I gave up trying to do Chapters on the #70on66 Trip. I realized I was putting them into posts on Seagroovin' and then taking the same pictures and putting them into a Chapter here on this new blog. It was redundant and, really, a waste of time.
I've decided to just put the trip pictures on Facebook. Whittle them down and present them in batches of around 30 pictures for the kids to enjoy if they wish. I am not going to try and put any of them here. No, this blog is about my day-to-day life. It'll be dull and I'll try to do a short chapter for each day of note. I think it will fit me better. I like this idea.
And so I am starting out with the pictures I took in my small life beginning on the 12th of November and ending with the 8th of December. I'm gonna knock out this big one and then try and scale them down. But this is my life reflected here in these blogs and so I'll present it my way.
And so we begin.
First up I wanted to put everything the girls had given me; all my memories from the trip into one picture so I could appreciate them in a few years when they're scattered all over the place. Plus I wanted to let the girls, Amy and Michelle, see all they have given me. It's more than I deserve and, well, you'll hear this a lot but it was the trip of a lifetime for me. The more distance I get from it the more my appreciation and love grows.
It was one helluva trip!!
I had a kick putting all the pins onto my Route 66 cap. I bought a couple and the girls gave me a Route 66 Pin for each State we drove through. Michelle would give me one each time we crossed the State Line. I was beginning to look forward to getting into another State just so I could get the next pin.
Plus, I bought a couple along the way. Towards the end the cap was getting very heavy and uncomfortable to wear but I wore it more times than I didn't cuz I just enjoyed having it so much.
Amy bought me this is the Big Texan Restaurant.
Yippee-Ki-Yay, Cow Patty. Ol' Smilin' Jack is a Texas Ranger!!
Michelle got me this Route 66 Calendar. Now I get to remind myself of this trip every month next year. Plus she got me the Arizona Route 66 Passport. Hahaha, I keep forgetting to get my passports stamped but I love it. And there is the CD she got from a street performer in Winslow, AZ. Hahaha, she had a tough time getting away from him. Finally she bought me some candy cigarettes. I'm afraid to open them . . . I might start smoking again!!
The girls found a trove of painted rocks in Grants, NM. Of course they had to pick up one for me. A pink one, naturally. But I am sure they were thinking of Ol' Smilin' Jack and thought this one appropriate.
I tried to go on the FB Page and put in the pictures but wasn't able to. But I posted them and showed whoever might get to it what I did with the rock the girls got for me.
I took it over to the Dorchester House on Hwy 101 and semi-hid it where I was pretty sure it would be quickly found.
Hahaha, it was like hiding Easter Eggs for the kids when they were little. I wanted to make it a little challenging but not so much that no one ever found it.
There, you can see it down there by the left-most post.
I went back two days later and . . . (gasp) it was gone!!
What the...!?! It's like magic!! It would be fun, though, to know where it goes next.
When I was walking up to the Dorchester to hide the rock, I passed this fire hydrant and thought it had some character. So I took a picture of it.
It's wearing its age gracefully and showing how it has evolved over time from a red hydrant to the worn yellow it now is. There had to be some time gone by from the last time it was painted for it to get so weathered.
Then, two days later I was walking over to the Dorchester to say 'Hey' to Carol and I saw . . .
. . . this.
Yeah, they painted it right after I took the picture. Amazing.
Hahaha, I live a simple life.
Whup!!
Another picture of my Route 66 Pin Cap. It's still cool!!
I got this one in the Big Texan in Amarillo.
Coolio!!
Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . I take mediocre pictures of flowers.
But I enjoy it and I feel each one is a masterpiece. Both the flower and the picture.
These were taken with the little camera which, unfortunately, doesn't hold a candle to the SX170 that POS stole from me. But it is what I have.
I have resolved to try and use it less. In other words, I want to shoot most if not all my pictures with the G3. All of them except for the selfies. And I gotta admit, I am having a lot of fun with that Selfie Stick since I started using it on the trip. It was fun taking pictures with the girls. Each of us had to have a turn to see who could get the best one.
I loved it!!
Playing with the little camera shooting the sun through the trees in B&W. Not bad for a cheap little camera.
What can I say, I was in a B&W mood. I was visiting Carol and just idly shooting. Here's her crystal pyramid like mine.
And all I found at the bird feeder by the ground door was this Starling. Better than nothing.
There's a small park with two tennis courts in it just behind the Dorchester. Playing with the camera and learning its capabilities, I shot this because of the light and the framing of the tree. Hahaha, I like it.
Even I recognize I am getting too foot-loose and fancy-free with that Selfie Stick. Hahaha, I had a moment in the KIA and filled it with a selfie.
For no other reason than it was a gloriously beautiful day. I was going on a walk and, well, it was just a beautiful day.
I like the shadows and backlit subjects. Like plants. In B&W. In the hands of an artist this could be something worthwhile. I'll keep plugging away, though.
The more I realize how old I am and how little time I have left on this earth the less I care about what people think of me. Yeah, I was out on The 101 taking selfies. And having a good time.
Enjoying my walk.
Love the color here. Like an Irish door. Well done, stranger. Way to jazz up your doorstep.
Shadows. There should have been something there. But even when I cropped it, it still looked static and boring. But there should have been something!!
And, yeah, I like the shadows and patterns they make. I think I have a film noir heart.
I walked up to the bluff and got some shots because, as I mentioned before, it's just a kick-ass day. Beautiful!!
Hahahaha, my heart has been B&W a lot lately. I can't see the pull to drag a lawn chair out there and just sit. Course, I have my chairs that I plop in on the bluff. OK, yeah, maybe I can see it . . . a little.
Look at what they've done by opening the beach to vehicles. What a shame. I'd put an end to it toots suite if I could.
Looking south towards the setting sun.
Stupid trucks.
Ahhhh!! My caps!! I'm so lazy I just put the most recent cap on the back of the couch instead of carrying them the 10-15 feet to the bedroom.
and then I think it's cool to get pictures of the arrangements. But I don't think it works in B&W. Color. Yeah, that's what it needs.
But not this. Love the slats in the window. Patterns, lines and angles.
A couple of my treasures with two pieces of the original Route 66 hardball I picked up along the way. I got the light one in Missouri and the other in Arizona.
Amy bought me the little Route 66 picture frame. I wanted to thank her for it so I took a picture showing where I had put it.
Wisely, I didn't mention it's right next to my little Donald J. Trump Lego Figure. Shhhhhhh...
Ah, the good weather was fun while it was here but we're deep into the rain now. This was the weather when I went on my walk. Did I mention I have resolved to walk everyday. And to stretch. Yep!! I have and I've been pretty successful for about two weeks now.
And I am going to walk even when it rains and I have to . . .
. . . dress like this. Not happy but I did get my walk in.
The other day, maybe four days ago, I went out to get the mail and I saw this . . . I was so incredulous, I had to go and get my little camera and get this shot.
I mean it was chilly, Willy.
He's out there like that and I'm back here like this . . .
. . . freezin' my ying-yang off!!
Me down there . . . him up there!!
WTH!!!
One of my Christmas traditions is the Advent Calendar. I don't put up a tree or any decorations but I do like me my Advent Calendar. I look forward to getting that little piece of yummy every morning until Christmas.
The other tradition is sending out Christmas Cards. It's just pleasing to me to sit down and pen out a Christmas Card to my family and friends.
There it is. That's my Christmas.
But I do love those little pieces of chocolate.
Here's the very first one, Mickey. That's appropriate.
Another day and another walk. Hahaha, showing my WaHo colors!! I don't know why I'm not smiling. Odd. It wasn't raining so I should have been at least grinning. It's getting easier for me in my walks. I am getting some small glimmer of stamina back.
OK!! NMSU was a bust (again) this year in football. After a stellar year where they went to a Bowl and WON, they fell back into their old ways and finished 3-7. I guess I'm not too surprised, especially after that first game where they were humiliated by Wyoming.
But Army!! Hahaha, Army was rockin' and a-rollin'!! They are ranked this year!! And today, December 8th, they are playing Navy and I am ready!!
I got my game face on plus my first layer of Gooooooooo, Army!! Beat Navy!! gear on.
Lookin' all business like, eh!?!
And here's the second layer.
I am ready!!
Let's go play some ball, Kay!?!
I was headed to the Aces Sports Bar and Grill to root on Army to their THIRD victory over Navy in the last three years.
I don't know why but I always expect some other Vets, either sailers or soldiers, to be there in the bar for the game and I am always disappointed. Once again, I was alone there rooting for Army. Oh, there were some other men eating lunch but I didn't feel any of them had served. Not many my age have served around here.
But I had a good time. I paced myself and enjoyed several beers during the game plus a pretty good Patty Melt with Fries. Eating and drinking healthy!!
And, while it was a semi-frustrating game, Army took the lead and never lost it winning the game 17-10.
Hahahaha, bite me, Navy!! THREE-PEAT!!
The Commander-in-Chief's Cup will stay at West Point for another year.
Hooah!!
While I felt a little bad for the Navy team as they gathered to sing their school song first . . .
. . . it didn't last long.
Here's the Corps of Cadets singing their school song last. A privilege reserved for the WINNERS!!
Hahahaha, loving it! After all those years of Navy winning it feels good to be a THREE-PEAT!!
Ah, that felt good.
OK, back to this world. Having two cameras mean the order gets a little bit mixed up.
Here's an arrangement of some of my treasures from The Trip. The two original pieces of Route 66 that I 'preserved', some of my pins, a couple of bottle caps from the sodas Michelle bought in Cold Springs, Arizona and the #70on66 T-Shirt Michelle had made for us.
Hooah!!
Whup!!
My window again. Love those blinds.
An unusual light from the sunrise.
And I milked it for all it was worth.
Which was, evidently, several pictures.
Then, later that morning, as I was starting my walk, I saw this treat.
And the day turned beautiful.
How 'bout one more, eh!?!
The Secret Garden House. These folks work at decorating their yard . . . and they change it ever-so-often.
This just came out so cool.
It was so nice I drove down to Taft beach for another walk. Here's the Four Brothers.
I had climbed down the rocks and was walking on the beach.
Yeah, I love me some B&W.
The newly renovated pier at Taft.
Looking up the road leading to Taft Beach and Mo's.
With some cool houses . . . or are they more appropriately called 'cottages'?
Regardless, they're original beauties.
Even this classic in the trailer park. How cool is that, eh?
Merry Christmas, El Gatos.
In one of the homes on the road leading to Taft Beach.
Sandy's getting the meat grinder and Shelly is getting the Sheller.
Sorry, I could help myself. Michelle is getting the nutcracker. I know the nutcracker has been in my family a long time. I think my Dad's parents had it first. I am not so sure about the meat grinder. I just know it was my Dad's. He'd grind up his bologna with it.
On another walk and tried another B&W . . . sue me.
This one worked. Crisp, clear and it has tones. Not a pure black or white but close.
Love the sunsets . . . when I generate enough energy to go out and see them.
There's something to be said about living so close to the beach.
Chris bought himself a couple of shotguns and a rifle so I told him I'd send him a pic of mine. This is a Ruger .380 LCP. I call it a pocket pistol. An easy carry.
This is my S&W M&P Compact 9mm. It was my first carry and I went for small size but a big enough caliber to take someone out. But I didn't like the inside the belt holster and . . . yada, yada, yada so that's why I got the pocket pistol.
And my Mossberg. I promised this to Chris when I walk on. He can fight it out with the others for the pistols. Maybe Cade will want one.
And that's it.
Short, sorta, and sweet.
Like this sentiment. It's a shame we're so immature and uninformed when we make so many of those big decisions that shape who we become.
Ah, well.
And now I must learn to be with myself and have that be enough.
Hooah!!
