Tag Archives: #amblogging

The Greasy Pork Chops

1 Jul

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

Bill Rocket Plane

 

In 1974 I was between jobs and our family took a 6-week camping trip (see “Our Trip Across America“ blog posted 10/10/2012) to see some of the wonders of America and visit friends and relatives along the way. We had a great time visiting some of my relatives in Louisiana and New Mexico and high school friends in Arizona. We stopped to see DiVoran’s brother and his family in Bonita, CA which is just south of San Diego, CA and one of my work friends in Diamond Bar, CA which is located just east of Los Angeles, CA. From there our trip took us up the scenic California coast to Fort Bragg, CA where DiVoran’s parents were living at the time.

1

Her father, Ivan, was a fisherman who “Lived to Fish” and his longtime dream was to own a commercial fishing boat and ply the Pacific Ocean for its rich verity of salmon. To fulfill this dream he had bought a 50 foot commercial fishing boat the year before and was an old hand at ocean salmon fishing by the time we arrived.

4

We were having a wonderful visit with Ivan and Dora, but Ivan couldn’t wait to take me out on his boat and show me how he was realizing his dream. The day we went out the weather was overcast and cool when we left. By the time Ivan had finished setting his lines, the seas were up and it was getting pretty rough. As we headed back in, taking in the lines and fish, the boat was rolling and pitching so bad it was all I could do to hold on.

2

Ivan got on the radio to tell Dora how bad the weather was and that we were heading home. Before she signed off, she told Ivan that DiVoran wanted to say something.

 I have to put the story on pause for a moment at this point and give you a little background on how Ivan had teased Divoran as she was growing up. He was always telling her that the meal they were eating was Bambi or one of her pet animals, and teasing her about how weak her stomach was when she would get car sick during family trips on those winding Colorado roads.

 Well, DiVoran got on the radio and asked Ivan how the fishing was going; how many fish we had caught, how bad the weather was and all that. When he told her he had to go, she said for him to be careful and to hurry home because she and Dora had a nice hot meal of pork chops waiting for him. Nice greasy pork chops…. nice big greasy pork chops, just swimming in grease. Ivan started turning a little green around the gills and told DiVoran to “SHUT UP!” The last thing I heard on the radio before Ivan signed off was DiVoran laughing. “Sweet Revenge!” I thought to myself. Over the many years we had gone fishing together I had never known Ivan to get sick on a boat, but this was the one exception, and it was perfectly played by DiVoran.

3

After we got back to the marina, got the boat tied up and cleaned the boat and the fish, no one talked much about the incident. But, at dinner that evening (and by the way it wasn’t pork chops), I noticed an occasional smile when DiVoran and Dora would exchange glances. I guess that just goes to prove the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” At least it did for Ivan that day.

 

Luke 6:31

Tags: , ,

Bon Appetit

29 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

       Author, Poet and Artist  It’s always a good idea to stop once in a while and ask ourselves what we have an appetite for. Did you know that God gives us appetites, or desires of the heart, as the Bible calls them?

Many of us have an appetite for reading, even more have one for learning, and then there are those of us who have an appetite for writing.

I started writing in elementary school where I received valuable help from my teachers and family. In my college years, I took as many English and comp. classes as I could. Later on, after Bill and I married and had children, I worked with the publishing group at our church. I learned a great deal from that.

When our children got close to fledging, I knew I needed to invent more of a life for myself, so I started a novel, and became active reading writing books, going to classes, and attending writer’s conferences.

Around the time my grandchildren were born, I began to take painting classes and discovered I had an appetite for art, as well.

Here am I, three published novels later. I’m working on blogs promises, meditations, and a serial novel, Go West. I am now paiting illustrations for almost everything I write. My nest overflows.

If you don’t already know, why not ask God what your truest appetites are for. If He says chocolate, well, you’re in business right off the bat.

Bon Appetit

Psalm 37: 4

Chapter 20 Neiuport Bebe copy

Original art for my Go West serial novel

You can read the first  twenty chapters of Go West at Rebekah Lyn Books

Tags: , , ,

CLOWNING AROUND

28 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

 Growing up in Albuquerque, my first friend was Shirley. She lived down the street, through the side yard of a house, down the alley, and into her back yard. We were fast friends. I was at her house so often, that her mother had a jar of dill pickles in her refrigerator, just for me.

1

We were visiting with Shirley and her husband, Jim, a few years ago, as they live just one-and-one-half hours away from us. At that time, they presented us with a couple of pictures. Shirley said, “that’s you (Judy) and me, but I don’t remember what was going on, or why you are on the ground.”

And instantly, the memory came back. Shirley and I were with a youth group from our church (we were about 16 years old), and we had gone to Glorieta (New Mexico) Conference Center for a retreat. As you can see, I was a bit of a clown back then. Shirley was NOT impressed!

2

As for my being on the ground:   Not only was I clowning around, but some of the others were, as well. One of the guys picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. Fun thing to do, huh? Something guys and girls do a lot for fun. Unfortunately, however, my nose met his back with such force that it gave me an instant bloody nose! So there I was, on the ground, swallowing blood and trying to get my nose to stop bleeding!

3

Shirley remembered that she had been trying to get the attention of one of the guys – and he happened to be the one who hefted me over his shoulder! She was NOT a happy camper at that point!

But all turned out well….the nose stopped bleeding….the retreat proceeded successfully….and neither Shirley nor I married the guy in question.

But it’s a fun memory of a simpler time.

Tags: , ,

The Space Race Part

24 Jun

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

Bill Small Red Plane

 

 

I started teaching my kids and grandkids all about things related to rocketry and aviation early in their lives. Since I was part of the U.S. Space Program when my children were growing up, they got a heavy dose of rocketry. My son built and flew his first model rocket at age 9 or 10. We went on to enjoy that hobby together for years to come.

1

When the grandkids came along, the aviation bug that had bit their granddad, in his early years, was still there to infect them while they were young and spending monthly weekends with Grandmother & Granddad. Of course, my son and I had to teach my grandson the art and joy of model rocketry as well, during his teen years (and you know the youngsters are the ones who have the energy to chase the errant model airplanes and model rockets).

2

I hope you can forgive me for digressing some from my original subject. But, this blog is a quick overview of how “Aviation” and the “Space Race” have influenced and directed my life and work over the 35 of my Aerospace career. And, overall, how those same interests and desires have continued to influence my life to this very day.   I’m just as determined to experience as many “Aviation” related things (museums & airshows) today as I was when I was a teenager. In fact, every time an airplane flies over our house, I can’t resist looking up to see if my first guess as to what type of airplane it is (by the engine sound) was right or not. And then there are the periodic rocket launches that wake us up at all hours of the night. We have to jump up, grab the binoculars, and follow its fiery trail until it is out of sight. I’ve heard it said, “Some people never grow up.”   I guess I must be one of them.

3

 

—–The End—–

Tags: , ,

Letting Go

22 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistWhen Bill retired, I had no idea what I was going to do with him. It was the same old story that happens when people retire. The retiree is lost and feels a need to go back to work. Bill had nothing of his own to do. He could only relate to what I was doing. He told me how and to do laundry, wanted the dishes in the dishwasher placed just right, wanted to take me everywhere he went, and expected my full attention when I was trying to concentrate on my own writing.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love Bill dearly, even after fifty-seven years of marriage. But at retirement time I had the normal aversion to change, and to adjusting to someone else being in the house most of the time.

It wasn’t long until Bill got a chance to learn to fly model airplanes — something he has loved all his life. Then, thank Heaven, he was out of the house for several hours every morning. That helped.

Eventually I got him to go down for a nap in the afternoons. I take one and I thought it would be good if he took one too. Now he loves it.

As time went on, he added volunteering at a church to help with their Car Care ministry on Saturdays. Then he started going to the fitness center. All was well.

Slowly, though, airplanes started crashing because of electronic interference. He was going to have to learn to fly in an entirely different way – a computer way.

We each have our own computer and have been working on them for years, but we need a lot of help with them. We have computer angels who make house calls and one that we can trust that we pay, so we’re blessed in that way, but none of them is interested in flying airplanes.

Bill had a friend who volunteered with the Valiant Air Command museum and so he decided in order to still have airplane time, to spend one morning a week doing that. He has made new friends and enjoys meeting people from all over the world.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

Then he decided he wanted to travel around the U. S. and visit other airplane museums and attend fly-ins. At first he invited me to go, but I’m more of a stay-at-home type. We’re a rare type and most people don’t understand us. Did you know that?

The more he traveled, the more of his non-traveling life it took up. He now spends hours at the computer making the most detailed and meticulous plans you ever saw. Then he goes on a trip. He started out going only for one week, but then expanded it to two. He had to, there are many museums to see. Sometimes he visits as many as eight in one day. He travels fast, and he travels cheap. When he comes home he organizes his pictures, and his notes, and writes blogs. When the whole journey has been precisely documented, he starts planning the next one.

Proverbs 3:5-6Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Tags: , ,

Snow

21 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

Growing up in New Mexico, we had our share of winter snow. As a matter of fact, the mountains just outside the city, to the East, were and still are, some of the best snow skiing in the country.

2

 

It’s one of those “best-kept-secrets.”

3

 

Of course, some winter storms dropped more snowfall than other years (18″ one year in one night), but it seems like we always had snow.

4

 

I was all but surprised to find that Fort Worth, Texas had snow as well! I guess I had always thought of Texas as hot and dry. But there was one winter when we were literally snowed-in for a couple of days. We were in an apartment building, with parking in the back, and we couldn’t get out of the driveway. Yea!!! We couldn’t get to work!

 

 

 

And, of course, when we moved to northern Maine for that one year, we had plenty of snow! More than we ever wanted.

7

 

Karen was not quite four-years-old when we left there, and her impression of snow was that we were snowed in – because she could look out her second-story window, down on the roof of the stoop below and see the snow stacked high.

 

But for the five years we lived in Panama City, Florida, we didn’t have snow. Well, once it snowed about half-an-inch, but that was it. It was funny, actually: I happened to be driving by the elementary school at the time it was snowing, and one child was in the stereotypical stance of standing-spread-eagle, tongue hanging out, trying to catch snowflakes on their tongue! Our girls did a lot of their growing up years there, so they were unaccustomed to snow.

So it was, that when we went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, they had their first real taste of snow. It happened overnight, and we awoke to snow on the ground. Those of you reading this who are old enough to remember, many years ago Toyota had a little jingle that went: “You asked for it….you got it…..Toyota.” Well, I did a bit of improvising to that jingle, and woke each daughter up singing that tune: “You asked for it…you got it…it snowed last night!” They were up and out of their beds in a flash and dash to the window!

I don’t remember how much they played in it – probably more than I remember. There were other children in our little cul-de-sac, and I’m sure someone had a sled. But after wading through it to school every morning for months, they weren’t so thrilled with it. But that’s part of life, right?

It’s nice to have those kinds of memories, however. Adds a little spice to our life.

 

 

 

Tags: , , ,

The Space Race~Part 4

17 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Lites

 

The most amazing aviation museum I visited last year was the “Pima Air & Space Museum and Boneyard in Tucson, Arizona. The museum is amazing, with 150 beautifully restored hangered aircraft, and another 150 static displayed aircraft of all types in their 80 acre outdoor area. That’s also where the U. S. Government has 300 acres of discontinued aircraft of all types (the boneyard) in storage or waiting to be scrapped. What an amazing array of aircraft that is!

1

What makes a lot of these airshows and museums I visit really fun and stand out, is that many of the museum docents dress in period costumes and display a variety of period planes, vehicles and equipment. At one museum I visited, and that really stands out in my memory, is the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City, FL. That’s where I met “Rosie the Riveter” & “Penelope the Wing Walker” who were tour guides there and showed me around portions of their museum. What a special treat that is for visitors at that museum!

2

As a serendipity on one of my museum trips two years ago, I just happened to be in Albuquerque, NM during the week of their Annual Balloon Fest. Now if you have never attended a balloon fest or seen an IMAX movie of a balloon fest, I want to tell you, that is a spectacle to behold! Hundreds of colorful balloons of all shapes and sizes ascending into a usually beautiful clear blue sky at one time is absolutely spectacular! The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum there in Albuquerque tells the history of how the balloon has evolved, from one of the first methods man used to venture into the sky, and over the centuries, to what the balloon hobby is today.

3

I was reminded of the 1967 song “Up, Up and Away” which starts off with, “Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon…” which DiVoran and I actually did with her folks during one of our many visits to see them in California. It was the occasion of father’s 60th birthday, and her brother invited us to join them for the celebration with a wonderful balloon ride. What a thrill that was! It was very quiet and peaceful.

4

Since I can’t be on the road all the time, I stay close to the aviation community by being a volunteer tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum here in Titusville, FL.   Our small museum has 38 aircraft on display, 7 of which are flyable and 4 which are in one state or another of restoration, plus a vast array of military memorabilia. We even host our own Warbird Airshow every March, which brings a large variety of aircraft to our small TICO Airport & VAC Museum. Each airshow celebrates a different theme and usually includes at least one well-known flying demonstration team like the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angles.

5

 

                                                            —–To Be Continued—–

Tags: , , ,

Minute Meditations~9

14 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy WillsJUDY

                                                 

CONNECTION…

How do you connect with people? If you are in a business, you probably have some sort of “plan” to connect with people who could be your customers. We see ads in the newspaper and on the TV all the time for businesses selling their particular product. We see ads looking for people to work with a specific company, or in a specific position.

I’ve heard of people who attend benefits or parties or some such event just so they can “network” the system, and benefit themselves or their company.

But what is your connection to the one and only true living God? Is it an Easter and Christmas connection? Is it a once-a-month connection? Or is it a genuine, life-sustaining, personal relationship with God?

My brother Bill wrote about this recently. Here are his thoughts:

3

Our connection to God is, quite simply, the only way we can live this life with any purpose or satisfaction. It allows us to walk upright without staggering or tripping or falling down. There may be bumps in the road, but if we keep our eyes on that connection to God, He will keep us from falling flat on our faces. He will help us see the direction we need to take – to be His children.

We are blest, indeed.

Tags: , , , ,

I’m so messy

11 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I need to just come out and say this. I… am…messy. I have been a messy from my earliest memories of childhood playing with sweet Ruthie who had bouncy white blonde curls and never got her hands dirty, while we played in the dirt.

Even today, if you are brave enough to have lunch or dinner with me, be prepared to watch food fall from my fork and onto my clothes. I just can’t help it. Another fun place to be near me is in the kitchen. I can’t seem to cook without making the kitchen look like a FEMA claim. The floor get so littered I keep this handy battery powered broom to scoop up the debris. A disclaimer here, in case I bring a covered dish to your house, I am messy in the kitchen but I make sure that everything starts out clean and as germ free as I can make it.

I have struggled with this in my housewifely skills as well. Clutter, clutter everywhere. If anyone can tell me how to keep a house with no “secret” sitting room look permanently tidy, please share your wisdom! I am to the point where I am tired of losing the clutter battle and ready to wave the white flag of surrender.

As I finished typing the previous paragraph, Jeremiah 31:3 was running through my brain.

God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.

    Expect love, love, and more love!

 That is The Message version. I know being messy doesn’t equate to being brought out of the wilderness as the verse is referring to, but it delights my heart anyway. And to add a divine touch, as I looked out the upper window in my messy living room, I saw a beautiful, brilliant red cardinal on a tree limb; more magnificent than any I have seen in my yard.

Tags: , , , ,

The Space Race~Part 3

10 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Small Red Plane

 

 

When that program was over in 1979, I was laid off and lucky enough to get a job with MacDonald Douglas’ (MDAC) Space Operations, who was processing and launching Delta series 3914 vehicles to place communication satellites in orbit for NASA and various U.S. Government organizations from complex 17A/B there on Cape Canaveral. This job required quite a bit of travel to Vandenberg AFB, CA where the U.S. Air Force was using the same Delta series 3914 vehicle to place their own satellites in a different orbit.

1

In 1981 Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) called me back to Complex 46 on Cape Canaveral, to work on the U.S. Navy’s new Trident II submarine launched ICBM. This program was similar to the Trident I program in that it consisted of the assembling, testing and launching of 21 development missiles from a flat-pad, to qualify that missile for submarine launch operations and eventual duty in the Navy’s new Ohio class nuclear submarine fleet for which it was originally designed.

2

When that program was completed, I remained a few years to help with the facility transition from a launch operations facility to what was called a Fleet Certification Facility. Then in 1989, rather than being laid off again, I transferred to the Lockheed Space Operations Co. (LSOC) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). By that time NASA’s Space Shuttle Launch & Recovery Operations had recovered from the 1986 Challenger accident, and launches were again on a fast track.

3

One of my first assignments for LSOC, away from my KSC office, was in 1990 to observe and coordinate several Space Shuttle Drag Chute deployment system tests being conducted at Edwards AFB, CA. NASA’ B-52 (52-0008) was used for the initial tests, and it was quite a site for me to see, and quite a challenge for the pilots, to land that huge aircraft at the 160-230 mph speeds required to simulate the Shuttle landing speeds. NASA eventually added the drag chute system as part of the Shuttle landing system in 1992 on STS-49 and all subsequent orbiters, to help protect the orbiter’s brakes and tires during landings at the KSC runway.

4

                      

After I retired in 1996, my interest continued to be centered around aviation and I took up flying R/C Model airplanes, as a hobby, along with many of my friends. In addition to flying R/C Model Airplanes, around 2010, I started a bucket list of various aviation museums across the country I wanted to visit. Now I try to plan a two-week museum trip to some area of the country about every six months, one trip in the spring and one again in the fall.

5

I usually fly to a conveniently located airport, rent a car and use the road-trip to see as many museums and airshows as possible, on the planned route, in the time allotted. My main interest is, off course, visiting aviation museums, but usually includes automobile museums, train museums, and maritime museums alone the way. One of my most exciting aviation airshows I attended last year was in Texas to see “FIFI” (the only air worthy WWII B-29 Flying Fortress in the world). What a beautiful war bird that is. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I got goose bumps when they started up those four huge improved Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engines. What a thrill that was for me!

6

 

                                                            —–To Be Continued—–

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →