The Contractor~Part 2

13 Jan

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

Bill Cross Plane

That program was conducted from Launch Complex 25C/D on the Cape Canaveral AFS and ended in 1979 when I was laid off with most of the rest of the test organization. It was during this time that I had taken and passed the General Contractors test and received my license. Once I obtained my license, I began working part-time with my contractor friend on some of his new house projects.   Luckily, it wasn’t long after Lockheed had laid me off that MacDonald Douglas Aircraft Co. (MDAC) found an opening for my talents, on the night shift, supporting their Delta II program. At that time the Delta II program was being used by NASA and the U. S. military to place their satellites into Earth orbit from Launch Complex 17A/B located on the Cape Canaveral AFS. The night shift job with MDAC allowed me to start a small contracting business of my own, making for some pretty long days.

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My part-time construction company was a family affair. I was President and the main go-fer; DiVoran was Vice-President and the company’s new house interior decorator; while DiVoran’s father and mother, Ivan and Dora, acted as the company bank. We all worked very well together at this little construction business.

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We would buy one residential building lot at a time. Then, using sub-contractors, we would clear the lot and build a 1500 sq. ft. 3-bedroom, 2-bath, concrete block home with a 2-car garage on speculation. The housing market was good and if the house sold before we finished it (which sometimes happened) the buyers could choose their finish trim, paint colors, carpets, cabinet styles and appliances. Prospective buyers had an allowance for these items, and if they wanted more expensive items, they would pay for any added expense over the allowance.

Typical Cross Section of Concrete Block Construction

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We could complete a house in approximately 3 months, which allowed us to (theoretically) turn our investment over with a 10% profit with the sale of each home. In spite of the long hours, I loved this job and was gearing up to do it full-time as soon as my job with MDAC was over. In addition to “Spec” houses, as word got around that our homes were well built and available, we began receiving orders for custom houses that we would build on the owner’s property. Those contracts turned out to be the most troublesome, as it was fairly common for the owners to change their minds about certain aspects of the building process at some of the most inopportune times.

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A typical day during this time was; up at 7:00 am, breakfast with DiVoran and the kids, then I was on my way to the current job site. I would put in as many hours as I could on a job site coordinating sub-contractor activities or meeting with potential home owners and bank Loan Officers. Then there were always the multiple runs to the local lumber yard to pick up that extra box of nails, another sheet of plywood or another dozen 2”x4” studs to keep the job moving forward.

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Depending on the weather and the progress of the job, the sub-contractors would usually shut down their work day around 3:00 in the afternoon. This allowed me to make it to Launch Complex 17 on the Cape by 4:00 to start my 8-hour shift. After surveying the work schedule and any work related items, and if things in the office was not too busy, I could sometimes get in a phone call or two before it got too late. Good thing I was young and indestructible, as this routine didn’t allow a lot of time for sleeping. Luckily, by the time I got home at 12:30 am, I was really tired and had no trouble going right to sleep. This routine was also very hard on the family life. Breakfast time with DiVoran and the kids before they went to school, and occasionally (if I could manage it) for a short time after they got home from school, was about all the family saw of me, except for weekends.

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—–To Be Continued—–

 

 

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God’s Helping Hands

12 Jan

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

It’s a frigid December day, a week before Christmas. People are lined up outside and we’re getting ready to open the crisis center. Every time I come there are more people to serve, and the board has had to introduce strict, new rules. I see 12 large colorful grocery bags in the back of the room, filled with age-appropriate toys. Our leader explains, “These are for needy families who have no toys. They were given to us by a woman and her family who recently lost her father, and around the same time, a new baby.”

A worker unlocks the door and people file in. We begin the process of finding their files and sending them down the line so we can help fill their basic needs. I work quickly, but then an elderly man stops to chat, and I pause to listen.

Homeless man“See how they fixed me up at the hospital.” He lifts his dirty, ragged shirt and shows me a long, clean bandage across his chest. “I have these other scars, too.” And he shows them to me. “Those doctors and nurses saved my life,” he says. He walks away with a smile on his face. He was already experiencing a great Christmas and his gratitude was deep and real. Yes!

Another man stops and says, “I was here not too long ago, but now I need socks.”

“You can only come in once a month.” I say, as I look at my partner to confirm.

“I’m getting him some socks,” she answers quickly and quietly, Even though we do not work in the clothing area, she stops her routine and goes to there. When she comes back, she surreptitiously hands him a small bag. Later, a woman comes in with a donation: a large trash bag filled with….socks. Yes!

A woman asks me for size 12 shoes for her husband. “They didn’t have any last time I was here,” she said. The clothing worker tells me to go look on the shoe rack. I look for what seems like a long time. Suddenly I spot a large pair of good black shoes on the top rack. I stand on tiptoe to bring them down and sure enough, they are marked size 12. Yes!

My feet hurt, but I have no time to sit down. A young man comes up and with his head lowered so that I can hardly hear him, “I’ve never been here before.” I ask for ID and proof that he lives in our county. This doesn’t happen to be one of the centers for the homeless and these proofs are mandatory. He has ID, but no proof of address. I go to the computer lady. “He is not in the system, we cannot help him till he brings proof.”

“But Ma’am this is kind of an emergency,” he whispers to me. “My wife just left me with the kids and I don’t have anything for them.”

“Let me ask my supervisor,” I say.

“He needs to show proof,” she sighs, and I suppose she is tired too. I hesitate to go back and tell the man we can’t help him, so I wait a moment hoping she’ll come up with a solution. To give her time I go back to the counter, but I hear her say loudly, “You have to have proof.” I am disappointed, but she walks past me and whispers, “Go ahead and send him through.” Yes!

I can’t stop thinking about him, however. I’m afraid he’ll be rushed through without getting everything he needs. I sneak back to the interview station and see him with a new interviewer. I won’t interrupt, but before I walk away I hear her say: “And what about Christmas, do you have any toys for the kids?” Later, I see him walk by with a big grocery sack full of Christmas toys, headed for the clothing room. I know his next stop will be the food station and they’ll take good care of him there. Yes!

We are busy at the crisis center on this day, in the week before Christmas, but I love to be here because we see so many good people helping others and so many God-incidents to thrill and surprise us.

 

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Nanny Annie

11 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and Artist

Hello. My name is Nanny Annie. That’s what the children call me, anyway. My real name is Raggedy Ann. We may have met when we were children. If so, you’ll probably recall the wonderful adventures we had and the foods we ate. Remember my brother, Raggedy Andy. He grew up to be a toy store model. We see each other often.

Raggedy Annie

You may be grown up now, too. I imagine you are changed on the outside, but I hope you still have your child’s heart. I’m still the same old red-headed Raggedy Ann. No face-lifts, no died hair, but children don’t seem to care much for appearances, so they like me anyway. I do love children, especially when they are good. Of course, I love the naughty ones too. I want to help them be happy if I can. I’ve been Nanny to the Winnie the Pooh gang for some time. Did you ever wonder what their personalities were like?

Poor Eeyore, he has the saddest outlook on life of anyone I’ve ever seen. Even when good things happen he seems to find a way to feel sorry for himself and to complain. He just doesn’t listen to anyone else and I think that’s the reason he has no friend.

Tigger’s energy is incredible! He rarely go at a walking pace, or speaks in a low voice. For Tigger it’s as if there’s a spring in the bottoms of his feet…boing, boing, that’s Tigger. He also has a roar that makes the leaves quiver on the trees.

You’ve met Winnie the Pooh. He’s the star of many stories. Personally, I’ve always thought he was named for Winston Churchill, another famous person. Our Winnie is also wise in his own way. He helps take care of the others. But, he’ll be the first to admit he does love his honey. I’ve taken him to HA, but he only comes home and immediately checks his house for honey.

Isn’t Piglet adorable? He’s so small and pink. Like all four-year-olds he’s interested in everything, but doesn’t understand everything you tell him. I recall the time there was a tremendous rainstorm and he almost drowned. He was very clever in finding a way to get help. Piglet inspires everyone in the Forest to be helpful. You can read all about it in “Piglet is Entirely Surrounded by Water,” by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest Shepard. Lovely books. The gang asks to hear them read every night.

I wanted to tell you about my friends as well as my job. You’ve met Teddy and Praise Dancer in a previous writing. They are my best friends. Teddy is a generation older than I am, and Praise Dancer is two generations younger than Teddy. Teddy was named for President Theodore Roosevelt and there are many more Teddy bears in his family line.

Praise Dancer goes by her name because she leads the dancing in her church. Praise dancing is beautiful, graceful, and worshipful. Sometimes she and her troupe dance with tambourines and sometimes with colorful banners that flow and float.

Teddy, Praise Dancer and I go on picnics whenever we can. We have so much to tell each other. Now tell us something about yourself, please.

That’s all for now, folks.

Love,

Nanny Annie

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Go Run

10 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

Well, Christmas is over. All the hoopla is done. And I’m still eating all those Christmas cookies that I made. Man! I’ll be glad when they are done and out of the house! Just too much temptation to eat, and eat, and eat. I mean, I don’t make cookies that I don’t enjoy, you know?

Not too long after Fred and I married, his mother shared a recipe for German Springerle cookies. They take a bit of work to make, and I only make them at Christmas time. The batter has to be “beaten” for one hour – you read that right – one hour! I finally purchased a standing mixer solely for that purpose. Then all the other ingredients mixing together – a little anise extract and seed, then some grated lemon rind (zest), and powdered sugar, then the rolling out and pressing down with the wooden boards.

Then comes cutting them out, and after all the dough is cut, cooking them. They puff up and make marvelous “pictures” on the cookies, and I really enjoy eating them. With that “hint” of anise and lemon…….mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

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Then there are the cookies that my Aunt Jessie called “Pecan Puffs.” I’ve seen them called Italian wedding cookies, and other names. These are really my favorites. Again, a bit of work, with all the rolling and all, but they are worth it! And I’m overly proud to say that my recipe is the best! I know, I know – very prideful of me. But I’ve eaten some of those others – and I just like mine the best.

And then my best friend, Sue, makes the very best divinity I’ve ever tasted and sends that on as her Christmas gift to us. I reciprocate by sending her a couple dozen of my Springerle cookies and a couple dozen of the Pecan Puffs as well. A very nice trade off.

But by the time we wade through all those goodies – WHEW! I really need to go run and work off some of those calories!

And that brings me to a picture I saw on facebook. Really says it all:

 

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Three steps to protect ourselves against crime. | Janet Perez Eckles

9 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Janet Eckles Perez

What a shock to learn that my sweet, soft-spoken friend had been a guard at a women’s prison. The job was rough, the demands stringent, and the circumstances often mirrored a nightmare. But armed with her gun, a sense of security must have eased her tension.

Her instructions were to shoot, no reservations, no hesitation…just fire should she see any inmate display even a slight attempt to escape.

She learned how. She was trained. She had practiced. But when the time came to do it…she froze. That’s when reality struck; she lacked the guts to pull that trigger. Her days as a prison guard came to an end.

And now, as a Christian, she teaches another self-defense method. She carries in her heart a better, more powerful weapon to guard against all evil—physical or spiritual. She holds on to Christ, and clings to His power great enough to stop the thieves who threaten to rob the peace and security.

And we can too, here are three steps to protect ourselves:

Read the rest on Janet’s blog:  Three steps to protect ourselves against crime. | Janet Perez Eckles

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Perspective – Circumstances

8 Jan

 

 

This touched a tender part of my heart today~Onisha

 

god-breathed

Treasure Beach, Jamaica, is an earthly paradise, but in this beautiful place you can also find extreme examples of land and seascape: warm inviting water, threatening jagged reef. Like the photograph, life is so often a portrait in extremes. In the hours of one day it is possible to experience the sweetest, uplifting highs, only to find yourself cut to bits by unexpected, devastating lows. We’ve all experienced these contradictory days. Yet, through it all one fact holds true, the Word of God stands eternal. Whatever I am going through in my life, whatever injurious circumstance I, or someone I love, might be experiencing; the Word of God is a lifeline if I reach out and open the book.

 

 

Please be sure to read the rest of this: Perspective – Circumstances

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Kitchen Table Hierarchy

7 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

Three Christmas celebrations and one birthday just about left me partied out. I did have enjoy  making some new snacks and eating them, of course. Then, just as I thought my party schedule was blank, we decided to attend a post-Christmas family party in eastern North Carolina. ( We had barely arrived in Florida from our home in western North Carolina)

 Christmas in Florida was depressingly warm at eighty-six degrees, and I do dislike heat, so I am sure the chance to escape to some cooler temps factored in our decision.

We had dinner at one of the local restaurants then headed to our uncles house for some serious gabbing. We are a talking bunch of people when we get together. My mother was one of twelve children. That means I have a lot of cousins.

When my mom and most of her other siblings were alive, they congregated around a kitchen table teasing and laughing while my generation spread out, chasing our children or catching up with everyone. This past Fall, I noticed that it was my generation now hanging out at the table. We have ascended a step on the ladder of life.

As a rule we don’t designate first cousin, second cousin etc. We are cousins…period, but for picture purposes, we tried to separate the cousins into first, second etc. The picture is of  second cousins, although there is a first cousin in there, but she fits in better with the “youngsters.” (There are a LOT more cousins, but they were not able to attend)

Cousins

I am so proud of each one of these cousins and love them dearly. One day they will be the ones sitting at the table while their children race around keeping up with the kids. When the time comes for my generation to ascend the final step of life’s ladder, I know the family will be in good hands.

This is one of the songs my mom and dad loved to sing. Many of the artists in this video are gone now.

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The Contractor~Part 1

6 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Rocket Plane

 

Unknown to most Americans; when Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon in July of 1969, the “Space Race” was essentially over. The U.S. continued to send men to the moon until 1972, but the Apollo manned lunar landing program was spinning down all the while.

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By the time the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to earth, construction of most of the hardware for the rest to that program had already been started, completed or cancelled. Layoffs of hundreds of thousands of contractor personnel across the country began, and those layoffs included thousands of contractor personnel at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) where I worked. In one respect, I was fortunate to be in one of the final waves of contractor personnel laid off after the launch of the Skylab and its 3 astronaut replacement missions.

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In 1973 Rockwell International (RI) gave me the opportunity to return to the North American Aviation (NAA) plant in California (my point of origin) or be laid off. I had no prospects of a job at the home plant, and the cost of living there was twice what it was here in Florida.   We would have to virtually give our house away as the bottom had dropped out of the housing market, and we didn’t have the money for a down payment of any kind on a house there. On top of all that, DiVoran had let me know, in no uncertain terms, that she hated Los Angeles (we had spent 8 years there while I was going to college) and if I took the transfer back to the home plant, I would be making the trip alone!

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The problem with taking the lay-off was that by 1973 so many people had been laid off from the KSC that literally all the jobs in the central Florida area had been taken. A person couldn’t even get a job pumping gas at the local gas station, and Wal-Mart wasn’t here yet. I flooded the area with resumes to no avail. Sometime after my 16 weeks (as I remember) of unemployment benefits ran out, a friend who was a building contractor, helped me get a job with his rough carpenter as a laborer at minimum wage. This was a miracle job, because by then our family was trying to survive on food stamps, and any job was a gift from God. That was a really hard job for this ex-engineer who had spent the last 8 years mostly writing hardware installation procedures for the space program and overseeing their implementation (essentially a desk job).

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Then one day at church a friend, who was an electrician and owned his own small electrical business, offered me a job working for him as an “Apprentice’s Helper.” This was another minimum wage job, but at least it had the potential of higher wages if and when the company won a government related contract. I spent the next two years following George around trying to learn the electrical trade. This actually consisted of being his go-fer, digging a lot of ditches and building a lot of shelves in his warehouse/office to support his expanding business inventory.

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In 1975 George’s business had dropped off to the point that he had to lay me off. My contractor friend had suggested that with my mechanical engineering degree, and letters of recommendation confirming my two years’ experience in the construction field (even though it was at menial jobs) from the companies I had worked for, he thought I would qualify to apply for my General Contractors License. I studied, took the required classes and applied to take the state Contractors test. While I waited for the test to be given in my area, our family took the opportunity to take a camping trip to visit friends and relatives (see “Our Trip Across America” blog-10/10/2012). It was just about this time that one of my resumes found its way to the Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) and they hired me to work on their Trident I submarine missile flat pad development program. What a marvelous answer to prayer that was. 

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—–To be Continued—–

 

 

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New Year 2016

4 Jan

My Take

DiVoran LItes

New Year 2016

 

Brother Lawrence in the classic The Practice of the Presence of God is quoted as having said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.”

When we first moved to Florida, in 1965, our pastor, Peter Lord, talked about what morning devotionals did for him. His dear wife, Johnnie, taught her young married women’s Sunday School class to spend time with the Lord every day. She wanted us to know God and keep him in our lives and families.

One day, in a service, Pastor Lord suggested we write letters to God, I liked that because it helped get my troubles off my mind and into the hands of God. I went on to read many Christian books, and to buy big, blank journaling books. Several years ago I started sketching each day so I’d have an easy landmark to separate the days in case I wanted to find something later.

Now, well beyond the age of retirement, I take have an hour or so each morning to journal and be creative. I can’t begin to tell you how it settles me and keeps me going, no matter what is happening in our lives.

At the end of 2015 I started setting up devotional plans for 2016. I ordered a Bible verse, daily calendar so I can tear out the pages and put them in the journal for my landmark. Each day has two scriptures on it from which I may draw inspiration.

For 2016 I ordered a new set of pan paints, which I’ve always wanted. I have come to know that artful expressions of all kinds can be ways to focus on God and to praise him.

Our church gets, “The Upper Room,” and I’m also considering a subscription to, “Jesus in the Morning,” from Guideposts. Sometimes seeing scriptures and ideas juxtaposed can impart thrilling revelations.

I’ve also come across something new to me. It’s called Protestant Prayer Beads. The thought of using prayer beads made me a bit nervous, but I have to say I have liked the idea since I went to church catechism a few times with my dear friend from childhood. Something you can touch helps get you off the worry train and into green grasses. Apparently Christians used them to focus their prayers even before the rosary came along. I have ordered, A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner’s Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads, by Kristen Vincent, (academy.upperroom.org.)

One of my favorite scriptures is: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” It seemed to be Johnnie Lord’s favorite, too. She said all solutions lie in the Holy Spirit Who is accessible to us.

Slowly, I’m seguing into new and exciting adventures with God. I love His promise never to leave me. (Hebrews 13:5) I know that my prayer request for peace in 1965 continually bears fruit.

Brother Lawrence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Lawrence

Safe in the Arms of Jesus 

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Assurance

3 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

You might have gathered by now (if you read my postings consistently) that I glean a lot from facebook. If I find something that appeals to me, then I save it, and hope to use it in this venue.

I came across one recently that reached out and grabbed me. In a nutshell, it tells me that I can trust God to take care of me – no matter what the situation. (credit Cross Cards.com) It speaks of His all-powerful greatness.   It tells me I don’t have to worry about any situation I find myself in – because God can, and WILL take care of me.

I’ve found myself with cancer – and He was there.

I found myself with kidney stones – and He was there.

I found myself in physical therapy following total knee replacement – and He was there, giving me encouragement to push through the pain.

You see, I am His child. I’ve given my life to Him, to do with as he pleases. And because He made “all of this out of nothing,” I know I can trust Him to take care of me. And I know – without a single doubt – that God wants only the best for my life. He wants me to trust Him.

The world is in such a turmoil these days, that sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of “what if” and what “might” happen in the future. But my future is secure – it will be spending eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that delights me!

I am so very grateful that God has allowed me to be His child. The assurance He gives me carries me through each day – and through the remainder of my life.

May you and yours have a wonderful and blessed New Year – 2016 – in our Lord’s safety and assurance.

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