Caricatures of Marsha and Matt by Jennifer Thurmond of Troy, Ohio

Jennifer is a lovely young lady that we met in Troy today. She had a kiosk set up with examples of her art for sale. She was doing these caricatures for $5.00 each. If you want one, I will call her and see if she can do them with an emailed picture. I bet she can! I'm sorry I didn't ask her when we were having ours done.

WACO Bi-planes

The WACO (Prounounced "Wocko") Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio was the leading aircraft manufacturer of civilian aircraft in the U. S. from 1928 - 1935. Beginning in 1921 as the Weaver Aircraft Company in Lorain, Ohio , they moved to Troy in 1924 and became the Advance Aircraft Company but kept the WACO logo. In 1929, the name was changed to simply the WACO Aircraft Company.

WACO produced over 80 models during the years 1919 - 1946, including the large troop carrying gliders used in all the major invasions during WWII. The best selling WACO was the Model 10, with over 1100 being produced from 1927 - 1930. During the years 1939 - 1942, WACO also built just over 600 Model UPF-7's for the CAA and the Civilian Pilot Training program. WACOs were also popular around the world and sold airplanes to 37 different countries with Brazil being the largest byer.

WACOs were purchased for many different uses. The WACO Taperwing Models ATO and CTO were known for their outstanding acrobatic qualities and were also used for air racing. WACO won the 1928 and 1929 Ford Reliability Tour also known as the National Air Tour, which was a transcontinental race sponsored by Ford pitting over 25 aircraft manufacturers against each other. WACOs raced in the famous National Air Races in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Chicago and placed first in many events. One WACO was even invited to participate in the Paris International Air Show in 1936 where it placed first in the acrobatic events. Other WACOs were purchased and used for military fighters in Central and South American countries such as Uruguay, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, El Salvador and Cuba.

Here are just a few of the planes that are at the show today.

The first one is real similar to the first plane I ever rode in. My father took me to the airport in what is now Chesapeake, VA and got us a ride in a Piper Cub. That was over 60 years ago.


Next are a few of the bi-planes that are there.



Yesterday was my 68th birthday and my wife bought me a ride in one of the bi-planes. I am pretty excited about riding in an open cockpit plane. I will do that tomorrow. Come back tomorrow and see the pics, and possibly a video of that event.

Today I bought 4 model bi-planes while I was at the show. I don't know what in the world I will do with them. The fact that I have 4 grandsons is just coincidence. :)

RIP Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze has died.

He starred in what are two of my all time favorite movies. Ghost and Dirty Dancing.

He put up a valiant battle against Pancreatic cancer, which is one of the deadliest and most painful cancers known.

Once again, we've lost someone with the ability to make us forget, if only for a few minutes, things in our lives that may be mundane and unhappy.

Well, they finally put me on oxygen. I guess it's not as bad as it could be, though. I only use it at night, so far. I've been using it for about a week now and can't tell any difference.



I have an oxygen concentrator, which is the grey piece of equipment in the picture. The oxygen tank is in case we have a power failure at night.

The air we breath is made up of approximately 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and about 1% of argon and other trace gases. A concentrator removes up to approximately 94% of the nitrogen and furnishes nearly pure oxygen.

Could be worse, I guess.

Beautiful and Delicious Cakes

My daughter Jackie brought this cake site to my attention.

Jenny and Kat have developed their own unique art form.

Unfortunately, the cakes are not really available outside of Utah, but if you like to look at lovely creations, then it is well worth your while to visit
this site. <~~~ link

A Special Lady

This is my good friend Patricia Rousculp.

Next month will be 81 years since she was born.

In spite of her age, she has maintained a schedule that would wear me to a frazzle. An avid sports fan, she has followed the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Reds for years. She has golfed at every opportunity. She has been a volunteer for FISH, Needy Baskets, the Clothesline, all of which benefitted the needy folks in our area. She has been, for a number of years, an election official, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Red Hat Society. She is a charter member of the Tipp City Players where she was head of wardrobe for many years and a vereran of the stage. Other volunteer activities throughout her lifetime are too numerous to mention.

Once, since she had never had any, and was brave enough to try it, my other friend Pat and I went to her home and made her some grits, country ham, and red eye gravy. She loved it, and wanted more. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to do it again.

She was a member of Pulmonary Rehab with me and loved by patients and staff alike.

Pat went into the hospital with acute appendicitis a couple of weeks ago, and had an appendectomy. While in the hospital, she had a heart attack, and then a stroke.

Pat passed away last week.

The world is a sadder place today.

God bless you, Pat. You are sorely missed.

The Secret to a Long, Long, Life??

Henry Alleningham 6 June 1896–18 July 2009

Henry became the world's oldest man earlier this year when the previous record holder died. He attributed his longevity to "whiskey, cigarettes, and wild, wild, women."

If that's the case, I'm glad I calmed down some years back. Otherwise I may have lived forever. I'm decrepit enough in my late 60s, as it is.

Henry was a veteran of World War 1.

Catfishing

My Grandson Googie saw pictures of a catfish that I posted in my previous blog, and decided he could catfish, too.

Who knows? Perhaps he will grow up to be a fisherman, too. There are worse things he could be, I guess.

From One Extreme to Another

This really is a Big Mouth Bass that Pat caught a few weeks ago. Of course, she threw it back to grow some more.

This week, she caught this catfish.


The guy is Dave. His wife, Karen, and he were kind enough to invite us to fish at their pond that is stocked with Bass and Catfish. We also caught another Catfish, and several large Bass. Thanks a lot, Karen and Dave.

Pat and Russell taught me to skin catfish, so we skinned and filleted this one and he is in the freezer. We will eat him soon.

As you can see, the fish is twice as long as my rather large foot. :)

Our new GodPuppy

Our Friends Pat and Russell got a new puppy. Half German Shepherd and half Yellow Lab. It's going to be a big one when it's grown, I think.

Marsha's boss loves yellow labs. She has one, actually, so Marsha emailed her a picture of Pat and Russell's new addition and referred to it as our "GodPuppy".
Nothing would do but that Pat take it to work and introduce it to Marsha's boss, who seemed to love it.







Pat probably loves the pup more than she does her children.

Russell has his own ideas about it.

It really is a sweet dog, though, playful

and extremely friendly. Marsha and I wish Pat and Russell much happiness with young Jake.