The "XXIII" Story

Son Tad and former student Steve outside his Tattoo Studio.

It was an ordinary day.  Just said "Good-Bye" to my daughter Brynn, son-in-law Dave and grand- daughters Courtney and Camille as they pulled from the curb into traffic in downtown Lancaster, PA.  They were on their way back to Urbana, Maryland after spending the 4th of July weekend and a celebration of Brynn's holiday birthday with Carol and me and the rest of our family.  Before they left, they made a stop downtown so Brynn could visit the tattoo studio called Trancending Flesh.

Brynn and Dave

It is located on Chestnut Street in downtown Lancaster and is owned by a former student of mine, Steve Lowry.  Steve was an outstanding student in both the visual arts as well as my class in graphic arts.  Today he is perhaps the best tattoo artist in Lancaster.  My youngest son, Tad, has been a regular at his studio and today Brynn decided to made a visit.  She had decided to have a small tattoo on the inside of her left wrist which would be covered with her watch when she wears it.  

Steve is positioning a copy of what Brynn
wanted on her wrist.  It will act as a
guide during the tattoo process.

The tattoo is a simple Roman numeral "XXIII" which is the equivalent to the number "23". She has been thinking about it for sometime and decided to take the step and have it placed on her wrist while visiting with us over the July 4th holiday.  I told her I just had to go along with her to take a couple of photos so I could post a story here about the tattoo.  Her teenaged daughters also came along to see what is involved when you get a tattoo.  Now...why did she choose the number that she did?  It has a very sentimental meaning to it.  It was back on May 9th, 1998, at the age of 23 that she married David Mencarini and moved from our home in Lancaster, PA to Maryland where they lived in the basement of Dave's parents while they began their careers in teaching.  

Steve begins his work.

Then on March 23, 2002, her daughter Courtney was born.  On June 23, 2005 another daughter, Camille was born.  We all have special numbers in our lives that are either sentimental or memorable and Brynn wanted that special date, the 23rd, to be with her for her life.  It will be a visible reminder that she can share with others that I'm sure will bring about many conversations and more happy memories.  I'm glad I had the chance to witness the occasion and take the photos to share with you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Here you can see the tattoo being administered.

Finished result!

It will take a few days for the swelling and soreness to go away.  This photo
shows the number from the opposite side that she will hold up to show people.

The "Close Encounters Of The Stigma Kind" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Taking another photograph with my iPhone of a flower.  

My iPhone with clip-on macro, fisheye and wide angle lenses.

The only difference I may be doing with my iPhone than you would be adding a close-up lens.  A few years ago I saw an ad for a set of three small lenses and after buying them have been taking some very interesting photographs.  The set of lenses included a macro lens, a wide angle lens and a fish-eye lens.  My favorite is the macro or close-up lens and all of the following photos were taken with that lens.  After you snap on the lens, you must move your iPhone toward or away from the subject since you are not able to focus the lens any other way.  When including an insect in the photo, you must move slowly so as not to disturb the insect.  Hope you can find a few of my results that you too enjoy.  Click on the images to enlarge them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "The TV Genre Known As The 'Western'" Story

One of my favorite Westerns on TV.

It was an ordinary day.  Watching an episode of The Lone Ranger that I found on an old DVD I had recorded a few years ago.  The Lone Ranger was a Western that aired from 1949 to 1957 and was one of my favorite Westerns as a child.  Actually, it is still a favorite of mine and I find a few episodes from time to time on TV and record them when I can.  It stared Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto.  At one time it was one of many Westerns that filled the tube with action that any red-blooded American young boy would have loved.  But it was not the first.  That honor went to a TV show that aired on June 24, 1949 when the black and white Hopalong Cassidy show began its run after 66 movies on the big screen.  

Hopalong Cassidy played by William Boyd.

Hopalong Cassidy was a hero in novels written by Clarence E. Mulford in the early 1900s that eventually found their way to the big screen and then to the small screen much to the enjoyment of many young boys.  The original Hopalong Cassidy had a wooden leg, thus the name Hopalong, while the TV character earned his nickname from a gunshot-induced limp rather than the wooden leg.  One of the biggest departures from most other cowboy heroes was the fact that Hopalong wore an all black outfit.  William Boyd took on the role on the TV screen and he was one cool cowboy.  52 of the original 66 movies were edited to TV episode length with the first episode, "Sunset Trail" airing June 24, 1949.  My dad even enjoyed watching Hopalong Cassidy with me on our little table-top black and white TV.  

Another favorite of mine from 1950-1956.

Eventually the other movies were edited for TV as well as new episodes which included his sidekick Red Connors.  William Boyd eventually retired after 20 years of playing Hopalong Cassidy.  Boyd's production crew then went to work on another Western which you may remember when I tell you it was called Gunsmoke.  The biggest difference between Hopalong Cassidy and Gunsmoke was the fact that the latter was geared more for adults rather than children.  As TV entered the 1960s, the Western began to lose it audiences as "space shows" began to replace "horse shows".  For me, some of my other favorites, to go along with Hopalong Casidy and The Lone Ranger, during the 50s and early 60s were: have "Have Gun Will Travel" (1957-1963), "Wild Bill Hickok" (1951-1958), "The Cisco Kid" (1950-1956), "Roy Rogers" (1951-1957), "Wagon Train" (1957-1965), "Gunsmoke" (1955-1975), "The Rifleman" (1958-1963), and finally "Bonanza" (1959-1973).  

Looked great in color on Sunday Night.

There were many other Westerns that you may remember if you are in your twilight years as I am, but I believe I listed most of my favorites.  I will mention that my Aunt Doris and Uncle Paul were one of the first in our family to buy a color TV in the early 1960s and would invite my family to visit with them every Sunday evening to watch Bonanza.  What a thrill that was even though by then I was in High School.  I often wonder how many young boys would watch TV Westerns if they were to make a comeback.  I suspect I will never know the answer in my lifetime.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The following are a few more favorites.

    

The "What Is The Meaning Of July 4th To You?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out the locations and times of the parades that will occur today in our community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Also checking out where we can view fireworks tonight after the parades have ended.  But, today is more than a patriotic day in our household, since our daughter, Brynn Ann (Woods) Mencarini, was born on the 4th of July.  She and her family, which includes husband Dave and daughters Courtney and Camille, will arrive from Urbana, Maryland by noon and we will celebrate with a picnic which will include our oldest son Derek and his wife Barbara and son Caden as well as our youngest son Tad whose name was given to him to celebrate being born on our Nation's BiCentennial year, 1976.  His name is Paul Thaddeus Woods, named after Lancaster's famous Thaddeus Stevens whom I have written about many times.  

Brynn's photo from the Lancaster
Newspaper when she turned 4
years old on the 4th of July.

We will meet to celebrate the birth of our nation and our daughter with a meal and perhaps a visit somewhere to watch evening fireworks.  So, besides our celebrations today, what really happened on July 4th to make this day so special in the history of the United States.  It was on July 4, 1776 that the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence which was written by Thomas Jefferson.  They had been working on it for a couple of days after the original draft had been submitted two days before.  Finally, all edits and changes had been approved.  The fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August of that year is now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  But, July 4 wasn't a special holiday immediately after that date in 1776.  Our young country was still too new and at times in turmoil.  In the 1790s the Declaration had become controversial with the Democratic-Republicans admiring Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration while the Federalists thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British.  In 1817 John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past and then copies of the Declaration began to circulate once again, with the date July 4, 1776 listed at the top.  Then both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826 and the idea of promoting July 4 as a national holiday gained acceptance.  

Brynn's daughters, Camille (left) and Courtney help to
celebrate her birthday on July 4 many years ago.  The
cake is Carol's famous lemon cake!

Finally, in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress declared July 4 to be a national holiday.  So, our family added to that celebration with the birth of our daughter in Lancaster.  We may or may not have fireworks to celebrate her birthday today, but my wife's famous lemon cake with glowing candles will do nicely.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Lancaster County Tradition & Landmark" Story

Kathleen Stoltzfus grinds horseradish root at her market stand.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing with camera in hand in front of Long's Horseradish stand which is located in Lancaster's historic Central Market.  My eyes are burning and watering from the aroma of the horseradish as it is being ground directly in front of me by the market stand's new owner, Kathleen Stoltzfus.  

Lancaster Newspaper photo of Michael Long packaging
freshly ground horseradish at his stand in Central Market.

Michael Long recently sold the 117-year-old business to Stoltzfus after running the stand since 1991 after taking it over from his father Charles Long.  Charles' great-grandfather immigrated from Germany in the late 1800's and sold vegetables and horseradish at an outdoor market in downtown Lancaster before the market house was built in 1889.  The family still holds the right to purchase the stand back from Kathleen if she ever decides to give it up in the future.  

View from the balcony at one end of Central Market in downtown Lancaster, PA

Kathleen is no stranger to market, since she sold micro greens, vegetables, organic eggs and other products at Tulip Tree Farm stand.  Most every time I visit Central Market I reminisce about the smell of horseradish having experienced it since my mother took me to market for the first time over 70 years ago when I was a child living about half-a-mile from market on South Prince Street.  

Kathleen removes the small drawer under the grinder
to remove the ground horseradish.

The smell of the freshly ground horseradish also made my eyes burn and water back then.  But, I still find it interesting to watch how they take the peeled horseradish root and grind it so that it falls into a small drawer-like compartment under the grinding wheel before being reclaimed into a container and packaged in small jars and labeled for sale.  Kathleen told me today that she usually grinds about 50 pounds before the market day is over on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.  

Jars of horseradish for sale at Long's Horseradish stand.

The pungent odor surrounding the market stand is created by a simple fan that blows the fumes away from the person grinding the root.  Kathleen told me that she gets her horseradish roots from the mid-western United States, since she likes the taste and smell of roots from that area of the country.  The ground horseradish is mixed with distilled vinegar and water to create the "sauce" that is packaged for sale.  I have eaten Long's Horseradish in the past and find it very tasty and it doesn't have as strong a smell as the root does when being ground.  

This shows what the horseradish root looks like before grinding.

Actually horseradish has many health benefits since it can aid in weight loss, lower blood pressure, alleviate respiratory conditions, build strong bones, improve the immune system, stimulate healthy digestion, promote heart health and lower the chances of neural tube defects in infants.  Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of using horseradish is it being able to reduce the risk of cancer due to its high levels of glucosinolates.  If you can stand the pungent odor, you may be able to strengthen your immune system by adding Long's Horseradish to your recipes.  So, if you live close by or are planning a trip to Central Market in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, stop and buy a container and give it a try.  It was another day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The " A Piece Of Furniture For All Generations" Story

LDub writing while relaxing in his recliner.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my recliner, writing a story about ... my recliner.  Recently read that the recliner chair has been embraced by the Baby Boomer generation.  May be so, but my generation, the Silent Generation, loves them also.  Just about all my friends, as well as family members, has a recliner.  In case you have no idea what I am talking about, a recliner is an armchair that reclines when the occupant, precisely me, lowers the chair's back and raises its foot rest.  Great position for watching television which in turn causes the eyelids to recline over the viewers eyes.  And, about a half-hour later, the occupant sits back up once again to see what they might have missed on the TV.  Actually, around 1850, Napoleon III was said to have used a reclining chair for the first time.

Chair and ottoman used by Napoleon III.

The chair had turned wooden legs and was upholstered in muslin and had a matching ottoman to go with it.  Naturally had to Google it and sure enough, there it was on a website, for sale in a Chicago antique shop for $3,200.  Looked a bit worn, but what the heck, it belonged to Napoleon!  So, I dug a bit deeper and found that two American cousins are credited with gaining a patent on a wooden recliner.  Then in 1928, the patent led to the founding of La-Z-Boy.  When La-Z-Boy came out with their recliners, they came in one size: big and bulky.  My wife and I actually had a La-Z-Boy that lasted for years and years and it definitely was big and bulky. Bought it shortly after we were married and placed it in a prominent place in our first home on Janet Ave. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Chair was the center of attention, helping all family members get over everything from the common cold to a few cases of mononucleosis.  Our daughter loved sitting in the recliner with her pet hamster ... and then one day he got off her lap and found his way into the rear part of the recliner.  

Otis managed to survive the recliner ordeal.

Had to pull quite a few of the staples out to retrieve him.  Then one day my wife and I, after a week-end trip to the New Jersey shore while my parents babysat our three children, walked into the house and there was our Himalayan cat, Otis, peeing on the chair.  Boy was I mad!  Ottie was so mad that we left him alone with my parents that he took it out on the family's favorite item in the house, the recliner.  No way was I getting rid of it so I maneuvered the bulky chair onto the front porch and took the garden hose to it.  Scrubbed it over and over again with Lysol and then hosed it down a few times.  Took close to a week before it dried out and then returned it to its prominent place in the living room.  Plopped myself in that wonderful chair and fell asleep.  My wife woke me just in time to go to church choir practice with my dad.  About ten minutes into choir practice the woman in front of me began to sniff into the air. "What do I smell?" she said to the lady next to her.  

Carol in her recliner with an earlier cat, Creamsicle.

"It smells like disinfect- ant," the lady replied as we began practicing the next hymn.  I tapped her on the shoulder and said, "That would be me!"  You can't imagine the pain I felt when the new recliner arrived and the old one went out the door for the last time.  Today we have two recliners; a leather one that I have claimed since it is easier to sit in with my bad back and a soft cloth-covered one that Carol uses to hold our new cat, The Gray Lady.  Today's recliners have become sleek and smooth-functioning, combining designer-quality looks with engineer-quality operations.  Some recliners have cooling chambers to keep you drinks cold while others you can put against the wall and they will still recline.  But, I find I can still fall asleep in just about any of them.  I can't imagine they will ever be replaced in the home.  But, none will ever be more memorable than the very first one that Carol and I purchased when we bought our first home.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Keeping The Witmer Tavern Authentic" Story

Benjamin Witmer's Tavern as it looks today.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking once again at Benjamin Witmer's Tavern on the Old Philadel- phia Pike in eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It was a little over a year ago that my wife and I stopped at the tavern to take a few photos showing what looked like a piece of history that would soon be demolished.  

What it looked like years ago when it was a
Bed & Breakfast as well as a tavern.

The place was falling apart and one of the out-buildings had been hit by a plane a year ago.  It was nearly 300 years ago that Benjamin Witmer built his namesake tavern on what at the time was known as Philadelphia-Lancaster Turnpike.  In 1773 he enlarged the oldest part of the 2 1/2 story blue limestone tavern due to a booming business along the crushed stone highway.  

What it looked like last year when it had a blue tarp over the roof.

The 4,700-square-foot Witmer Tavern continued to operate as an inn through the mid-2000s before the building went into foreclosure in 2009 and fell into a period of neglect.  When Carol and I stopped a year ago there was a blue tarp on the roof to try and keep water from reaching the interior.  Eventually the insulation became soaked and began to rot as did some of the ceiling joists.  

Sign along the old Philadelphia-Lancaster
Turnpike.  Click to enlarge.

Then along came Mr. Gene Aleci who is an architect that specializes in historic preservation.  He estimated it would cost between 600 and 800 thousand dollars to restore the building.  Who would pay more that half a million for a house that's in such a condition on a small lot?  Along came a gentleman named Caleb Ringelberg who made a low-ball offer of $72,000.  He eventually raised his offer $20,000 and is now beginning to restore the place.  A new roof was installed and with Caleb doing most of the work himself, he hopes to keep the cost below $200,000.  Mr. Ringelberg studied HVAC engineering technology at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan and now manages a firm that does energy saving retrofits at schools and state buildings in Harrisburg, PA.  

One of my altered Polaroid prints I offer for sale. I took
this close to 20 years ago when you could buy Polaroid film.
It was still open at the time as a bed and breakfast.

He hopes to be living on a third-floor suite by the fall.  East Lampeter Township in Lancaster County doesn't have any special requirements for working on historic properties, but Caleb is trying to keep the tavern authentic to its time period.  Mr. Aleci recently tour the property and approved of the work that Ringelberg has been doing on the tavern.  Hopefully the building will return to the glory years when it was first opened on the Philadelphia-Lancaster Turnpike.  I would love to visit it and take a few more photos to share with you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.