Famous Encounters

Hmmmm, well, my final reenlistment in the Air Force was performed by Gordon Fullerton.
Fullerton was the pilot on the eight-day STS-3 Space Shuttle orbital flight test mission March 22-30, 1982. Fullerton was commander of the STS-51F Spacelab 2 mission, launched on July 29, 1985. This mission, with the orbiter Challenger, was the first pallet-only Spacelab mission and the first to operate the Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS).
Vickie and I also ran into Aaron Tippin in our Las Vegas hotel, but Vic was a bit timid about talking to him after we'd just eaten dinner including rice (she hadn't had time to brush her teeth). Of course, I met many of the Astronauts during my 5 years supporting the Space Shuttle. Ran into Chuck Yeager a few times there too.
One of the most interesting, which I'd forgotten, happened while I was stationed at Edwards AFB supporting the space shuttle. We got a call one afternoon that the folks in Hollywood wanted weather support for a new series called "Quantum Leap," the pilot of which was to be filmed on the base. After answering numerous weather questions and making 4 to 6 different types of forecasts per day, they got the series of shots they wanted done. One of the assistants called and invited the two forecasters involved over to the set for the wrapup buffet (or whatever it was). We ran almost right into Scott Bacula and were introduced, but he was busy, so we were told to order whatever we wanted to eat and just wander around. It was pretty cool.
The next day, Dean Stockwell and and another cast member came by the weather station to introduce themselves AND ask if I'd like to join the for a round of golf. Unfortunately, I was the duty forecaster that day and the space shuttle was getting ready to launch again, so I couldn't leave the station.
I can't say I've met them, but I watched Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and all of the golf stars play at the Tour Players Championship at Sawgrass (St. Augustine). I did get some cool autographs on my hat, but the most well known of them is Jerry Kelly, who is one of my favorites.

You've been Nathanized

Two weeks and we haven't made time to blog...and there is so much to talk about.
For one thing, Nathan struck again. Let me set the scene for you...
I had just arrived home from work, about 5:20 PM and was in the bedroom changing my clothes.
Nathan was visiting and began to knock on the bedroom door, apparently to help Punkin get my attention. Punkin was also thumping on the door, which was closed to give me a bit of privacy.
When I asked who it was, the answer came back....MEOW....then, your grabson...then...Nathan Olin Bicars (I think someone was prompting Nathan)....Punkin meowed on his own though.
I opened the door and everyone flowed into the room....4 cats, 1 grabson, and my beloved spouse.
Everyone plopped on the bed just as the phone rang...and simultaneously..the front door opened. I figured it was Ryan at the door coming for Nathan, and I assumed he was also on the phone to "call" Nathan. I decided to just give Nathan the phone since Ryan was on the other end. Nathan quickly began to relate the day's events to the caller.
Ryan walked into the bedroom, but wasn't on the phone.
At this time, Nathan had been talking for close to a minute, and now we were curious to find out who was on the line.
Vickie took the phone and found out that it was another telemarketer, who was apparently obligated not to hang up. Seems like some kind of justice was served without forethought or intended malice by making them listen to the babbling of a two year old (no matter how smart he is!). Thank you Nathan for saving us form those evil telemarketers.

And my golf game was finally coming around...

Geesh...what do I do now? I had finally figured out how to beat my golf buddies on a pretty consistent basis and WHAM....I get a job! How am I supposed to keep up my swing consistency when I have to take 50 hours per week from my game? (That's a 40 hour week and 10 hours of driving.)

For those that may have not heard, I was hired by the folks at the Marine Base in Albany as a Human Resource Assistant beginning tomorrow, July 7. In all honesty, I'm quite excited at the prospect of getting back to work, but am not all that hyped about the amount of gas I'll have to burn to get there. I enjoy the drive (did it to Moody too), but that was when gas was "ONLY" $2.00 per gallon. Dang, I remember when I got my drivers licence in 1972, gas was honestly averaging about 40 cents per gallon (we paid more in California, but it was well under $1.00). Now, it will cost me an average of $120 per week to get back and forth to work. I think I'm going to have to start drilling for my own oil...which way to ANWR?

Still, having a job and a paycheck is worth it and I'm looking forward to getting back into the thrill of working (until they start ticking me off...lol)

Welcome to our new Grandkitty

Welcome to our newest family member, Chance, now before anyone jumps to the conclusion that we have upped our herd to 9 we can say it "ain't so" this sweet little guy belongs to the Vicars family. But as you know Papa and I are what you might call suckers for these furry things so of course we have to post a welcome for him. There is quite a story behind this little guy, lets' just say he was meant to be. I will try to keep it short but ya'll know me and how I tend to ramble on. Papa and I had gone to T-Ville for him to take a state test for a job-(no need for that now has he got one at the Marine Base-more on that from him) anyone we were there and Ryan decided to cut our grass for Papa as a Fathers Day surprise, well he was going to use our mower but we had the keys on us, he came and got our truck and trailer and went and borrowed Donald's mower, the entire day was kind of icky, it was hot and stormy. As Ryan was mowing the ditch in front of our house something caught his eye...guess what it was ? Yep it was Chance, someone has tossed this little kitty out in our ditch, he has a huge open sore on his back/tail, we assumed it happened when he was tossed out. Ryan and Helen went and bought some kitty milk and a bottle to try and save him, none of us really thought he would make it, he was so tiny his little eyes were barely even open. He made it thru the weekend so Papa took him to the Vet that Monday, he weighed all of 5 oz and had to be put on antibiotics, they told us not to expect much as he was in rough shape. But as you can see he has thrived due to alot of love and several feedings a day. He went back to the Dr a few times and on his last visit Wed he was up to 12 whole oz !! We all think this little kitty has a charmed life, as the way things happened it can't be anything else, even if Ryan hadn't chopped him up with the mower almost as soon as he finished cutting the yard it stormed so bad and hard there is no way the little guy would have made it thru that.

Here are a few photo's to give you and idea of just how tiny this guy is, this is the smallest bed you can buy, you can see how little room he takes up in it.

The next photo is one of our smallest kitties-Hobo, he was also rescued as a bitty kitty so maybe he was encouraging Chance to keep fighting, again seeing Hobo next to him gives you a visual as to how small he is. And of course the last one needs no explanation now does it ?

Bomb's Away and other things

This is what Nathan and Papa do several times a week, Papa goes and finds golf balls at the course and turns them in to pay for his monthly golf dues, he finds them and he and Nathan clean them up and get them ready to turn in. Last night Nathan discovered that as he held them real high and dropped them they made the best splash !! I am hoping things like this "stick' in Nathans memory bank I know it will ours.












I thought Nathan was having trouble finding the last of the balls, no, he was just enjoying the water .
As Nathan and Papa were washing golf balls I was trying to keep up with Sammie, she may not be walking but she is QUICK.....by the time we have had her a few hours we have to put her in the "cage" , btw we had them last night while their parents went out for a little alone time. Of course I can't have them in the house without taking pictures.
Doesn't she look pitful? and this was BEFORE I got tired !!














America's Next Top Model...don't you agree ?











Sam will be walking before long, she gets a hold of Nathan's "car" and off she goes, its' too funny, we are going to get it on video soon

Tag, I'm It

Vic tagged me so here it is.

How to play this game. Post these rules on your blog; List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names....

Joy's
Being married....my wife, kids, and grandkids mean more to me than I ever dreamed possible

Golf...playing the game for as long as I can (yes, 24 hours per day if it were possible and until I'm 100 years old)

Making meals that my family can actually eat...so far...that number is 2


Fear's
Golf....shooting over 90 at any time

Snakes and snapping turtles in the water at Forest Lakes....if I'm in the same water

Funerals - I have never been to one

Goal's
Golf - Shooting under 70

Learning to swim so I can have my own fishing boat

Travel the world with Vic...except Italy and Spain...those people drive crazy. Primarily, I want to go to England, Scotland, and Ireland and it wouldn't bother me if I got to play the courses like St. Andrews and Royal Birkdale while we were there

Current Obsession/collection

Golf ball hunting on the course...in the course's ponds. I turn most of them in to help pay my monthly golf dues. I search at least 3 times a week and pick up on an average of 2 to 3 dozen balls each time while wearing my hip-high waders and using my trusty ball retreiver

Cats - everyone knows we have 7 cats...in case you forgot....it's Tibbit, Patches, Garfield, Punkin, Toofi, Snugglepuss, and Hobo. We will not be adding to the collection, but we love them all dearly.

Animal Stones - we had almost all of our felines and canines immortalized on stone and were lucky to do so. Shortly after we began, we lost Bubba and Tigger.










Random Fact's

I've got a shop full of wood working equipment that I don't know how to use, but am anxious to learn....as soon as I can afford the wood and and the cost of getting more power to my shop.

My brother put a knife through my foot while playing chicken...ok, ok....it was 40 years ago, but I've still got the scar!

Much to my family's dismay, I love grilled peanut butter sandwiches (they are all obsessed with cheese), but don't knock my idea until you give it a try (not just a tiny nibble honey)


Granddad
Susan
Donald
Tabi
Nathan

You're it gang !!

Tag, I'm it

Jen tagged me so here it is.

How to play this game. Post these rules on your blog; List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names....


Joy's
my husband
my grandkids
our animals

Fear's
cockroaches...not so much fear they just gross me out
booger's (see above)
drowning

Goal's
lose 100 more lbs
travel the world with Rich
go back to school (always wanted to work with DFACS)

Current Obsession/collection
cats
food network channel (not new but still an obsession)
scrapbook stuff that I am not using

Random Fact's
I am obsessed with watching police/crime shows (prefer "real" ones)
I love boxing (as opposed to "wrestling")
Selected to carry the Olympic Torch when they were in Atlanta (my son carried it for me, I was too fat to run with it and HAD to be out of town when it was my turn)


Rich
Ryan
Nancy
Carol
Eilene

You're it gang !!