ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Recently, I saw a review of the National Geographic book - “Where Valor Rests” - on the Lehrer NewsHour. It is an excellent collection of photographs taken at Arlington National Cemetery.
My daughter, Mary, checked the book out of the Vacaville Library for me .While the book is an emotional read - very sad - the experience is almost like being there. If you haven’t already bought a copy, you can check it out at your local library. I am sure that you will enjoy each page.
RCL - 6/29/09.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Alzheimers Diease
Background:
About two years ago, my wife, Marie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dimentia. She was 84 years old. Her neurologist showed the family the image from her MRI brain scan. He pointed to the frontal cortex, and said that she had lost 50% of her brain cells in that area.
Marie's mental ability, at that time, was variable - but fairly stable. She had trouble with her short- term memory. But now, this is slowly declining. While she still knows me, and our daughters by name, she has entered the slippery slope of memory decline, so common with Alzheimer Disease.
And so, ever since her diagnosis, I have been very interested in the subject of Alzheimers Disease.
The Alzheimer’s Project
I didn’t see the Special on HBO on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). My daughter, Mary, let me review the AD Project Kit. Besides the HBO, it is co-sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, of the National Institutes of Health, in association with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer Initiative. The kit contained four DVD’s on the subject. While watching them, I made rough notes. I will use them to try and paraphrase the subject matter.
Alosis Alexander was the discoverer of A.D. back in 1906. He was a Pathologist, and he discovered lesions in the brain, after death.
Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger was the moderator on Tape 2. She covered kids reaction to the disease, plus she talked about her Dad’s A.D. Here are some of Maria’s quotes:-
You don’t know the future - you live in the present.
When it comes to A.D., just go with the flow the best that you can.
It’s O.K. to be afraid of A.D.
It’s hard to accept a mind with no memories - our lives are made up of memories.
You have to let it sink in and accept it - when they don’t know who you are.
Remember, when they get angry, it is not them. It is nothing you did,
it is not she or him.
A family is a collection of emotions and experiences. You want to remember them the way that they used to be.
A.D. is difficult - both emotionally and financially.
On Tape 3, they discuss Plaques and Tangles.
A.D. is the second most feared disease - after cancer. As many as five million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer Disease. It causes not only human suffering, but A.D. has a huge financial impact. A.D. destroys brain cells. An MRI scan confirms A.D. The challenge is, how does the brain go wrong? Alzheimer predicted that we will see plaques and tangles in the brains of people who die with A.D.
The synapses, in the brain, transmits information. When they die, they no longer work, and you can no longer remember.
There are two types of the A.D. disease - Early and Late Onset. The “Early” is defined by ages 40-50, in 3 % of the population. “Late” is defined as late 70’s and early 80’s. The risk rises with age. It is a disease of the entire human body - not just the brain. It is not normal aging. He found that Beta amyloid plaques (composed of A-Beta cells and produced by the brain) and tau tangles (proteins), adjacent to the amyloid plaque in the brain, interfere with the synapses (information switches) ability to transmit information between the cells. Beta neurons produce amyloid Beta in the brain, which forms tau tangles, and must be cleared. Eventually, synopses are lost and the neurons are destroyed. Producing too much Beta amyloid, or not clearing it away, is toxic to neurons and synapses. When they are gone, it establishes the clinical diagnoses of A.D. If they can slow the chemical reaction, they can design drugs (which are also chemicals) to do this. They take spinal taps to analyze the A-Beta in the spinal fluid. The scientists are trying to determine why it is killing neurons and destroying synapses. Lowering the production of Beta amyloid slows A.D.
The average human male-brain weighs about 1100 grams (2.4 lbs.),
Our insulin system is very important for healthy aging. It is produced in the pancreas, in response to the need to transmit glucose into the cells. Insulin resistance underlying pathology is that it prevents glucose from entering the cells. Insulin resistance begins in mid-life, and detected by levels of insulin. It is treatable through diet and exercise.
Researchers are looking for “markers” APO-E (A-Beta) is one of them, pointing to susceptibility to the disease. Inflammation kills brain cells.
High blood pressure changes the heart, because it has to work harder to pump blood to the brain, and it leaves some residual blood still in the heart. People diagnosed with AD are very likely to have clogged arteries. The arteries in the brain become inflamed, and they can’t do their normal job of eliminating the excess A Beta from the brain.
It then accumulates in the brain as plaque.
People with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are candidates for A.D. There is a connection between vascular disease (V.D.) and dementia. Vascular disease can enter the brain and cause mental problems, when you are older due to an abnormal brain. In autopsies of older people, A.D. and V.D. are most common in dead brains. Brain injuries accumulate, resulting in late onset A.D. Statins lower cholesterol, and the brain damage goes away. Statins have been found to decrease the onset of A.D.
By the time that people are aware of their mental problem, they already need a caregiver. - even though they will tell you that they can take care of themselves. “Chuck”, one of the\ people, with A.D., that they interviewed, said, “If you can’t cry about it all the time, you might as well laugh about it half of the time.” Very profound!
Caregivers need respite. If they don’t have anything else to do , stress will get them. The Caregiver will know when she/he is maxed out with stress. The sequence of care goes - friend - family - professional care - grave. People in family support groups have said, “live life in the moment”; it takes indomitable spirit. It is like saying a long goodbye. It is exhausting and you get scared. There is some “denial” by both patient and the caregiver. Spirits fade as the illness progresses. A.D. patients tend to not like noise or crowds, they just want to stay home. With wandering, and toileting, a Caretaker in the home can cost $100 a night or $3,000 a month. One on one, is the toughest kind of schedule - it creates a fast burnout. You cannot be a caregiver unless you love the person you are caring for. A caregiver’s responsibility never leaves your shoulders.
Medications have side effects. The change in the patient is more noticeable when you don’t see them every day. Some people will make vows to loved ones that they will never put them in a nursing home. But, some vows you have to break - you have no choice. In the film, a woman was feeding her husband and said, “You gotta eat everything, it will make hair grow on your chest.” then, she said, “Do you remember when you used to tell our boys that?” Some other quotes -
We never say goodbye.
It is hard to see him the way he is now.
Family takes care of family.
It is hard to see someone who was so full of life.
When it’s time for me to leave, I will - until then, I’m holding on.
You don’t want to lose a person that you can’t live without.
Aren’t we lucky. (by an A.D. patient. I had a long-time friend with
A.D., and he used to tell me that.!)
It’s the bodies way of shutting down. Nutrition is not that important anymore.
The doctor said to the wife,” What do you want to prolong?” (Wife) It’s not fair to him. It’s not what he wants.
(Patient) - Memory problems are not fun.
In autopsies of people with A.D., they have found that the hippocampus has shrunk.
The genetic researchers have determined that genes influence the progress of A.D. or the probability of getting it. A gene makes the protein which makes the plaque. Late onset A.D. is not inherited. It is caused by the contributions of many genes, each of which make a small contribution. You cannot modify your genetics, but you can modify your lifestyle.
Postscript.
Marie’s neurologist, Dr. Pai of Kaiser, diagnosed her Alzheimer dementia a couple of years ago - based on her MRI. Watching these four DVD’s was very emotional for me.
RCL - 6/26/09.
About two years ago, my wife, Marie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dimentia. She was 84 years old. Her neurologist showed the family the image from her MRI brain scan. He pointed to the frontal cortex, and said that she had lost 50% of her brain cells in that area.
Marie's mental ability, at that time, was variable - but fairly stable. She had trouble with her short- term memory. But now, this is slowly declining. While she still knows me, and our daughters by name, she has entered the slippery slope of memory decline, so common with Alzheimer Disease.
And so, ever since her diagnosis, I have been very interested in the subject of Alzheimers Disease.
The Alzheimer’s Project
I didn’t see the Special on HBO on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). My daughter, Mary, let me review the AD Project Kit. Besides the HBO, it is co-sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, of the National Institutes of Health, in association with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer Initiative. The kit contained four DVD’s on the subject. While watching them, I made rough notes. I will use them to try and paraphrase the subject matter.
Alosis Alexander was the discoverer of A.D. back in 1906. He was a Pathologist, and he discovered lesions in the brain, after death.
Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger was the moderator on Tape 2. She covered kids reaction to the disease, plus she talked about her Dad’s A.D. Here are some of Maria’s quotes:-
You don’t know the future - you live in the present.
When it comes to A.D., just go with the flow the best that you can.
It’s O.K. to be afraid of A.D.
It’s hard to accept a mind with no memories - our lives are made up of memories.
You have to let it sink in and accept it - when they don’t know who you are.
Remember, when they get angry, it is not them. It is nothing you did,
it is not she or him.
A family is a collection of emotions and experiences. You want to remember them the way that they used to be.
A.D. is difficult - both emotionally and financially.
On Tape 3, they discuss Plaques and Tangles.
A.D. is the second most feared disease - after cancer. As many as five million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer Disease. It causes not only human suffering, but A.D. has a huge financial impact. A.D. destroys brain cells. An MRI scan confirms A.D. The challenge is, how does the brain go wrong? Alzheimer predicted that we will see plaques and tangles in the brains of people who die with A.D.
The synapses, in the brain, transmits information. When they die, they no longer work, and you can no longer remember.
There are two types of the A.D. disease - Early and Late Onset. The “Early” is defined by ages 40-50, in 3 % of the population. “Late” is defined as late 70’s and early 80’s. The risk rises with age. It is a disease of the entire human body - not just the brain. It is not normal aging. He found that Beta amyloid plaques (composed of A-Beta cells and produced by the brain) and tau tangles (proteins), adjacent to the amyloid plaque in the brain, interfere with the synapses (information switches) ability to transmit information between the cells. Beta neurons produce amyloid Beta in the brain, which forms tau tangles, and must be cleared. Eventually, synopses are lost and the neurons are destroyed. Producing too much Beta amyloid, or not clearing it away, is toxic to neurons and synapses. When they are gone, it establishes the clinical diagnoses of A.D. If they can slow the chemical reaction, they can design drugs (which are also chemicals) to do this. They take spinal taps to analyze the A-Beta in the spinal fluid. The scientists are trying to determine why it is killing neurons and destroying synapses. Lowering the production of Beta amyloid slows A.D.
The average human male-brain weighs about 1100 grams (2.4 lbs.),
Our insulin system is very important for healthy aging. It is produced in the pancreas, in response to the need to transmit glucose into the cells. Insulin resistance underlying pathology is that it prevents glucose from entering the cells. Insulin resistance begins in mid-life, and detected by levels of insulin. It is treatable through diet and exercise.
Researchers are looking for “markers” APO-E (A-Beta) is one of them, pointing to susceptibility to the disease. Inflammation kills brain cells.
High blood pressure changes the heart, because it has to work harder to pump blood to the brain, and it leaves some residual blood still in the heart. People diagnosed with AD are very likely to have clogged arteries. The arteries in the brain become inflamed, and they can’t do their normal job of eliminating the excess A Beta from the brain.
It then accumulates in the brain as plaque.
People with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are candidates for A.D. There is a connection between vascular disease (V.D.) and dementia. Vascular disease can enter the brain and cause mental problems, when you are older due to an abnormal brain. In autopsies of older people, A.D. and V.D. are most common in dead brains. Brain injuries accumulate, resulting in late onset A.D. Statins lower cholesterol, and the brain damage goes away. Statins have been found to decrease the onset of A.D.
By the time that people are aware of their mental problem, they already need a caregiver. - even though they will tell you that they can take care of themselves. “Chuck”, one of the\ people, with A.D., that they interviewed, said, “If you can’t cry about it all the time, you might as well laugh about it half of the time.” Very profound!
Caregivers need respite. If they don’t have anything else to do , stress will get them. The Caregiver will know when she/he is maxed out with stress. The sequence of care goes - friend - family - professional care - grave. People in family support groups have said, “live life in the moment”; it takes indomitable spirit. It is like saying a long goodbye. It is exhausting and you get scared. There is some “denial” by both patient and the caregiver. Spirits fade as the illness progresses. A.D. patients tend to not like noise or crowds, they just want to stay home. With wandering, and toileting, a Caretaker in the home can cost $100 a night or $3,000 a month. One on one, is the toughest kind of schedule - it creates a fast burnout. You cannot be a caregiver unless you love the person you are caring for. A caregiver’s responsibility never leaves your shoulders.
Medications have side effects. The change in the patient is more noticeable when you don’t see them every day. Some people will make vows to loved ones that they will never put them in a nursing home. But, some vows you have to break - you have no choice. In the film, a woman was feeding her husband and said, “You gotta eat everything, it will make hair grow on your chest.” then, she said, “Do you remember when you used to tell our boys that?” Some other quotes -
We never say goodbye.
It is hard to see him the way he is now.
Family takes care of family.
It is hard to see someone who was so full of life.
When it’s time for me to leave, I will - until then, I’m holding on.
You don’t want to lose a person that you can’t live without.
Aren’t we lucky. (by an A.D. patient. I had a long-time friend with
A.D., and he used to tell me that.!)
It’s the bodies way of shutting down. Nutrition is not that important anymore.
The doctor said to the wife,” What do you want to prolong?” (Wife) It’s not fair to him. It’s not what he wants.
(Patient) - Memory problems are not fun.
In autopsies of people with A.D., they have found that the hippocampus has shrunk.
The genetic researchers have determined that genes influence the progress of A.D. or the probability of getting it. A gene makes the protein which makes the plaque. Late onset A.D. is not inherited. It is caused by the contributions of many genes, each of which make a small contribution. You cannot modify your genetics, but you can modify your lifestyle.
Postscript.
Marie’s neurologist, Dr. Pai of Kaiser, diagnosed her Alzheimer dementia a couple of years ago - based on her MRI. Watching these four DVD’s was very emotional for me.
RCL - 6/26/09.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
SCRIPTURE READING
Scripture Reading.
Today is Sunday, June 28, 2009. My youngest daughter, Sue , picked me up at Quail Creek this morning, and accompanied me to Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
The second -scripture reading was from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. It ended with the following verse:
“Whoever had much, did not have more, and
Whoever had little, did not have less.”
Today is Sunday, June 28, 2009. My youngest daughter, Sue , picked me up at Quail Creek this morning, and accompanied me to Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
The second -scripture reading was from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. It ended with the following verse:
“Whoever had much, did not have more, and
Whoever had little, did not have less.”
Thursday, June 25, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
Today is Wednesday, June 24, 2009. We are heading to San Francisco to visit the new California academy of Sciences. There are six residents going, plus Tony and Kelli. We left at 0915.
My gasoline report: Shell is $3.00 a gallon, and Chevron is $3.10. The Crude futures price is $69.26 - up $1.74 from yesterday. The weather is sunny, clear and cool, with hazy visibility (left after the morning fog burned off.) We are heading westbound on I-80 in moderate traffic. The “rush hour” is over. Still a teeth chattering ride on this section of the freeway. It’s a wonder the bus doesn’t fall apart. I can’t help but think of the high cost (and inconvenience) to replace tires, replace shocks and realign the front wheels of all the vehicles traveling this busy freeway! Our ride is smoother now. We are riding in the second lane. Both of these lanes have been resurfaced. The two right lanes will be next.
I see another burned area on our right side, near an overpass in Cordelia. Another carelessly tossed cigarette butt. We always pass trucks carrying “containers” to the Port of Oakland. There are many trucks, approaching the Truck Scales, from the opposite direction. Is the economy picking up? We pass a truck loaded with hay. This is valuable cargo.
As we reach the top of Hunter’s Hill, I get a good view of Vallejo down below. It covers a big area - extending beyond both sides of the freeway. It is hazy as the fog is slower to dissipate here. (It reminds me a little of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) This area is a familiar sight. With four daughters living in Fairfield, We made many trips over this stretch during the 46 years that we lived in Vallejo. The Six Flags amusement park is off to our right. It has just declared Chapter Eleven Bankruptcy - following in the footsteps of the City of Vallejo. We are riding past the Solano County Fairgrounds. The annual summer Fair will be here next month. The next Exit is Redwood, which I have taken so many times. After moving to Fairfield, a little over a year ago, I never thought that I would miss Vallejo. But, each time I am in the area, I still feel a tug of emotion. I do miss it - primarily because of the ideal weather year round.
The next landmark on the right side is the Maritime Academy. This school is now part of the California State College system. We are passing over the fairly new Carquinez bridge now. I can barely see Mt. Tam in Marin County, off to the west. A highway sign says “San Francisco 27”. We are passing the former Union Oil refinery now. It is really a large complex,, They should be making money, considering the price of gas. I notice that graffiti has returned to a portion of the “sound walls” bordering the freeway. For quite a while they would remove the ugly stigma as past as it
Appeared. But, apparently, with the budget cuts, they no longer have the manpower. So sad.
We are passing the Cutting Blvd. off ramp. This is the general area where we lived when I was going to Cal (701 south 51st Street) This is also the Exit for the Del Norte BART station. It is very familiar to me. Besides living near here for a couple of years, I had a week-day Season Ticket to the Oakland A’s home games for about 15 years. I rode the bus from the Vallejo Park & Ride to this BART station. In this El Cerrito area it is overcast with the high fog. We are passing Golden Gate Fields, one of the few horse-racing tracks around. It probably won’t be much longer before it will give way to a high-rise apartment complex. It is prime property. That’s progress I guess.
We are passing the spot where a Heli-pad used to be. On my business trips, Marie would drop me off there. I would check my luggage, and wouldn’t see it again until I picked it off the carrousel at my destination! The helicopter would make a quick stop at their pad in Marin County and then fly on to SFO. They would land, and taxi right up to my carrier‘s Gate area. I just had to walk inside and await my flight! Talk about progress! This hard to believe service is no longer available. In it‘s place you have to allow a big chunk of time to go through “Security“.
We are riding along the East Shore of the San Francisco Bay. It is an attractive area now. I can remember - many years ago - when this portion of the bay was polluted. It was not only unsightly, but there was an unpleasant odor when you drove by. (Our girls used to hold their noses in this area.) Cleaning up the Bay, really was a big improvement.
Tony uses the “diamond lane” for busses and car pools, to get on to the Bay Bridge, avoiding the “parking lot” of commuters off to our left, creeping along to pay their $4.00 toll. Now, we are traveling on the upper deck of the span. I get a good view of the new East Span of the bridge under construction. This is the first time that I have seen it. Before we pass through the tunnel on Yerba Buena Island, I am looking down at “Treasure Island”. This is the location for the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939 and 1940. After we pass through the tunnel, I can see Alcatraz off to the right. The government discontinued using it as a federal prison many years ago. Now, the Blue & Gold Ferry service run boats out there from Fisherman’s wharf.
It is a big tourist attraction.
I am getting a good view of the City now, out the right window. I always look for the U.S. Bank building where I used to work. Back in 1969 it was brand new, and it was named the Mutual Benefit Life building. I worked on the 19th floor. for 14 years - from 1969 to 1983, when I retired as the Manager of Internal Auditing for California & Hawaiian Sugar Company. In 1969, the building really stood out - even though it had only 30 floors. There were very few tall buildings then. At that time, building heights were limited to 30 floors, presumably because of the damage experienced in the big 1906 earthquake. It wasn’t long before the buildings were anchored on bed rock, and the city changed the building code to permit taller strictures. I watched both the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and the 101 California Street building go up. As many times as I have been in San Francisco, I never tire of it. I would be very content to live there.
There are some ships parked in the bay - waiting to be loaded/unloaded. The famous old Ferry Building comes into view (it survived the 1906 earthquake), and so does the Hyatt Regency, nearby. We exit from the bridge on to 101. Buildings butt up against the freeway, as one would guess, with such pricey real estate. On the side facing of the buildings facing the freeway, some have graffiti. I see a billboard with this message: “Develop a recreational habit that won’t show up in your urine.” (a ski ad). We pass a truck with “Goodwill - not Landfill” painted on the side. There are many luxury town-house complexes along side on the right.
Before getting to the Fell Street Exit, I noticed that the traffic on 101, heading for the Golden gate Bridge, is at a standstill. Not much later, so are we. I see the sign “End of Freeway ½ Mile.” We started and stopped for five minutes, during many signal changes, before reaching Fell street. This is a one way street- westbound. The two lanes are jammed with cars (Isn’t anyone working?) A small motor bike is weaving in and out of the two lanes at a high speed. I commented to my seat mate, “He will be in the hospital - or morgue - soon.” Thirty years ago we zipped along this route on our way to Golden Gate Park. The architecture of the old homes along here is really interesting. Not many gas stations in the City. We just passed a Shell station - ($3.20 a gal.)
We head into the Park on John F. Kennedy Drive. I see a sign
“Japanese Tea Garden
de Young Museum”
There aren’t any parking places along the way, and we are quite a distance from the Academy. It is 10:30. I wonder what time you have to arrive to find parking? Perhaps they parked their car last night, and then someone dropped them off in front of the Academy this morning. One thing about being handicapped - you have easy access. Tony parked the bus in front, and we all got out, while he went and parked. There are a lot of school busses parked nearby, and kids all over the place. One group is wearing orange shirts. I told Kelli that the six of us should be wearing identical colored -shirts.
We joined the long line waiting to go into the Academy I was surprised at the large week-day crowd. Vacationers and schools being out, can generate a crowd. I thought the steep $24.95 admission ($19.95 for us ) would screen out a few people. Not so. I can remember - many years ago - admissions to the Academy and the de Young Museum were free! While waiting in line, I overheard a guy say, “ The best things in life are no longer free.” I asked one of the employees inside how many people they handle on an average day. He said, “Between three and four thousand!”
We visited the Aquarium, and the Coral Reef Dive before lunch. After a very nice lunch (first class!), we went to the Planetarium Show - Fragile Planet, the “Living Roof” and African hall, where we got to see penguins doing what they do in captivity.
We left the Academy at 2:15 - a good time to beat the commute traffic. The orange-shirted kids that we ran into, when we first arrived, were leaving at the same time that we were. What a coincidence! We rode along Oak Street, which parallels Fell, going one way -eastbound. They call this area the Panhandle.
The City is hazy, smoggy and cool. We are back on 101 Eastbound. We pass the S.F. City Jail on the right. We are on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge. There are two container ships docked at the port of Oakland off to our right. We pass through the maze of flyways and freeways at the intersection of 580 and 80We are back on I-80 driving along the Estuary near Berkeley. There is a lot of traffic going in the opposite direction. We pass a lot of high-rise apartment complexes. A sign on one of them, years ago said, “If you lived here, you would be home now”.
We are passing near the Del Norte BART station on the right. We are passing a large apartment complex to the right, the sign running along the top of the building sys “Now Leasing”. I watched this complex being built. Every time I rode the bus into BART, I would check on the progress. It took two or three A’s seasons for it to finish. The builder must have started and stopped construction whenever funds became available, or depleted.
We are passing above Crockett, off to my right. I always look down at the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refinery. I worked there from 1962 until 1969, until I was promoted to their corporate office in San Francisco. We are now passing through Vallejo eastbound. At the top of Hunter Hill, I look over to my left. Numerous trucks are parked at the Rest Stop. I assume that some of the drivers are napping.
We arrive back at Quail Creek at 3:20, after a very nice day. Tony says that we covered 124 miles. It is hazy, windy and much warmer than when we left this morning. I really enjoyed seeing the Academy. I had seen it a few times before it received a face lift. I am very much impressed with the facility. It has moved ahead of the Salt Lake City and Seattle Libraries on my “wonders of the world” list.
RCL - 6/25/09.
1
Today is Wednesday, June 24, 2009. We are heading to San Francisco to visit the new California academy of Sciences. There are six residents going, plus Tony and Kelli. We left at 0915.
My gasoline report: Shell is $3.00 a gallon, and Chevron is $3.10. The Crude futures price is $69.26 - up $1.74 from yesterday. The weather is sunny, clear and cool, with hazy visibility (left after the morning fog burned off.) We are heading westbound on I-80 in moderate traffic. The “rush hour” is over. Still a teeth chattering ride on this section of the freeway. It’s a wonder the bus doesn’t fall apart. I can’t help but think of the high cost (and inconvenience) to replace tires, replace shocks and realign the front wheels of all the vehicles traveling this busy freeway! Our ride is smoother now. We are riding in the second lane. Both of these lanes have been resurfaced. The two right lanes will be next.
I see another burned area on our right side, near an overpass in Cordelia. Another carelessly tossed cigarette butt. We always pass trucks carrying “containers” to the Port of Oakland. There are many trucks, approaching the Truck Scales, from the opposite direction. Is the economy picking up? We pass a truck loaded with hay. This is valuable cargo.
As we reach the top of Hunter’s Hill, I get a good view of Vallejo down below. It covers a big area - extending beyond both sides of the freeway. It is hazy as the fog is slower to dissipate here. (It reminds me a little of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) This area is a familiar sight. With four daughters living in Fairfield, We made many trips over this stretch during the 46 years that we lived in Vallejo. The Six Flags amusement park is off to our right. It has just declared Chapter Eleven Bankruptcy - following in the footsteps of the City of Vallejo. We are riding past the Solano County Fairgrounds. The annual summer Fair will be here next month. The next Exit is Redwood, which I have taken so many times. After moving to Fairfield, a little over a year ago, I never thought that I would miss Vallejo. But, each time I am in the area, I still feel a tug of emotion. I do miss it - primarily because of the ideal weather year round.
The next landmark on the right side is the Maritime Academy. This school is now part of the California State College system. We are passing over the fairly new Carquinez bridge now. I can barely see Mt. Tam in Marin County, off to the west. A highway sign says “San Francisco 27”. We are passing the former Union Oil refinery now. It is really a large complex,, They should be making money, considering the price of gas. I notice that graffiti has returned to a portion of the “sound walls” bordering the freeway. For quite a while they would remove the ugly stigma as past as it
Appeared. But, apparently, with the budget cuts, they no longer have the manpower. So sad.
We are passing the Cutting Blvd. off ramp. This is the general area where we lived when I was going to Cal (701 south 51st Street) This is also the Exit for the Del Norte BART station. It is very familiar to me. Besides living near here for a couple of years, I had a week-day Season Ticket to the Oakland A’s home games for about 15 years. I rode the bus from the Vallejo Park & Ride to this BART station. In this El Cerrito area it is overcast with the high fog. We are passing Golden Gate Fields, one of the few horse-racing tracks around. It probably won’t be much longer before it will give way to a high-rise apartment complex. It is prime property. That’s progress I guess.
We are passing the spot where a Heli-pad used to be. On my business trips, Marie would drop me off there. I would check my luggage, and wouldn’t see it again until I picked it off the carrousel at my destination! The helicopter would make a quick stop at their pad in Marin County and then fly on to SFO. They would land, and taxi right up to my carrier‘s Gate area. I just had to walk inside and await my flight! Talk about progress! This hard to believe service is no longer available. In it‘s place you have to allow a big chunk of time to go through “Security“.
We are riding along the East Shore of the San Francisco Bay. It is an attractive area now. I can remember - many years ago - when this portion of the bay was polluted. It was not only unsightly, but there was an unpleasant odor when you drove by. (Our girls used to hold their noses in this area.) Cleaning up the Bay, really was a big improvement.
Tony uses the “diamond lane” for busses and car pools, to get on to the Bay Bridge, avoiding the “parking lot” of commuters off to our left, creeping along to pay their $4.00 toll. Now, we are traveling on the upper deck of the span. I get a good view of the new East Span of the bridge under construction. This is the first time that I have seen it. Before we pass through the tunnel on Yerba Buena Island, I am looking down at “Treasure Island”. This is the location for the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939 and 1940. After we pass through the tunnel, I can see Alcatraz off to the right. The government discontinued using it as a federal prison many years ago. Now, the Blue & Gold Ferry service run boats out there from Fisherman’s wharf.
It is a big tourist attraction.
I am getting a good view of the City now, out the right window. I always look for the U.S. Bank building where I used to work. Back in 1969 it was brand new, and it was named the Mutual Benefit Life building. I worked on the 19th floor. for 14 years - from 1969 to 1983, when I retired as the Manager of Internal Auditing for California & Hawaiian Sugar Company. In 1969, the building really stood out - even though it had only 30 floors. There were very few tall buildings then. At that time, building heights were limited to 30 floors, presumably because of the damage experienced in the big 1906 earthquake. It wasn’t long before the buildings were anchored on bed rock, and the city changed the building code to permit taller strictures. I watched both the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and the 101 California Street building go up. As many times as I have been in San Francisco, I never tire of it. I would be very content to live there.
There are some ships parked in the bay - waiting to be loaded/unloaded. The famous old Ferry Building comes into view (it survived the 1906 earthquake), and so does the Hyatt Regency, nearby. We exit from the bridge on to 101. Buildings butt up against the freeway, as one would guess, with such pricey real estate. On the side facing of the buildings facing the freeway, some have graffiti. I see a billboard with this message: “Develop a recreational habit that won’t show up in your urine.” (a ski ad). We pass a truck with “Goodwill - not Landfill” painted on the side. There are many luxury town-house complexes along side on the right.
Before getting to the Fell Street Exit, I noticed that the traffic on 101, heading for the Golden gate Bridge, is at a standstill. Not much later, so are we. I see the sign “End of Freeway ½ Mile.” We started and stopped for five minutes, during many signal changes, before reaching Fell street. This is a one way street- westbound. The two lanes are jammed with cars (Isn’t anyone working?) A small motor bike is weaving in and out of the two lanes at a high speed. I commented to my seat mate, “He will be in the hospital - or morgue - soon.” Thirty years ago we zipped along this route on our way to Golden Gate Park. The architecture of the old homes along here is really interesting. Not many gas stations in the City. We just passed a Shell station - ($3.20 a gal.)
We head into the Park on John F. Kennedy Drive. I see a sign
“Japanese Tea Garden
de Young Museum”
There aren’t any parking places along the way, and we are quite a distance from the Academy. It is 10:30. I wonder what time you have to arrive to find parking? Perhaps they parked their car last night, and then someone dropped them off in front of the Academy this morning. One thing about being handicapped - you have easy access. Tony parked the bus in front, and we all got out, while he went and parked. There are a lot of school busses parked nearby, and kids all over the place. One group is wearing orange shirts. I told Kelli that the six of us should be wearing identical colored -shirts.
We joined the long line waiting to go into the Academy I was surprised at the large week-day crowd. Vacationers and schools being out, can generate a crowd. I thought the steep $24.95 admission ($19.95 for us ) would screen out a few people. Not so. I can remember - many years ago - admissions to the Academy and the de Young Museum were free! While waiting in line, I overheard a guy say, “ The best things in life are no longer free.” I asked one of the employees inside how many people they handle on an average day. He said, “Between three and four thousand!”
We visited the Aquarium, and the Coral Reef Dive before lunch. After a very nice lunch (first class!), we went to the Planetarium Show - Fragile Planet, the “Living Roof” and African hall, where we got to see penguins doing what they do in captivity.
We left the Academy at 2:15 - a good time to beat the commute traffic. The orange-shirted kids that we ran into, when we first arrived, were leaving at the same time that we were. What a coincidence! We rode along Oak Street, which parallels Fell, going one way -eastbound. They call this area the Panhandle.
The City is hazy, smoggy and cool. We are back on 101 Eastbound. We pass the S.F. City Jail on the right. We are on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge. There are two container ships docked at the port of Oakland off to our right. We pass through the maze of flyways and freeways at the intersection of 580 and 80We are back on I-80 driving along the Estuary near Berkeley. There is a lot of traffic going in the opposite direction. We pass a lot of high-rise apartment complexes. A sign on one of them, years ago said, “If you lived here, you would be home now”.
We are passing near the Del Norte BART station on the right. We are passing a large apartment complex to the right, the sign running along the top of the building sys “Now Leasing”. I watched this complex being built. Every time I rode the bus into BART, I would check on the progress. It took two or three A’s seasons for it to finish. The builder must have started and stopped construction whenever funds became available, or depleted.
We are passing above Crockett, off to my right. I always look down at the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refinery. I worked there from 1962 until 1969, until I was promoted to their corporate office in San Francisco. We are now passing through Vallejo eastbound. At the top of Hunter Hill, I look over to my left. Numerous trucks are parked at the Rest Stop. I assume that some of the drivers are napping.
We arrive back at Quail Creek at 3:20, after a very nice day. Tony says that we covered 124 miles. It is hazy, windy and much warmer than when we left this morning. I really enjoyed seeing the Academy. I had seen it a few times before it received a face lift. I am very much impressed with the facility. It has moved ahead of the Salt Lake City and Seattle Libraries on my “wonders of the world” list.
RCL - 6/25/09.
1
Monday, June 15, 2009
Invasion of Italy
Bocce Balletin: Our Team 12 beat Team 6 today - 12-10.
SALERNO.
Thursday, September 9, 1943. Tunis, North Africa.
I will quote from my Diary:
Briefing at 0450 this morning. This is my 45th mission today - my second after returning from a week’s R&R in Cairo. Our target area was Cantello, Italy - north of Naples. The specific target was a bridge to cut off the retreat of the German army. We were without any fighter escort. I flew with Capt. Kutschera, leading the squadron in #773 - “Scrubby Ole Goat”.
We had to turn back 100 miles out over the Mediterranean. Our No. 4 engine threw a cylinder head through the ring cowling. Then, the No.3 engine started acting up, So I salvoed the twelve 500 pound bombs into the water, to lighten our weight.
So, I missed seeing the invasion of Italy at Salerno.
Friday, September 10, 1943. 46th mission. Vinchiaturo, Italy - a rairoad bridge. Briefing at 0550 this morning, and then off to the land of olives, grapes, spaghetti and Jerries. I led the Squadron, and the second wave, with the Major piloting. We experienced bad weather al the way to Italy. Then, we lost an engine just off the coast of Italy. We turned back after we lost our wing squadron in the overcast. We started losing altitude, so I got rid of the bombs over the water. Our new Colonel led the Group for the first time today. Time of mission 06:30.
Major “Pappy” Haynes finished his 50th mission today, and “buzzed”
the field upon his return.
Wednesday, September 15, 1943. My 47th mission was to Battapaglie, Italy. The specific target was a highway that the Germans were using.
I was at a Group bombardiers meeting, when they announced a “Briefing” in 20 minutes - at 1430. I hurried back to my tent for my equipment, and on to “Briefing”, which was brief. Intelligence just had a map of the target area.
We got over the target at 6pm. Visibility was very poor - very hazy this time of day. I didn’t pick up the target until we were on top of it. We continued the bomb run for a few minutes, and then did a 180 degree turn, and headed back west in the oposite direction. Visability was even worse flying into the sun. I set up the bombsight to drop them on a road, but I missed the target. Four Me-109’s hopped us , but no damage done to our
B-17.
I saw some flak as we were leaving the target area, but it turned out to our warships firing on German dive bombing of our ships in the Gulf of Salerno. There was quite a bit of activity in the Gulf and on the beach.Our 5th Army is desparate, and the situation is critical
I flew with Moe and the Major in “096”. I led the Squadron, I am about the only “original” bombardier left. At 8,000 feet, on our return trip, I saw a most beautiful sunset behind the clouds. It was dark when we landed (our first night landing in combat.) and the traffic pattern was a rat race!
Mission time 05:00.
Redbird and Wolf finished their 50 missions today
September 16, 1943. My 48th mission - Target- Caserta, Italy. Rail marshalling yard. Briefing was at 0930 this morning. I led the Squadron in “096”, with the Major and Mac. The weather was good and our bombing was quite good. I didn’t see any fighters, but we encountered some accurate flak as we left the target area. We bombed the marshalling yard and some bridges.
Mac turned back about a half hour from the Italian coast. Their No. 4 engine as feathered and I saw him salvo his bombs. The crew is still unaccounted. Fred O. and Bob J. finished their tour of duty today.
We carried 16 300 pound bombs. Mission time 06:00.
49th Mission. Saturday, September 18, 1943.
We hit the airdrome with thirty eight 100# frag and incendiary bombs, and did a pretty good job. There was supposed to have been 200 planes in the field and dispersal areas - mostly HE-111’s, according to the aerial photo taken a couple of days previously.
The weather and visibility were fairly good. The flak was moderately heavy and quite accurate, although we didn’t receive any holes in the plane. I didn’t see any German fighters. Mission time - 06:30.
ALLIES INVADE Italy.
“”1943: Turning the Tide “(cont.)
On September 9, 1943, Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth army invaded Italy with a landing at Solano - near Naples. Our 2nd Bomb Group bombed the area before - during - and after the landing.
I will paraphrase from the book listed above.
The beachhead was deadly. The U.S. troops faced a surprise crossfire from the German gun crews.
Four days later, the Germans fought back with a tank-led counterattack. This German strategy drove the allies back to the Mediterranean, where they started.
The Allied offensive drew 13 Nazi Divisions away from the Russian Front. The Italian Campaign might have proceded faster except for political problems. After Sicily fell to the Allies, the Italian Fascist regime arrested Mussolini, then, they asked for peacre terms. The Allies insisted on “unconditional surrender”. This stalled any agreement for 39 days. In the meantime, German reinforcements swarmed into Italy.
RCL = 6/15/09.
SALERNO.
Thursday, September 9, 1943. Tunis, North Africa.
I will quote from my Diary:
Briefing at 0450 this morning. This is my 45th mission today - my second after returning from a week’s R&R in Cairo. Our target area was Cantello, Italy - north of Naples. The specific target was a bridge to cut off the retreat of the German army. We were without any fighter escort. I flew with Capt. Kutschera, leading the squadron in #773 - “Scrubby Ole Goat”.
We had to turn back 100 miles out over the Mediterranean. Our No. 4 engine threw a cylinder head through the ring cowling. Then, the No.3 engine started acting up, So I salvoed the twelve 500 pound bombs into the water, to lighten our weight.
So, I missed seeing the invasion of Italy at Salerno.
Friday, September 10, 1943. 46th mission. Vinchiaturo, Italy - a rairoad bridge. Briefing at 0550 this morning, and then off to the land of olives, grapes, spaghetti and Jerries. I led the Squadron, and the second wave, with the Major piloting. We experienced bad weather al the way to Italy. Then, we lost an engine just off the coast of Italy. We turned back after we lost our wing squadron in the overcast. We started losing altitude, so I got rid of the bombs over the water. Our new Colonel led the Group for the first time today. Time of mission 06:30.
Major “Pappy” Haynes finished his 50th mission today, and “buzzed”
the field upon his return.
Wednesday, September 15, 1943. My 47th mission was to Battapaglie, Italy. The specific target was a highway that the Germans were using.
I was at a Group bombardiers meeting, when they announced a “Briefing” in 20 minutes - at 1430. I hurried back to my tent for my equipment, and on to “Briefing”, which was brief. Intelligence just had a map of the target area.
We got over the target at 6pm. Visibility was very poor - very hazy this time of day. I didn’t pick up the target until we were on top of it. We continued the bomb run for a few minutes, and then did a 180 degree turn, and headed back west in the oposite direction. Visability was even worse flying into the sun. I set up the bombsight to drop them on a road, but I missed the target. Four Me-109’s hopped us , but no damage done to our
B-17.
I saw some flak as we were leaving the target area, but it turned out to our warships firing on German dive bombing of our ships in the Gulf of Salerno. There was quite a bit of activity in the Gulf and on the beach.Our 5th Army is desparate, and the situation is critical
I flew with Moe and the Major in “096”. I led the Squadron, I am about the only “original” bombardier left. At 8,000 feet, on our return trip, I saw a most beautiful sunset behind the clouds. It was dark when we landed (our first night landing in combat.) and the traffic pattern was a rat race!
Mission time 05:00.
Redbird and Wolf finished their 50 missions today
September 16, 1943. My 48th mission - Target- Caserta, Italy. Rail marshalling yard. Briefing was at 0930 this morning. I led the Squadron in “096”, with the Major and Mac. The weather was good and our bombing was quite good. I didn’t see any fighters, but we encountered some accurate flak as we left the target area. We bombed the marshalling yard and some bridges.
Mac turned back about a half hour from the Italian coast. Their No. 4 engine as feathered and I saw him salvo his bombs. The crew is still unaccounted. Fred O. and Bob J. finished their tour of duty today.
We carried 16 300 pound bombs. Mission time 06:00.
49th Mission. Saturday, September 18, 1943.
We hit the airdrome with thirty eight 100# frag and incendiary bombs, and did a pretty good job. There was supposed to have been 200 planes in the field and dispersal areas - mostly HE-111’s, according to the aerial photo taken a couple of days previously.
The weather and visibility were fairly good. The flak was moderately heavy and quite accurate, although we didn’t receive any holes in the plane. I didn’t see any German fighters. Mission time - 06:30.
ALLIES INVADE Italy.
“”1943: Turning the Tide “(cont.)
On September 9, 1943, Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth army invaded Italy with a landing at Solano - near Naples. Our 2nd Bomb Group bombed the area before - during - and after the landing.
I will paraphrase from the book listed above.
The beachhead was deadly. The U.S. troops faced a surprise crossfire from the German gun crews.
Four days later, the Germans fought back with a tank-led counterattack. This German strategy drove the allies back to the Mediterranean, where they started.
The Allied offensive drew 13 Nazi Divisions away from the Russian Front. The Italian Campaign might have proceded faster except for political problems. After Sicily fell to the Allies, the Italian Fascist regime arrested Mussolini, then, they asked for peacre terms. The Allies insisted on “unconditional surrender”. This stalled any agreement for 39 days. In the meantime, German reinforcements swarmed into Italy.
RCL = 6/15/09.
Friday, June 12, 2009
RUTHERFORD
RUTHERFORD.
Today is Wednesday, June 10, 2009. We are off to Rutherford, in the Napa Valley, at 10;15. Our mini-bus is full - eight residents plus two volunteers, Tony (our skilled chauffer), and Kelli, our Activities Director - just back from Maternity Leave.
While this is a repetitive trip to the Valley, it is not a negative. The Napa Valley is such an inviting, and beautiful place, I never tire of it. You can live in far worse places!
As we pulled out of the parking lot, Kelli told Tony that his gas-tank cover, on his red pick-up, was “open”. Tony said that someone siphoned gas from his tank the night before, and apparently, they got spooked when the dog barked. At least they didn’t steal all of his gas, as he didn’t run out on his way to work this morning. will be a big problem now, that gasoline prices are climbing every day - (they have increased 20 % since the first of the year!) I don’t know the “start to siphon price”, but we probably have reached it, at around $70.00 a barrel for crude. Today, the local Shell station lists gas at $2.98, Chevron at $3.00 and Arco at $2.86! (Why would anyone go next door to Chevron? - only an employee of Chevron!)
Construction is still continuing on the North Texas overpass and “Off and On” ramps to I-80. This is really a big project. (I wonder if any federal -stimulus funds are involved?) Traffic is light on I-80, and the weather is overcast and cool.
As we drive along I-80 Westbound, I notice a blackened area of grass on the hillside, on the right side, near an overpass. Another carelessly tossed cigarette butt I would guess. We pass the local Buick Dealer. They have just as many cars on the lot as before GM declared bankruptcy. Auto Dealerships are a tough business to be in right now. But, when everyone’s cars start falling apart, a buyer will end up on a “waiting list” to replace it! We pass the Marriott Courtyard. This hotel used to be a Holiday Inn.
Tony is cruising at the 65 mph speed limit, and yet cars are passing us like we are standing still! (Where is the California Highway Patrol car, with the officer holding the radar gun?) The speeders must be, 1) Late for work; 2)- Racing, or 3) Suicide bent! We pass a truck hauling a K-Line Container back to the Port of Oakland. A ship must be in and waiting. The left two lanes have been resurfaced recently, giving us a smooth ride. But, there are the three right-hand lanes to be completed. Don’t go there. Recently, two nieces and a nephew visited Marie and I from Michigan. They were impressed with the great condition of our freeways. I would hate to drive in the /Detroit area!
We are passing through Jamison Canyon which is very picturesque. Heavy traffic moving Eastbound in the opposite direction. Most cars have their lights on - a good safety measure on a two-lane highway. A unique sight - two white horses - side by side - nibbling the grass. Horses and cows always seem to be eating! Visibility is quite good. I can see both Mt. Veeder and Mt. St. Helen in the distance.
We are on Highway 29 now, Northbound. We pass a monument landmark - a man working at a grape press. Then, over the high George f. Butler Bridge spanning the Napa River below. We pass The Meadows, a very nice retirement community. It started out about 25 years ago with a couple of buildings. Now, there are many, stretching from Jefferson Street over to bordering Highway 29. We drive under Trancas Street on a fairly new underpass. I can remember, not too long ago, when highway 29 and Trancas traffic was practically a gridlock. One could sit for two or three light changes to get through the intersection.
Highway 29 is not a freeway, because there are traffic signals along the way. The vineyards look healthy, and have grown since the last time I saw them. The vines are at about the midpoint of their growing cycle. We are approaching Yountville. The Veterans’ Home is off to our left, and on our right, is the Vintage 1870 shopping complex, I notice a bus similar to ours ahead of us. Tony said that it was a Merrill Gardens( also an assisted living facility) bus. I told him that it was probably going the same place that we are. About then, it turned into the Vintage 1870 complex.
The highway is necking down, from a two-lane to a single lane. We pass the Oakville Grocery store. It has been at this same location for as long as I can remember. They make good sandwiches there. On our right hand side, we pass four wineries close together - Cakebread Cellars; Sequoia Grove Vineyards; St. Supery Winery and the Peau Province Winery. We arrive at the Rutherford Grill at 11:10. There are no “junky” cars in this parking lot - new and top of the line! I guess this a clue as to the menu prices!
At 12:55, after a nice -leisurely lunch, we headed outside. The Beaulieu Vineyards is located just beyond the parking lot. The weather is about the same - overcast and cool.
We re-boarded the bus, and headed for the Rutherford Hill Winery on Silverado Trail. We started out on curvy -Rutherford Road, and it ran into Conn Creek Road, which intersected with Silverado Trail. A left turn onto the “Trail.”. It wasn’t far - just past Round Hill Vineyards - we turned in to the Rutherford Hill Winery, after climbing the hill. We arrived at the winery at 1:05. What a choice location! One can look South, down the Napa Valley, and get a tremendous view. Across the way, is the prestigious Auberge du Soleil restaurant and inn. I haven’t been to the restaurant in a long time. The last time was many years ago, when Anne and Rick hosted Marie and I to a very nice lunch - with a tremendous view of the valley, from the deck.
While we didn’t tour the winery, we did visit their tasting room and gift shop. Only one of our group did any tasting ($15 to taste four samples).
The winery is very proud of it’s California Merlot, a red wine, and claims that it is the best in the Valley. I am sure that it is. I was tempted to buy a bottle for $25. Occasionally, at our Happy Hour - Friday afternoons - I treat myself to a glass of Merlot. It comes from Mt. Pellier Vineyards in the San Joachim Valley. I am sure it is not as good as that from the Rutherford Hill Winery, but Quail Creek charges us only $3.45 a glass ($13.00 a bottle).
We leave the winery at 1:55, and head South on the Silverado Trail.
Kelli said that the Rutherford Hill winery is the one that we were looking for a few weeks back, after we visited the Black Stallion Winery. We are passing the Conn Creek Winery on the right. They are still building in the Valley. It figures. As they plant more and more grape vines on the hillsides, they need more crushing, holding tanks and bottling capacity. There are a lot of new vineyards going in. It didn’t used to be cost effective to plant on marginal land. But, with the current high wine prices, such growing is feasible.
Just after we pass Monticello Park, a very nice community, Tony turns on to Highway 121, returning the “back way’. We start a very curvy climb. The highway is following the dry- creek bed, so that it is curvy and winding. There are so many sharp curves that it reminds me of the “Road to Hana”, except that we are climbing. Tony pulls out to let a motor home go by. They pass, and the driver saluted him with a “thank you” honk.
It is slow going, but well worth it. This is a very pretty drive. I heard a lady behind me say, “I could look at this country-side forever”. I felt the same way. What beauty! As many times as I have been in the Napa area, I never tire of the beautiful scenery and atmosphere.
The sun is breaking through the overcast. It must be because we have climbed closer to heaven! I look to my right, and am rewarded with a tremendous view of the Suisun Valley! We are near the summit now, and there are “Call Boxes” along side.
As we leave the top of the grade, there is a sign - pointing ahead - “Lake Berryessa;
Winters 40.”
We turn right on to Suisun Valley Road, and start our descent into the Suisun Valley. We pass a line in the road with “Napa County” on the near side, and “Solano County” on the far side. We approach an old one-way bridge, with signage “15 MPH”. I wouldn’t want to meet another car head-on, even at this slow speed. We are now riding in Suisun Valley. This is one of the most fertile- agricultural areas around. Besides many vineyards, there are fruit orchards and fields of vegetables cultivated. We pass a thick row of beautiful roses bordering a vineyard. There is a reason why they plant roses bordering the grape vineyards, but I can’t recall why. There is more building going on here, too. We pass the Vetzer Winery and on to Mankas Corner. Tony turns left on to Mankas Corner Road, which feeds into Waterman Boulevard.
We pass the Waterman Village shopping center, on to Air Base Parkway - leading to Travis Air Force Base. We arrive back at Quail Creek at 3:05. Our great outing, covered 92 miles, and I am tired. But, as my Mother used to say, “A good tired”.
RCL - 6/10/09.
Today is Wednesday, June 10, 2009. We are off to Rutherford, in the Napa Valley, at 10;15. Our mini-bus is full - eight residents plus two volunteers, Tony (our skilled chauffer), and Kelli, our Activities Director - just back from Maternity Leave.
While this is a repetitive trip to the Valley, it is not a negative. The Napa Valley is such an inviting, and beautiful place, I never tire of it. You can live in far worse places!
As we pulled out of the parking lot, Kelli told Tony that his gas-tank cover, on his red pick-up, was “open”. Tony said that someone siphoned gas from his tank the night before, and apparently, they got spooked when the dog barked. At least they didn’t steal all of his gas, as he didn’t run out on his way to work this morning. will be a big problem now, that gasoline prices are climbing every day - (they have increased 20 % since the first of the year!) I don’t know the “start to siphon price”, but we probably have reached it, at around $70.00 a barrel for crude. Today, the local Shell station lists gas at $2.98, Chevron at $3.00 and Arco at $2.86! (Why would anyone go next door to Chevron? - only an employee of Chevron!)
Construction is still continuing on the North Texas overpass and “Off and On” ramps to I-80. This is really a big project. (I wonder if any federal -stimulus funds are involved?) Traffic is light on I-80, and the weather is overcast and cool.
As we drive along I-80 Westbound, I notice a blackened area of grass on the hillside, on the right side, near an overpass. Another carelessly tossed cigarette butt I would guess. We pass the local Buick Dealer. They have just as many cars on the lot as before GM declared bankruptcy. Auto Dealerships are a tough business to be in right now. But, when everyone’s cars start falling apart, a buyer will end up on a “waiting list” to replace it! We pass the Marriott Courtyard. This hotel used to be a Holiday Inn.
Tony is cruising at the 65 mph speed limit, and yet cars are passing us like we are standing still! (Where is the California Highway Patrol car, with the officer holding the radar gun?) The speeders must be, 1) Late for work; 2)- Racing, or 3) Suicide bent! We pass a truck hauling a K-Line Container back to the Port of Oakland. A ship must be in and waiting. The left two lanes have been resurfaced recently, giving us a smooth ride. But, there are the three right-hand lanes to be completed. Don’t go there. Recently, two nieces and a nephew visited Marie and I from Michigan. They were impressed with the great condition of our freeways. I would hate to drive in the /Detroit area!
We are passing through Jamison Canyon which is very picturesque. Heavy traffic moving Eastbound in the opposite direction. Most cars have their lights on - a good safety measure on a two-lane highway. A unique sight - two white horses - side by side - nibbling the grass. Horses and cows always seem to be eating! Visibility is quite good. I can see both Mt. Veeder and Mt. St. Helen in the distance.
We are on Highway 29 now, Northbound. We pass a monument landmark - a man working at a grape press. Then, over the high George f. Butler Bridge spanning the Napa River below. We pass The Meadows, a very nice retirement community. It started out about 25 years ago with a couple of buildings. Now, there are many, stretching from Jefferson Street over to bordering Highway 29. We drive under Trancas Street on a fairly new underpass. I can remember, not too long ago, when highway 29 and Trancas traffic was practically a gridlock. One could sit for two or three light changes to get through the intersection.
Highway 29 is not a freeway, because there are traffic signals along the way. The vineyards look healthy, and have grown since the last time I saw them. The vines are at about the midpoint of their growing cycle. We are approaching Yountville. The Veterans’ Home is off to our left, and on our right, is the Vintage 1870 shopping complex, I notice a bus similar to ours ahead of us. Tony said that it was a Merrill Gardens( also an assisted living facility) bus. I told him that it was probably going the same place that we are. About then, it turned into the Vintage 1870 complex.
The highway is necking down, from a two-lane to a single lane. We pass the Oakville Grocery store. It has been at this same location for as long as I can remember. They make good sandwiches there. On our right hand side, we pass four wineries close together - Cakebread Cellars; Sequoia Grove Vineyards; St. Supery Winery and the Peau Province Winery. We arrive at the Rutherford Grill at 11:10. There are no “junky” cars in this parking lot - new and top of the line! I guess this a clue as to the menu prices!
At 12:55, after a nice -leisurely lunch, we headed outside. The Beaulieu Vineyards is located just beyond the parking lot. The weather is about the same - overcast and cool.
We re-boarded the bus, and headed for the Rutherford Hill Winery on Silverado Trail. We started out on curvy -Rutherford Road, and it ran into Conn Creek Road, which intersected with Silverado Trail. A left turn onto the “Trail.”. It wasn’t far - just past Round Hill Vineyards - we turned in to the Rutherford Hill Winery, after climbing the hill. We arrived at the winery at 1:05. What a choice location! One can look South, down the Napa Valley, and get a tremendous view. Across the way, is the prestigious Auberge du Soleil restaurant and inn. I haven’t been to the restaurant in a long time. The last time was many years ago, when Anne and Rick hosted Marie and I to a very nice lunch - with a tremendous view of the valley, from the deck.
While we didn’t tour the winery, we did visit their tasting room and gift shop. Only one of our group did any tasting ($15 to taste four samples).
The winery is very proud of it’s California Merlot, a red wine, and claims that it is the best in the Valley. I am sure that it is. I was tempted to buy a bottle for $25. Occasionally, at our Happy Hour - Friday afternoons - I treat myself to a glass of Merlot. It comes from Mt. Pellier Vineyards in the San Joachim Valley. I am sure it is not as good as that from the Rutherford Hill Winery, but Quail Creek charges us only $3.45 a glass ($13.00 a bottle).
We leave the winery at 1:55, and head South on the Silverado Trail.
Kelli said that the Rutherford Hill winery is the one that we were looking for a few weeks back, after we visited the Black Stallion Winery. We are passing the Conn Creek Winery on the right. They are still building in the Valley. It figures. As they plant more and more grape vines on the hillsides, they need more crushing, holding tanks and bottling capacity. There are a lot of new vineyards going in. It didn’t used to be cost effective to plant on marginal land. But, with the current high wine prices, such growing is feasible.
Just after we pass Monticello Park, a very nice community, Tony turns on to Highway 121, returning the “back way’. We start a very curvy climb. The highway is following the dry- creek bed, so that it is curvy and winding. There are so many sharp curves that it reminds me of the “Road to Hana”, except that we are climbing. Tony pulls out to let a motor home go by. They pass, and the driver saluted him with a “thank you” honk.
It is slow going, but well worth it. This is a very pretty drive. I heard a lady behind me say, “I could look at this country-side forever”. I felt the same way. What beauty! As many times as I have been in the Napa area, I never tire of the beautiful scenery and atmosphere.
The sun is breaking through the overcast. It must be because we have climbed closer to heaven! I look to my right, and am rewarded with a tremendous view of the Suisun Valley! We are near the summit now, and there are “Call Boxes” along side.
As we leave the top of the grade, there is a sign - pointing ahead - “Lake Berryessa;
Winters 40.”
We turn right on to Suisun Valley Road, and start our descent into the Suisun Valley. We pass a line in the road with “Napa County” on the near side, and “Solano County” on the far side. We approach an old one-way bridge, with signage “15 MPH”. I wouldn’t want to meet another car head-on, even at this slow speed. We are now riding in Suisun Valley. This is one of the most fertile- agricultural areas around. Besides many vineyards, there are fruit orchards and fields of vegetables cultivated. We pass a thick row of beautiful roses bordering a vineyard. There is a reason why they plant roses bordering the grape vineyards, but I can’t recall why. There is more building going on here, too. We pass the Vetzer Winery and on to Mankas Corner. Tony turns left on to Mankas Corner Road, which feeds into Waterman Boulevard.
We pass the Waterman Village shopping center, on to Air Base Parkway - leading to Travis Air Force Base. We arrive back at Quail Creek at 3:05. Our great outing, covered 92 miles, and I am tired. But, as my Mother used to say, “A good tired”.
RCL - 6/10/09.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
1943: TURNING the TIDE.
Bocce Ball Bulletin.
Our Team 12 lost to Team 16 this morning by the same score that we won by last week - 12 to 9. I didn’t play very well. I was rolling long. I didn’t adjust the ball speed to allow for the tailwind. Oh well, there’s next weeks game.
After my return from the court, I ran into my “mentor”. I told her that we lost. She smiled - patted me on both cheeks - and said, “Poor Baby”.
1943: TURNING THE TIDE (cont.)
I flew eight missions as a B-17 bombardier, prior to, and during the invasion of Sicily on July 9, 1943.
Gerbini Airdrome (3 Missions.)
Biscari Airdrome.
Catania Railroad Marshalling Yard.
Messina Railway Bridges and Marshalling yards.(2 Missions.)
Milo Airdrome.
Our B-17 Group was part of Jimmy Doolittle’s 12 Air Force. We were based in North Africa. Our average time for each round- trip mission from Africa to Sicily was about seven hours. We flew our bombing runs at an average of 22,000 feet.
From my plexi-glass perch in the nose of the plane, I had a tremendous view of the invasion of Sicily. The Mediterranean, off-shore from Catania, was one huge parking lot for our Naval ships. I didn’t think that there were that many naval vessels in the world. They looked very peaceful floating there, from four miles high.
In browsing through the above subject-book, recently, I came across the following memo, that I had written the first time that I read it.
My strongest memory of the Invasion of Sicily is a very sad one.
They were big snafus on someone’s part and a fiasco. It’s a wonder that we ever won WWII! We lost some gliders and men aboard, when the C-47’s that were towing them made a big mistake. They cut the gliders loose at the wrong time - the wrong release point.
Other C-47’s turned East- rather than West - off the East coast of Sicily. That mistake put them over the Mediterranean Sea, rather than over Sicilian dry land! British destroyers thought that they were enemy aircraft and shot some of them down, over the water.
Such basic mistakes by trained people are hard to believe. But, I put myself in their shoes, and I can relate to the errors, as devastating as they were. In the heat of battle, you can become confused and make critical mistakes through very faulty decisions.
Two of our roughest missions - both from flak and fighters - was Messina and Palermo - the Capital of Sicily. The only positive thing was a great view of Mt. Etna, as we approached from the South.
RCL 6/9/09.
.
Our Team 12 lost to Team 16 this morning by the same score that we won by last week - 12 to 9. I didn’t play very well. I was rolling long. I didn’t adjust the ball speed to allow for the tailwind. Oh well, there’s next weeks game.
After my return from the court, I ran into my “mentor”. I told her that we lost. She smiled - patted me on both cheeks - and said, “Poor Baby”.
1943: TURNING THE TIDE (cont.)
I flew eight missions as a B-17 bombardier, prior to, and during the invasion of Sicily on July 9, 1943.
Gerbini Airdrome (3 Missions.)
Biscari Airdrome.
Catania Railroad Marshalling Yard.
Messina Railway Bridges and Marshalling yards.(2 Missions.)
Milo Airdrome.
Our B-17 Group was part of Jimmy Doolittle’s 12 Air Force. We were based in North Africa. Our average time for each round- trip mission from Africa to Sicily was about seven hours. We flew our bombing runs at an average of 22,000 feet.
From my plexi-glass perch in the nose of the plane, I had a tremendous view of the invasion of Sicily. The Mediterranean, off-shore from Catania, was one huge parking lot for our Naval ships. I didn’t think that there were that many naval vessels in the world. They looked very peaceful floating there, from four miles high.
In browsing through the above subject-book, recently, I came across the following memo, that I had written the first time that I read it.
My strongest memory of the Invasion of Sicily is a very sad one.
They were big snafus on someone’s part and a fiasco. It’s a wonder that we ever won WWII! We lost some gliders and men aboard, when the C-47’s that were towing them made a big mistake. They cut the gliders loose at the wrong time - the wrong release point.
Other C-47’s turned East- rather than West - off the East coast of Sicily. That mistake put them over the Mediterranean Sea, rather than over Sicilian dry land! British destroyers thought that they were enemy aircraft and shot some of them down, over the water.
Such basic mistakes by trained people are hard to believe. But, I put myself in their shoes, and I can relate to the errors, as devastating as they were. In the heat of battle, you can become confused and make critical mistakes through very faulty decisions.
Two of our roughest missions - both from flak and fighters - was Messina and Palermo - the Capital of Sicily. The only positive thing was a great view of Mt. Etna, as we approached from the South.
RCL 6/9/09.
.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Graduation
GRADUATION
Saturday, June 6, 2009, I went to Marie’s and my last grandchild’s graduation. Kaitlyn Chilson graduated from Fairfield (CA) High School. She was one of 344 graduates! Reading each of these names over the P.A. system took about an hour! The program was well planned and went off without a hitch - until the post graduation activity. A school official announced that the grads should meet their families in the parking lot, rather on the football field. Apparently they didn’t want to damage the artificial turf. (?) The Home and Visitor bleachers ran between the 20 yard lines. They must have held nearly 3,000 people! Most of these people and many cars didn’t mix too well in the parking lot. It presented a dangerous and hazardous condition.
When I watched the many excited and happy seniors receive the “acknowledgement” of their graduation (they would exchange them for their diplomas later), my mind wandered. I agree that they should show such emotion. It is only natural to be relieved, and happy, after all of their difficult effort. I am sure that most of them were glad to be finished with high school. But, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future would hold for them. It will be difficult! They will be climbing up hill! They will be entering the real world - whether it will be further schooling, job hunting or just “chilling”. They are naive. Many will wish that they were back in high school ,where life was easy. The economic recession is a lousy time for them to be looking for work. The bad news is that many will not be able to find a job (short of Fast Food places). The good news is that some of these recent high school graduates will decide to continue their education until the economy perks up, while others will complete their college, or trade, education.
The current recession has hit this graduating group the hardest. The current rate of unemployment for workers older than 25, who haven’t gone beyond high school, is 10% - double that of a year ago! The unemployment rate for workers who didn’t complete high school is about 16% - also double that of a year ago! However, there are more job opportunities for women than there are for men, usually in the health and education fields.
Then, how about all those “Drop Outs”? This cohort is a national disgrace and a problem. They wonder why they can’t get a job - or at least a good one. They don’t seem to have a clue about the relationship of education and a good job! I tried to put a number on “Dropouts”, by asking a few graduates how many students transferred, or dropped out, since the beginning of their freshman year? They had no idea. Back when I graduated 73 years ago, I knew, or I could have figured it out - it wasn’t many. But, in all fairness - we only had 83 in our Class of ’36, and our graduation took place in the auditorium at Berea (OH) High School - not 344 seniors in a football stadium. In some inner -city high schools, today, this drop-out rate reaches as high as 50%.
And so, all of you newly graduated seniors “Good Luck and God Speed”.
After Graduation, Sue and Tom had about 40 people over for a barbecue lunch. It was very nice, and I enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and the great lunch. It was also nice seeing people that I hadn’t seen for quite a while. Mary and Greg picked up Marie, at Laurel Creek, and brought her to the party. Of course, I enjoyed seeing her, even though I visit her twice a day. She enjoyed seeing everyone, and I am sure that they enjoyed seeing her. She added a lot to Kaitlyn’s graduation.
RCL - 6/7/09.
Saturday, June 6, 2009, I went to Marie’s and my last grandchild’s graduation. Kaitlyn Chilson graduated from Fairfield (CA) High School. She was one of 344 graduates! Reading each of these names over the P.A. system took about an hour! The program was well planned and went off without a hitch - until the post graduation activity. A school official announced that the grads should meet their families in the parking lot, rather on the football field. Apparently they didn’t want to damage the artificial turf. (?) The Home and Visitor bleachers ran between the 20 yard lines. They must have held nearly 3,000 people! Most of these people and many cars didn’t mix too well in the parking lot. It presented a dangerous and hazardous condition.
When I watched the many excited and happy seniors receive the “acknowledgement” of their graduation (they would exchange them for their diplomas later), my mind wandered. I agree that they should show such emotion. It is only natural to be relieved, and happy, after all of their difficult effort. I am sure that most of them were glad to be finished with high school. But, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future would hold for them. It will be difficult! They will be climbing up hill! They will be entering the real world - whether it will be further schooling, job hunting or just “chilling”. They are naive. Many will wish that they were back in high school ,where life was easy. The economic recession is a lousy time for them to be looking for work. The bad news is that many will not be able to find a job (short of Fast Food places). The good news is that some of these recent high school graduates will decide to continue their education until the economy perks up, while others will complete their college, or trade, education.
The current recession has hit this graduating group the hardest. The current rate of unemployment for workers older than 25, who haven’t gone beyond high school, is 10% - double that of a year ago! The unemployment rate for workers who didn’t complete high school is about 16% - also double that of a year ago! However, there are more job opportunities for women than there are for men, usually in the health and education fields.
Then, how about all those “Drop Outs”? This cohort is a national disgrace and a problem. They wonder why they can’t get a job - or at least a good one. They don’t seem to have a clue about the relationship of education and a good job! I tried to put a number on “Dropouts”, by asking a few graduates how many students transferred, or dropped out, since the beginning of their freshman year? They had no idea. Back when I graduated 73 years ago, I knew, or I could have figured it out - it wasn’t many. But, in all fairness - we only had 83 in our Class of ’36, and our graduation took place in the auditorium at Berea (OH) High School - not 344 seniors in a football stadium. In some inner -city high schools, today, this drop-out rate reaches as high as 50%.
And so, all of you newly graduated seniors “Good Luck and God Speed”.
After Graduation, Sue and Tom had about 40 people over for a barbecue lunch. It was very nice, and I enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and the great lunch. It was also nice seeing people that I hadn’t seen for quite a while. Mary and Greg picked up Marie, at Laurel Creek, and brought her to the party. Of course, I enjoyed seeing her, even though I visit her twice a day. She enjoyed seeing everyone, and I am sure that they enjoyed seeing her. She added a lot to Kaitlyn’s graduation.
RCL - 6/7/09.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
BOCCE BALL
BOCCE BALL.
A resident mentioned that she was playing bocce ball across the street. I told her that I had never seen a game, even though it is popular in the area. She offered to escort me over to the court, and I could watch them play. A couple of days later, we checked it out. I hadn’t been home long, before the phone rang. It was Pete, the head of the local Bocce Ball League calling to tell me that I had been assigned to Team #12, and I would be hearing from the team captain shortly.
Another phone call, and it was Ernie Heuer, my team captain. He suggested that we get together to meet each other. I agreed to meet him in the Community Center the next morning. I told him that I had never played, but this didn’t seem to phase him. He suggested that I practice. So he checked out the small cart of 16 balls - 8 red & 8 green - along with two measuring tapes, and the little white pallino ball. He let me pull the cart! I figured that it was part of the initiation rite. After walking quite a distance, I asked Ernie why they didn’t store the equipment near the court. He said that they used to, but someone walked off with the storage cabinet. I pursued his answer by asking him - “In a gated -community of elderly retirees, who would do this?” Ernie said that he didn’t know. While the replacement cost was probably about $100, it is the mystery of the theft that intrigues.
Ernie suggested that I toss the eight balls at the white pallino to get the feel. The idea is to throw the boccia, underhand, to come as close to the pallino as possible, without touching it. My first throw hit the little white ball! I thought to myself, that the game was pretty simple. Ernie probably thought that I was a ringer. But throwing the other balls proved me wrong. The official rules state that a player can throw, lob or roll the boccio. Apparently, our league has settled on rolling the ball - except for a few who have trouble genuflecting, and they bounce the ball. The ball weighs two or three pounds. The game looks much easier than it is - especially if you use all the strategies involved.
My first game was Friday, May 29. I called Ernie to excuse myself because Marie and I had two nieces and a nephew visiting us from Michigan. He wasn’t upset, and excused me. He probably figured that I had thought better of the idea.
So, my first game was last Friday, June 5. We played Team #9 - two men and two women. We beat them 12-8. It was Team 12’s first win of the season! A game consists of how many frames it takes to reach a count of 12. A point is awarded for each ball - of each team - closer than the opponents to the pallino. I would like to think that the win resulted from my contribution, but Ernie was the biggest scorer. Our prize was that we didn’t have to drag the oyster shell court after the game. But, I did volunteer to haul the cart back to the Community Center.
Bocce ball is a new experience in my life, spanning nine decades. I enjoyed the competition, the exercise and meeting new old-oldsters. I look forward to my next game on Tuesday
RCL - 6/7/09.
A resident mentioned that she was playing bocce ball across the street. I told her that I had never seen a game, even though it is popular in the area. She offered to escort me over to the court, and I could watch them play. A couple of days later, we checked it out. I hadn’t been home long, before the phone rang. It was Pete, the head of the local Bocce Ball League calling to tell me that I had been assigned to Team #12, and I would be hearing from the team captain shortly.
Another phone call, and it was Ernie Heuer, my team captain. He suggested that we get together to meet each other. I agreed to meet him in the Community Center the next morning. I told him that I had never played, but this didn’t seem to phase him. He suggested that I practice. So he checked out the small cart of 16 balls - 8 red & 8 green - along with two measuring tapes, and the little white pallino ball. He let me pull the cart! I figured that it was part of the initiation rite. After walking quite a distance, I asked Ernie why they didn’t store the equipment near the court. He said that they used to, but someone walked off with the storage cabinet. I pursued his answer by asking him - “In a gated -community of elderly retirees, who would do this?” Ernie said that he didn’t know. While the replacement cost was probably about $100, it is the mystery of the theft that intrigues.
Ernie suggested that I toss the eight balls at the white pallino to get the feel. The idea is to throw the boccia, underhand, to come as close to the pallino as possible, without touching it. My first throw hit the little white ball! I thought to myself, that the game was pretty simple. Ernie probably thought that I was a ringer. But throwing the other balls proved me wrong. The official rules state that a player can throw, lob or roll the boccio. Apparently, our league has settled on rolling the ball - except for a few who have trouble genuflecting, and they bounce the ball. The ball weighs two or three pounds. The game looks much easier than it is - especially if you use all the strategies involved.
My first game was Friday, May 29. I called Ernie to excuse myself because Marie and I had two nieces and a nephew visiting us from Michigan. He wasn’t upset, and excused me. He probably figured that I had thought better of the idea.
So, my first game was last Friday, June 5. We played Team #9 - two men and two women. We beat them 12-8. It was Team 12’s first win of the season! A game consists of how many frames it takes to reach a count of 12. A point is awarded for each ball - of each team - closer than the opponents to the pallino. I would like to think that the win resulted from my contribution, but Ernie was the biggest scorer. Our prize was that we didn’t have to drag the oyster shell court after the game. But, I did volunteer to haul the cart back to the Community Center.
Bocce ball is a new experience in my life, spanning nine decades. I enjoyed the competition, the exercise and meeting new old-oldsters. I look forward to my next game on Tuesday
RCL - 6/7/09.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
SUMMER
SUMMER
One of the activities provided by Quail Creek - an Assisted Living facility in Fairfield (CA), is a monthly appearance of Steve Barkhurst. He plays a Yamaha keyboard, and sings, songs of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. He is very good at it. Occasionally, on familiar songs, he will ask the residents to join him in song.
Music is quite soothing, and therapeutic for older people. We are all familiar with the songs, and the music. They brings up happy memories of when we listened to the same tunes 50 years ago.
At each session, Steve plays music that relates to the current month, or season. Today, he featured summer songs, one of which was Frank Sinatra’s popular recording of “The Summer Wind”. The song was written in 1965, with music by Henry Mayer, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. A million copies of the single recording were sold. Next month (July), Steve will feature patriotic songs. As a tribute for Fathers’ Day, on Sunday,
June 21st, Steve sang “Oh My Pa-Pa”. This was the theme song of Eddie Fisher. Steve said that Eddie is 96, and living in a retirement home in the L.A. area. Steve also said that “Eddie was married five times, and he is probably cruising the halls with his walker, looking for
number six!”
In addition to his playing and singing, Steve recaps some of the dedicated “Special” days during the month. You wouldn’t believe some of the weird and trivial subjects, such as:
June 6 - National Yo Yo Day.
June 8 - National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 25 - National Catfish Day.
Steve also reads from a list of celebrities celebrating birthdays during the month. Then, he asks who among us are celebrating a birthday during the month. This is kind of funky, but all of the celebrants appreciate our singing “Happy Birthday” to them.
RCL - 6/4/09.
One of the activities provided by Quail Creek - an Assisted Living facility in Fairfield (CA), is a monthly appearance of Steve Barkhurst. He plays a Yamaha keyboard, and sings, songs of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. He is very good at it. Occasionally, on familiar songs, he will ask the residents to join him in song.
Music is quite soothing, and therapeutic for older people. We are all familiar with the songs, and the music. They brings up happy memories of when we listened to the same tunes 50 years ago.
At each session, Steve plays music that relates to the current month, or season. Today, he featured summer songs, one of which was Frank Sinatra’s popular recording of “The Summer Wind”. The song was written in 1965, with music by Henry Mayer, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. A million copies of the single recording were sold. Next month (July), Steve will feature patriotic songs. As a tribute for Fathers’ Day, on Sunday,
June 21st, Steve sang “Oh My Pa-Pa”. This was the theme song of Eddie Fisher. Steve said that Eddie is 96, and living in a retirement home in the L.A. area. Steve also said that “Eddie was married five times, and he is probably cruising the halls with his walker, looking for
number six!”
In addition to his playing and singing, Steve recaps some of the dedicated “Special” days during the month. You wouldn’t believe some of the weird and trivial subjects, such as:
June 6 - National Yo Yo Day.
June 8 - National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 25 - National Catfish Day.
Steve also reads from a list of celebrities celebrating birthdays during the month. Then, he asks who among us are celebrating a birthday during the month. This is kind of funky, but all of the celebrants appreciate our singing “Happy Birthday” to them.
RCL - 6/4/09.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
WORLD WAR II
When, we moved from Vallejo to Fairfield, a little over a year ago, Mary, Joan and Sue cleaned out our home and garage, and made managerial decisions on which of our “toys, souvenirs and keepsakes to “save”. They filled a public storage with beaucoup plastic bins. This was to be a short term solution - to avoid a tedious and time consuming chore of perusing and decision making - “keep - Goodwill - or “deep six”.
How time flies! I haven’t been to the storage facility, to interrupt my procrastination, until yesterday. Joan took me out to the storage place to start my “search and destroy” mission. Joan did all the heavy lifting, but I started to enjoy renewing memories of days and activities past - during the sorting process. This can really slow down the mission. It was warm (a bottle of water day), and the heat from the metal shed didn’t help. We did make a dent in the pile - not through making many disposal decisions, but what I wanted to keep. I brought some of that stuff back with me. We were probably there an hour and a half, before I ran out of gas.
One of the things I brought back, was a five book- set published by the Postal Service:
1941: A WORLD AT WAR
1942: INTO THE BATTLE
1943: TURNING THE TIDE
1944: ROAD TO VICTORY
1945: VICTORY AT LAST
I don’t remember looking through these books before, but when I started reading them tonight I found some notes that I made after reading the 1943 volume, which brought back recall! My first note was about the infamous air raid on the Ploesti (Romania) oil fields, as follows:
I lost many classmates from my Bombardier School in Victorville (CA)- (Class of 42-15) on this raid. I remember talking to a survivor, who said of the 200 B-24’s that set out to bomb the oil refinery on
August 1,1943 from North Africa - a very long mission, up and back, over the Mediterranean. We lost 50 planes, and 500 crewmen. That was an unacceptable 25 %! Loss ratio.
The refinery was in a hollow. On the rim above, the Germans had positioned 88mm guns. This was a very effective weapon. They used the guns as anti-tank weapons as well as anti-aircraft guns. They could be mounted on barges, or on land, as anti aircraft guns. When so used, the guns were not only radar controlled as to your course and speed, but the guns set the fuses to trigger an explosion at your altitude, if they didn’t strike a plane first.
During the Ploesti raid, the 88’s were firing “down hill“, as the B-24’s were flying below the gun batteries - about 50 feet off the deck. Many of the losses were due to the poor bomb run execution, rather than enemy fire. Some of the B-24’s flew the wrong routes in the target area. Their bombs had fuse delays so that the bomber had time to clear the area, before the bomb exploded. Then, when another wave of B-24’s flew over that same area (their correct course and target) on their bombing runs, they were blown up by the explosions of the previously erratically dropped bombs!
Other notes to follow.
RCL - 6-3-09.
When, we moved from Vallejo to Fairfield, a little over a year ago, Mary, Joan and Sue cleaned out our home and garage, and made managerial decisions on which of our “toys, souvenirs and keepsakes to “save”. They filled a public storage with beaucoup plastic bins. This was to be a short term solution - to avoid a tedious and time consuming chore of perusing and decision making - “keep - Goodwill - or “deep six”.
How time flies! I haven’t been to the storage facility, to interrupt my procrastination, until yesterday. Joan took me out to the storage place to start my “search and destroy” mission. Joan did all the heavy lifting, but I started to enjoy renewing memories of days and activities past - during the sorting process. This can really slow down the mission. It was warm (a bottle of water day), and the heat from the metal shed didn’t help. We did make a dent in the pile - not through making many disposal decisions, but what I wanted to keep. I brought some of that stuff back with me. We were probably there an hour and a half, before I ran out of gas.
One of the things I brought back, was a five book- set published by the Postal Service:
1941: A WORLD AT WAR
1942: INTO THE BATTLE
1943: TURNING THE TIDE
1944: ROAD TO VICTORY
1945: VICTORY AT LAST
I don’t remember looking through these books before, but when I started reading them tonight I found some notes that I made after reading the 1943 volume, which brought back recall! My first note was about the infamous air raid on the Ploesti (Romania) oil fields, as follows:
I lost many classmates from my Bombardier School in Victorville (CA)- (Class of 42-15) on this raid. I remember talking to a survivor, who said of the 200 B-24’s that set out to bomb the oil refinery on
August 1,1943 from North Africa - a very long mission, up and back, over the Mediterranean. We lost 50 planes, and 500 crewmen. That was an unacceptable 25 %! Loss ratio.
The refinery was in a hollow. On the rim above, the Germans had positioned 88mm guns. This was a very effective weapon. They used the guns as anti-tank weapons as well as anti-aircraft guns. They could be mounted on barges, or on land, as anti aircraft guns. When so used, the guns were not only radar controlled as to your course and speed, but the guns set the fuses to trigger an explosion at your altitude, if they didn’t strike a plane first.
During the Ploesti raid, the 88’s were firing “down hill“, as the B-24’s were flying below the gun batteries - about 50 feet off the deck. Many of the losses were due to the poor bomb run execution, rather than enemy fire. Some of the B-24’s flew the wrong routes in the target area. Their bombs had fuse delays so that the bomber had time to clear the area, before the bomb exploded. Then, when another wave of B-24’s flew over that same area (their correct course and target) on their bombing runs, they were blown up by the explosions of the previously erratically dropped bombs!
Other notes to follow.
RCL - 6-3-09.
Monday, June 1, 2009
FAMILY
FAMILY
I just experienced a great emotional lift. At this stage of my life, I never expected such a rewarding experience. My nieces,
Laurie L’Amoreaux and Becky Davenport, and nephew Pete L’Amoreaux, came out from Michigan, to visit Marie and I. They are three of my late Brother Bob’s, and wife Jackie’s, nine children! What a great expression of love, for them to spend their time, and hard earned money, just to see us. I am sure that the lure of San Francisco played a part in their decision to fly out from Detroit.
Mary, Joan, Sue and I really enjoyed seeing them. I hadn’t seen them since 1992, at my Mother’s (their grandmother) funeral in Ypsilanti. It had been much longer since my daughters had seen them. We had many laughs, and a few sad moments, while sharing our memories and experiences.
The “First Cousins” arrived in San Francisco, from Detroit, on Wednesday, May 27, 2009. We all remembered that it was a memorable date. My Mother - their grandmother - died on this date in 1992. She was 99, and would have reached the magic number of 100 birthdays on September 6.
Some people take relatives for granted and couldn’t care less about them. But, family ties are very important - especially so today - during this
uncertain time. They matter not only genealogy wise, but they have a lot in common. They have a trust, and a duty, to pass tradition and family lore on to the next generation.
My Dad, Raymond Marks, was one of nine children! His family remained very “close” during their lifetimes - even though they were spread out geographically. They held family reunions in the summer every so often, rotating the locations. They established a Family Circular, which rotated through the members. It was a packet of letters, photos and clippings. When you received the packet, you would remove your previous insertions and replace them with a new letter and any photos. Then, you would forward the circular on to he next recipient in the chain. As family members died the next generation would fill the void. Sometime during the forties, the circular stalled out and stopped. It was a big family argument as to who was responsible for the demise of the packet. No one would admit to being the last recipient and the culprit. There were no computers back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Long distance phone calls were very expensive back then. When you received a long distance call it usually meant a death in the family.
We got to see a lot of each other while they were here. On Thursday, Joan and Manny drove us over to Rutherford, and we browsed around the shops at Vintage 1870. Then, on the very picturesque route over to Sonoma - a beautiful place. This is one of my favorite spots. Manny drove around the very posh area on the south side of the city. Very nice homes. The cousins treated us to a very nice lunch at the Cheese Factory. Afterwards we walked around the square, visiting the museum and old fort and barracks, and a unique gallery with great photos for sale.
Then, we were off to the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory back near Fairfield. We took their guided tour. A group of about 50, spent 45 minutes watching video displays, and touring the factory. I never thought much about the making of a jelly bean, but I learned that there are many interesting stages. We had a good view of the numerous operations , from an elevated platform surrounding the factory. I was very surprised by the many automated operations. To get a feeling of our tour, go to www.roadtripamerica.com/places/jelly.htm
On Friday, Mary drove us over to Marin County - via Highway 37 to 101. She drove us to a bluff above, and to the west of the North tower of the Golden Gate bridge. Normally, one would have a spectacular view of the bridge, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Bay. But, we were fairly early in the morning and the fog hadn’t burned off. It was very windy and cold, but this was part of the atmosphere. Visibility was poor.
Then, she drove down to the city of Sausalito below. We ended up at the Spinnaker restaurant. What a setting! The restaurant is situated over the water, with a spectacular panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay and skyline. They treated us to a very nice lunch, and then we were off on our return trip. We wanted to beat the commuters and the Friday “get-away” drivers. Mary drove back over the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge. Before the bridge, we got a good view of the San Quentin prison.
Friday night, the family, and they, met here at Quail Creek for dinner. The girls went over to the Laurel Creek health Center and picked up Marie. The ten of us enjoyed our private dining room.
They went in to san Francisco Saturday morning to check out the City, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. They flew back to Detroit this morning (Monday). I enjoyed their company, and I will miss them.
RCL - 6/1/09.
I just experienced a great emotional lift. At this stage of my life, I never expected such a rewarding experience. My nieces,
Laurie L’Amoreaux and Becky Davenport, and nephew Pete L’Amoreaux, came out from Michigan, to visit Marie and I. They are three of my late Brother Bob’s, and wife Jackie’s, nine children! What a great expression of love, for them to spend their time, and hard earned money, just to see us. I am sure that the lure of San Francisco played a part in their decision to fly out from Detroit.
Mary, Joan, Sue and I really enjoyed seeing them. I hadn’t seen them since 1992, at my Mother’s (their grandmother) funeral in Ypsilanti. It had been much longer since my daughters had seen them. We had many laughs, and a few sad moments, while sharing our memories and experiences.
The “First Cousins” arrived in San Francisco, from Detroit, on Wednesday, May 27, 2009. We all remembered that it was a memorable date. My Mother - their grandmother - died on this date in 1992. She was 99, and would have reached the magic number of 100 birthdays on September 6.
Some people take relatives for granted and couldn’t care less about them. But, family ties are very important - especially so today - during this
uncertain time. They matter not only genealogy wise, but they have a lot in common. They have a trust, and a duty, to pass tradition and family lore on to the next generation.
My Dad, Raymond Marks, was one of nine children! His family remained very “close” during their lifetimes - even though they were spread out geographically. They held family reunions in the summer every so often, rotating the locations. They established a Family Circular, which rotated through the members. It was a packet of letters, photos and clippings. When you received the packet, you would remove your previous insertions and replace them with a new letter and any photos. Then, you would forward the circular on to he next recipient in the chain. As family members died the next generation would fill the void. Sometime during the forties, the circular stalled out and stopped. It was a big family argument as to who was responsible for the demise of the packet. No one would admit to being the last recipient and the culprit. There were no computers back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Long distance phone calls were very expensive back then. When you received a long distance call it usually meant a death in the family.
We got to see a lot of each other while they were here. On Thursday, Joan and Manny drove us over to Rutherford, and we browsed around the shops at Vintage 1870. Then, on the very picturesque route over to Sonoma - a beautiful place. This is one of my favorite spots. Manny drove around the very posh area on the south side of the city. Very nice homes. The cousins treated us to a very nice lunch at the Cheese Factory. Afterwards we walked around the square, visiting the museum and old fort and barracks, and a unique gallery with great photos for sale.
Then, we were off to the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory back near Fairfield. We took their guided tour. A group of about 50, spent 45 minutes watching video displays, and touring the factory. I never thought much about the making of a jelly bean, but I learned that there are many interesting stages. We had a good view of the numerous operations , from an elevated platform surrounding the factory. I was very surprised by the many automated operations. To get a feeling of our tour, go to www.roadtripamerica.com/places/jelly.htm
On Friday, Mary drove us over to Marin County - via Highway 37 to 101. She drove us to a bluff above, and to the west of the North tower of the Golden Gate bridge. Normally, one would have a spectacular view of the bridge, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Bay. But, we were fairly early in the morning and the fog hadn’t burned off. It was very windy and cold, but this was part of the atmosphere. Visibility was poor.
Then, she drove down to the city of Sausalito below. We ended up at the Spinnaker restaurant. What a setting! The restaurant is situated over the water, with a spectacular panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay and skyline. They treated us to a very nice lunch, and then we were off on our return trip. We wanted to beat the commuters and the Friday “get-away” drivers. Mary drove back over the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge. Before the bridge, we got a good view of the San Quentin prison.
Friday night, the family, and they, met here at Quail Creek for dinner. The girls went over to the Laurel Creek health Center and picked up Marie. The ten of us enjoyed our private dining room.
They went in to san Francisco Saturday morning to check out the City, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. They flew back to Detroit this morning (Monday). I enjoyed their company, and I will miss them.
RCL - 6/1/09.
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