Need A Post! Visit With Granddaughter is Awesome!

Back from Korea!  And a REAL hug is AMAZING!!

The past year has flown by soooo fast.  Last summer(2012) we were lucky enough to be there when you were born!!!

Jamina - Day #!

And you were close enough to get a visit!  And in November, you lived with us for one WHOLE MONTH!!!

Jamina with her Mommy & Daddy!!! (November 2012)

And then you left us for Korea!  Daddy's job in the Army will take you to many COOL places!  And that is when Mom Mom & Pop Pop planned the visit!  How about Korea & your first birthday!!!!

You got a lot of NEAT presents!  But Pop Pop got a great one too!  You feel asleep in my arms!!!

Great visit & great to hug our little girl!

Love ya!

Pop Pop & Mom Mom!

Singing Grandfather & Granddaughter!

I don't know if my granddaughters will ever want to do this, but I have 32 years to practice!  A 92 year old grandfather appeared with his granddaughter over in "jolly old" England onthe show Britain's Got Talent!!

Britain's Got Talent! - Grandfather & Granddaughter!

This gives me a chance to work on my voice & if my granddaughter call - I WILL BE READY!!!

Disney Cruises - Grand Pa is Researching!!!

How about a trip that makes Grand Pa look like a genius!!  Visit this website!!!

Disney Cruise Line Web Site!

This is a trip MADE for grandparents and of course grand kids!!!  OK Mina (and little sis on the way!) we need to do this!!

There are 4 ships!!  Check it out!!!

Disney Dream                                  Disney Fantasy

Disney Magic                                   Disney Wonder

Tips for Becoming a Better Grand Father!

Found a great website for Grand Parents - GrandParents

And the article that caught my eye - Six Tips on Becoming a Great(er) Grandpa!

1 - Share (Some of) Your Wisdom

2 - Get the Kids Outdoors

3 - Get Them Involved in Sports

4 - Share Treasured Keepsakes

5 - Help Them Become Good Citizens'

6 - Create a Family Language

And of course, in today's politically correct work they forgot.......

7 - Share Your Faith!

Quotations About Grandparents

Found a great website of quotation at Quotations About Grandparents.

Here are some of my favorites!

The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy.  ~Sam Levenson

Heard this one before, never new who said it!

A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.  ~Author Unknown

This is true!!

Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Pop-pops have only so many horsey rides in them.  ~Gene Perret

This is good!!

Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies.  ~Author Unknown

This is good for grandpas too!!

If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first.  ~Lois Wyse

This is a famous on!

Check out more at the web page above - they are good!!!

Looks Like Another Granddaughter!!

We have one granddaughter and now it looks like another little girl!!  Pop Pop needs to keep looking for great granddaughter ideas!

Found some great quotes!

• Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb
• The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren. ~Doug Larson
• Grandparents are a family's greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, The greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family's strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart. ~author unknown
• Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent. ~Donald A. Norberg
• Grandparents are the footsteps to the future generations. ~author unknown
• Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children. ~Ruth Goode
• Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories and Love. ~author unknown
• "On the seventh day God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town." ~ Gene Perret

What Are Grandparents?

Reading one of my favorite little publications, "The Fishwrapper" I found this article:

•  Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own.  They like other peoples'.

•  Grandparents don't have to do anything except to be there when we come to see them.  They are old so they shouldn't play hard or run.  It is good if they drive us to the store and give us money.

•  When they take us for walks, they slow down for things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.

•  They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on sidewalk cracks.

•  The don't say, "Hurry up."

•  Usually grandmothers are kind of fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes.

•  When they read to us, they don't skip.  They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.

•  Everybody should try to have a grandmother because they are grownups who like to spend time with us.

•  They know we should have a snack time before bedtime, and they say prayers with us and kiss us even when we've acted bad.

•  Grandpa is the smartest man on earth!  He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him.

Great article, great publication, & great content!!

A Great Story & What Makes Sports Special!

Growing up in the 50's & 60's was special in many ways!  One way was sports!  First, we played them all the time, not on video games, but for REAL!  And professional sports was not a victim to $$$$$$$$$$$!  

Here is a story that everyone needs to read!

Kid with Down Syndrome Defies Doctors to Be Cinncinati Reds Batboy!

First, Down Syndrome!  Many families have a loved on in the family with Down Syndrome.  We have our nephew Andrew!

Second, the world is at times difficult for people with disabilities!  But, the impact on the lives of people is amazing!

Take Teddy Kremer!

A little over a year ago, Teddy's parents entered a bid of $300, to have Teddy have a chance to be the Cinncinati Reds Batboy!  The first amazing story, nobody else put in a bid!  Teddy got the job!

He has had an impact!

The thought has crossed Phil Castellini's mind. "He's incredibly capable,'' Castellini says. "He could do all kinds of stuff. I could put him in customer service anywhere in the building, and he'd continue to put smiles on people's faces."

Put smiles on peoples faces - that's worth a million bucks!

Then last week, Frazier pounded a 421-foot homer to centerfield, per Kremer's request. "I started smiling even before I hit home plate,'' Frazier told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "They said he forgot to pick the bat up, so the umpire was yelling at him. It was such a great'' moment. "You can't get mad -- even if you have a terrible day. How can you be mad when you've got a guy like that around?"

You can't get mad!  We need a lot more of that!  It seems that is what are world needs!  People that can stop us from getting mad!!!

Aging Process!

Being a Grand Father means dealing with my medical issues so my grand children will enjoy me!  So, on my heart blog - My Heart Under Repair, I said this today:



This is what I am working on:

Heart - back on my statins.  Trying to lose weight & exercise more & with more effort.  My PVC's seem to be around 400-500 per day and cardiologist says they are not bad - (NOT a lot of runs!)  More cardio & maybe even a few more jogs!  Lookout Senior Games!

Liver - Trying to lose weight & see if that helps.  Using the South Beach Diet to control carbs & sugar! May have a Liver biopsy in August!  Another new adventure - Liver tissue for my Liver doctor!

Spleen - was a little large, doctor will check on it, she did not seem concerned. It was on the "upper" level for size!  I told her "So was my brain!"

Dermatologist - did that Picato cream & things went well.  Will get a full body check, "OH BOY" in August!  From my cute female doctor!

Dental work - my 30 year old bridge was demolished!  Will have a new, more complicated bridge built!  I think the design is from NASA!  Looks like my son's retainers when they were little!

And playing OVER 60 softball - so, my right hand is black & blue from hitting, my hamstring is sore from chasing flyballs, and my shoulder is aching from throwing!

BUT OTHERWISE I FEEL GREAT!!!  I love the aging process!!!

Grandpas Time to Play

One of my goals of this blog was to let my grandchildren in on the secrets of life(at least this grandpa's secrets)!  So, one secret to life is:

1 - Never totally grow up!  Just because you become an adult, there is a little kid in everyone!  The boring people in life keep that little kid buried!  At times you need to ..... be that kid!  So, ......

There is things like OVER AGE 60 SOFTBALL!!

I am sore, my right hand is bruised, and in morning I will have more pain.  This is great!!!  In the next few months, more kid stories!!!

A Grandfather's Prayer!

Marriage, kids, and now a granddaughter!  Family!  What this world needs is people who focus on family!  And with family comes faith!  When our oldest son Jared was in Iraq (4 tours) we had many prayers!  Our own prayers, our friends prayers, and our church!  Here we go again!

This time it is Korea!  And a leader of North Korea that has no business being a leader!

Our prayers again are with our son, and now his family - wife & daughter!   And all the families in Korea, both military & Koreans!

Take time to pray for your family & all families!

Saturday & Track & Field!

Since my retirement from coaching track & field at Hempfield High School I have had the opportunity to visit the college track & field scene!  And it HAS BEEN GREAT!!

Today I visited with athletes, parents and friends of Hempfield Track & Field!  What did I learn?

1 - Parents Appreciation.  The Parents really appreciated the coaching staff, not just for the trophies, records, & performances, but what the coaching staff did for their children!  Many times we forget that there is more to athletics than winning!  The Hempfield coaching staff should be proud of the huge impact they had on the young people in their program!

2 - The love of the sport!  The athletes enjoyed high track & field so much, they have continued to compete at the college level!  I have been following 22 athletes on line & at meets that are competing at the college level!  And many are coaching!!!

3 - Retirement and doing what you did not have time to do!  One of the goals my retirement is to experience things I never had the chance to do!  This is one of them - visiting college track meets!

A great day!!!

Feel Good - Watch the Old TV Show - "Mr. Ed"!

OK, having a bad day.  Got a tip for you!  Watch the old show Mr. Ed!!!!

One of my favorite things I say these days is: "I'm so happy I grew up when I did!" Being a kid in the 1950's & 1960's was one of those lucky moments I talked about in an earlier blog!  You have NO CONTROL as to when you were born!

Mr. Ed, a TV show based on a talking horse (real name, Bamboo Harvester)!  It is a great comedy!  No thinking, just laughing!  Silly comedy!  What I loved about the 50's & 60's!  And the show is in Black & White!

The show ran from 1961 to 1966!  That makes me 8-13 years old!!  It had 143 episodes & I saw most of them!  Check out the List of Mr. Ed episodes!

Go ahead!  Talk a look on the Hallmark Channel, that is where you can find the shows!  See what life was like in the 50's & 60's!  See what helped mold grandpa into who he is & sing the Mr. Ed theme song with me!

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, 
And no one can talk to a horse of course 
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed. 

Go right to the source and ask the horse 
He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse. 
He's always on a steady course. 
Talk to Mr. Ed. 

People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day 
But Mister Ed will never speak unless he has something to say. 

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, 
And this one'll talk 'til his voice is hoarse. 
You never heard of a talking horse? 

Well listen to this. 

I am Mister Ed.

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

Forrest Gump and Grandfathers

Happen to catch one of my favorite movies!  Forrest Gump.  If you grew up during the 50's & 60's, this movie is a must see!  It covers so much!

The special effects, the music, the history, the quotes!  It touches many things that make you think!

First, a young boy with issues.  He was born with limited mental abilities - BUT accomplished a lot!!

And the quotes - I LOVE the quotes!  Have a look at Forrest Gump Quotes!

Some of my favorite quotes are:

"Stupid is as stupid does!"

Sometimes, I guess there are just aren't enough rocks"

"My name is Forrest Gump, people call me Forrest Gump."

My Momma always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get!"

The shrimp boat scene, the football scenes, running across country, meeting the presidents & his faithful love for a young lady.  A lady that finally came back!

Great movie, great moments, great stuff for a new grandfather!

What Do People Do Without Faith!

Sunday is always a good day - keeps the focus!  What do people do without faith?

It seems our country is going through a period of time where faith is under attack.  Why?  Part of it is "political correctness gone wild!"  If you disagree with how a person leads their life, you are a "HATER"!

How did we become a country?  People left their former country for a new start and the ability to worship as they please!  You had Pilgrims & Puritans, Lutherans & Quakers, Jews & Buddhists & yes, people who did not worship any God!

Now, politics has made people focus on their differences, instead of what we have in common! If you believe something, THAT IS YOUR RIGHT!

Easter brings us to a time when Jesus & his death allows our sin to be forgiven!  Amazing!

What to people do without faith?

A Journey and a Grandfather?

As we travel on our path of live we have a choice - how do we react to obstacles!  This to me defines who we are as a person.  Another choice is - who we travel on this path?  That is my focus today!

OK, we are born!  No choice for us!  It is what it is!

•  Could be born in an interesting time!  1492 AD, the world is about to get bigger!  1941 Pearl Harbor & the beginning of the worlds largest war!  1776 - the birth of the greatest country the world has seen!  Or, about 2000 years ago, and a man that changed the world more than anyone!  My time was 1953!
THE TIME YOU ARE BORN IS NOT YOUR CHOICE!

•  Your parents!  We all need a Mom and a Dad!  It is what it is!  A Vanderbilt or Kennedy - lots of money?  A Martin Luther - a lot of faith!  Kim Jong-Un a leader of a country that had an interesting father!  Or, an my average American family, mother a housewife, father a steelworker!

Now, you are born & you have parents - the rest is up to you!

How do you react to your childhood - family and friends, school & faith, & obstacles!

So, we have people and we have decisions!  You are on your way!  This blog will follow decisions that I have made - Good & Bad!  And, discuss other people and their journeys!  Obstacle & People, sometimes one in the same!  Welcome to my Journey!!

Random Thoughts - Childhood!

As this 60 year old grandpa walked through the snow today, guess what?  Random thoughts!

My exercise does produce flash backs!  So that is my focus today, comparing 1965 to 2012!

As a 12 year old, snow in March was awesome!  As a 60 year old - NOT SO MUCH!

As a 12 year old, listening to music was accomplished by one ear plug on an AM transistor radio!  As a 60 year old, an iPod with a playlist from over 1400 songs!

As a 12 year old, never new my heart rate!  As a 60 year old, wear a heart rate monitor to measure my heart rate after quintuple by-pass surgery 2 years ago!

As a 12 year old, thinking about my lunch at McDonalds - cheeseburger, fries, & coke for less than $1.00!  As a 60 year old, thinking about my cardiologist appointment today at 2PM & my cholesterol!

As a 12 year old, checking out the cute neighbor girl on her one-speed bike.  As a 60 year old, checking out the ladies at cardiac rehab(your still the cutest Sue)!

As a 12 year old, worried about the math quiz of fractions.  As a 60 year old, worried about April 15th tax day!

As a 12 year old, waiting to watch my favorite TV show that night - "Combat"!  As a 60 year old, surfing through the hundreds of channels on cable and not finding anything I like!

As a 12 year old, March Madness was about 25 teams, the championship game on TV.  As a 60 year old, March Madness is 68 teams, every game on TV & the GNP(Gross National Product) goes down 2% for the next 4 weeks!

And as a 12 year old, enjoying the snow on a March day!  And as a 60 year old, enjoying the memories of a 12 year old on a snowy March Day!

Another Blog - This One Dedicated to Grandfathers!

As I was doing my morning walk another blog idea came to my head! Why?

I'm a first time grandfather!

I want to share my wisdom (I think it's wisdom)!

And I have Random Thoughts!  My generation was in school before ADD(attention deficit disorder), OCD(obsessive-cumpulsive disorder), HD(Hyperactive disorder), and CRAP(I made that one up!)  Oh, we had that stuff, but a mean principal & the paddle was better than any medication!

So, I have two goals for this blog!

1 - Random Thoughts - some days, most days, I need to vent!  Politics, education, the medical world, people and many other things will stir my thoughts!

2 - Maybe, just maybe, my grandchildren will read this some day!  Make them laugh!  Share a thought!  And maybe, just maybe, will help them in some way!!!