Not real happy right now. I took mom out for lunch; we met the bride at one of her favorite restaurants. That part was a lot of fun. A gentleman and his wife came in saying that someone with a big white truck had a flat tire. Turn out it was me. I got out my air compressor and pumped up the tire enough to get me to Discount tires where I had purchased the tires a couple of years ago. I figured to get the flat fixed and all would be good. I got to looking at my tires and realized that they were just about worn out. You could see the wear indicator and I had about 3/32 of tread left. I have only put a little over 30,000 miles on the 60,000 mile Pirelli tires. I was not a happy camper. I had the inflation up to specs and I rotated the tires every time they were due. I did everything right, but they did not live up to their marketing. Talking with the young man behind the counter I let him know I was upset. They did prorate the old tires to the tune of $332. But it still cost me $600 for a set of four new tires. I did not go back with the Pirellis I choose the Pathfinder all terrain. If I do not have good luck with these tires I will be going back to Big O tires or maybe Les Swab. Anyway that was my lunch date with mom.

Ava goes swimming

The bride and I went to the opera (Carmen) last night. We had front row center seats. The seats were great and the talent was amazing. However I was a little frustrated to start. I believe this was my first opera, and my first thought was this is America, speak English! It wasn’t until I was halfway through the first act when I found the sub titles, they where on a small screen at the very top of the stage. This made the experience so much more enjoyable. I had read the synopsis of the opera so I had a general idea of what was happening but the sub titles put it all together.

I finally got to sleep last night about 1:00am. That is very late for me. The dogs got me up about 6:30 this morning to go out. I thought about staying up, but it was a fleeting thought thank goodness. I had been up about an hour or so when mom came in to tell me the pool (above ground) was ‘spilling out”. Now she claims that she does not know what happening, but one of the filter hoses was lying on the ground. I figure my momma was trying to straighten up and things went awry. All you can do is smile and put things back together.

The bride is out with a girl friend doing girl stuff. All three of us (bride, mom, and myself) are headed for a bar-b-que this afternoon. I love summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This E mail is making the rounds and I felt it needed to be shared. Our country is about 180 degree out!

Band of Brothers Hero

From a buddy. May 'Shifty RIP.
Frank
---------------------
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st
Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the
History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10
episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he
was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol
of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne
or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the
101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served,
and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training
jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know
where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what
D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into
Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . .
and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said
"Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are
left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart
was in my throat and I didn't know w hat to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back
to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have
it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are
still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make
an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And
mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to
the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Had a fun day fishing with my buddy Nate and his "new" thirty year old boat. The boat and motor are both thirty three yeas old and work great. We putted around East Canyon reservoir most of the day and even caught some fish. Nate did out fish me two to one, but he owns the boat and I want to get invited out again so I made sure some of the fish I had on the line got off before I boated them, just don't tell Nate.

I'll be headed outside soon to do a little bit of yard work. I see a couple of weeds that need to challenged, I believe I'll be up to the task. It should be 92 degrees today so I want to split some wood befor it gets to warm. All and all it wil be a quite day at the house.

I have seen a pair of Blackheaded Grosbeaks at my bird feeder lately. The new bird feed has been bringing better variety of birds. I do enjoy setting on the deck and watching the birds. My sister thinks I am a nerd but what does she know.

My dogs know how to relax. I am sure they had a tough day of running around the backyard and barking at the neighbors dog. Top to bottom is Dusty, Foxy, and Maggie, and they are NOT spoiled.