Monday July 23, 2012

Good grief!! Has it really been a month since my last blog. I have a lot of catching up to do. It has been a great 4 weeks. I have driven across the USA, spent time with Steve and his family in CA and helped Missy move into her condo in the Brentwood area of LA, CA. Since I have been home I have spent a lot of time biking and kayaking. Nancy and I have also spent some time trying out new restaurants. Last Friday we ate at a new eatery called "Trillium Haven". The restaurant is located in the old Zondervan building in Eastown. The place was jammed. Saturday night we ate at the Electric Cheeta on Wealthy St near Eastown. Tonight we are going to Houlihan's. It just opened in Breton Village. While I was driving Missy's car to CA, Nancy had an opportunity to spend some quality time with AJ. If you are confused her is how it worked. On Saturday June 22 I started driving to CA. I followed the route of old US 66. It took me 4 days. I spent the first night in St Robert, MO near Fort Leonard Woods. Ft Leonard Woods is where young men from MI drafted into the Army took their Basic Training. I spent the next night in Amarillo, TX and the following night in Williams, AZ. It was hot. I did not get cool until I got to LA. We live in a beautiful country and I recommend a drive across the country. I got into Long Beach on Tuesday. I stayed the night with Steve. The next morning I picked up Missy at LAX. I also rented a car, Ford Focus. We stopped at Missy's condo and found that her tenant had not moved out. I spent Wednesday night at Steve's and Missy stayed at a friend's. On Thursday I borrowed Steve's bike and took a long bike ride along the LA River trail and also along the beach in LB. I met Missy in the PM and we ran some errands. Missy had expected the movers to arrive on Saturday but she was told they would unload on Friday. On Friday the movers did not get to Missy's place until 1600. They finished about 0100 Saturday morning. I spent the night at Steve's. On Saturday Missy started unpacking. I helped as much as I could. I really like the area around Missy's condo. On night we ate at the Cheesecake Factory. CA requires that restaurants list the calories for each item on the menu. At the Cheesecake Factory it is hard to find an items less than 1,000 calories. By Sunday night the condo was ready for AJ and Nancy. On Monday we headed to LAX to pick up Nancy and AJ. It was good to see the girls. Nancy said that AJ slept from Chicago to LA. We spent Monday night a Missy's. While at Missy's we picked out a sofa and TV for her. We had some trouble getting the closed captions to work on Missy's TV. Charter came out and fixed it on Friday. Nancy and I spent Tuesday, Wed and Thursday nights at hotels near LAX. On Thursday night we attended an outdoor band concert at the harbor in Long Beach with Steve and family. It was cool and Nancy had to borrow a jacket from Veronica. It was a pleasant evening. On Friday we turned in the rental and headed home. It was very hot when we got to GR. In fact as of today we are experiencing the hottest July on record. Saturday I cut the lawn. The heat had retarded its growth. The next week we played catch up. We did work a concert at Meijer's Garden. The featured artist was Brandi Carlisle (sp?). The place was packed and even though I had never heard of Ms Carlisle I enjoyed the concert. Last week my sister, Helen, and Don stopped by. We also had Mary Ellen stay at our house. Mary Ellen was a classmate Helen and Nancy at Albion. We also called Karen Horlings another classmate at Albion. The Horlings live at Silver Lake. We all had dinner at the old Gibson's and after dinner returned to our house for dessert. A good time was had by all. Mary Ellen and Helen and Don left early Friday morning, July 13th. Last Thursday we attended a picnic for Meijer Garden volunteers. Friday and Saturday we tried the new restaurants. Sunday, July 22, we had dinner at the Namey's and tonight we are going to Houlihan's. We are taking Nancy's friend Kathi. Kathi was very kind to Nancy and AJ. On several hot days she invited them over to swim in her pool. Letters Home to Mother: June 27, 1960: The survey crew I was on was staying at the Lynn-Lee Motel in Manchester, VT. I told Mom we were just wrapping up our work in Manchester and would head to Ludlow, VT on Wednesday. Since I did not have a permanent address in VT I had my checks mailed to a coworkers VT address. I then mailed my checks to Alpena and Mother deposited them. I was making $2 per hour. Last weekend I made some extra money by being a caddy at a golf course. July 5, 1960: I wrote from Valente's Motel in Ludlow, VT. It would be my address for the next 3 weeks. I really liked my job and the weather in VT had been perfect. I commented on my good tan. July 15, 1961: I wrote Mom from OCS in Newport, RI. The good news I was half way through OCS. The bad news I had 35 demerits and when you got to 50 you were kicked out. My class work was going well. In a company of 75 I was 2nd in Navigation and 8th in Operations. The rest were above average. A lot of cadets were buying their uniforms. They cost about $400. I said I was going to wait several weeks to see my demerit status. Last weekend I spent in Newport. I enjoyed the freedom. We have lost about 7 men in our company (10%). I think the average flunk out rate is 25%. July 17, 1960: I wrote mother that last weekend I took a bus to Montreal. I really liked the city. I talked money with Mom. I expected to clear about $500 this summer. My sister, Helen, had a recent operation and I asked how serious was the operation. I also wanted an idea for a birthday present for Helen, August 8. I was writing from Burlington, VT. July 23, 1960, Westminster, VT. I wrote my sister, Helen and told her that I was now working on the Interstate, now I 91. Westminster is between Bellows Falls and Brattleboro. The days are hot but cool in the evenings. (no AC in 1960) I complained that the motels did not have any TV so I would miss the political conventions and the Olympics. We are working near the Connecticut River and I thought it quite scenic.