On The Road Again  

Posted by Stan Harrington

Before rumors commence to fly and everyone comes to agreement that the old man and mother have totally went off the deep end, let me assure you that we are fine and are in full control of our faculties. We just got the bug to go on the "road" again. If all goes as planned within the next seventy two hours, we will be going on a little road trip in very early October. Our destination point will be the Little Village By the Slough (Homer), however to get there we will take the long way around after spending a couple of days in LA to visit little ones and to take on supplies.
From LA, we will cut south to Idaho to visit Glacier National Park, into Montana to visit historic sites such as the Little Big Horn. Montana to North Dakota and South Dakota to visit the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. Cutting southeast across Nebraska to visit "old" family homestead sites and possibly meet some "cousins prior to going into Kansas and Missouri, where we have to spend the night at Branson just to see Dolly Parton! From Branson, into Lakeview, Arkansas to visit my brother, Lanny with a side trip to visit my grandparents grave sites and old homesite.

From Arkansas, we will then turn Southwest passing through Oklahoma and Texas into New Mexico. Turning north, we will spend a few days in Western Colorado visiting family before heading into the Utah country and the Canyon Lands National Monument. Continuing south, we will visit the Grand Canyon before dropping further south into the Redrocks of Arizona on our way into Phoenix to once again visit family and friends. While in this area we will also visit Baghdad to visit family on our way to Laughlin, Nevada where we will have the opportunity to spend a couple of days trying to re-coup our costs at the casinos. If we do not prevail in Laughlin, we will still have a day or so in Las Vegas and if all else fails, we can hit Reno, Nevada on our way out of the state. Crossing northern California, we will once again see the Pacific Ocean at Ft Bragg and follow Highway 101 up the coastline to Portland. Will possibly visit Whidbey Island prior to crossing the Canadian border and up the Frazer River Canyon to meet up with the Alcan Highway at Dawson Creek to commence our final leg into Homer.

Lot's of details to handle prior to departing, I think I should change the oil in the old F-150 that way I will not have to check it the entire trip. The Little Lady and I do not have to get any shots, but poor Dutch has to go to the vet to get shots and even a health certificate to get into Canada. Why don't humans need health certificates? We are also going to get a GPS Chip inserted into him, not that we are concerned about loosing him, but if we should happen to get lost, you can always call the "hotline" and get a fix on "Dutch", we should not be far away. Although not a primary mission for this trip, he and I will be doing a little "bitch" looking - however, he maybe making a trip to Florida for that. "No time frame, just point it south and head down the road with no destination for the day".

1936  

Posted by Stan Harrington


When one takes the time to reflect back on their past, they quickly realize the multitude of advancements and changes that have occurred in just our lifetime.
Recently, while making a purchase at a store, I reached into my pocket to retrieve the exact change. It was only then, that I discovered this simple little Nickel, a 1936 Indian Head. Evidently change that I had received from an earlier transaction.
Being that this little Indian Head Nickel was older than I, by nine years and most likely has been in circulation for the past seventy one years, I wondered to myself what has this Nickel seen during its lifetime.
In the year that the Nickel was minted, the Olympic Games were being held in Germany, the Nazi Party headed by Adolf Hitler was in control of Germany. Jessee Owens, a black athlete from the United States, was the hero of the games by winning four gold medals in track and field events.
This same year, author Margaret Mitchell published her novel, "Gone With The Wind" which won her the Pulitzer prize in 1937. This would be the only novel that she would write.
Standard Oil of California discovered oil in the middle of a desert in a small country called Saudi Arabia.
I would be fascinating to know the where this little Nickel has traveled and how it ended up in Anchor Point, Alaska. The past cannot be traced, but the future of the Nickel is assured, it will be given to my granddaughter, Brittany, as she is the only person that I know that collects Nickels.

Anchor River Steelhead TRout  

Posted by Stan Harrington

STEELHEAD TROUT HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN
CATCH AND RELEASE ON THE ANCHOR RIVER
"FALL OF 1981"


OR
IN THE FALL OF 1961


Two New Ships For the Navy  

Posted by Stan Harrington

U.S.S. RONALD REAGAN



The U.S.S. Ronald Reagan has joined the fleet, in this picture her crew is "manning the rail" to pay honors to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It is a great size comparison to give you a idea of just how large this modern vessel is. Her displacement is 100,000 tons with full compliment with speeds exceeding 30 knots. She will operate with two nuclear reactors with no need to refuel for 20 years. She stands 20 stories above the waterline with a flight deck that consists of 4.5 acres. Her bronze propellers are each 21 feet across and weighs 66,200 pounds. Fully loaded, she carries a complement of 6,000 personnel. Her distillation plants produce 400,000 gallons of fresh water per day from sea water. Her air wing compliment is in excess of 200 aircraft of various types.



The second ship to join our Naval Fleet is the

U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton

The Clinton set sail from her homeport of Vancouver, British Columbia enroute to Seattle, Washington. She is the first of it's kind and is standing legacy to President Clinton for his foresight in military budget cuts and conduct while President. The ship is constructed entirely from recycled aluminum and is completely solar powered with top speeds exceeding five knots. It boasts an arsenal comprised one one (1) unarmed F14 Tomcat or one (1) unarmed F18 Hornet although they cannot be launched or recovered from the 100 foot flight deck.

No firearms are allowed onboard, the 20 man crew is completely diversified including members of all races, creeds, sex, and sexual orientation. This crew, like the crew onboard the U.S.S Jimmy Carter is specially trained to avoid conflicts and appease any and all enemies of the United States at all costs.

The ships mission is not defined as a unit of national defence, but in times of conflict the Clinton has orders to seek refuge in Canada. The ship was renamed and commissioned the U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton when someone realized the original name was already used by a Navy Submarine, the U.S.S. Blowfish.

I Need A Hug  

Posted by Stan Harrington

Today, as I watched the Denver Broncos win their seasonal opener in the National Football League, my thoughts wandered to my telephone as to why it was not ringing. I checked it a couple of times "to make sure it had not lost it's fluxxy" (On Golden Pond) but all seemed to be in working order. Following the game, I carried the phone outside with me as I went about my yard work, knowing that the phone would ring very soon, but it did not. At dinner, I sat the phone next to my plate of food, knowing that I would surely be interrupted by the phone call I had been anxiously awaiting all day. Nothing happened. Following dinner, I watch the Cowboys beat up the Giants in my second football game, feeling drowsy, I placed the phone next to my recliner so I surely would not miss the important call, once again I was disappointed. The day is now ending and my phone has still not uttered a single note.


In my lifetime, I have been very fortunate by having four wonderful children, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren, however my phone still did not ring. You may be wondering why he is placing so much emphasis on a telephone call. The answer is simple. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation, most likely the only thing he accomplished in office, declaring that the Sunday following Labor Day (September 9, 2007) would be the official Grand Parents Day in the United States.

If you are now feeling very guilty, you can make amends by calling your grandparents and sing them a little song that you will find at this link. Just click the bar titled "A Song for Grandma and Grandpaon" under this picture at the web site and you will be as instantly happy as I when you listen to the words. I surely wish I had my grandparents, I would call them - but at least my thoughts are with them.

Think Big  

Posted by Stan Harrington


Although, those that live in the Las Anchorage area have probably seen this aircraft park at the "what his name" airport. But, this is the first time I have seen it, it is posted on their web site. It was painted to commemorate the importance of the salmon to Alaska. I look forward to the the airline painting all their aircraft to commemorate the other four species of Pacific Salmon. The Boeing 747 would make a great "Humpy". This particular King Salmon is 120 feet long and weighed in at 140,000 pounds. It took a crew of forty painters working full time for thirty days to complete the paint job. Well Done Alaska Airlines. Sorry, but I cannot divulge why I was looking at their website.