Mission of Nombres de Dios

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away - I think we're just going to stay in Chicago rather than fight through the airport nonsense. We'll see.

Everyone thinks the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving up there in chilly New England in 1620. Well, that might not be true.

On September 18th, 1565 Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded St Augustine on the very site where these photos were taken. On the same date, Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales held the first mass on American (then Spanish) soil & soon after a Thanksgiving celebration was held in a combined fellowship with members of the Timacua tribe. That in itself must have been a sight. The local natives were very tall, averaging 7 feet or better. The Spaniards were short - Pedro Menendez was the tallest of the settlers at only 4 feet 11 inches.


The cross was erected in 1965 to acknowledge the 400 year history of the old town. They say that since it was erected - a hurricane has never made a direct hit on the area. Hopefully that continues to hold true.



Here's an inside view of the chapel that sits in the middle of the grounds. It's surrounded by old graves & monuments.




It's open every day & many of the locals visit to say prayers. Had to wait a while to get a picture when it was empty.






This is one of the old graves. Looks like a mason needs to do some repair work soon.





Did I mention the cross is made of bronze??? You can see if from a great distance from anywhere near the coastline, harbor or bridges. So that's the nickle tour of Mission de Nombres de Dios. It's one of many pretty cool places to visit in My Town.

Long Trip North (& South)

What a week. We're still in Chicago. I flew home to Florida on Friday night & returned here yesterday (Saturday). Had to take care of a few things. Fortunately - this trip was faster than the first ride up. Gettin' to lake Michigan from St Augustine ain't easy. Some places aren't very deep & we had to tilt the engines up & row.




Here's a picture of me at the helm on the way north a few weeks ago. Didn't even stop at any gas stations to ask directions.


















Yes - it's true. We decided to bring our boat.




















Had a nice view of Chicago's skyline on the way in.

















So we're all docked up here at the Navy Pier.


















What a week for daylight savings to arrive. It's exhausting - makes me delusional.

Phils Win!!! Can Ya Believe It???

Phillies 4, Rays 3
Recap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
TAMPA 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 10 0
PHILA 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 - 4 8 1

W: J. Romero (2-0)
L: J. Howell (0-2)
SV: B. Lidge (2)

Wow!!! The Phils did it!!! Being a long time Philly sports fan - I have to admit, I was preparing myself for another collapse. It's happened so often.

The last time the Phillies won a World Series, youngest son Chris was less than 3 months old & older son Michael had just turned 4. Me??? I was only 24. So despite the fact that I've littered this earth with my miserable presence for parts of 6 decades - my kids have been alive for the same number of Phillies WS Championships as me. 2 of 'em in 100&twentysomething years.

So here I go with a bold prediction - The Phillies will win the World Series again... in 2036. Chris will be 56, Mike 60 & me, I'll probably be dead.

Enjoy the parade guys....

On The Brink Again.... Phillies Fans

Here we go again - a Philadelphia team is on the brink ... a 3 to 1 lead in the World Series with a chance to win it all tonight in front of the home crowd with their Ace on the mound. I've learned not to get my hopes up. Been there before only to see a Philly team collapse at the end (other than the 1980 series - That was the one where I had 4 tickets for the clinching game but gave the seats away because we were in the middle of moving). It's tough being a Philly sports fan - we've been in positions to win before - Phillies, Flyers, Eagles, Sixers - all making it to the World Series, the Stanley Cup Finals, the Super Bowl, & NBA Finals only to fall flat. Could this year be different??? I guess the only thing worse would be suffering along as a Cubs fan.





It's enough to make your hair stand on end - like my grandson Jack.



Go Phils!!! Y'all got 3 chances to win ONE MORE LOUSY GAME!!! We still have faith!!! However misplaced it may be....

Grown Up Kids

This picture was taken outside the Phillies Stadium - it's my son Mike & grandson Jack.... which leads me to today's modified post.....



















I was copied on a very sad email today. It was sent from oldest son Michael (32) to younger son Christopher (28). The content was fine - all about investments & what to move where & how safe was this n' that & what kind of returns could be expected. Why is that sad you say? (Maybe you didn't really ask anything but play along with me here.) They're just too grown up now! They don't need me anymore! Well, they do call for advice related to construction issues & contract lingo but, beyond that, they're doin' fine without me n' Deb. Kinda makes me miss the days when good old Dad made loans knowing full well they wouldn't be re-paid. Uh, on 2nd thought, no I don't actually miss that part so much. So let me introduce everyone to my KIDS - Mike, Chris & Christine (Mike's wife). (Sigh) They're all doing so great - without me.



For starters here's Chris (the guy seated in the light blue shirt with arms folded -He's obviously winning) playing poker at a company sponsored function. This was at the last table. His boss had to take him aside & tell him to lose, since it was set up for their clients. Chris was bummed. He was up by quite a bit of Cha Ching.


















This is Chris with Christine. They get along more like bro & sis than in-laws. We're very blessed that our kids are so close. Our grandkids LOVE Uncle Chris.

















Here's Michael with Isabel (taken last year when they visited us in Florida - she's much more grown up now). She's nuts about her Daddy!!!


















This is Mike & Christine. The picture was taken in New York. They're doing a great job raising Jack & Belly. I'm really proud of 'em.


















Well, I suppose we must have done a few things right. We gotta get back to Pennsyvania for a visit real soon. Maybe I'll check on airline tickets today. They're still our not so little boys.

It Is What It Is

It didn't take long for Deb to get the camera goin'. Too bad it was getting dark as we landed in the Windy City.

I spent last week in Chicago trying to figure out what needed to be done to get a job turned around. First order of business was to add manpower. Things are already cranked up & we should be back "on track" by Friday. I wanted to avoid that expression - this is, after all, a project for the railroad.

Flew home Friday night. Picked up a rental car Saturday. Filed our absentee votes. Packed up, drove to the airport (90 miles)on Sunday, flew though Nashville to Chicago. Landed at 6:30. Picked up a Chevy Tahoe at the rental joint. Drove to the hotel, unloaded the bags went to dinner, returned & unpacked & then CRASHED. Up at 5 this morning. Dog Tired today.

We're going to make the best of things. Chicago seems like a nice place, the people are certainly friendly, & we're going to try to see as much as we can, at least when I'm not working. We miss our beach, our palm trees, & warm weather but it is what it is.

I have no idea why this post is all underlined. I guess it's a technical problem. Whatever - the intent wasn't to stress any key points.

This Week's 'Word'

On Monday I received a somewhat panicked call from the Owner of the company asking me to go to Chicago to take over a project that's in deep whatever. I thought he was kidding. I'm just finishing a fast track job & me n' Deb were really looking forward to visiting our kids & grandkids up in Pennsylvania, taking some time off, getting ready for the holidays, planning a 'ghost sail' for Halloween, maybe even a short trip to the Keys or Bahamas. A well deserved rest was in order. After determining that he wasn't kidding, only one word came to mind. After 2 days of back & forth & finally deciding to go ahead & do the job, I still referred back to that same word. Now I'm running around getting everything situated & packing for a 6AM flight on Monday - & that same word keeps popping up. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do. So I'll take this opportunity to explain the "word" that I keep muttering & how that word came to be. It's also sorta related (that's a stretch) to yesterday's post about boats.


Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, most everything was transported by ship. These were the days before commercial fertilizer was invented, so large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less. Once water (at sea) came in contact with the manure, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began, of which a by-product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles, and since it was common for wooden ships to take on some water in the holds, the manure would become soaked. Methane would then build up below decks and the first time someone went below with a lantern, BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined what was happening. Thereafter, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them, which meant for the sailors to stow the manure high above the lower decks, away from the water.

Thus evolved the term " S.H.I.T ", (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day - in my case - pretty much on a continuing basis since Monday.