The "Aging With Attitude" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just clicked the link "Next Blog" on the top of my blog that is in a bar that is medium gray in color.  Have found quit a few really neat blogs while searching that link.  Some though haven't displayed new posts for quite some time while others have more regular posts.  Every once in a while I will come across a blog that carries posts on a weekly basis, but I must admit, I haven't found too many that have new posts on a daily basis such as my blog.  It was September 2, 2009 that I began "Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy" and since my first blog I haven't missed posting a daily story more than a couple dozen times.   It was in late August of 2009 that my wife and I, along with our friends Jerry and Just Sue, who live in State College, Pennsylvania, made a trip to the movies while on a visit to State College.  Movie was "Julie and Julia" which starred Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell who decided to cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and blogging about every day's meal.  On the way out of the theatre I told my wife, "I'm going to do that."  "Do what?" she said.  "Write a blog!" I responded.  "You don't know how to do that," she said.  "That may be true .... but you're going to help me start," I told her.  My first story followed in early September titled "The White Rat."  Story was about a family of white rats that my grandfather bought for me at a farmer's market in Lancaster County, PA.  Check the light green box on my blog and you can find it.  Well, that was six years ago and I'm still finding extraordinary stories to share with you. 

LDub with hair.

My blog has become a history of my life and those whom share it with me.  If you notice I start every story the same.  My favorite author, Stuart Woods, always began his stories with ... "Elaine's late!" and I always looked forward to that line.  I decided I would also have a lead-in line.  Elaine no longer is a character in Stuart's books, but I haven't changed my lead line yet.  A few years after I started the blog, I added a counter to see if anyone was reading my stories.  It will soon reach 300,000.  A big thanks to all of you from all over the world who read my stories.  Find it hard to believe that I have readers from places such as Russia, India, Ireland, Poland, Sint Maarten, China and Japan, to name a few.  Since I started writing, the majority of my readers have come from the United States with Germany, Russia, France, Canada and Ukraine next in line.  Most use the browser Internet Explorer while Windows is the main operating system used.  I found that other countries can access my blog in the language of their country.  I recently read that the average age for bloggers is getting higher.  Don't know how they can figure that out, but more and more people in their 50s and 60s are writing blogs.  Seniors have been somewhat invisible online, but now find they can begin blogging and share their knowledge and writing skills with the world.  My wife picked Blogspot as the platform for my blog when she helped me begin, but there are others to choose from if you care to start.  Sned me a comment telling me where I can find your blog.  As for me, I'm not ready to quit quite yet.  I'm still having fun and it gives me something to do instead of watching TV.  Thanks to all of you who read on a regular basis.  Hope you continue to stay with me in the future.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Panthera Leo And The Cape May County Park & Zoo" Story

Panthera leo.  World's most majestic animal.

It was an ordinary day.  Waiting for the African Lion to open his mouth and let us have it.  Carol and I along with my brother Steve and sister-in-law Kathy are standing in the Cape May County Park & Zoo looking at one of the most majestic animals on earth.  The Panthera leo is the second largest living cat behind the tiger who preys mainly on large mammals such as the zebra, antelope and hippo.  Just standing fifteen yards away from him was scary!  I know he was inclosed in a heavy chain fence, but he looked pretty intimidating.  Another woman standing close to us said she was at the zoo one time when the lion roared and she said she could feel it come through the ground into her body.  The roar was heard all through the zoo.  

Walkways that take visitors of the zoo through the 200 acres.

He is a beautiful creature with a life span in capativity of about 18 years and can weigh up to 550 pounds.  We waited and waited for him to roar, but walked away disappoint- ed.  The Cape May Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and features more than 550 inhabitants representing 250 species that occupy over 200 acres of beautiful natural wooded areas and open space parcels and wetlands.  

The Wetlands, a freshwater ecosystem, consists of land that
displays presence of water at or near the surface, waterlogged
soils, and plants adapted to survival in those soils.

The winding trails and wooden pathways create one of the neatest adventures I have experienced in some time.  And, I believe we walked most of the 200 acres in the two hours we were at the zoo.  I naturally had my trusty DSLR with me and would like to share my experiences with you through a few of my favorite animals in the park and zoo.  Hope you get a chance to see perhaps a few of your favorites as I take you on a journey through the Cape May County Park & Zoo.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - remember to click on photos to enlarge them.

The Dromedary Camel is one of the oldest domesticated animals on earth.  It is extinct in the wild with only feral populations existing in the arid regions of Australia.  The camel can grow to about 11 feet tall, weigh about 1,200 pounds and live about 50 years.  They can carry up to 500 pounds for about 30 miles without water.  This camel was molting or shedding its hair at the present time.   

The Cheetah is a cat built for speed.  The cheetah is one of the only cats that has non-retractable claws which allows for better traction in high speed pursuits.  The cheetah can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour.  Its lifespan in captivity is about 20 years.  It grows to about 5 feet in length, is about 32 inches tall and can weigh up to 160 pounds.

This little guy was really neat.   Called a Cottom Top Tamarin and communicates through whistles, screeches squeaks and warbles.  It can live up to 20 years in captivity, grow to 10 tall, and weigh about a pound.  All this as well as be cute.

One of my favorite birds in the zoo was the Boat-Billed Heron.  The female lays about 2-4 bluish white eggs in a nest made of twigs.  It vocalizes in a deep coral and high pitched pee...pee...pee.  The boat-shaped beak is used to waddle through water, stab prey, and scoop up shrimp. 

This is the Reticulated Giraffe.  They can't jump the fence, but they can stand along the fence and eat the growth on the other side.  Tastes much better than the growth on their side of the fence.  The can live for 25 years in captivity, grow 18 feet tall, and weight more than two tons!  They have valves in their neck veins that control the blood flow when they raise and lower their heads.  The female gives birth standing up and the newborn drops 6 feet to the ground, standing an hour later.  They can run almost 40 mile per hour when scared.

This is the Grant's Zebra and lives up to 28 years.  It stands about five feet at the shoulder and weighs close to 700 pounds.  The zebra can run about 40 miles per hour.  The females form a harem and establish a dominate female, but during travel they will only go as fast as the slowest is able to travel.  I just love the neat detail they display on their bodies.  Looks like a tattoo artist's dream.

This cute little guy is called a Ring-Tailed Lemur.  It is on the list of threatened species and has lost about 25% of its species during the last 20 years.  It is found only in Madagascar and is losing its habitat due to deforestation.  The Cape May Zoo has been able to add several animals to its collection every year through in-house breeding.  This guy looked and looked at me while I was taking his photo.  I made a few throaty sounds and he tried to repeat them to me.

This is the Snow Leopard and he was very elusive.  Retreated into his den and only came out for a short period of time. They are one of the most endangered species of wild cat on earth with only about 6000 left in the wild.  There are only about 150 Snow Leopards in captivity in North America.  There has been very few births of these beautiful animals in captivity, but the Cape May Zoo has been very lucky to have had a successful breeding in the past few years.

This is the Sandhill Crane and is another of my favorite birds at the zoo.  They can live to about 25 years in captivity, grow to about 5 feet tall, and weigh up to 18 pounds.  Their long windpipe allows for their trumpet call.  This bird was hiding his bill from me when I took its photo.

This is the Mertens' Water Monitor and was found in the zoo's reptile and ampibian house.  He looks prehistoric in nature with his loose gladiator skin and fierce claws.  He can grow about 4 feet long and lives up to 30 years.

This is a Siberian Tiger whose name is Rocky.  In August of 2013 he developed Type 2 soft tissue Saccoma on his right rear leg.  The tumor was removed by Dr. Paluch and Dr. Ernst, but returned 8 weeks and was once again removed by the surgeons.  Again, in another 8 weeks the tumor returned more invasive and larger in size.  It was removed by Dr. Laura Culbert, a New Jesey Veternarian.  After the surgery Rocky underwent 6 monthly chemo treatments.  After his chemotherapy Rocky was declared cancer-free!  He certainly seemed to be enjoying himself, rolling on his back as he showed off for the visitors.

This is the Red Fox.  The area where I live in Lancaster, Pennsulvania is know as Foxshire.  When we first moved to the development we would see a few foxes while walking, but haven't seen any in the past few years.  I'm sure rural and urban development has taken its toll on the fox.  The can live up to 12 years in captivity, grow about three feet long and weigh about 30 pounds.  This guy was napping and wasn't bothered by his visitors.

The "A Whiter Smile" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Flashback to last summer .... Sitting in an overstuffed armchair, gazing at the waves lapping the shore.  Carol and I are spending the week in Stone Harbor, New Jersey with my brother Steve and sister-in-law Kathy.  We began making visits to the shore with them two years ago and had such a great time that we have continued our new tradition.  Our nephew Matt and his wife Katie are also spending the week and we're having fun catching up on their busy lives.  Katie recently made a visit to St. Martin with a few of her girlfriends, for which we sat and gave her our recommendations for the week, and we are anxious to hear what they managed to accomplish during their week's vacation which was interrupted by a hurricane.  Our niece, Kelly, and her husband Shawn will also be visiting for a few days later in the week.  Their children's school and Kelly's teaching don't allow them to spend the entire week at the shore.  It was last year at this time that I sat on the same chair and held Steve's youngest grandchild, three-year old Allison, while reading a book to her.  As I was reading she stared at me with her big baby-blue eyes, and forever long eyelashes, for the longest time and said, "Your teeth are funny!"  "I know they are," I replied.  I have known for years that with all the ice tea and dark sodas that I drink my teeth have become discolored.  I even have had fillings placed in a few teeth that were less than white in order to have them match my teeth.  Well, all because of Allison, I decided to visit my dentist and have my teeth whitened.  For those readers who have gone through the event, you know what to expect, but I thought I would tell the rest of my readers exactly what happens and if it works.  First of all, it is not inexpensive.  Cost is $200, but it includes the molds, mouthpieces, all materials and as many visits to the dentist's office that I care to make.  Before Dr. Jim began making the molds, he told me, "You're the oldest male patient that I have ever tried to whiten their teeth.  Will be fun to see what happens with teeth that are that old."  I'm not sure if I was supposed to be excited about the whole thing after his comment or be fearful.  Didn't change my mind though.  The molds were the worst part of the entire operation to date.  His hygienist mixed a "potion" which was placed in a metal mold the shape of my mouth and then the mold was forced onto my lower teeth.  No pain or problems whatsoever.  After about a minute he removed the metal mold and he had the impression needed to make a plaster-of-paris casting.  Then the same thing was done on the top teeth, but this time I began gagging and he had to remove the metal mold in about 20 seconds after placing it on my upper teeth.  "Didn't work," he said.  "I'll have to try it again."  This time he allowed me sit in a more upright position and told me to breath in through my nose and breath out through my mouth.  Mold was made on the second try with no problems.  

The "Kit" contains my molds on the bottom
left, my mouthpieces on the bottom right,
The syringes and tooth paste with whitener.

His impressions were sent to a lab where they made the plaster-of-paris forms and very thin clear synthetic molds of my teeth.  Dr. Jim, on my next visit, showed me how to place the whitener in the new molds and place them in my mouth.  Could barely tell I had them in my mouth.  He suggested just doing the front six teeth on top and bottom.  "Don't waste the gel on the other teeth, since no one looks past the front six," he said.  The oldest patient went home and did the routine for four hours every evening after supper.  Dr. Jim suggested I keep the gel and molds in my mouth overnight, but I opted to do the four hours in the evening.  Matter-of-fact, if you could see me typing this story, you would see the molds in my mouth right now.  After two weeks of this, and forgetting to do the routine about a third of the time, I went back to Dr. Jim.  "He held his sample tooth color to my mouth and said to his hygienist, "That's amazing!  I can't believe they turned that white in only two weeks of night-time use."  I wasn't sure if I should tell him about my half-time sessions and missing every third night, but I did.  He was impressed …. or maybe I should say I was lucky …. that they turned THAT white in such a short period of time.  He told me to continue with another appointment set for the near future when I could decide if I want to have one filling removed (half of one of my teeth) and replaced to match my new white teeth.  At least I have now become the oldest male with the whitest teeth in the shortest amount of time to visit his office.  Can't wait to see what Allison says this year.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum: The Balustrade" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in the Visitor's Center at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum purchasing a pass so I can walk the grounds of Landis Valley and see the thousands of items that reflect the life of a Pennsylvania German village of the 1700's and 1800's.  Young girl asks me if I'm a AAA member and I reply affirmative and tell her I also qualify for a less expensive ticket as a Senior Citizen. She looks at me as if I can't be that old (thank you dear) and hands me my receipt.  

The Caldwell House hotel in downtown Lancaster, PA.
A crowd gathers to see Lincoln who was arriving across
the street at the Lancaster Train Station. The date was
February 22, 1861.   Above the sign reading Abraham Lincoln
 is a railing covered with a banner. The railing, or balustrade,
is now on display at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.

I asked her where I might see the iron balustrade that they have on display.  She points to the room behind her and told me to enter through the door to my right.  After seeing my camera, she said, "You can take photos of the railing, but nothing else in the room."  I entered and headed right to the display that I have been waiting to view for some time for you see it was 154 years ago from behind that iron railing that one of America's greatest men addressed the people of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The railing was on an exterior wall on the north side of the Caldwell House Hotel, across the street from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station at the corner of East Chestnut and North Queen Streets.  President-elect Abraham Lincoln's train had stopped at the station and Lincoln worked his way across Chestnut Street.  He made his way to the Caldwell House balcony where he spoke to the crowd for 18 minutes on his way to his inauguration.  The iron railing, known as a balustrade, had it's 18 minutes of fame on February 22, 1861.  

LDub gets to touch the spot where Abraham
Lincoln once held while speaking in Lancaster.

The train was not supposed to make a stop in Lancaster, but a group of local dignitaries traveled to Philadelphia, where he was scheduled to speak, and talked to his security force about stopping at Lancaster.  So on Friday the 22nd, at 11:57 AM Lincoln's train stopped as a crowd gathered, brass horns tooted and drums rolled.  Local militia commander Col. Henry Hambright brought his company, the Jackson Rifles, to attention. Lincoln was sporting the beard he had grown since running for President along with his famous stovepipe hat.  Lincoln's brief speech was .... "Ladies and gentlemen of Lancaster County.  I am happy to meet the citizens of this great county face to face, but I do not feel prepared to make a speech to you today.  I have not the time now nor the strength, and what is more, have no speech to make.  I have come more to see you.  In a few days the time will come for me to speak officially, and I will then endeavor to speak plainly in regard to the Constitution and the liberties of the American people.  Until I do so speak, I deem it unnecessary to say more."  His entire talk was make while holding onto the iron balustrade in front of him.  Lincoln bade farewell and departed shaking hands as he made his return trek to the train.  In 1942 Henry Landis, one of the two brothers who started the original Landis Valley Farm Museum, acquired the iron balustrade - three six-foot lengths and two six-foot end pieces.  They sat in a barn on the Landis Valley property for the next 70 years until being rediscovered a few years ago.  Not only did Lincoln hold onto the balustrade of the hotel, but other notables such as Presidents James Buchanan and Theodore Roosevelt as well as abolitionist newspaper publisher Horace Greeley made presentations while supporting themselves on it.  And today, well-known Internet blogger LDub, grabbed the balustrade as the girl who sold him his ticket snapped his photograph.  History has repeated itself once again!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum: The Contact" Story

Foreword: Over the next few months I will post a few stories about the historical Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.  The place, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, came about because of the forethought of brothers George and Henry Landis.  Seems that their German ancestors had settled in Lancaster County during the early 1700's.  

Brothers Henry Kinzer Landis (1865-1855) (left) and George
Diller Landis (1867-1954) opened their museum at their
Landis Valley residence which had been a small Pennsylvania
German settlement since the mid-1800's.

Realizing the significance of their culture and its traditions, they began to collect objects from their Pennsylvania German heritage from the 1700's and 1800's with the intention of placing the objects in a museum.  In the 1920's they established a small museum on the grounds of their Landis Valley homestead, using many of the 75,000 objects they had collected.  Then, in 1953, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired the Landis brothers' museum and began to add more structures which were original to the Landis Valley environs.  Today the museum includes exhibit buildings, a crossroads village, historical breeds of animals and heirloom plants.  All that plus demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills are helping to preserve the past of Pennsylvania German rural life.  It is the largest Pennsylvania German museum in the country and provides its visitors with an overview of two brother's passion for collecting "things of the past."

The Weathervane Museum Store taken on Polaoid film and altered.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing on the porch of the Weather- vane Museum Store, now called the Landis Valley Museum Store, talking with Bob who handles sales of items on consignment to the store.  I showed him my altered Polaroid photos that I had taken perhaps 30 years ago and asked if he was interested in selling them in the store.  He looked through the samples I had brought and looked at me and with a smile told me that he had just talked to his boss a short time ago about having a photographer come to Landis Valley to take photos of the buildings that could be sold to visitors of the farm museum.  

The Landis Valley Museum Store as it appears today.

Looks like I arrived at just the right time!  Back in the 1980's, after discovering that I could take Polaroid photos and alter the image as it slowly developed with a tool given to me by an art teacher where I taught school, I visited what was then known as the Landis Valley Farm Museum and took my first "official" Polaroid of the Weathervane Museum Store.  Took it home and showed my wife who said, "I'll bet you could sell copies of that photo at Landis Valley."  And now, 30 years later, it looks like that may be a possibility.  Bob and I talked about what I charge and after hearing my prices told me he was very interested in seeing more photos.  Viola!!  I opened my photo album and leafed to the rear and showed him the 15-20 photos I had taken of Landis Valley Farm Museum.  Just about all of the buildings still remain and he picked out nine photos and told me to make a variety of sizes and he would put them on sale at the store.  So, finally, I may get the chance to sell a few more of my altered  Polaroids.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "Another Look at the Veterans Memorial Bridge" Story

The Veterans Memorial Bridge showing the refurbished lights.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing on the east side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge that connects the cities of Columbia and Wrightsville in Pennsylvania.  The bridge is approximately 5,100 feet long and is believed to be the longest concrete arch bridge in the world.  The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  It was built to replace an older steel bridge that carried both car traffic and the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  In the early 1960s the steel bridge was torn down, but the stone abutments still remain.  

A view of the beautiful bridge from the far shore.

The abutments date to an even earlier wooden covered bridge that was destroyed by fire by the Union Army during the Civil War to prevent the Southern Army from using it to cross the Susquehanna and head towards Washington.  The earlier structure was called the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge.  Well, the bridge I am standing on and photographing today has been recently restored in the Art Deco architectural style and won a historical award.  It received the Ralph Modjeski Award for Excellence in Transportation and Archaeology at the annual Historic Preservation Awards held by Preservation Pennsylvania.  

Photo for the Lancaster Newspaper showing all the Mayflies.

The lighting on the bridge was replaced with 65 new lights that replicate the fixtures that were in place when the bridge was opened in 1930.  The bridge also garnered quite a bit of press coverage this past spring when it had to be closed due to the amount of dead Mayflies that had accumulated on the bridge.  The bridge lights were turned off a few nights until the mayflies decided to depart the area.  Three motorcycle accidents were caused by the "Blizzard in June" before the bridge closed for some time.  Today the brige looks great and the refurbishing of the lights and concrete is spectacular.  This past year I photographed the bridge from another location and you can see the majestic structure from a few different position.  Neat bridge!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Fruitville: Elias Vogel's Legacy" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Finally found out where Fruitville is located after living in Lancaster County, PA all my life.  I travel the Fruitville Pike daily and have for years wondered exactly why it was called that.  I have driven to the end of the road from north to south and never found anything to give me a clue as to why the highway is called the Fruitville Pike.  That is until now!  

I recently came upon an article in the local newspaper dealing with architecture known as Midcentury Modern and as I read the article I came upon the word Fruitville.  Seems that an area I have known all my life as Blossom Hill, which I can visually see from the front porch of my "Beach House," is the clue I needed to discover where Fruitville is located.  The neighborhood on the hill to my north, known as Blossom Hill is an upper-middle class area.  

In 1915, Adam and Elias Vogel started the "Blossom Hill Fruit Farm" and planted apple and peach orchards.  Eventually the land changed from an orchard to a residential neighborhood.  Don't they all?  Seems that Elias insisted that all properties on his Blossom Hill area plant an apple tree to leave a sign of his legacy.  The new neighborhood with the name of Blossom Hill sported 59 homes with features such as patios, dens and rec rooms.  

Each property owner hired their own architect and therefore all of the homes have a different flavor to them.  Some have extensive exterior woodwork while others are covered with glass panels.  The apple trees planted because of Elias are long gone, but a few determined residents have encouraged the current occupants of the neighborhood to continue the planting of apple trees in their front yards.  

The view of Lancaster City from Blossom Hill.

Neat to drive through the neighbor- hood and look at all the styles and varieties of homes that exist on the hill.  And, if you pay attention, you will see the many apple trees that at this time of the year are covered with bright red apples.  Off to the south of Blossom Hill lays the town of Lancaster and on a clear day you can see many of the buildings in the downtown area from Blossom Hill.  I recently took some photos to show the styles of homes and actually found a few trees ablaze in red from the apples covering them.  And, more importantly, I now know, after years of wondering, exactly where Fruitville is located.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

One of many trees filled with apples.

The "Katie Travels To St. Martin" Story

The view from the Royal Palm.  All photos were taken by Katie.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting with Katie, the wife of my nephew Matt, talking to her about her recent trip to St. Martin.  A few months ago Katie told me that she and four of her girlfriends who were roommates in college were going to take a trip to St. Martin.  

Stormy sky on one day that Hurricane
Erika was passing.

One of the girl's parents had a timeshare at a resort known as the Royal Palm and were going to allow the five of them to use it for a week.  Carol and I sat with Katie during a few pool parties that my brother and sister-in-law had and tried to give her an idea of what to expect and visit while on the island.  I gave Katie a very large fold-up map of the island and marked the locations of places that we recommended they give a try while on the island.  The week the girls made the trip happened to be the week that Hurricane Erika passed over the island.  She said they didn't feel threatened, but did have to spend a day in their room until the weather cleared.  

Pinel Island.  This was one of their favorite sites to visit.

While I sat with her she showed me the photos she had placed on her iPad from her phone which she had used to take the photos.  Great shots of many of the locations we had talked about.  She told me that she mentioned quite a few times to her friends that Uncle Larry said we should try this or Uncle Larry told us to watch out for this.  Well, her favorite day was a day spent on the nearby French island known as Pinel.  

Some of the many iguanas that are on the island.

They had to take a ferry to the island and as they approached the uninhabited island in their ferry, they all agreed that this is how they pictured the Caribbean to be.  Beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear aqua water with beach umbrellas and lounge chairs lining the edge of the beach.  They even took the time to explore the small island and see the huge iguanas that I had told them about.  For breakfast one morning they traveled a few blocks to a small restaurant called Zee Best.  I told her they would love the food, but beware that if they eat the French croissants that are on the table they will have to pay for them.  

Nice shot of Orient Beach which is nearly empty.  She did say that they experienced a brief shower and ventured to a beach bar until the sky cleared.

She told her friends of the warning which Uncle Larry had told her.  On my first visit a few years ago I thought they were complimentary until after I got the bill and realized I had to pay for the four croissants I had consumed.  

A view of Philipsburg.  I noticed the flags at half-staff
and told her there had been a policeman killed the week
before they traveled there and the flags were probably
lowered in his memory.

They took the advice of Carol and me and spent a day on Orient Beach which is considered the French Riviera of the Caribbean and is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world.  They enjoyed the beach, but enjoyed the bartender at one of the beach bars even more.  They made trips to the Dutch side capital of Philipsburg for shopping as well as a trip to the French side capital of Marigot for shopping and to climb to the top of Fort Marigot.  On their final evening they traveled to the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Grand Case, for their evening meal.  They parked in the public parking lot and when they got out of the car a fellow approached another person whom had just parked, asking for money for the parking.  

A view of the French capital of Marigot from Fort Marigot.

She told me she told her friends, "My Uncle Larry told me to watch out for the guy and that we don't have to pay to park here."  He did walk away without collecting any money.  We finished looking at her photos and I popped the question about a return trip sometime and she said they were already planning something for the future.  I just knew they would love the island that has been a second home for Carol and myself.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Baseball and the Game of Life" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about my cousin Susan's grandson.  Just got an email from Susan's daughter, Amber, telling me about the recent 2015 Latin American Baseball Classic that her and her husband Jim's son Braedon participated in during the month of August.  Braedon played for the Under 12 Lancaster Junior Barnstormers who posted information on their website about the tournament.  Braedon wasn't able to make the tryouts for the United States team so his mom, Amber, sent a batting video of her son to Jim Parque who was a former major league pitcher and in charge of the tryouts for the team.  

The United States U12 Team entered in the Latin American Baseball Classic.

He was impressed with what he saw and wanted more video which Amber supplied.  Soon Braedon found out he was a member of the team based on his videos.  The letter that she got from Jim said he would play the outfield and possibly pitch.  Braedon has been working with John Parrish who played high school baseball for Lancaster McCaskey and then appeared in 183 major league games over eight seasons with the Orioles, Mariners, Blue Jays and Royals.  

Lefty Braedon pitching in the tournament.

I remember watching John pitch for the first time in the majors when he entered a game in relief against the hard-hitting Yankees and struck out the side.  Well, the Latin American Baseball Classic was held in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic about a month ago and featured teams from Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Brazil, St. Croix, St. Thomas, British Virgin Islands as well as the USA and Dominican Republic.  Now, much of the information I just gave you came from local publications, but today's email from Amber gave me a bit more information, and an entirely different view about her son and the baseball player he has become.  Braedon is a hard-working and very motivated boy who happens to love baseball as I did when I was a boy his age.  He heads to the batting cages, takes fielding practice in his back yard or throws just about every day of the week.  

Braedon batting during the tournament.

What's so different with Braedon is that it is his mom who does it with him everyday!  My cousin, Susan, was a fantastic athlete in high school as was her daughter Amber who now uses her athletic skills to work with her son on a daily basis.  She tells me that she gets to know Braedon so much better because of their workouts and believes she has instilled in him determination and a valuable work ethic.  She wants him to always do his best, but not necessarily be the best in what he does.  The success he has achieved to this point in his life is because of his inner drive to succeed.  But, Amber also wrote me that her son is extremely shy and his accepting the chance to play on the USA team was as much an accomplishment as being on the team.  

Nicko on the left with Braedon on the right.

As for the tournament and the results ... Braedon and his parents arrived a day early in Santo Domingo to get acclimated and rest from their flight.  They found there was a ping-pong table on the beach at their resort and spent time playing.  The next day the parents and boys assembled outside the resort to head to the practice facility.  Amber said she was worried when she realized the boys were being loaded on a bus by themselves and off it went.  Not good for an extremely shy boy in a foreign country and not knowing anyone on the team, but he survived.  The parents were also transported to the field and after a two hour practice the boys were broken down into two teams with a practice game scheduled for the next day.  

Enjoying the beach with teammates.

Back to the resort and the beach for everyone.  Braedon gained a new friend, Nicko, who was from California and they had a great time at the beach.  During the game the next day Braedon batted near the bottom of the order and after going 4 for 4 was moved up in lineup for the next game.  The first game was a loss for his team, but they won the second game before returning to the beach and more fun in the ocean.  The following day Amber said her son wasn't himself and after the first game became sick, but after a round of Imodium, was fine for the second game.  

Braedon displaying his award.

During the second game the Dominican kids were swarming the USA team in the dugout asking for any baseball gear they could give them.  Braedon noticed one young boy who hadn't received anything so he offered his batting gloves and his sunglasses to him.  The same sunglasses that his mom and dad had bought for him the day before, but being the compassionate young man that he is, felt the other boy needed them more than he did.  All these preliminary games were played to determine which teams entered in the tournament would advance to the playoffs.  Unfortunately for Braedon's team, they did not make it even thought he moved from batting eighth to the top of the order by the last game. He had the opportunity to pitch, play first as well as play in the outfield.  

Braedon's trophy case at home.  This has
been filled in just four years of sports!

During the awards banquet, in front of 300 people, Braedon received the coaches award.  A truly successful time even though the team didn't win the championship.  Back in school this week he had an assignment to write for his 6th grade language arts class and wrote about the poverty in the Dominican Republic.  Baseball brought him to another country where he learned more than baseball.  His chance to play ball against some of the best competition in Latin America gave him more than a chance to show off his baseball skills, it taught him lessons about life that he will cherish for the rest of his life. Braedon's baseball success has been due to his love of the game and his effort to succeed, but his success in life will be due to his parents and the values that they are teaching him through the sport of baseball and the experiences he will encounter while playing the great game of baseball.  I know, because I went through it myself.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "The Battleground of JoePa's Legacy" Story

Kennedy, whom I helped babysit yesterday.  The four-year old is full of
energy and it took three of us to keep after her.  I have written
in the past of the little girl who at one time was very ill and one
of a few in the world with a disease that she has now been cured of.

Forword:  I guess I need to apologize for my forgetful- ness.  Seems like yesterday I forgot to post a story.  I have plenty in waiting, but had to babysit a very cute little girl yesterday and totally forgot to post.  I thank those who emailed me to see if everything is OK and I'll try not to forget in the future.  And, for those who are Penn State football fans, I wrote this story last week, before they lost their opener to Temple. 

It was an ordinary day.  Talking to my friend Just Sue who lives in State College, PA.  Asked her if she has seen any of the new, and extremely popular, beer cans that bear the likeness of Joe Paterno, the deceased, embattled and once head football coach at Penn State University.  

New Lager featuring JoePa.

Told her I would love to have a can just to sit on the shelf in my office as a reminder of the gentleman who was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, ambassadors and coaches of college football.  She told me that she believes you need to buy an entire case and who likes Lager that much.  Also asked her about a photo I had taken years ago of a very long mural which featured famous people from the State College area.  The largest figure in the mural was JoePa himself and he had a halo above his head.  She told me it was painted on the side of the book store on Heister St.  Well, with the start of football season it has brought back many memories of the once proud and heroic Paterno who led the team to 409 wins.  Many of those wins were at one time stripped from him due to the fact that a Mr. Jerry Sandusky was once one of his assistant coaches.  

Photo I took years ago when JoePa had a halo over his head.

Seems that Sandusky was proven in court to be a child molester and since he was one of Joe's assistants, Joe and his entire football program, should be punished.  Heavens, they even removed the halo over JoePa's head on the mural.  Investigations and special reports on the Sandusky situation have somewhat faded in the minds of those who follow Penn State football.  Seems the hottest T-shirt this fall is one that references the black cleats and no-name jerseys which JoePa made famous.  

Statue of JoePa with memorial flowers spread over it.

Also being offered for sale for $590 is an 18 1/4 inch replica of the JoePa statue that once stood outside Beaver Stadium.  I'm finding that the Polaroid photo I took years ago of the statue is one of my best sellers.  I read that this year there are only five players on the Penn State team that were recruited by Paterno.  Most current players on the team probably never had the chance to meet JoePa.  Such a shame that football lost such a great man.  When Bill O'Brien took over as head coach after Paterno was fired from that position, he decided to put the names of the players on their jerseys which was a no-no in JoePa's world.  This year the practice of no names is once again returning under the leadership of coach James Franklin.  

Altered Polaroid which is a big seller for me.

And, this past Jaunary the wins that were stripped from JoePa were reinstated.  How stripping wins from one of college football's most outstanding coaches made up for the dastardly deeds of Sandusky made no sense to me as well as many others.  Those who have stuck by JoePa for the last couple of years are now focusing on getting rid of those trustees who voted to fire JoePa and accept the NCAA's ridiculous sanctions.  JoePa is coming back to life once again in State College with the introduction of the new Lager, the selling of the statue collectibles and shirts with no names on them.  JoePa hasn't been forgotten!  And, hopefully his legacy will gain another positive notch when his statue is returned to it's rightful place.  And, maybe the halo can be repainted on the mural.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Photographic Tour Of The Grange Fair" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Walking the acres and acres of woodland and fields in Centre County, Pennsylvania known as the Grange Fair along with about a quarter of a million other people.  The fair began in 1874 and today is a family tradition for many in the hills of north-central Pennsylvania.  Tent sites are passed down from generation to generation and each year the fair seems to get bigger.  This year there are 950 tents, 1,300 RV's, hundreds of concessions, over 7,000 exhibit items, amusement rides, livestock, tractor pulling and much more.  Our friends Jerry and Just Sue invite Carol and I to visit with them during fair time and travel the 20 minutes from State College to visit the fair on a yearly basis.  My photos that follow will give you a tasting of exactly what is the Grange Fair.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Scooters!  A standard method of transportation at the Grange Fair.  They have a rental booth for your convenience. 

This little boy was having a blast jumping in the mud.

One of the many lanes of tent sites.

A really neat display outside one of the tents.  Looked like a fall totem pole.

Remember the fish bowl game?   

And …. maybe the dart game.

Seems to be a real crowd favorite. 

This goat was telling me how to take his photo.

Photograph shows exactly what a farm fair is really about.

This little guy was just about ready to lose his hat. 

One of my favorite buildings to visit is the rabbit and poultry building.

Because of the Avian Flu this summer in Pennsylvania, the only chickens on display and judged were the stuffed variety.

Seems they can deep-fry just about anything these days.

A very unique way to bottle maple syrup.

This tent family offered free produce for anyone who wanted to give what they had a try.