All in a Rainbow

Almost everyday for the last week I have seen a rainbow on my way to work.  The rainbow comes after the storm before the storm is to far off in the distance.  This is how my life seems to be these days.  A storm, big or little doesn't matter, comes through and all I can see the the upset, the havoc.
The most recent storm is with my job.  I have had many jobs through out my life that have been dream jobs, this one included.  The job started off as a struggle.  I had to figure out what it was and how I was going to accomplish the tasks I was charged with.  I quickly figured out who would help me with that and made friends with those people. I had obstacles that made my job hard and some personalities that I needed to learn after all they were the family and owner of the company I worked for.
It took about a year to get to the point where my boss didn't make me cry but his wife took up the torch for him.  I quickly learned to let her say her hurtful things and ignore what she said.  But after years of being treated poorly by the family I had enough.  No more.  You can have my towel.  Uncle!
Job searching in Mobile is a joke.  You have to know someone to get a job.
Anyway that storm is over and the promise of a new beginning a new hope is on the horizon.  With only

What did you see on your walk?

I was up early for a Sunday.  The sun had risen and the morning fog was moist in the air.  Late August in the south can be so humid you can't hardly be outside but today the coolness was as welcome as Christmas.  I walked without the fast tempo that I normally walk on weekday mornings.  Today was not about the exercise.  Today was about the venture.



 I wanted to see what I could see on my walk and take note of it.  To often we get in such a big hurry we fail to take note of  all the beauty that surrounds us. Late summer produces so many flowers and so many animals that are on the move.






I live on Dog River and every morning the views are so fantastic.  Mostly enjoyed before the sun arrives.

Several animals greeted me on my walk.  A turtle that had just crossed the road, a crab headed back into the swamp
a crab that was just as curious about me as I was about him.

I felt like I needed to take the time to smell the roses again because the news of Scott'c cancer returning just shakes you to the core.  His reprieve from the cancer was so short lived. Cancer and it's treatments are to hard on the body.  The miricle drug could have worked for 6 months of 6 years. The Dr's not knowing that answer.  We found out the answer this week.

Praying for the family and for Scott is all we can do now, so the Sunday morning walk was very important.

Plight of a new phone

When you are fed up you knee jerk to something new.  Phone providers are not doing what they should.  15 years means nothing to them. That doesn't  feel good.  New phones and new tablet along with new internet.  It is a real struggle. Not fun at first....but it will get to be just fine.  Just want to go back to the simplicity of years gone by.  My aunt talks of the time 75 years ago when their phone number was two shorts and a long and shortly after the Shrout phone number was 6327.  Oh when life was simple.talkking across the country was for the few and cost you some serious money.  I guess I should be so happy that I can snap, Instagram and Facebook from my kitchen on a device that fits in the palm of my hand.

Historic Moments

There have been so many Historic Moments in my life.  Today was another one. President Trump's summit with Kim jo Moon. North Korea in talks with the United States America. Wow... 
I was called from my teen fun to sit with my parents to watch TV as President Nixon stepped down from office over the Watergate Scandle.  This was a big deal to America but to us in Massachusetts it was a told you so moment.  We were the only state that voted for McGovern. 
I remember sitting on edge as Apollo 13 was at risk with all the problem that rounded the explosion during a routine propultion blast to keep the space craft on track.

Celebrating the end and an era

Darrin and I made the trip to Nashville to celebrate his mother's birthday.  The celebration was going to be held at their home.  We gather up Barrett and took him along. Barrett is 5 1/2 now and is all about cars and hot rods. He really travels well.  On the way Barrett announces that he needs to go to the bathroom.  We were thankful that we were coming up on a rest stop.
We all headed into the building then took a bit of time to stretch our legs.  We loaded back into the truck and started back to get on the interstate.  All the sudden we here Barrett proclaim. " PaPa we we're not allowed to stop here to go pee.  The sign says no Pee.  We laughed.

 We arrived in Nashville as expected and quickly learned that Barrett just wanted to be in the pool. It was a constant eye that had to be kept on him.  We helped as much as we could with the preparation for the party.

As the day arrived many of the out of town guest arrived and many of them were family. 

Some things we did not expect and some were just as always had been.  Randy, Cheryl, Cory and Sherry Berry had a new twist that just seamed to fit in.  

The lunch provided by Fred and Camille's friend Danny was amazing including the meatballs.  Then dinner came during the party and  it just was above anything that I could have imagined.  

Even though it was very hot the entire event was not to be missed.  

7 hours to arrive and 7 hours home with a little 5 year old boy was so worth every thing.

Auburn Indiana Road Trip

I just want to go on road trips.  I want to leave early and watch the sunrise in different places.  I love to stay in hotels and let someone else make the bed.  Just say road trip and I am in.
AACA is a big part of my entertainment in this time of my life. Going to meets and judging cars has been a blast and each time I participate I feel I have learned so much.
After just having hosted a successful meet in Mobile several of us planned to head north to Auburn. Zeno, Rheba, Darrin and I set off with Zeno's 1969 Z28 Camaro in tow.

Traveling through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana you see such diverse landscape from dense trees to to open farm land. The farther north we go the more it feels like home. 

Some of the pleasures of travel include the conversation among friends.  Another benefit is the old familiar songs on the radio that you don't normally get to hear.

We arrived before dark and unloaded the car in trailer parking.  Everything had arrived safely.  

Friday was a packed full day that started with a Continental breakfast at the hotel with other car hobbyist.

We made our way over to registration and picked up packets and tickets.  Darrin ,Rheba and Zeno headed to the auction and I stayed behind.  Pat Buckley signed me up for newsletter review. (What was I thinking when I said yes?) We went over the details and now I am set to read others newsletters and judge them by the AACA standards.

You could not miss the constant sound of the auctioneer in the arena.  Memorabilia was up on the block and Darrin had to get a bid number. Seamed like Darrin was out bid every time, sometimes before he could raise his hand.

We decided to go visit a few museums while Darrin attended judges school. We spent a while at the Early Ford V8 Museum.  This museum was visited by Scott and Mallory during the Great Race last year and they made quite the impression on the curator.

  He was hoping that the 1951 Ford Red Convertible from the Henderson Collection was one of the cars to be on display at the AACA Spring Meet.  He would have closed the museum to have the chance to see that a fine vehicle.
Zeno, Rehba and I also spent a little bit of time in the Antique Mall near the museum before returning to pick up Darrin to run off to the Auburn - Duesenburg Museum.
With only an hour to tour the museum it was hard to choose what you wanted to see.

On the first floor we were in awe of the fine pieces of art (vehicles) that are displayed.   Some of the finest creations live inside the walls.  This years feature is the boat tails.  Right as you came up the steps you see the yellow and red boat tail that came into view.  This sunning vehicle had so many extra feature that included a complete bar on the passenger side door panel and a humidor that would have been stuffed with Cuban cigars on the drivers side panel.
At the Auction Center AACA was hosting a concert for all members.

  This concert was and 80s band that played many of our favorites.  This was a great event and I spent a lot of time hanging with people I have come to call my friends over the years.  Darrin would find me talking to someone some where and laugh at me.  AACA has become over the last 10 years such a big family of friends to us and we enjoy the time we have with each person.
Saturday morning came early.

Judges breakfast that the Auction Center let us know where we would be judging.. Darrin was placed on the apprentice team.  I was so excited to be place on the team that judged Class 21 D, E, F and G... Fords.  As I made my way to my seat I was pleasantly surprised to see so many of the judges that I admire.  Most of them with over 100 judging credits and several of them said the Ford expert has arrived.  ( I have 13 judging credits)

Rain was coming onto the show field and we went out an looked  at our vehicles early before judging started.  These are some fine vehicles on this show field.  I am glad that while I spent a little time looking at each of the vehicles that I only had questions on one vehicle.  Thankful for the second look in the rain.
Judging went quickly in the rain.  My sheet was so wet that is was hard to write anything on it.  The rain stopped and I went out to take photos of the cars.  185 or so cars were displayed in the rain.  What a great group of cars.
Because of the rain the cars were released at 2 pm instead of the 3 pm normal time.  We put Zeno's car back on the trailer and headed back for the BBQ dinner and Award Banquet.  We had the chance to sit near so many friend and also new friends.  The gentleman near us was showing his car hoping for a First Place Junior award.  He already had a second place.  I remember the emotions of waiting to see what you won.  The nerves get the best of you just and the relief that comes over you when you get the award you came for.

I was surprised by the lack of understanding of the whole judging system and awards that can be earned by the owners.   This is an amazing program that will increase the value of each vehicle.  Well worth the time to understand and part take in.
Our trip home was much faster than our trip to Auburn.  Guess it was all down hill home or the lack of parking lots on the interstate.