DAILY CHRONICLE #14 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 14 VOL 14

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, LOW HUMIDITY, 58/79 DEGREES

 

NOT MUCH DOING TODAY! I SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS SETTING ON THE DECK WAITING FOR MOM TO GET HOME FROM CHURCH! THERE WAS NO MASS ON TV THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF THE POPES VISIT TO FRANCE! THEY’LL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK BUT I MAY BE GOING TO MASS WITH MOM SINCE THE WEATHER HAS COOLED DOWN SO WE’LL START BACK GOING TO 9:30 AM!

 

IT SEEMS LIKE KONNER IS GOING TO BE GETTING ALONG JUST FINE WITH KELLY AND GLENDA! HALEY JO IS BEING A LITTLE MOTHER TO HIM WHICH IS GOOD! OF COURSE SHE’S ONLY 5 BUT THINKS SHE’S MUCH OLDER!

 

THE WEATHER IS JUST BEAUTIFUL, AND THE WEATHER PEOPLE ON OUR LOCAL STATION SAY WE CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, THEY CALLED IT AN EARLY FALL AND IT SURE FEELS LIKE IT!

 

WE’RE HAVING SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH OUR INTERNET CONNECTION! IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S DUE TO SOMETHING DOWN AT KELLY’S, EITHER THEY UNPLUG THE WRONG BOX OR SOMETHING’S GETTING READY TO GO BAD! MOM WILL CHECK WITH TIM! SO I WON’T BE ABLE TO SEND THIS TILL IT’S BACK UP!

 

I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT WE HAVE 35 FAMILIES FROM THE HOUSTON AREA STAYING IN SHERMAN AND THEY’LL PROBABLY BE HERE TILL THE POWER GETS BACK ON! THERE ARE OVER 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER! WHEN ARE THE POWER COMPANIES GOING TO GET SMART AND START PUTTING ALL POWER LINES UNDERGROUND? WE HAVE FEWER EARTHQUAKES THAN HURRICANES! I ASKED OUR CO OP ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF OUTAGES AGO AND THEIR ANSWER WAS; IT’S EASIER TO GO FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN AN OUTAGE OCCURES ABOVE GROUND THAN IT WOULD BE UNDERGROUND! MY ANSWER TO THAT THINKING WAS; THERE WOULD BE FEWER OUTAGES IF YOU WOULD RUN ALL THE LINES THROUGH CONDUIT UNDERGROUND, I’VE SEEN HUGE SQUARE PIECES OF CERAMIC CONDUIT WITH 36 HOLES THAT WOULD HANDLE A BIG NEIGHBORHOOD! THEN, SET UP A GRID LIKE TEXAS POWER AND LIGHT HAS IN THEIR UNDERGROUND COMMAND CENTER IN SHERMAN THAT PIN POINTS THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE BREAK AND THEY CAN MAKE REPAIRS IN A SHORT TIME! THEY DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AN UNDERGROUND COMMAND CENTER IN SHERMAN! I TOLD THEM TO CONTACT WENDALL ERBY! HE LET US MEET DOWN THERE WHEN WE HAD OUR MOTORCYCLE SAFETY CLUB!

 

THIS CRAP OF DOWNED POWER LINES BECAUSE OF BEING HIT BY FALLING TREES IS JUST THAT, CRAP! WE CAN’T ELIMINATE THE TREES EVEN THOUGH WE CAN KEEP THEM TRIMMED BACK TO AVOID THE LIMBS BUT WHEN THE WHOLE TREE IS UP ROOTED AND FALLS ACROSS A HI TENSION LINE THERE ISN’T ANY WAY TO STOP THAT!

 

IT’S TOO BAD THERE ISN’T ANY RECOURSE FOR ALL THE FOOD AND OTHER PARISHABLES THAT GO BAD BECAUSE OF A POWER OUTAGE! THE POWER COMPANY SAYS IF WE’RE REALLY CONCERNED WE SHOULD BUY A BACK UP GENERATOR TO RUN OUR APPLIANCES! TO DO IT RIGHT, WE SHOULD GET ONE BIG ENOUGH TO RUN THE WHOLE HOUSE AND THEN CHARGE WHAT WE DON’T USE BACK TO THE POWER COMPANY WHICH IS LEGAL!

 

THAT’S “30”FOR THIS ISSUE.

 

HOWARD

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #13 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER13 VOL 14

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, HIGH HUMIITY, 67/77 DEGREES

 

SATURDAY CONTD’

 

I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY KEEPING TABS ON IKE! IT WASN’T AS BAD AS THE OFFICIALS THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE BUT FROM ALL THE DAMAGE IT DID I’D SAY THEY DIDN’T MISS IT BY MUCH! I HEARD THE SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY WHERE GALVESTON ISLAND IS SAID HE CONSIDERED LEAVING THE CITIZENS WHO REFUSED TO EVACUATE THERE BUT HIS OATH OF OFFICE WOULDN’T LET HIM! HIS CONTENTION WAS THAT NOW HIS PEOPLE HAVE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARMS WAY TO GET THEM OUT! IF I WAS HIM I’D SEE IF THERE WASN’T SOME WAY THEY COULD BE BILLED FOR THE EXTRA DANGEROUS SERVICE! THE PEOPLE ON CNN REFERED TO THEM A STUPID SELF CENTERED BUTT HEADS! THE NEXT TIME THIS SITUATION COMES UP, AND THERE WILL BE MORE HURRICANES I WOULD FORCIBLY REMOVE ANY ONE WHO WANTS TO STAY SO I WOULDN’T HAVE TO PUT MY PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY AGAIN TO SAVE THEIR WORTHLESS BUTTS!

 

FROM WHAT THE LOCAL WEATHER PEOPLE SAY THE RAIN SHOULD BE GONE BY NOON SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE REAL NICE TILL THURSDAY, THEN ANOTHER FRONT IS DUE IN FROM THE NORTH AND IT SHOULD BE A WET ONE!

 

WE HAVEN’T HEARD FROM KERRY AND DEBI ABOUT THEIR PLACE IN FT. MEYERS FLORIDA! ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER PEOPLE IKE WAS SUPPOSED TO HIT BETWEEN MIAMI AND KEY WEST WHICH IS WHERE FT. MEYERS IS! MOM OR I WILL HAVE TO CALL THEM AND FIND OUT, PROBABLY MOM SINCE I DON’T HAVE MY AMPLIFIED PHONE YET! THE LADY MOM WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL THURSDAY WON’T BE BACK IN HER OFFICE TILL MONDAY! MAYBE WE’LL FIND OUT SOMETHING THEN! I’M ALMOST TEMPTED TO CALL  TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY ARE AT THE PHONE COMPANY! THEN IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG WITH IT I CAN GET THEM TO FIX OR REPLACE IT! EVER SINCE BUSH CUT THE VA BUDGET THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING TO HELL! I REALIZE WITH ALL THE IRAQ AND AFGANISTAN WOUNDED THAT HAVE BEEN COMING BACK AND SENT TO THE OUTLYING VA HOSPITALS LIKE BONHAM, ARDMORE OKLAHOMA, AND WACO TEXAS IT’S REALLY PUT A CRIMP ON THE SERVICES AVAILABLE! I DON’T BEGRUDGE THEM ANYTHING. THEY’RE MORE INTITLED TO THE SERVICES THAN I AM! MY DISABILITY IS NOT COMBAT RELATED LIKE 90% OF THEIR’S ARE!

 

NO MATTER WHO GETS IN OFFICE I THINK YOU’LL SEE A BIG INCREASE IN THE VA BUDGET! BOTH MCCAIN AND OBAMA SAY THE VETERANS SHOULD BE GETTING MORE/BETTER CARE THAN THEY ARE!

 

I HAVEN’T FELT MUCH LIKE WORKING ON THE INTREPID LATELY! I HAVE A CONDITION WITH MY LEFT LEG AND ARM THAT THE VA HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT! MY LEG WILL START JERKING AND THEN MY ARM DOES THE SAME THING! IF I’M NOT NEAR A CHAIR OR SOMEPLACE I CAN SET DOWN I FALL TO THE DECK, FLOOR OR GROUND! I ONLY HAVE TO SET FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT’LL BE OK FOR QUITE A WHILE! LUCKLY MOM HAS BEEN WITH ME WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WILL DRAG SOMETHING OVER FOR ME TO SET ON! IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE AT THE VA FOR MY HEARING ABOUT MY DISBILITY, I HAD TO SET ON THE ROLLERS IN THE CHECK IN ROOM WHERE TO BASKET COMES OUT AFTER THEY LET YOU GO THROUGH THE DETECTOR! WE WENT TO THE OFFICE AND I WAS OK FOR THE REST OF THE TIME WE WERE THERE! THE BAD THING IS I NEVER GET ANY WARNING IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN!

 

THAT’S “30” FOR THIS ISSUE.

 

HOWARD

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #12 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 12 VOL 14

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, HIGH HUMIDITY, 71/87 DEGREES

 

SORRY ABOUT BEING LATE WITH THIS CHRONICLE BUT THE INTRNET WENT DOWN YESTERDAY AND WE JUST GOT IT BACK! PLEASE BARE WITH ME! HOWARD

 

NOT MUCH DOING TODAY! MOM WENT IN TO HELP SHANNON GET READY FOR HER FOOT DOCTORS APPOINTMENT! I WENT OUT AND WALKED UP AND DOWN ON THE RAMP, ACCORDING TO THE WEATHERMAN WE’LL BE GETTING THE RAIN AND WIND FROM IKE  LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND ALL DAY SATURDAY SO IT’LL MEAN STAYING INSIDE! I DO WALK UP AND DOWN THE HALL A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY! THE OKLAHOMA HOME NURSES SET IT UP FOR ME BUT I HAVEN’T BEEN DOING IT MUCH BUT NOW MY LEGS ARE STARTING TO STIFFEN UP SO I’M GOING TO DO MORE WALKING! IT’S TOO HARD TO WALK ON OUR DRIVEWAY AND WHERE WE PARK BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS SO I’LL DO IT IN THE HOUSE AND ON THE RAMP!

 

SATURDAY

 

WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR THE WIND. WE STARTED GETTING THE RAIN ABOUT AN HOUR AGO! MOM HAD TO GO IN TO MEET TIM AND THEY’RE GOING OVER TO GET KONNER FROM THE BABY SITTER WHO HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIM SINCE SHANNON HAD HER SURGERY! I’M NOT SURE JUST WHAT HAPPENED BUT IT MUST BE SERIOUS FOR SHANNON TO CALL TIM TO COME UP TO GET KONNER!

 

WE JUST HEARD THAT GOVERNOR PERRY OF TEXAS HAS GOTTEN OVER 100 CALLS ABOUT PRICE GOUGING! IT’S PROBABLY ON GAS BUT WHEN A DISASTER TAKE PLACE YOU CAN BET YOU’RE GOIUNG TO HAVE THOSE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND JUMP THE PRICE OF FOOD, FOUL WEATHER GEAR, CAR TOWING, EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE CALLS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO SURVIVE!

 

IF I WAS THE GOVERNOR I WOULD CLOSE THEM DOWN IMMIDATELY TILL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED! I’VE SEEN THIS IN CALIFORNIA AND LAS VEGAS! IN 1954 THERE WAS A HEAVY DOWN POUR IN THE CHARLESTON MOUNTAINS NORTH OF LAS VEGAS. I WAS SETTING AT THE STOP SIGN ON 2^ND STREET AND CHARLESTON BLVD! I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND SAW A WALL OF WATER ABOUT 5 FEET HIGH WITH TREES AND BRUSH MIXED IN IT COMING TOWARDS ME DOWN CHARLESTON BLVD! . I MANAGED TO GET ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND PULLED INTO A CAFÉ ON THE POINT! AS I WAS SETTING THERE WATCHING THE WATER COME UP IN THE CAFÉ I DECIDED I BETTER GET TO HIGHER GROUND! I GOT IN MY CAR AND HEADED DOWN THE STRIP AND PULLED IN TO A UNION 76 STATION JUST AS THE GUY WAS ON A LADDER CHANGING THE PRICE ON HIS GAS, UP 20 CENTS ON REGULAR AND ETHEL! HIS HELPER WAS BUSY CHANGING THE PUMP PRICES! I CALLED THE LOCAL RADIO STATION AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN’T SAY ANYTHING SINCE UNION OIL COMPANY WAS ONE OF THEY’RE CUSTOMERS! I CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT! BY THE NEXT MORNING ALL THE SERVIC STATIONS IN LAS VEGAS WERE UP 35 CENTS A GALLON! THE WATER RECEDED TWO DAYS LATER AND OVER NIGHT THE PRICE WAS BACK DOWN 35 CENTS! AS FAR AS I KNOW NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT THIS WHICH SHOWS THE POWER OF THE OIL COMPANIES WAY BACK THEN! THE AVERAGE MAN/WOMAN DOESN’T HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST THOSE BASTARDS!

 

IT’S GOING TO BE ITERESTING TO HEAR WHAT MCCAIN AND OBAMA HAVE TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT! I’M HOPING THAT ONE OF THEM WILL TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND LAY INTO THE OIL COMPANIES! THIS ISN’T JUST IN THE AREA WHERE THE HURRICANE HIT, IT’S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! THE BAD THING IS THEY’RE RASING THE PRICE ON THE GAS THEY HAVE IN THEIR UNDER GROUND TANKS THAT THEY BOUGHT AT A MUCH LOWER PRICE! I SAY, SHUT ‘EM DOWN AND TURN THE OPERATION OVER TO THE NATIONAL GUARD TILL IT CAN BE RESOLVED!  MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GUARD HAVE THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE TO RUN A SERVICE STATION! LET THE OIL COMPANY KEEP RUNNING THE CONVIENCE STORES! JUST GET THE GAS END OF IT OUT OF THEIR HANDS!

ACCORDING TO CNN THERE WERE 36 OFF SHORE RIG WITH MINOR DAMAGE AND THEY WILL BE BACK ON LINE BY MONDAY! THE REST OF THEM SHOULD BE UP AND PUMPING BY MONDAY TOO! NOW, WHERE IS THE PROBLEM? CNN REPORTED THE REFINERIES WERE NOT DAMAGED OR IF THERE WAS SOME IT WAS MINOR! YOU WATCH, THE OIL COMPANIES WILL SAY IT’S GOING TO TAKE 9 MONTH TO BRING THE REFINERIES BACK ON LINE!

 

I HATE TO SAY IT BUT ALL THE LOWER PRICES WERE JUST A GIMMICK TO LULL US INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND THINKING THE PRICE WOULD LEVEL OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND $1.50 TO &1.90 A GALLION YOU CAN GET READY FOR $6.00 TO $10.00 A GALLION NOW THAT HYBRIDS AND FULL ELECTRIC CARS ARE COMING ON THE MARKET, PRIUS, VOLT AND TESLA! AND THE PEOPLE CUT DOWN ON ENERGY USAGE SO THE OIL COMPANIES ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD A SURPLUS THEY HAD NO WHERE TO STORE! ALL THE UNDER GROUND TANKS ARE FULL, THE SHIPS THEY KEEP OFF SHORE FOR STORAGE ARE FULL! AND CAN YOU BELIEVE MCCAIN WANTS TO STAR DRILLING OFF SHORE WHEN THERE’S 68 MILLION ACRES ON SHORE THEY CAN DRILL IN! BUT, WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH IT, WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH REFINERIES TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND NOW! WE’LL HAVE OIL RUNNING IN THE STREETS CONTAMANTING THE ENVIRONMENT!

 

THAT’S “30” FOR THIS ISSUE

 

HOWARD

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #11 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 11 VOL 14

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11^TH 2008

WEATHER WARM, HIGH HUMIDITY, 71/87 DEGREES

 

WE’RE GETTING READY FOR WHAT THE WEATHER PEOPLE SAY IS GOING TO BE THE WORST WEATHER WE’VE HAD HERE IN THE LAKE TEXOMA VACINITY IN MANY A YEAR! HURRICANE IKE IS SUPPOSED TO HIT GALVESTON ISLAND FRIDAY BETWEEN 10PM AND 2AM SATURDAY MORNING! FROM THERE IT’S SUPPOSED TO HIT HOUSTON WITH 90-100 MPH WINDS AND THEN HEAD STRAIGHT NORTH THRU TEXAS INTO OKLAHOMA! WE’RE SUPPOSED TO GET 4-8 INCHES OF RAIN AND 60-70 MPH WIND HERE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING! MONDAY SHOULD SHOW SOME CLEARING AND THEN TUESDAY THRU THE WEEKEND SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD! WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT JENNIFER, SHE NEVER DID MAKE IT ANY BIGER THAN A SQUALL!

 

MOM AND I GOT OUT ON THE DECK AND TOOK CARE OF ANYTHING THAT THE WIND COULD PICK UP AND MAKE INTO A MISSILE LIKE PIECES OF PLYWOOD OR STICKS! PIECES OF SHEET METAL MAKE REAL GOOD KILLING THINGS!

 

I FORGOT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE “HOUSE” MY DAD AND HERB DAVIS BUILT OUT OF 1” WATER PIPE; THE ROOM DIVIDERS WERE CURTAINS MY MOTHER AND SISTERS MADE, THEY SLID ON AIRCRAFT CONTROL CABLES THAT WERE PLASTIC COATED THAT CAME FROM LOCKHEED SALVAGE! THESE ALSO HELPED TO HOLD THE SIDES RAILS IN AND THEY FORMED A HALL DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE AND THE CURTAINS SLID ON THEM TO MAKE THE INSIDE WALL OF THE ROOMS! THEY WERE MOUNTED ABOUT 3’ APART WHICH FORMED A 3’ HALL! THE BACK DOOR WAS SOLID WOOD AND MY DAD HAD CUT THE TOP PART TO LOOK LIKE BARS, HE PAINTED THE NAME “ALCATRAZ” ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DOOR! MY MOM MADE HIM PAINT IT OUT AND PAINT “THE MAHONEYS!” IN ITS PLACE! PERSONALLY I LIKED ALCATRAZ  BUT I WAS ONLY 9 AND DIDN’T GET A VOTE! I THINK I REMEMBER AN AMERICAN FLAG ON A POLE DAD STUCK IN THE GROUND AND TIED IT TO THE CORNER OF THE FRAME WORK! WELL THAT’S ALL I CAN REMEMBER! IF MY BROTHER JERRY CAN REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE AND HE LETS ME KNOW I’LL PUT IT IN THE CHRONICLE! “THOSE WERE THE DAYS” AND I WISH I COULD LIVE THEM OVER AGAIN!

 

THE NEXT THING ABOUT NEWPORT BEACH IS WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER!  BEFORE THE WAR MY FOLKS HAD BOUGHT A LOT ON 36^TH & MARCUS WITH THE INTENTIONS OF BUILDING A HOUSE ON IT FOR THE FAMILY TO SPEND TIME AT THE BEACH! THE NEXT SUMMER AFTER THE WAR ENDED THE FOLKS HAD A “FOR SALE” SIGN PAINTED AND HEADED FOR THE BEACH TO PUT IT ON THE PROPERTY! THEY LEFT ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND WERE GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH MR. & MRS. BIMBO WHO LIVED ON THE CORNER ACROSS FROM OUR PROPERTY! THET GOT BACK HOME EARLY SUNDAY AND THE SIGN WAS STILL IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR! I THOUGHT THEY PROBABLY SOLD IT AS SOON AS THE PUT THE SIGN IN THE GROUND, IT WAS A PRIME PIECE OF LAND! IN FACT,  THEY BOUGHT THE PIECE NEXT TO OURS SO NOBODY ELSE COULD, MY DAD SAID HE WAS GOING TO FENCE IT IN FOR A PLAY GROUND FOR THE LITTLE KIDS IN THE FAMILY!

 

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW DICK KLEEMEYER GOT THE 1 ½ TON TRUCK FROM WHERE HE WORKED AND THEY LOADED ALL THE PIPES AND LEAD STOVE, CAULKING ROPE AND SHOVELS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO LAY THE PLUMBING IN! BILL MASON WAS WORKING WITH HIS BROTHER JOE AT THE TIME AS A PLUMBER AND ASKED IF HE COULD GO ALONG AND HELP, MY DAD SAID YES, WE’LL NEED A SHOVEL JOCKEY AND BILL WENT WITH US! THERE WAS ME, DAD, BILL, DICK AND HERB! BILL AND I RODE ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE SUPPLIES, MY MOM AND SISTERS CAME IN THE CAR WITH THE FOOD AND COTS AND BEDDING! WE WERE GOING TO STAY AND WORK ALL NIGHT SO MY DAD COULD GET THE CONCRETE PEOPLE TO POUR A SLAB SO WE COULD COME BACK DOWN THE NEXT WEEKEND TO START PUTTING UP THE WALLS! HE HAD DRAWN A SET OF BLUE PRINTS AND GOT THEM APPROVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE! HE ALSO HAD GONE TO LOCKHEED SALVAGE AND BOUGHT ALL THE MAHOGANY LUMBER THEY HAD ( ENGINE BOXES AND PALLETTS WERE MADE OUT OF PHILIPPINE MAHOGANY BECAUSE OF THE WAR, FIR AND CEDAR WAS NEEDED FOR MILITARY USE!” HE BOUGHT 200 SHEETS OF MAHOGANY PLYWOOD THAT WE EVENTUALLY PUT ON THE WALLS AND CEILING! NOW, LET ME GET BACK TO THE PLUMBING; WE UNLOADED ALL THE PIPES AND EQUIPMENT AND MY DAD PICKED A SPOT WHERE HE WANTED TO START, BILL AND I HAD THE SHOVELS AND STUCK THE POINT IN THE SAND AND JUMPED ON THE WINGS OF THE BLADE AND IMMIDATELY FELL OVER IN THE SAND WE GOT UP AND SCOOPED THE SAND AWAY AND FOUND TAR! MY DAD WENT OVER AND BORROWED A PICK AX FROM MR. BIMBO AND TOOK A SWING AT THE TAR, THE POINT WENT IN ABOUT 3”, WE STARTED SCOOPING SAND AWAY AND FOUND OUT WE WERE ON AN OLD OIL WELL SUMP HOLE/BASIN!

 

WE CARRIED ALL THE TOOLS AND PIPE AND EVERYTHING BUT THE FOOD OVER AND PUT IT ON BIMBO’S BACK PATIO! MY MOM GAVE ALL THE FOOD AND SOFT DRINKS TO THE BIMBO’S FOR LETTING US STORE THE THINGS ON THEIR PATIO!

 

WHEN WE GOT HOME MY DAD GOT ON THE PHONE TO PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH AT LOCKHEED FLIGHT TEST, TONY LAVIER, ELI HAWKS, DORSEY CAMMERON, FISH SALMON AND TOLD THEM HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET THEM MONDAY TO DISCUSS A PROBLEM HE HAD! THE BOTTOM LINE WAS; THEY MADE ALL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CUT THROUGH THE TAR TO MAKE DITCHES TO LAY THE PLUMBING IN! THEY DID IT WITH HEATED KNIVES THAT OPERATED OFF 110 VOLTS, DAD HAD A METER POLE PUT IN TO GET THE POWER! IT TOOK BILL, ME, AND MY DAD 4 WEEKENDS TO GET IT DONE! WE MELTED THE TAR LEFT OVER AND POURED IT ON TOP OF THE PIPES, THERE WILL NEVER BE A LEAKY PIPE IN THE SLAB THAT HOUSE SETS ON AND NO WATER WILL EVER COME UP THROUGH THE SLAB! BILL HAD COMPLETE USE OF THE HOUSE FOR ANY TIME HE LET MY MOM KNOW HE WANTED TO GO DOWN WITH HIS FOLKS OR BUDDIES!  MY DAD NEVER DID FENCE THE OTHER LOT IN BUT AFTER MY MOM DIED HE REMARRIED AND HE AND MARSHA MOVED DOWN THERE WHEN HE RETIRED THERE WAS A DECK OVER THE TWO BEDROOMS IN THE HOUSE WITH A RAILING SO NO ONE WOULD ROLL OFF WHEN THEY SLEPT UP THERE, THE HOUSE WOULD SLEEP 28 PEOPLE WITHOUT THE DECK!  HE BUILT A TWO CAR GARAGE ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND BUILT A TWO BEDROOM APT UP TOP! THEY RENTED THE HOUSE OUT AND LIVED IN THE APT. TILL THEY BOUGHT A BIGGER PLACE ACROSS THE CANAL AND MOVED OVER THERE! LIKE ALWAYS MY DAD COULDN’T LEAVE A WALL ALONE, HE HAD TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO IT!  WHEN WE WERE THERE IN 1963 HE HAD CANVAS OVER ONE WALL HE WAS PUTTING A WINDOW IN!

 

THAT’S “30” FOR THIS ISSUE.

 

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #10 vOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 10 VOL 14

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, HIGH HUMIDITY, 70/78 DEGREES

 

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN IT RAINED ALL DAY AND FROM WHAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE’LL BE GETTING 4-8 INCHES AND 50-60 MPH WINDS THIS COMING WEEK END OUT OF IKE!

 AT LEAST WE WON’T BE GETTING THE BRUNT OF IT LIKE THEY WILL WHEN IT HITS THE COAST AS A CAT 2-3 OR 4, MAYBE EVEN A 5 IF IT CAN GET ENOUGH HEAT OUT OF THE WATER IN THE GULF!

 

WE WENT THROUGH HURRICANE DONNA WHEN WE LIVED IN RIVIERA BEACH FLORIDA, THEY EVACUATED US TO THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN WEST PALM BEACH BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DONNA CHANGED COURSE AND WENT INTO THE GULF THROUGH THE KEYS, UP THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE AND TURNED AND CAME ACROSS THE TOP OF THE STATE  AT JACKSONVILLE AND CAUGHT ALL THE SNOW BIRDS WHO HAD LEFT FROM MIAMI TO FT. LAUDERDALE TO GET AWAY FROM HER!

 

FROM THERE IF I REMEMBER RIGHT SHE WENT OUT TO SEA AND DISAPATED INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION!

 

THE KIDS, COLLEEN, MIKE, AND KERRY WERE TAKEN OVER BY ALL THE GRANDMOTHERS IN THE ARMORY AND HAD A BALL! I THINK WE WERE THERE FOR JUST THE ONE DAY BUT I’M NOT SURE, IT WASN’T LONG! WHEN WE GOT BACK HOME THERE WASN’T ANY DAMAGE, WE WERE LUCKY!

 

IN 1939, I WAS 9 YEARS OLD AND WE WERE DOWN AT NEWPORT BEACH FOR THE SUMMER! MY DAD AND BROTHER-IN-LAW HERB DAVIS HAD BUILT A PIPE FRAME WITH A PEAKED CENTER PIECE SO WATER WOULD RUN OFF WHEN IT RAINED, OUT OF 1” WATER PIPE AND ALL NECESSARY FITTING TO MAKE CORNERS AND LONG PIECES!  MY DAD HAD A CANVAS SIDE COVER MADE WITH NET WINDOWS IN ALL THE ROOMS AND  PULL UP CURTAINS ON THE INSIDE, THEY WERE ON STRING SLIDES! THE WHOLE FRONT WAS ALL NET WINDOWS WITH DRAW CURTAINS ON WIRES ON THE INSIDE!

IT WAS DIVIDE INTO 4 BEDROOMS AND A FULL SIZE KITCHEN, THERE WAS A TABLE AND BENCHES MY DAD BUILT THAT COULD SEAT 10-15 PEOPLE! THERE WAS A COLEMAN TYPE COOK STOVE THAT SMALL MEALS WERE PREPARED ON, ANY BIG MEALS WERE FIXED ACROSS THE STREE IN THE COOK SHACK! THERE WAS AN ICE BOX AND WE HAD TO BUY ICE EVERY OTHER DAY IF I REMEMBER RIGHT! THERE WAS NO COMODE OR SINK, WE HAD TO GO DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 1000 FEET TO USE THE TOILET AND WASH UP! OUR LIGHTS WERE COLEMAN LANTERNS THAT HUNG FROM THE CEILING! ONE OF MY JOBS WAS TO GO AND GET WHITE GAS WHEN WE NEEDED IT! TODAY IT’S CALLED “NO LEAD!”

 

HE HAD AN EXTRA HEAVY ROOF MADE IN 54” STRIPS (THIS IS A GUESS BUT THEY WERE STRIPS) THAT FIT OVER THE PEAK ON EACH END DOWN TO THE LEVEL CROSS HEADER OF THE FRAME AND IT CAME DOWN OVER THE SIDES A FOOT! IT WAS ALL HELD TO THE FRAME WORK WITH TIES THAT WERE SEWEN TO THE CANVAS,

 

THE TOP WAS THE SAME WAY, HELD TO THE FRAME WITH TIES SEWN TO THE CANVAS! THERE WAS A HEAVY CANVAS FLOOR THAT WENT DOWN FIRST AND THE FRAME WORK SAT ON IT! THE WEIGHT OF THE WHOLE THING WAS WHAT HELD IT DOWN UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS!

 

WELL,  WHAT CAME NEXT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS! WE GOT WARNED BY THE COAST GUARD THAT A TYPHOON WAS HEADED FOR THE BALBOA PENINSULA BUT THEY COULDN’T GIVE US AN ETA ON IT! MY DAD AND TWO BROTHERS-IN-LAWS WENT TO THE SOUTH COAST BOAT YARD AND BOUGHT ALL THE 1” HOUSER (ROPE) THEY HAD AND TO THE HARD WARE STORE IN NEWPORT AND BOUGHT HURRICANE ANCHORS YOU SCREW INTO THE GROUND! ( MY SISTER RUTH TOLD THIS TO ME WHEN I WAS VISITING HER AND HERB ONE WEEKEND BACK HOME) MY DAD HAD SENT MY MOM AND ME AND TWO OTHER SISTERS AWAY FROM THERE! WE WENT UP INTO SANTA ANNA TILL IT WAS OVER, TWO DAYS IF I REMEMBER RIGHT!

 

ANYHOW, EVERYBODY JUMPED IN AND HELPED SCREW THE ANCHORS IN AND THROW THE HEAVY ROPE OVER THE TOP OF THE FRAME WORK! THEY HAD IT TIED DOWN FROM FRONT TO BACK AND ACROSS THE TOP IN 5-6 PLACES! IT WAS A GOOD THING MY DAD HAD SPENT TIME IN THE NAVY, HE DID ALL THE TYING DOWN OF THE POPE! AGAIN THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY DAD LATER WHEN THE FAMILY WAS TOGETHER FOR A PARTY! SOME WHERE THERE ARE PICTURES OF THE “HOUSE” RAISED UP ABOUT 2 FEET STRETCHING THE LINES, WHEN THE CANVAS GOT WET IT ACTED LIKE A SAIL SO MY DAD AND ONE BROTHER-IN-LAW WENT INSIDE AND SLIT THE ROOF IN A BUNCH OF PLACES TO RELIEVE TO PRESSURE!  (DURING THE WINTER I WATCHED HIM OUT ON THE PATIO SEW THE SLITS UP ON A BIG COMMERCIAL SEWING MACHING HE BORROWED FROM THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE SIDES,TOP AND FLOOR) THEN IT SETTLED DOWN AND RODE OUT THE STORM! EVERYBODY TOOK SHELTER IN THE CONCRETE BLOCK COOK HOUSE UNDER THE STOVES IN THE CENTER!

 

I’LL BET WHEN MY BROTHER JERRY READS THIS HE’LL ASK AGAIN, “HOW DO YOU REMEMBER ALL THIS STUFF?” WORD ASSOCIATION! WE’RE ABOUT TO GET THE EFFECTS OF A BAD HURRICANE WHICH BROUGHT ALL THIS TO MY MIND!

 

ANOTHER EPISODE IN THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HOWARD MAHONEY

 

THAT’S “30” FOR THIS ISSUE.

 

HOWARD

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #9 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 9 VOL 14

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, MED HUMIDITY, 66/77 DEGREES

 

WELL NOW I’LL SEE IF I CAN STAY ON THE RIGHT ROAD AND GET THESE TO YOU ON THE DAY AFTER I DO THEM!

 

MOM HAD TO GO TO TOWN TO GET A FEW THINGS AND SHE WENT BY SHANNONS TO HELP HER WITH HER COMPUTER! SOMETHING ABOUT TRANSFERING PROGRAMS, THEY ENDED UP CALLING TIM AND HE WAS SWAMPED SO HE WAS GOING TO CALL HER BACK WHEN THINGS SLOWED DOWN! I KNOW THEY’VE GOT HIM JUMPING THROUGH HIMSELF TO GET EVERYTHING DONE SO I DON’T GET UPSET WHEN HE DOESN’T ANSWER MY E-MAILS! IF IT’S IMPORTANT I’LL CALL HIM!

 

I STILL HAVEN’T GOT MY AMPLIFIED PHONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SHIPPED TWO WEEKS AGO! BEVERLY IN AUDIOLOGY IS GOING TO DALLAS VA ON WEDNESDAY AND WILL CHECK WITH PROSTETICS DOWN THERE AND SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO IT!

I REALLY MISS THAT AMPLIFIED PHONE, I CAN JUST BARELY HEAR ON THE REGULAR HOUSE PHONE AND IF THERE’S ANY BACK GROUND NOISE I CAN’T MAKE OUT WHAT’S BEING SAID TO ME!

 

I FINISHED ANOTHER CHAPTER FOR MY BOOK, “TIME FREEZE”   AND HAVE STARTED A NEW ONE! THIS ONE IS REALLY GOING TO TAKE SOME RESEARCH! THEY ALL HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF RESEARCH BUT THIS ONE INVOLVES THE CRASH OF A CORPORTATE JET IN THE PERUVIAN JUNGLE!

 

I ENJOY THINKING UP THESE WRITINGS AND HAVE GOT TO GET THEM PUBLISHED TO REALIZE THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING THEY’RE BEING READ BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME! THE LOCAL PUBLISHER I WAS GOING TO USE DOESN’T PUBLISH ANY MORE AND I’VE LEFT MY NUMBER WITH A COUPLE OF PUBLISHERS IN DALLAS BUT THEY HAVEN’T RESPONDED BY E-MAIL OR PHONE! I GUESS THEY HAVE MORE THAN THEY NEED! NEXT, I’M GOING TO CALL LOU WATT AND SEE IF HE CAN PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH HIS PUBLISHER! I’LL HAVE TO PUT WHAT I HAVE ON A DVD SO HE CAN LISTEN TO THEM AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS! TIM WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT MY FIRST BOOK ON DVD AND SEND IT TO LOU BUT HE GOT TOO BUY AND IT’S NOT DONE YET! I MAY HAVE TO JUST READ IT ON TO A DVD AND SEND IT, TIM WAS DOING A LOT OF EDITING AND CHANGING TO MAKE IT SOUND BETTER THAN IT’S WRITTEN!

 

I GOT A BLOG YESTERDAY ABOUT A MOTORCYCLEIST WHO GOT KILLED AT BONNIVILLE SALT FLATS LAST WEEK, HERE IS THE WRITE UP: TRAGEDY STRUCK THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS IN UTAH LAST WEEK WHEN 47-YEAR-OLD CLIFF GULLETT, OF TEAM BULLET COSTELLA-GULLETT RACING, LOST CONTROL OF HIS BIKE AT NEARLY 240 MPH. GULLETT, AN EXPERIENCED RACER WHO HELD NEARLY A DOZEN LAND SPEED RECORDS ON MOTORCYCLES, WAS COMPETING IN THE 500CC CLASS (TWO-STROKE, TWO-CYLINDER) RIDING THE COSTELLA-GULLETT MOTORCYCLE STREAMLINER. HE CRASHED AFTER COMPLETING HIS RETURN RUN -- THE RECORD IS PENDING RATIFICATION BY THE GOVERNING RACING BODIES. A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD NEXT SATURDAY IN HIS HOMETOWN OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA. OUR CONDOLENCES ARE EXTENDED TO THE ENTIRE GULLETT FAMILY INCLUDING HIS WIFE, SON, AND DAUGHTER.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO LOOK AT A THING LIKE THIS; HE WENT OUT DOING WHAT HE WAS BORN TO DO OR WAS HE ONLY THINKING OF THE GLORY AND PRESTEGE SETTING A RECORD WOULD GET FOR HIM? MY BELIEF IS HE WENT OUT DOING WHAT HE WAS BORN TO DO AND HE HAD THE BLESSINGS OF HIS WIFE AND FAMILY!

I HAD A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE DOING THE SAME THING IN 1949! I HAD BUILT UP A TRIUMPH 500CC TWIN AND WAS GOING FOR THE RECORD IN THE STREET BIKE CLASS AT BONNIVILLE THAT YEAR!  EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE AND I WENT THROUGH THE TRAPS AT 145.746 MPH, A LITTLE OVER THE RECORD SET THE YEAR BEFORE! I PULLED UP AT THE OTHER END TO THE PICK UP MY BUDDIES WERE DRIVING AND WAS CHECKING THE OIL AND TIRES AND FUEL WHEN THEY CALLED ME FOR MY BACK UP RUN! THE GUY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE HIS BACK UP RUN HAD OPTED OUT THEY SAID HE GOT THE SHAKES AND COULDN’T MAKE IT SO I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO LET MY BIKE COOL DOWN LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO! THIS RUN IS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION! MY BUDDIES PUSHED ME OFF AND I HEADED DOWN THE BLACK LINE IN THE SALT, I HAD GONE THROUGH THREE GEARS AND WAS LYING DOWN ON THE FOAM PILLOW THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK !  I WAS LOOKING AT MY TACH AND WHEN IT TOUCHED 5500 RPM I SHIFTED INTO 4^TH GEAR AND MOVED MY FEET TO THE REAR PEGS!  AN EXACT REPEAT OF MY FIRST RUN! ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BIKE STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND I CHECKED MY TACH AND THE NEEDLE WAS SETTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DIAL! THE OIL PRESSURE GAGE READ ZERO SOMETHING LET GO AND THE BIKE STARTED TO FREE WHEEL AND I COASTED TO A STOP ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TRAPS! THE PICK UP GOT THERE AND WE LOADED THE BIKE UP AND HEADED BACK FOR THE PITS SO ANOTHER RIDER COULD MAKE HIS RUN! ALL I HEARD WAS A SLIGHT TICK BEFORE IT STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND THEN THE CHAIN SNAPPED AND THAT’S WHY THE BIKE STRAIGHTENED OUT! THE OFFICIALS TRUCK PICKED UP THE CHAIN AND THE METAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CASES INCLUDING A BENT ROD CAP, THEY SAID THE ROD CAP WAS BURIED IN THE SAND ABOUT 3 INCHES! THE ROD WAS STILL UP IN THE ENGINE! SO MUCH FOR MY ATTACK ON THE 500CC STREET BIKE WORLDS RECORD AT BONNIVILLE! I NEVER COULD GET ENOUGH MONEY TOGETHER TO REBUILD THE ENGINE LIKE I SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE BEGINNING! WE FIGURED OUT THAT THE STOCK OIL PUMP JUST DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PROPERLY OIL THE LOWER END AT SUCH HIGH SPEEDS! STOCK THE BIKE HAD A TOP SPEED OF ABOUT 95-100 MPH AND A RED LINE ON THE RPM OF 5000! I FEEL LIKE IF I COULD HAVE LET IT COOL OFF FOR ANOTHER 10-15 MINUTES OR IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO CHANGE THE OIL IT PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED! WHEN THEY CALL YOU FOR A BACK UP RUN YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO GET GOING OR YOU’RE DISQUALIFIED, THEY GO BY HARD FAST RULES! ANOTHER EPISODE IN THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HOWARD MAHONEY!

THAT’S “30” FOR THIS ISSUE

HOWARD

 

DAILY CHRONICLE #9 VOL 14

HOWARD’S DAILY CHRONICLE

NUMBER 9 VOL 14

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9^TH 2008

WEATHER; COOL, LOW HUMIDITY, 69/82 DEGREES

 

SOMEHOW I’VE GOTTEN AHEAD OF MYSELF DOING THE CHRONICLES SO I’M GOING TO DO TUESDAYS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO READ IT ON WEDNESDAY! I COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHY I COULDN’T REPORT A DAY AHEAD AND MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT WAS FROM THE RIGHT DAY OR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

 

HERE’S A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF!

MY FLAG FLIES 24/7 ON A POLE IN MY YARD! I BELIEVE IN SHOWING MY COLORS! WHEN IT GETS WIND TATTERED I REPLACE IT!

 

Get YOUR FLAG READY     Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and PLEASE forward this Email immediately to everyone in your address book asking them to also forward it. We have a little less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in theUnited States of America. If you forward this email to least 11 people and each of those people do the same ... you get the idea. THE PROGRAM: On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families,  friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.  OUR TROOPS...AND IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds Action Plan: So, here's what we need you to do .. (1) Forward this email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Please don't be the one to break this chain. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you. (2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day. Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless AMERICA! Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and PLEASE forward this Email immediately to everyone in your address book asking them to also forward it. We have a little less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America. THAT’S “30 FOR THIS ISSUE. HOWARD