Tuesday Thoughts.

Another rainy day in Scranton. glad it isn’t snow. I went to the grocery store this morning, a place called Price Chopper, supposed to be cheaper than the others, like our Shop & Save stores in MO. They do have a good selection and a great meat section, but like Shop & Save they never have enough check out clerks, and I refuse to use the self serve aisles, I figure if I spend my money they should have someone to ring you out. I also don’t like the idea of eliminating a job by using a self serve aisle.

Anyway got that over and got back and put the stuff away, we will now eat for another week.

Levonne,  A CAMPHOST WIFE MEANDERINGS asked about an alternative to rawhide chews for her dog Gingee, She had trouble and her vet like ours recommended not to use rawhide, We have been trying to use non stuffed toys and hard rubber stuff, hard to find but the best is when you can find a large knotted hemp rope that they can use to chew and play tug with. The one we have now is several years old and our last lab Duke played with it, so when you find a good one it will last. They aren’t cheap and will be in the $15-$25 bracket.

I got a call from Adam last night and he wanted to tell me he made the Honor roll at school, he was so happy about it and Grandpa is very proud of him. If they had them back then my Dad would have had a bumper sticker on his pickup that said “ My D student can beat up your A student.”. Just kidding , but I seldom had to worry about an honor roll, It was an honor for me just to make it through and graduate.

Not much else going on my Buddy Rod, RETIRED ROD has left Olathe for his winter stay in Arizona, I believe they made it to Ok City OK. on the first day. Glad to see Rod has recovered enough from his recent surgery to be able to head out, You are getting out just in time Rod.

That’s about it , be safe out there… Sam & Donna….

Monday Mumblings.

Got up this morning to 26 degrees, but the sun came out and warmed it up to 45 degrees. Looks like home in Dardenne Prairie it is 47 degrees but raining. I know Rigg’s doesn’t mind getting wet but I bet little Sadie won’t like having to make a trip out side to do her thing.

Before I forget I want to welcome TWO new follower’s, Doyle & Terri Johnson, ROAD WARRIORS PURSUE HAPPINESS and Cheryl, NOSTALGIA TODAY & YESTERDAY I hope you enjoy reading about the adventures of our clan as we lead up to full timing. Rigg’s will do his best to keep you guys entertained of you are doggie folks.

Didn’t leave the house for the second day, today was laundry day, I had one load, Wendy had one, and there was one load of sheets,pillow cases. That killed the afternoon, just got done folding it all.

I guess tomorrow I will have to make a grocery run, I have just been getting whatever we need to get through the week with meals so by Tuesday the supply gets low. One of the things that kills me is the cost of Laundry items, detergent, fabric softener, and Shout, by the time you get done buying just that you have $20 dollars gone into the basket.

Also planning on one of these days making a quick run to Wal-Mart to get Rigg’s and Sadie & Adam there PA. surprise, can’t go back without something for the kids.

I even used to do that when I would spend 3 or 4 days out of town when I drove the bus , I would make sure and bring a little surprise back for Adam & Rigg’s just seeing there excitement is worth whatever you spend.

Not much else going on, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna….

Sunday Notes.

Today was a typical Sunday day of rest not much got accomplished, although Michelle came over this afternoon and spent some more time making the house more Christmassy with some more decorating. My niece sent Donna & I this Picture for all you Lab Lover’s out there.

 

What a riot. Not much to blog about we will be hitting the Tovar’s in the fridge tonight.

Heard from my Son & my Grandson Adam this weekend. I want you all, Donna, Andy, Adam,  Rigg’s and Sadie to all know I miss all you guys and I am hoping the day will come soon to head back home..Rigg’s & Sadie have Andy take a nice picture if he can of the two of you either sitting or lying on the floor together.

That’s about it for today, Be safe out there, Sam & Donna..

Saturday Mumblings.

Well today was a cold one here in Scranton, stayed around the house until 5:00PM an then Michelle and I jumped in the truck and headed to the railroad yards at Sreamtown to see the CP Rail Holiday Train, which is touring the Northeast US and Canada wherever CP Rail runs.They have decorated the train and they are collecting Food and Toys for the Needy. What a great way again to teach a youngster it is better to give than receive.

Here are some pictures, I want my Canadian friends to know they can be very proud of this train and what they are doing to help the poor at this holiday season.

It was about 20 degrees and starting to snow so we headed into the Mall because walking the length of a passenger train makes a girl and her Grandpa hungry.

 

    How about a picture with Santa and his Elf.

This is the Scranton Times Radio Tower decorated for the holidays.

My old friend DL 3642, from the derailment pictures, in front, is back in service waiting to pull a freight.

Did I mention Michelle got to warm up and play in the playland at the Mall before we went home. Playing is pretty tough so she had to have a big blue Slurpee Ice ( the kind that turns your tongue blue) on the way home. All in all a good night and I know one girl who was tired out when we got home.

Well that’s about it for Saturday, this post is late going out anyway. Be Safe Out There, Sam & Donna……

TGIF

Can’t believe another Friday already, but the more that go by, the faster the old Duramax will be heading west back to the Prairie lands. While I was enjoying my coffee & anisette,the power went off, I immediately went into emergency response mode and grabbed the coffee and poured it into an insulated carafe, so as not to have it cool without the electric burner. Got to be prepared for any household emergency. Turned the scanner on and caught the police calling for barricades and the power company at the scene of a pole that got knocked down. About an hour later the power came back on and the coffee was still hot.

About 10:00AM I looked out the kitchen window and it was snowing like crazy, the ground and the cars were covered with an inch or two of snow already, it seemed like at 34 degrees it was to warm for snow but there it was. So Thanksgiving Day was the first recorded snowfall of the year for Scranton, About noon I looked out and it was raining steadily and melting all the snow.

At 04:00pm Wendy and I went to her girlfriend’s Barb  Zaretski’s for our Thanksgiving Dinner, It was a great time Barb & her husband Tony are lot’s of fun and they had there kid’s and family and Barb’s Mom & Dad over so it was a big family get together.

Barb & Tony Zaretski’s Thanksgiving Dinner with family.

The food was great and the fellowship also. Hey Adam want you to know Grandpa is still a member of the clean plate club. Yep not a bit left on it.

After Dinner we had a couple of cocktails and Tony took me out to his garage to show me a Camaro he is restoring, I can’t remember what year it is, but he has all the rusted panels replaced and welded in, and is now finishing the bondo and primer sanding. He hopes to have it painted when warm weather ( Spring) arrives. Hey Andy I told him about yours but he is going with a 350 horse 350 small block and it will be a restored street car.

Hey Rigg’s glad to see Mom made an exception to the no people food rule and let you celebrate Thanksgiving with her, I guess it was just the two of you, I hope she didn’t give you one of my Miller High Lifes to celebrate with.  Thanks for taking care of Mom for me, You are getting to be Dad’s BIG BOY, a couple of weeks and it will be your second birthday and we will celebrate when I get home, I’ll see if I can talk Mom into making a sugar less doggie cake for you without any chocolate in it.

Not much planned for today, might just get out for an hour or so and go down to Steamtown and watch the trains and see the model ones in the Mall again. The fellow that made Miniature Memories, Mr.  Don Clark passed away on Monday, what a shame such a good guy, I  met him the week before they opened and he graciously allowed me in to take pictures and we talked about model railroading for quite awhile, I saw him again on Sunday when I stopped by for a few minutes and it was obvious he was enjoying watching the kids faces as they watched the trains.At least he got to see it open again and watch the kids on Sat & Sun. You just never know, life is short.

Tonight will be pizza night again, picked up the shells sauce and cheese this week at the store so we are all ready. I am thinking since it will be cold when I drive back I might buy a box of the square shells and put them in the truck in back in the covered bed and then when I get home freeze them, then over the next few months when I want a PA style square pizza I will have the dough ready for it. I don’t think it would hurt them as they are cold when you buy them in the store and haven’t been frozen yet.

About 10:00AM Friday Michelle came over to help Wendy take down the Thanksgiving Decorations and start the Christmas ones, Of course I had to get into the spirit of things because it was my job to carry the totes up from the basement so Michelle and Wendy could sort through them and set them up.

 

              Sam-Ta reporting for work detail.

Michelle installing the Back door Wreath.

This little lady worked hard so of course when your nine you get hungry so it was time for a break for lunch.

Making the perfect Ham and Mayo sandwich.

Yep for those eagle eyes out there, that is a genuine east coast hard roll, soft but just a little crispy on the outside.

They just can’t be found like that at home.

I told Michelle tomorrow we will go downtown and see the CP Rail Christmas train which is a special train that is all lit up with christmas lights and they collect food for the poor and Toys for tot’s with the Marines. The train travels The US and Canada during Nov & Dec and helps many. many people. It is supposed to arrive at 6PM so i will try to get a night shot of the lights.

That’s about it for now, Be safe out there, Sam & Donna…

Riggin's Thanksgiving

Hi Everybody, its me Riggins (aka the Wonder Dog)
Well this day has had its up and downs.  Couldn't spend much time outside today, raining, cold
and some ice on the patio.  And I was kind of lonely.  Andy and Sadie left yesterday to go to Samantha's
house.
I was going to have pics but Mom can't figure out how to do it. So we will send to Dad and he can
insert them.
It's hard to tell but I am sad .  I kept looking out the door to see if Sadie was coming home.
Mom made a turkey and she said because it was a special occasion I would get some.
Boy o' boy look at what's in my dish ! 
Well, I'm eating now.  I hope everyone's Thanksgiving is nice.  And to Jodie, Coco, Sandy, Motormouse
and all the other blog pups WOOF  (I've got a deep voice)

              Wish my Sadie & my Dad would come home.

                                                

              Boy would I Love a Piece of that..

                OH BOY FOR ME!

               YUMMY YUMMY.

Wednesday Musings.

Well so far not a bad day, the sun is out and this morning at 100:00AM I had Wendy at the Doctor’s for her appointment, They said she is doing fine and took x-rays and said everything is healing as it should, they told her to start exercising her foot and ankle and to try and put weight on it a little at a time. Wendy asked if the machine was in and they told her not yet, she was upset and asked the nurse how long she thought it would be before she could go up and down steps and when the machine would be in. The nurse told her it would be at least two weeks before that much weight could be put on it and they are trying to get the machine shipped and will call as soon as it arrives. One positive thing was they said it would not be necessary to have weekly appointments now and her next appointment is for Dec 9th, I can only hope that by then I have more favorable news as I was hoping to head home by the 15th of Dec. originally I was told right after Thanksgiving but that is not going to happen now. I don’t mind it but I know it is putting stress on Adam, he called me today while I was waiting for Wendy at the Doctors, and I could tell by his voice and the way he sounded that he was really lonesome for his Grandpa and feeling down, I told him I hoped only a couple more weeks and he said, you’ve been gone so long already, I really miss you. I told him I would pick him up the first Friday I was home and that I was saving the movie Unstoppable so him & Grandma and I could all see it together.

Not much else to report, Wendy & I have been invited to one of her girlfriend's house’s for a Turkey Dinner Tomorrow, The girls name is Barbara and she comes by a couple times a week to see how Wendy is doing.

I guess I will say see ya later, be safe out there, Sam & Donna..

Tuesday Thoughts.

Well it’s back to being a rainy cloudy day here in Scranton, my brother Wayne’s Girlfriend Vicky called and asked if I could help her move some stuff from their old apartment, the did most of it over the weekend and she wanted to finish it today ,Wayne had to work, so I said sure, we’ll just use my truck, from all the people I have moved in this old man’s lifetime, this was the worst, from a second floor apartment down to the truck and then back up to the new second floor apartment, after about a dozen ups and downs, I was ready for a nap, I must be getting old, her brother was helping but he is older than I am and really has diabetes bad so it was worse on him. I sure wished Wayne had been there as he is 16 years younger than I am. Anyway it is done and now she can close out the old one and get on in the new.

Hey I got an e-mail from Sadie at home this morning, I’ll share it with you.

Hi It's Sadie

Thought I'd bring you up-to-date.  Sometimes Riggs is a real good big brother and other times not so much.

Take yesterday.  Some people came to the door, my Dad called them Jehovah Witnesses.  A lady bent down to pick me up and Riggins charged up and he had these big teeth he was showing and his fur stood up, boy did that lady put me down fast!  See so I know he likes me otherwise he wouldn’t care if that lady tried to take me away. 

But then later, here we were playing a nice game of tug with the raccoon in the living room.  It so big that I have to sit on the one end to be able to grab close enough, well all of a sudden Riggs shakes his head back and forth back and forth, next thing I knew I was in the kitchen.  Dad and Grandma were laughing saying it looked like a kids game of crack the whip. Now was that nice ?  And then later he stole my ball, he'd hold it in his mouth and squeak it right in front of me.  He just too big for that ball it fits in his whole mouth. Grandma took it away from him and said he was going to choke on it.

   I got him later though, when Dad went to bed and was watching TV w/ me Riggins came in and jumped up on the bed....ha ha ha...I got on his back and grabbed his ear !  Nothing he could do, I was behind him and if he tried that head shaking thing, well just made it hurt more cause I had a good hold.

See can’t mess with little sister.

Well Sadie it sounds to me like you and Rigg’s enjoy playing with each other and that he is really doing a good job of watching out for you.

Tell Him I am really proud of him protecting you when he thought the lady was taking you.

I can’t wait to see you both. Love your Grandpa..

Well not much doing after the moving was done I had to stop at the Beer Distributors to get some High Life, Can’t wait to get home and be able just to buy it at the store when I’m shopping and not make a special trip. Also PA must tax the heck out of it as a 30 pack is six dollars more here than in MO.

Tomorrow is Wendy’s Doctor appointment I sure hope it’s good news I know she wants' to get the machine and start therapy. Be Safe out there. Sam & Donna…

Monday Mumblings.

Today turned into a nice mild sunny day with a temp about 57degrees reached in the early afternoon, had to make a grocery run this morning, then just kicked back and watched a movie. I am saving going to see Unstoppable in the regular show until I get home and then  I can go with Donna & Adam to a show & supper.

As I might have mentioned my sister Wendy is a cat person and has three resident cat’s.  The  one that will actually pay a little attention to me is Noah, he is a large male Siamese, and will come over and rub  against my leg until I give him a pet and and let me pet his head and neck, until he’s had enough and then off he goes. Like most cat’s I’ve seen he is very independent and doesn’t come when called. He has somewhat accepted me and sleeps outside my bedroom door or on the landing.

                                  Noah.

The two females are Jasmine who is the oldest and Arie, who I call Airhead. Airhead is the youngest and is a typical kid, without a care in the world. Neither of them show any interest in me just Wendy, they are not men’s cat’s. They are both black and Airhead has white paws.

To make sure I know who’s boss and runs the place Jasmine has decided a good place to take her afternoon snoozes is in my suitcase on top of my folded clothes,

                      Jasmine’s new bed.

I can imagine what Rigg’s will think when he see’s that, I already told her she’s lucky he stayed in MO or there would be a new top man in this place.

Every morning at 05:30am the three of them are waiting for me to come out of my bedroom and go down to the kitchen, and then they stake out their places while i fill their food bowls and water dishes. Didn’t take them long to get me trained. Airhead hid when I started to take pictures so she will have to wait for hers.

Well it’s a slow news day here in Scranton, no mine collapses, no job’s and lot’s of older cars at the market, reminds me of my bus trip down to the coal region of Kentucky, much the same poverty here. It appears if you don’t work at the State Office Building downtown or the Tobyhanna Army Depot, or one of the retail stores you don’t work. Still amazed at the number of Pizza shops here, they are all Mom & Pop operations, hardly a chain store in the whole area. I guess they all share the market, one advantage is they are good and for a cheese pizza the price is about $7.00 Compare that to $18.00 for an extra large Imo’s in St Louis. The amount of food is comparable because they are square pieces and thicker than an Imo’s. I can buy the shells and make it only a little cheaper at home two shells, square. is $2.50 and a can of sauce is $1.00, and a lb of cheese is $5.00. But that makes two pizza’s for a total of $8.50.

I am going to post a story that Paul & Helen Tempesta  PAUL,HELEN,JODIE,COCO,&SANDY sent Donna , as she said have a hankie ready..

If you are a dog lover you will really love this story, even if you aren't I bet you will be moved.

Great Dog Story!

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie,
as I looked at him lying in his pen..  The shelter was
clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.
I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere
I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open.  
Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to
settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog
couldn't hurt.  Give me someone to talk to.
And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local
news.  The shelter said they had received numerous
calls right after, but they said the people who had come
down to see him just didn't look like "Lab
people," whatever that meant.  They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things,
which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis
balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner.  See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off
when we got home.  We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home).  Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. 
Maybe we were too much alike.
For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls --- he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in
his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. 
I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he
settled in.  But it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.
I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and
"come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it.
He never really seemed to listen when I called his name --- sure, he'd look in my
direction after the fourth or fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. 
When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.
This just wasn't going to work.  He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. 
I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.
The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two
weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search
mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff.  I
remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest
room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the
"damn dog probably hid it on me."
Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the
shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys
from the shelter...I tossed the pad in Reggie's
direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most
enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home.  But
then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that?  Come
here and I'll give you a treat."  Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction --- maybe "glared"
is more accurate --- and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down .... with his back to me.
Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought.  And I punched the shelter phone number.
But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope.
I had completely forgotten about that, too.
"Okay, Reggie,"  I said out loud,
"let's see if your previous owner has any advice."
____________ _________ _________ _________

To
Whoever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter
could only be opened by Reggie's new owner.
I'm not even happy writing it.  If you're reading this,
it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab
after dropping him off at the shelter.
He knew something was different.
I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip,
but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong.
And something is wrong...which is why I have
to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it
will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls.
The more the merrier.  Sometimes I think he's part
squirrel, the way he hordes them.  He usually always
has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in
there.  Hasn't done it yet.  Doesn't
matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be
careful - really don't do it by any roads.  I made
that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.
Next, commands.  Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them
again:  Reggie knows the obvious ones ---
"sit,"  "stay,"  "come," "heel." 
He knows hand signals:
"back" to turn around and go back when you put
your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your
hand out right or left.  "Shake" for shaking
water off, and "paw" for a high-five.  He
does "down" when he feels like lying down --- I bet
you could work on that with him some more.  He knows
"ball" and "food" and "bone"
and "treat" like  nobody's business.
I trained Reggie with small food treats.
Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.
Feeding schedule:  twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in
the evening.   Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter
has the brand.
He's up on his shots.
Call the clinic on  9th Street  and update his info with
yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when
he's due.  Be forewarned:  Reggie hates the vet.
Good luck getting him in the car.
I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time.
I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie
and me for his whole life.  He's gone everywhere
with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if
you can.  He sits well in the backseat, and he
doesn't bark or complain.  He just loves to be
around people, and me most especially.
Which means that this transition is
going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new.
And that's why I need to share
one more bit of info with you....
His name's not Reggie.
I don't know what made me do it, but
when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them
his name was Reggie.
He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it
and will respond to it, of that I have no
doubt.  But I just couldn't bear to give them his
real name.  For me to do that, it seemed so final, that
handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting
that I'd never see him again.  And if I end up
coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it
means everything's fine.  But if someone else is
reading it, well ... well it means that his new owner should
know his real name.  It'll help you bond with
him.  Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change
in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.
His real name is "Tank".
Because that is what  I drive.
Again, if you're reading this
and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the
news.  I told the shelter that they couldn't make
"Reggie" available for adoption until they
received word from my company commander.  See, my
parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've
left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the
Army upon my deployment to  Iraq  , that they make one phone..
call the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell
them that Tank could be put up for adoption.  Luckily,
my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon
was headed.  He said he'd do it
personally.  And if you're reading this, then
he made good on his word.
Well, this letter is getting downright depressing,
even though, frankly, I'm just
writing it for my dog.  I couldn't imagine if I was
writing it for a wife and kids and family ... but still,
Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as
long as the Army has been my family.
And now I hope and pray that you
make him part of your family and that he will adjust and
come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog
is what I take with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do
something selfless, to protect innocent people from those
who would do terrible things ... and to keep those terrible
people from coming over here.  If I have to give up Tank
in order to do it, I am glad to have done so.  He is
my example of service and of love.  I hope I honored
him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough.
I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at
the shelter.  I don't think I'll say another
good-bye to Tank, though.  I cried too much the first
time.  Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he
finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank.  Give him a good home,
and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you,
Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope.
Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even
new people like me.  Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star
when he gave his life to save three buddies. 
Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on
the hardwood floor.  He sat in front of me, his head
tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.
"Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each
time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture
relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood
him.  I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried
my face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me.
Your old pal gave you to me."  Tank reached up and
licked my cheek.  "So whatdaya say we play some ball ?" 
His ears perked again.
"Yeah?  Ball?  You like that?  Ball?" 
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room.
And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

If you can read this without getting a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, you just ain’t right..

I know it’s long, but sheesh, even this old guy was impressed. I couldn’t help but notice how much Tank looked like Rigg’s, I hope if ever anything happens to me & Donna there is someone to care for Rigg’s. Hey, be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Sunday’s Notes.

I got up to a cold morning, OAT (outside air temp) was 34 degrees but the forecast says fair and the sun is trying to rise so I hope that’s true. After yesterday’s post about the parade, I thought boy now that’s gonna be a tough one to follow. But my dear bride Donna had sent me an e-mail asking for instructions on how to download pictures from her Panasonic Lumix and I had the foresight to leave the proper USB cord plugged in when I left so I sent her instructions in writing and it looks like she was able to pull it off. A computer tech instructor like RICK I am not.

So here finally are some shots of my new Grand dog Sadie and her big brother Rigg’s.

                      Sadie Mae Weibel

          Look’s like Rigg’s wants to play ball.

           How about a good game of Tug.

Rigg’s being a good big brother with little Sadie.

                    Okay back to tug.

Looks to me like they are getting along just fine, can’t wait to see them both. This is the first time in my life I have had a dog that was the size of a car wash mitt. Hey Sadie wait till warm weather gets here and the truck is dirty, are we gonna have fun…

Haven’t decided yet what I will do this afternoon,

Well I went down to the Mall at Steamtown. the Miniature Train Display opened so I decided to see how it turned out since it was under construction both times I went there.

First thing I noticed was a replica of the Old Nay Aug Park Zoo, yes Scranton had a really neat zoo when I was growing up Lions, Tigers, bears, just about any mammal you could think of plus alligators and snakes. But the stars of the whole show was an Indian Elephant named Tillie, and her constant companion a donkey named Joshua,they were inseparable like Siamese twins, well there it was on the display just like I remembered it from 45 years ago.

                            Nay Aug Park Zoo

                                 Tillie & Joshua

It so neat to rekindle memories of your youth, Sadly Tillie died while I was in service and Joshua didn’t last long without her and was gone. The Zoo is also gone a victim of budget cuts and neglect.

I then strolled the Mall and ran into an old friend and had my picture taken with him, At first I thought it was one of my Canadian buddies, Either AL or RICK but as I looked closer the beard was too long for either of those guys. What do you think.

                             

                                             Sam & Santa

Of course he asked what I was hoping for this year, and I assured him I had been mostly good and all I wanted was my sister Wendy to recover and me be able to be home in MO. for Christmas.

That’s an easy one he laughed, the little girl ahead of you wanted a baby sister, do you know how tough that is with only a month until Christmas.

Well that’s about it for today, hope you all had a good weekend, Be safe out there, Sam & Donna…..

Saturdays, The Santa Parade.

Well today dawned a clear but cold 30degree day but my PA. Granddaughter Michelle was ready at 08:30AM to head into downtown Scranton for the Annual Santa Parade up the main Street of Lackawanna Ave. We got down there and found a parking space about two blocks away and then carried the lawn chairs over to a ringside seat at Lackawanna Ave & Adams Ave where the parade ended at the Hilton Hotel.

Precisely at 09:00AM the first unit of the parade was sighted and what a sight it was.

The United States Marine Corp Color Guard.

               Then the PA State Police

    Then Scranton Police had their Bat Mobile

         What’s a parade without a Motor Cop.

 

A Local Hero, Boy was he popular with the crowd.

Michelle learned it is better to give than receive and donated to Toy’s For Tot’s.

Michelle looks like a happy camper to me.

                       Some of the Balloons.

              

              Scranton HS Marching Band.

           Lake Waulenpaupack HS Marching Band.

              Lake Land HS Marching Band

               Greyhound Rescue Unit

Of Course Can’t forget Lab Rescue, Look at his Jacket, What do you think Jodie, Coco & Sandy, Also Rigg’s & Annie.

I have to say all of these dog’s I was told are available to a good home, and they all walked and performed like stars, not a shy one among them and they got pets and hugs from the kids all along the route.

                   Acrobats anyone.

                            Twirlers.

This guy was a crowd pleaser, he did this almost all the way up the block.

                  Michelle & Ronald.

             Here was another big hit with the kids.

Finally what all the kid’s and Grandpa’s were waiting for, The big guy and the Missus.

But my absolute favorite of the whole morning was this.

The Reason for the Season, by St Stanislaus Church.

I hope you all enjoyed the parade as much as Michelle & I did, although it was cold, Michelle said she wore longies because last night I told her to dress warm, and Grandpa showed her how to march in place when the bands passed to warm her feet when they got cold, and then as a reward we did go to McDonalds after the parade since she was still excited about meeting Ronald, and darned if he wasn’t at the downtown McDonalds and remembered her, or at least said he did.

Now I am going to take a nap, Be safe out there, Sam & Donna…