org/index.html

http://www.discovercanalfulton.com/heritage_society/st_helena_iii.html

My fourth went off with a BOOM Crash BANG! - late but its here now

Hey Gang,
How did everyone's 4th go?

I had a nice small gathering with the folks, Jeff and his Mom, Malinda and Dov.  Plenty of conversation and of course food.  Then we headed to Colby Park in Wickliffe. 


I tried to convince Malinda and Jeff to take my car only as its usually bedlam getting into and out of Colby.  But they insisted they drive so we took 3 cars.  Jeff found his own way and got a nice spot to see the fireworks.  Malinda followed me to the Baptist church near the park where I always park.  I was very surprised we found 2 spots left open to park.

Whats a bigger blessing than that?  They had police tape strung up to keep people back a safe distance from the fireworks.  All the good spots were filled, the park was mobbed.  We kept walking and I wish I would of taken a photo to show you.  There in the front row, right in front of where they blow off fireworks was a spot open with no one sitting there.  We threw down our sheet, Malinda set up her chair and we had thee BEST view.  We were blessed.

We were so close we felt the fireworks in our chest.  Amazing.

Pulling out it was madness.  So we kicked back until it thinned enough to ease out.  While waiting someone blew their horn and a bunch of cars joined in including me and Malinda.  It sounded like a rendition of Dueling Banjos car horn style.  What fun!

As we were exiting a couple of policeman zoomed out we thought it was for traffic control it wasn't.

We approached my street and there was the strangest site.  I saw a car parked crooked and facing the wrong way in the middle of my street.  I said jokingly to Dov hey that's your car.  He yelled IT IS!  I zipped into my driveway and we rushed out.  All of us were so confused.  Firetrucks, police cars, everyone out and there's Dovs car. We found out a drunk driver smashed into his car, ran across 4 lawns before wiping out a porch.

How did this man perform this feat is beyond us. How fast was he going and how did he spin Dovs car around?

A mystery for sure.

First 2 are of me n Ruth enjoying the fireworks.  Heres the link to the news story.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/22764392/driver-looses-control-of-car-stops-just-before-hitting-a-house



    Gotta GoGo!!
       Carey
www.gogobus.cc