My Dinosaur iPod

My Dinosaur iPod, circa 2004.

    Yes, this little baby has a 20 gig capacity and currentlyy holds 2098 songs. That equates to approximately to 7 days, 9 hours, 29 minutes and 50 seconds of playing time. It has been dropped in water...and very quickly retrieved...fallen off tables, banged against walls and countless battery failures! I have given up on wanting to replace the battery, hence the device that you see attatched to the back of it. It is a portable battery pack that lasts even longer then the original battery that is in the iPod. The original battery length of time, now, is almost as long as one song. And, the battery pack was cheaper then replacing the battery!

   I have Rock N Roll, Country Rock, Swedish Rock, Country Western, Indie Music, Jazz ( mostly Spyro Gyra! ), Beatles...can't have enough of them..., John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison! I've got Blues, Classical, March Music ( Sousa, of course!), Alternative, Easy Listening and New Age. Rap...well, not the hard core, but used in some of the songs by other artists, Bluegrass, Instrumental and some Movie Music. Pop, R & B, Reggae, Soul and Latino. Dance music, Quiet listening music and music that ALWAYS needs to played loud! I have some artists that I have only one song of theirs and others that I keep adding to all of the time. I've got Hard Rock, Soft Rock, Metal Rock, Electronic Rock and Faith Rock. I have songs that I have only listened to a few times and songs that I listen to all of the time. Songs that remind me of places, songs that remind me of people, songs that remind me of times in my life, songs that make me happy and songs that make me sad.

   I am constantly looking for and listening to new songs, as well as new artists. I could not imagine not being able to listen to music. And for that matter, hearing at all! I believe that I would rather lose my sight then my hearing, if that were an option that I had to choose from....LOL! You might be thinking, " How does he have time to listen to all of that music?" Well, I don't listen to all of it every day...would be impossible, to say the least, but I have the iPod to listen to whatever and whenever I have the mind to! Steve Jobs, I thank you! Maybe someday, I will get one of those new-fangled iTouch...Now, that would be something!

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Winter in Sweden

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...Bam! Here comes the snow again! Will it ever end? Will we ever see green grass again? Will you ever be able to go outside without a coat? Will you ever be able to scratch that one place in the middle of your back? Oops, sorry....wrong blog question! Anyway, check back later to see if spring finally arrives in the year 2010! Same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!

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My Father's Birthday

Tom C. Smith

February 20, 1935

   Today, my father would have been 75 years old. I would like to share some thoughts and memories with you. I will only write of the pleasant and happy times that I remember, even though there were some that were not. But all in all, the unpleasant memories were very few and not worth mentioning.

   First off, in all of the years that you were my father, I never, ever, remember you raising your voice or hand to me...not ever. Not that there were times you maybe wanted to or should have,but, it just was not in your nature to be that way with me. There were other ways you got your point across. Thanks for being you. 

   My mother and father divorced when I was about 4-5 years old. During that time I lived with my mother, after a short stay with my grandparents. My father had visitation rights on Sundays and I believe he met those times as best as he could. What I write next may seem jumbled and somewhat confusing, if you are not familiar with knowing him or me during those times. I will sometimes mention "us", that would be in reference to my sisters and brother. If you need to know or just curious, please comment to this blog and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Childhood Memories

   Sunday afternoons...waiting, but he comes, sometimes late, but we are still happy to see him. Grandma and Grandpa's for afternoons and evenings...always good dinners. Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Putt - Putt golf, movies, Meyers Lake Park....Tilt-A-Whirl ride, still my favorite, spin it faster, Dad! Fimming and Sishing...can we go fimming and sishing? Christmas time...always a good time to be with you. Learning how to play poker from you. Car rides....AM radio - ball games, big band music...I still love to listen to Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others who were of the "Big Band Era", Spike Jones and the City Slickers! Frank Sinatra...the Voice! Singing to us as you drive. Indian's games...just you and me, trade tickets for box seats, you always kept score, hot dogs - I always wanted ketchup instead of the ballpark mustard...you always got it for me. The time you had to borrow a junker car to take me to the game...we ran out of gas. Helping you on your Snyder's Chips route....eating so many bags of chips, you smoked too much, Coley's Stag....hottest damn chili ever! You tricked me into eating it! Early mornings...late nights, but I really loved going with you to the stores and deliveries...too bad I never was good at it for a job. You always hated your face to be touched...we would laugh so hard trying to touch your face and have you try to stop us. Ed and Teddy...I was so sure I was right!...was a good laugh after all was said and done. Gambrinas Inn to eat and watch movies...The Incredible Mr. Limpet! Always tickling, always laughing... great laugh, I can hear it now. My first baseball glove, my first football and my first basketball. You are the reason I love sports...especially the Browns! Loaning me your green Dodge Charger for the prom, I was pretty cool in that car!

Adulthood Memories

   January 4, 1981, Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland Browns/Oakland Raiders AFC play-off game, Red Right 88, Brian Sipe, Kardiac Kids, 4°F/-15C (with a -36°F/-38C wind chill), Roger and Mike...Best Birthday gift ever! You had me fooled all the way, what a surprise...I loved it! You helped me buy my first car, a Plymouth Fury...what a boat! Must have been a '67-'68...I am not sure, but was a 2 door and copper/gold in color. Having a beer after work with you, just talking...you always bought, you always made me feel better if something was bothering me. Genesee beer....always the beer of choice! First time on league with you bowling at the Classic...breakfast afterwards at Andre's...eye opener for sure. Bowling on Wednesdays at The Embassy...Syrian/Lebenese League....never got the joke of it until a friend pointed it out to me years later. Beers, bookies and betting...great times. Bowling on Fridays at Eastburry lanes with Uncle Jerry, Roger and Ron. You taught me a lot about bowling. You always asked if I needed any money and would give me a 10 or 20 if I was in need. Abbott and Costello - Who's on first, What's on  second, I don't know is on third! I still laugh so hard every time I watch it! Laurel and Hardy...you did a good Stan. The Three Stooges. We would love to watch those old comedies and laugh so hard! Hall of Fame parties. Your hair...always perfect, never out of place. Your dead-pan look and " what ? " when you...well, you know what you did! LOL! A place to stay when I needed it. Ancient Ancient Age...only the best for your birthday. "After The Loving" your theme song...you had a great voice, I always liked to hear you sing with Grandpa's band. Watching sports at your house...never a dull moment, better than being at the game! Brown grass on TV...you were so color blind! Sponge brick to throw at the game when the Browns messed up! You could always watch TV...no matter what, you could find something to watch. You quite smoking for 3 months! You helped me get the job at The Timken Company...just by telling me to apply. The way you breathed when you ate, you loved steak..so do I. Going to Indians games with Grandpa...always extra innings..LOL! Your smile....how could anyone not smile when they saw yours. You always could make me laugh. The way you blew on your coffee, just before you sipped it for the first time. I think you could make anyone your friend after only speaking with them for 5 minutes...you had that way with people.

   For those of you who knew my father, I hope this stirs some memories back to you. For those of you who did not have the chance to meet him....well, I think you know him a little now. Some people go through their whole life not knowing someone like Tom C. Smith, I was lucky to call him my father. If I can be half the father to my children, that my father was to me, I will consider myself a lucky man. I hope that I am, time will tell...

   I miss you so much, Dad...there is still so much to talk about, so much to still do. You are the best Dad anyone could ask for... always my friend, my father, my Dad. Happy Birthday, Dad!

"When I Walk With You

When I Talk With you

Everything Will Be Fine"

Ringo  Starr - Walk With You

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Life Lights

    Throughout your life you have many lights. Some that turn on all by themselves and others that you, yourself, turn on. As with all lights, you have the ability to turn them on and off as you please. But, then with lights, being what they are, they will eventually burn out and can never be turned on again.
    There are lights that you will turn off, simply because you no longer want to go into that room again. You loved the light, but felt betrayed by it's light. So you turn it off, never wanting to turn it on again. Be careful with lights that you turn off in haste, because you may come back to the room and try to turn on the light and find that it burned out a long time ago. You find yourself wanting to turn that light on just...one...more..time, to sit in it's glow, to have that light shine again. Those lights can be the most forgiving lights and only need you to enter the room and turn it on.
     Some lights you turn off simply because you have moved on to another room....another life room...so to speak. The light was fine, perhaps, but became dim or maybe too bright for you as time passed. The light may have become too hot and burned you every time you turned it on, while some were too cold and burn you just the same.
    Some lights will always be on and warm you every time you enter the room. They remind you of times past and the happiness that came with the light. There are lights in your life all around you. They brighten your way and guide you when you are in the dark. Then, there are those new lights that you find or they find you. Those special lights that have just that certain amount of glow, that warmth that you have never felt before. Those are the lights that you never want to turn off and hope that they never burn out. They can never be replaced, no matter how hard you look or how long you search.
    There is also a light that is your one true life light, your soul light...your heart light. I have such a light that burns with so much love, that she shines forever in my heart...she is my LifeLight.

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Soldiers

In my previous blog, I had mentioned soldiers in my second paragraph. After much thought, I have since removed the word soldiers. My intent was not to disrespect soldiers who selfishly put their life on the line for democracy and freedom. I was only trying to show that it is a sad fact that while most people around the world celebrate Christmas, that soldiers are often far away in foreign countries, away from their loved ones, their friends. That was the point that I was trying to get across. My apologies to all soldiers and their families, if my words were misinterpreted.

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It Must Be Christmas

Snow. It must be Christmas. Snow. It is cold. It must be Christmas. Giving and sharing. Smiles, laughter, singing and helping one another. It must be Christmas. Baking, cookies, decorations, lights and candles. It must be Christmas. Babies, children, Mothers, Fathers, neighbors and friends...together again.

It must be Christmas.

Wars, hunger, hatred.Innocent people dying, corruption, deceit. Disease, pollution, waste, greed.

It must be Christmas.

 When will we learn? When will we stop? When will it be...Christmas?

It starts with you. Are you ready?

It Must Be Christmas.

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A Walk In The Woods

A walk in the woods. This is a picture that I will call "The Green Carpet". I saw a lot of this, while walking in the woods. I had a handheld GPS with me, so I just walked where my feet took me. I saw a lot of boar stands, used for waiting out boars that may come along. There are quite a lot of boars around here and I saw 5 such stands. Also, something that looked like a feeding station to attract boars...a lot of bread and a contraption above that I was not quite sure what it was for. I believe I even, dare I say, frightened a boar, because I heard a lot of rambling and rustling nearby on one of my "off the trail" ways. As far as wildlife, the only creature I saw was a tiny mouse trying to find it's way under cover to avoid any capture! Oh well, maybe next time! I will say, the GPS is very good to have, because you can just walk wherever and not worry about getting lost...unless, of course, the batteries die! Hmmm...mental note...take extra batteries on next walk. Perhaps on my next posting I will have a picture or two of a BOAR! HA!

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