TRAVEL TREASURES

Back in my working days, one of the biggest perks my job provided was the ability to travel on company business to many cities & places around the United States. I probably made business trips to 40 states -- numerous times for some locations -- on the Maybelline dime. [But never to Hawaii or Las Vegas.]

With many business trips -- if the timing was right -- I stayed in the last city I visited & spent the weekend, rather than returning home on Friday. I saved the company a ton of money in airline fees & my bosses would not mind me keeping a rental car for an extra day or two on the expense account.

I was able to spend quite a bit of time being a tourist, or in some cities -- Los Angeles & San Francisco come to mind -- visit familiar resturants & places like zoos, pet shops, plant nursery's -- and especially -- BOOK STORES.

I have always had a strong attraction for books & book stores, starting as a kid. Now days I buy from the big chain book sellers -- I was in Barnes & Noble today -- as well as one the Internet, but I always like to search out & find a large/small independent book store. Thanks to my travels, I found good book stores in cities I was sent to do company business. Those weekend stays proved fruitful.

Growing up, the first bookstore I remember, was the Clinton Bookstore in Rochester, New York. It sold new & used books & had tables & rooms full of old magazines. It was a place where I could spend hours -- & dollars -- looking, reading & enjoying the musty smell of old paper.

Years later, visiting Rochester, I went looking for the Clinton Bookstore, but sadly (for me) the location -- & the store itself -- was gone, thanks to "Urban Renewal".

I have found similar bookstores in New York City, but the book store which comes the closest to my memory of the Clinton Bookstore, is Powell's Books, in Portland, Oregon. It's huge, it has MILLIONS of books & the staff is knowledgeable & willing to help ... or just leave you alone. My last time at Powell's Books, I had to buy an extra piece of luggage to bring all the books back I had purchased.

In my travels, not all the book stores I have found have quite measured up to the "standards" I have in mind when visiting these small, independent sellers. In fact, some travels & complicated searches have led to disappointment as to results. It may be the size of the store, the kind of subjects in the books they carry, or ... maybe the bookstore was just ... WRONG.

The fun is in the HUNT; sometimes a treasure ... sometimes not. Since my "library" has THOUSANDS of books, publications & magazines, I found the RIGHT book stores quite often.

A GRAVE INJUSTICE

When I travel East on Interstate-40, I usually get on at the access ramp at Kerr Road. It's about five miles from where I live, so even living in a rural area, I'm not really ... "out in the sticks". Not too far, anyway.

For the several years I was commuting weekly to/from Memphis to work with Caboodles Cosmetics, Kerr road was the beginning & end for me. Not only for the travel itself -- about 260 miles round trip -- but for the traffic on I-40 as well. The trip gets old quickly, battling all the 18-wheelers which travel the Interstate.

Each Monday morning, usually about 5 A.M., I would make my entrance to I-40 at Kerr Road. Late Thursday afternoon of that week, returning home, Kerr Road was my exit point. Many times, I would often get off the Interstate in Bisco, Arkansas & make the rest of the trip home on Highway-70. I would have had enough of the Interstate traffic & needed a more leisurely flow of traffic.

Even those times I would exit the Interstate early, I still would "pass" Kerr Road as I neared home, as it begins at Highway-70. The road goes all the way to Cabot, Arkansas & is often a "back way" for me travel to Cabot.

Kerr Road, between Highway-70 & the Interstate entrance/exit, is just a county road, most of it bordered by a swamp full of Tupelo Trees on one side & a sod farm on the other. Scattered along the way are some not too well kept homes, a few mobile homes [some may/may not be lived in] & a church & grave yard -- St. Mathews Baptist Church.

The church was rebuilt a few years ago & looks elegant & well kept. The grave yard however appears to be a different story.

I could tell when driving on Kerr Road that many of the tombstones where quite old, yet the grave yard itself was "active", as I would often see "fresh" graves -- due to dirt, flowers, etc. -- as I drove along.

When I worked at Maybelline here in Arkansas, I was given some history on the "Kerr Community" as it is sometimes called. The area dates back to the late 1800's & has primarily been an African-American conclave all that time. The original church was built long ago, but replaced in the past decade.

I recently stopped at the church & fulfilled a long desire to "tour" the grave yard. I knew there had to be some extremely old graves & I was curious as to what I would find.

Let me just say ... close up & under my feet ... the grave yard is not what it appears to be when driving past it at 25-35 MPH. There are OLD graves & newer sections, with -- per the grave markers -- "recent" burials. What impacted my visit, was the CONDITION of the graves.

This grave -- for someone with a last name of "Warren", was the oldest grave with a date on it -- 1899. However, there were many other stones & markers which were unreadable or had no writing on them.

This grave marker appears to be, "home made" -- concrete forms, with the name/dates scraped in while the concrete was still wet. There were two of these markers which I saw.

I look at the dates on the markers, not only to find "old graves", but like this one, to quietly question in my mind, why this person only lived to be 21 years old.

This is looking from what I would call the "old section", back to the church & some of the "newer" graves. This shows too, with the reflections, what I could never see from the road -- many of the graves have water in them/on them. It appears -- due to age ?? -- the earth has sunk in & water either fills it, or covers it. Not only did it make me feel the grave yard was not maintained, but -- creeping me out -- whatever is buried has collapsed, or disintegrated, below.

This grave -- of Virge Sampson -- was overgrown by the tree & tree roots which grew long after the person -- less than one year old -- was buried. There were many grave stones in far worse condition ... some broken, tipped over & some falling INTO the sinking graves.

Again ... areas in poor condition, not maintained & outlines of sinking grave sites.

Even in the newer areas, where some semblance of grave care is taking place, there are areas of water & sunken earth.

And -- just so we don't forget we are in Arkansas -- along side the small dirt/gravel road which traverses the grave yard, there are piles of garbage scattered around. In this case, old plastic flowers, metal flower stands, styrofoam crosses, along with some other "things" I was not sure I wanted to know what they were.

Well, for a long time I was curious about this location & the "contents". What I have come away with is more questions than answers, all having to do with care of the site & even why people would want to be continue to be buried there. [I guess I answer that last question by thinking "options" may be limited to these people & the location may be ingrained in both mind & family history.]

Still the investigation was interesting. I know a bit more about the area & certainly some information about people who have passed on, many quite a few years ago.

It also affirmed my desire, dictate to friends, family & written in my will, to be cremated when it is my turn to leave planet earth. Then, no maintenance for me will be required when I am gone.

PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM

When I transferred to Arkansas with Maybelline in 1996, I would venture over to Lonoke, Arkansas to do some of my shopping for non-grocery items at the Wal*Mart store in that town.

The store was small & very old. It was probably one of the "original" stores ... when Wal*Mart was just a regional chain of stores. I often felt I might see Sam Walton himself walking the narrow isles.

The "big" Wal*Mart at that time, was over in West Little Rock. I went there a couple times but it was just too far away to be practical for me. I stuck with the Lonoke store & did most of my grocery shopping at local Kroger's or Harvest Foods.

I'm sure everyone reading this is well aware of how much Wal*Mart has expanded through out the world. In the United States they seem to now have stores everywhere. As time went on , I had more Wal*Mart stores opening up in my area to choose from ... all of them "super stores"; meaning they sold groceries as well.

As more Wal*Mart's opened, I started going to new stores in Jacksonville & Cabot, Arkansas to shop. [The one in Cabot got so popular & busy for that town, Wal*Mart built a newer, bigger store on the land next to the original store. They closed the old one & moved next door.]

A super store was built & opened in North Little Rock -- finally !! Of all the locations, this one is the closest to me in distance ... about 10 miles. It's also the Wal*Mart store I don't care to shop at.

I've never been pleased with the N.L.R. store. It always seemed a bit "messy" & the shelves poorly stocked. They refurbished & re-did the store less than a year ago, but the cosmetic changes didn't do much to change my opinion of the store.

The nicest Wal*Mart store is a new one in Sherwood, Arkansas; just the other side of the North Little Rock city line. It's big, clean, well stocked & just a few more miles for me to drive to shop at.

And now ... a NEW Wal*Mart store has opened ... in Lonoke !!!

I knew there were plans to close the old store. Either that, or turn it into a Wal*Mart museum. It really was that old.

WAL*MART -- LONOKE, ARKANSAS

The new store is across Interstate-40 from Lonoke proper, & while not a "super store", it has an excellent grocery selection & just about everything I would want & need at Wal*Mart. It''s about three times bigger than the old store. I've been to the store several times now & have been pleased each time with what I find.

It's going to be a long time before I want/need to go to the N.L.R. store again. I really don't know why that store has such a negative effect on me. I want to think ALL Wal*Mart stores would be maintained the same way. Not so.

I'm going to continue shopping at the Lonoke, Arkansas store. I'll still keep my eyes open for Sam Walton.

PEEPERS

The precipitation is falling today as rain. Last week it would have been snow & sleet.

The snow we did have has FINALLY all melted & the temperatures are above freezing at night & in the high 50's during the day. I know we will have more cold days -- it's in the 10-day forecast -- but can Spring be far away ??

It still looks like Winter; the trees are leafless & the ground is dull brown & covered with leaves. [I've still got a lot of yard work ahead of me.] At least it is starting to SOUND like Spring.

Spring & all the good things it brings -- warmer weather, green grass, flowers & blooming trees, etc. -- is heralded around my home by the sound of ... "The Peepers".

Spring Peepers are tiny frogs about an inch long which are "chirping" at all hours of the day in the swamps, ponds & bodies of water all around the area where I live. The warmer temperatures are alerting them to become active.

The fella Peepers are looking to "hook up" & the whistling sound they make -- 24/7 -- is to attract Peeper babes. [Fine looking ladies too, with a light brown color & stripes forming an "X" on the frogs back. HOT !!]


Some years the Peepers will get fooled by warmer-than-normal temperatures, & will start "calling" in January. The returning cold weather will drive them back into hibernation until the temperatures start to warm again. They are not "Winter Peepers" after all.

It's good to hear the Spring Peepers are making their sounds. After the flooding, cold temperatures & large amounts of snow we have had this Winter season, it's joy full to realize we are finally due for a change in seasons & the Peepers are providing us their annual reminder.

"THE STONES"

Like many people my age -- 62 going on 33 -- I was a big fan of the Beatles. Unlike some others, I also liked the Rolling Stones. I still like the music of both.

I aways shared the Jeff Spicoli's desire to "... jam with the Stones". Not that I could play any instruments or carry a tune.

I attended a Rolling Stones concert in Memphis years ago. I went with "Wemus" & Larry & about 50,000 other folks to watch/hear/"hang out" with Mick & the boys at the football stadium. We had a great time.

The word "stones" has another meaning for me -- KIDNEY STONES. I've been producing them since about the mid-1980's on a semi-regular basis. I found out this past week I'm currently holding on to several, & they are making their presence known.

Through out my 33 years of life, I've had my share of hospital visits, along with minor & major operations. I've spent a few days there due to "stones".

Still, I'm not one to run to the doctor for every little ache & pain. I do have my annual & regular visits with several doctors for "maintenance", but the majority of the kidney stones have "passed" without any help.

The first Urologist I ever went to warned me the pain of passing a stone was "... like a woman having a baby". My response was quickly -- "What man knows what that feels like ??"

I seem to be able to pass kidney stones on my own as I have a good tolerance for pain. Heck, I was married four years !!

Still, every so often, I do start to go into labor. The pain gets to be too much; there is not a position -- standing, siting, laying down -- which is comfortable & I start passing blood. Time to call on the professionals.

I like the Urologist I go to in Little Rock -- Dr. Gail Reed Jones. I've been seeing her annually for about six years. I'll be seeing her again Monday, when I'm scheduled for some dye-injection x-rays. I'm pretty sure she's going to put me in the hospital this time & "remove" my Calcium Oxalate buddies.

If it was later in the year, I might be able to shake the stones loose by cutting the grass. I've told Dr. Jones in the past, riding on my mower for several hours, cutting four acres of grass, will usually help me "pass" a stone in a day or two. It's all the bouncing around & twisting & turning on the mower which ... "gets things moving".

WILLIE & THE STONES

I had the mower out today & drove it around a bit. I do that every few weeks in the Winter, to keep it running & in good order. It's just not enough riding time right now to get ME in good order.

Instead of using the John Deere, it looks as if these non-rolling stones will let my doctor do the job of removal.

SPELUNKING

ANYTHING ... different, new, moved, rearranged or changed in the world of my three cats will attract them to investigate whatever it is which is unique. They never miss anything.

Last night I opened the bottom drawer in the kitchen, looking for one of Wobs favorite toys, which for various reasons, I have to keep put away & hidden.

The open drawer IMMEDIATELY attracted Wobs & her mother, Precious ... sniffing, looking & investigating the change in the kitchen landscape. With all the clutter in the drawer, the toy was the item of least interest.

Precious had her paws up on the front of the drawer & her head deeply buried, looking intently into it. Wobs was also focused on the contents.

I thought it would be a cute photo so I ran to the back room to get my camera, but when I got back only Wobs was still there. I took the picture of Wobs alone, siting next to the open drawer.

THE WOBBLER

Then I started looking around for Momma Kitty. She was not in the kitchen & I didn't see her in the living room, on the porch or in the hall ... all favorite spots.

Then it dawned on me. [You know where this is going.]

I reached down & stuck my hand into the back of the extended drawer. I got a cat paw touching me back. Precious had somehow pulled her chunky self through the clutter in the drawer & was in the back of the cabinetry.

I tried pulling the drawer out & off the runners. No luck. It would not budge. The other cabinet doors in the kitchen did not provide access to the space she was in.

Finally, I emptied the open drawer of all it's contents & pushed the drawer half way in. Precious crawled in from the back, through the drawer & out the front.

Never a dull moment with three cats. If there is an opening ... a platform ... a newly pressed piece of clothing needing a coating of cat hair ... they will find it.

Precious ... in the sock drawer.

DEATH BY THE DOZENS

I'm a regular customer at McSwain's Sport Shop. I buy minnows there all the time. Sometimes crickets as well. Occasionally, even worms.

And I am NOT a fisherman.

The minnows are for several species of turtles in my collection which will only eat live fish. The crickets are for my lizards -- actually GECKOS -- which eat insects. The species of geckos I keep will also feed on flower nectar in the wild. In captivity, I substitute baby food, which I get at the grocery store. I'd have "one-stop-shopping" if McSwain's would stock baby food.

The guys who work at McSwain's all know me & why I'm buying. I like to say I'm dealing in ... "Death by the dozens". It's true.

I do get questions quite often from other shoppers in McSwain's, usually along the lines of ... "What ya fishin fer" ?? Naturally, I get the weird looks when I tell them I'm raising & feeding turtles.

With the birds the cats catch -- there are feathers on the front porch right now -- & all the bugs & "minnas" getting devoured at this location, it seems death -- is a common thing. It's just a fact of nature for the animals I have.

Still, some "deaths" around here are dealt with on a different level. Sometimes I have to make the decision to end suffering & speed up the process of dying. I had to face that today.

I knew it was coming ... so it's not a shock really. It's not like I expected to have it around forever. After all ... forty years old can be a good life for some. I'll bet that age -- knowing how it can be now days -- had to be considered "old age", but, making the decision & saying: "That's it ... I'm not going to let you go on like this ... knowing the effort you are making. It's over. In the trash you go".

After 40 years of faithful service ... gallons of margaritas ... whipping up smoothies & frothy eggs, my Waring Blender has finally had it's motor silenced. Time for a new one.

Good bye, old friend !!

My Dad bought the blender as a gift during a visit with me & my wife back in Memphis, about 40 years ago. He drove down from New York State by himself, as Mom was on one of her frequent visits back in England. If I remember correctly, we got it in a store across from Southland Mall, which may have been a Service Merchandise store.

And, YES ... when my wife [Nancy] & I split up, I did get the blender. That's about all I got, other than the shaft.

I doubt if the next blender I buy will last 40 years ... but, I sure would like to be around to see if it does.

HILDA PICS

Well ... I guess things are improving here, weather wise. Not that the snow & ice has melted in any great amount, but the sun shown for a bit yesterday & that has been helpful in clearing the road in front of my house. Also, my neighbor using the front-end loader on his tractor to scraped off some of the snow from the road made a big difference in allowing the sun to reach & warm the road bed.

"Daily deliveries" -- that would be the morning newspaper & mail service -- are catching up. In the late morning yesterday, I found two newspapers, in plastic bags, on the snow near the yellow box the paper is normally placed in. I guess "tossing" them was easier than driving in the deeper snow on the side of the road ... where there had been little/no traffic. I received Monday & Wednesday's papers. No Tuesday paper ... yet(?).

In the mail yesterday, I got the Wednesday edition of the USA Today paper & FRIDAY'S copy of same, which had a big section devoted to the "upcoming" Super Bowl. I tossed it. I'm still waiting for the Monday USA Today paper.

I spent some time yesterday cleaning up the truck & running the engine. I decided to "test" the road & was curious to see the condition of the "main" road, which certainly had much more traffic activity on it & should have been clearer. It was.

Being brave, I made an excursion to handle two important quests -- [1] Get my mail at the P.O. Box I have at the Rose City Post Office. Included there was my expected Visa bill, postage stamps I'd ordered on the Internet & a box of cookies my Mother had mailed me from Florida. Waiting on me too, as well, was an un-expected BONUS -- the annual Sports Illustrated "Swimsuit Edition". Life is good.

[2] While out driving -- on mostly very clear, dry roads -- I visited Target for "Kat Snacks". "WE" ... were down to the last half package in the house & I was getting some strange looks from "The Girls" over my efforts to steer them to other dry foods or canned goodies. It was reaching the point where I felt they were going to turn on me -- probably in the middle of the night -- if I didn't come up with the "Temptations" treats.

I called Hilda [Mom] when I got home, to thank her for the "goodie box" & update her on our weather "issues". Despite living the first 50+ years of her life in England & New York state, I think Mom has lost her conception of what snow & ice mean in a person's daily life. She's lived in Florida for more than 25 years now, & any time it is cold enough which requires her to turn on the heat, she's not pleased. Her blood has gotten too thin from all that Florida warm weather.

I try to write my Mother a letter almost every day. She doesn't have a computer, or, want one. She likes her "snail mail", which I am more than happy to provide. Now days, along with my letters, I include photos I print on my computer, to give Hilda a clearer picture of places I've been & activities in my life. She gets a lot of cat pictures too.

With all the "white weather" we have had, here is a sample of some of the typical "Hilda Pics" Mom is receiving:

Back of my house.

Creek & bamboo

Bamboo broken/damaged by the storms

Damaged pine trees

THE WOBBLER ... wanting to get the birds

Hopefully -- sooner than later -- the "Hilda Pics" will be of flowering trees & green grass. It can't happen soon enough for me.

BLAME THE GROUNDHOG

I guess when the giant rat in Pennsylvania got pulled out of his house last week, he went over board when it comes to giving us six more weeks of Winter. Here in Arkansas, we've got a bad case of ... "THE WHITES".

The temperature got down into the twenty's last night, so all the "slush" from yesterday froze. Also, the snow, which was mixed with rain, has crusted over with a sheet of glaze. It's noisy walking on that stuff.

For the first time in about a week, the sun has been shinning. In fact, we've been blessed with a bright blue sky. Despite the temperature still being below freezing, areas on the road are starting to melt & clear off a bit. Without the sun -- or when it gets dark -- re-freezing occurs & the melting process stops. The roads will really have to clear before I'll attempt to drive.

I walked my property earlier today: to evaluate "damages" to the trees & check the flow of water in the creek. Some areas of my land -- where it will "flood" when there is a heavy rain -- are holding water ... with a layer of ice & snow above it.

I'm concerned about my pine trees & other evergreens. The Leyland Cypress in the photo have their normally upright branches hanging DOWN due to the ice & snow. I am hoping the branches will return to normal when it warms up. It will be a major problem -- & a cosmetic one -- if the tree limbs are damaged or broken.

At various times this A.M., all three cats have gone outside. As long as the snow has that crisp, crust to it, the girls can walk on top of the snow. Yesterday it was too wet, both from the snow itself, as well as the steady rain we had at times, so they spent just about all the day indoors. I am sure it was "torture" for them to sit in the windows & watch all the activity at the bird feeders. So close ... yet ... so far.

I limited my time outdoors yesterday. I did check for the newspaper several times. I never got it, nor has one been delivered today. It's proving my theory that I don't really need the paper, since I can get all the same "news" via the TV & Internet ... usually about 24 hours before the newspaper "repeats" the news.

The mail did come yesterday, but not till about 2:30. I'm still "missing" two USA Today newspapers, but I did get a letter from Hilda [Mom].

I had to get the extension ladder from the storage building & go up to the roof to get the snow/slush off the satellite dish. The dish has to be clear to receive signals. If not, the TV screen will indicate it is "searching" for the signal, similar to when there is a heavy downpour of rain.

Each time I went outside, I would throw more bird seed on the ground under the bird feeders. The activity around all the feeders has been hectic, an indication of the fact that the snow is interfering with the birds getting to their "normal" food sources. Or ... they just invited a lot of their friends for dinner.

I'm going to go out shortly & refill all the bird feeders. It's cold today, but at least I'll stay dry. Yesterday, there was the combination -- depending on when I was out -- of wet snow and/or rain. It was a "cold-foot-day", along with the fact I had a wet jacket, pants & gloves to dry off each time I was out in the elements.

I just looked out the window & I can see the feeders have really been abused & are getting empty. I'm sure it helps to toss those hand fulls of seeds on the ground. There are just not enough feeding "stations" for the number of bird "visitors" I have.

Time to conclude these observations, cuss the groundhog once again & get outside to feed my feathered friends.

GOOD NEWS ... BAD NEWS

First the bad news ...

It's going to be another crummy week.

When I opened the front door this A.M. -- which is pretty much standard, as my cat, Nibblets likes to go outside first thing in the morning -- I was greeted by a landscape of WHITE. We had at least two inches of snow over night.

When I went down to the road to get the newspaper -- which was not there, nor has it been delivered yet -- I found it was a wet, heavy snow, the kind if you get enough of, will bring down electrical power lines. That's (potential) bad news.

For the first couple hours we had a light snow, mixed with some rain & sleet. More (potential) bad news for icing, when the temperatures drop later in the day. Luckily, it's just above freezing on my thermometer for now.

For the past 90 minutes or so, it's been a MAJOR snow storm outside -- big, wet flakes of snow, covering up the tracks made previously by me & the cats.

Oh, yeah. The cats. Despite the snow, Nibblets has gone outside & returned several times. Each time I have had to dry her off with a towel. The last time she went out the front door ... only to come around to the side door & want inside. Make up your mind !!

Wobs went out once(t) ... didn't like it ... came right back in. That has not stopped her from leading me to the door, indicating she wants to go outside, but just wants me to hold the door open so she can look & smell. Maybe it is a joke on me; letting in the cold air.

I am glad I re-filled all the bird feeders yesterday. Today I have scattered mixed seed on the ground under the bird feeders, as there are literally several hundred birds in the yard. [Which is another reason Wobs wants to "look".]

More bad news. The radio announcer says the forecast is for two or three more inches of snow, then rain later & a low temperature of 26 tonight. High of 33 for tomorrow !!! I HATE THIS WEATHER !!

_________________________________________________________

I stopped typing for a few minutes to go back outside to toss some more seeds on the snow for the birds. The new snow has covered up any of the previous spreading.

Not only is the snow coming down heavy & fast [not really showing in the two photos below] but the wet snow is bending the bamboo again. The snow is layering quite heavily on some of the trees. That accumulation can cause power outages.

This is about the deepest snow I have seen in 13+ years living in Arkansas. The fact it is going to be around for several days is depressing for me, as I really want to get outside & be working in the yard. And I don't mean shoveling snow !!!

MORE BAD NEWS. The new, "revised" forecast, is for a "Winter Storm Warning" till 6 A.M. tomorrow, along with a potential for 4-6 inches of additional snow today.

WE WERE FORECAST TO GET RAIN !!!!!!!

And ... I only have one package of "Kat Snacks" left. [Those thugs are going to turn on me, I know it.]

So there is just a ton of bad news -- A major snow storm. Freezing temperatures, rather than the sun to help melt the snow & the (soon to be) ice. Three felines about to run out of their favorite food. [Please !!! Expect them to eat their regular food ??? It will be a battle.] And all four of us having another bout of "cabin fever".

Oh ... the good news ??

The snow is what we used to call "good packing". Being a wet snow, it makes GREAT snowballs.

Where is Bubba, now that I could really use him ?? (as a target).

A SENSATIONAL DESTROYER

In the late 1950's, my family owned a weekend cabin in the hills above Honeoye Lake, New York. It wasn't a "second home", as we lived in a rented house in Rochester, N.Y. I guess my parents had different priorities than most people might when it came to housing.

We had so much enjoyment of out of our "weekend place" -- which we did not use in the Winter time because of the snow & cold -- we sold "The Cabin", as we called it -- & moved year round to Honeoye.

When we had ... "The Cabin" ... it was a bit isolated. While we were not really "roughing it", there were some limitations initially as to household items. We had an Ice Box, rather than a refrigerator, which means we had to stop at the Red & White Grocery on Friday nights & get a block of ice. [Hauling those big blocks of ice, spurred my folks to soon get a refrigerator for "The Cabin".]

The first year or two, we did not have a television. We listened to the radio at night. It was one of those big table model radios which seemed to find stations from far away. I still remember listening each weekend to the Grand Old Opery, from -- "W.C.K.Y. ... Cincinnati, One ... Ohio".

About the third year, things changed for the better when we got a television. It was a small, black & white set with limited reception. No 250-plus-channel-cable back then. Because of our location in the hills, we could not get the TV stations from Rochester, but instead, we had the Buffalo, N.Y. channels to watch.

My life was never to be the same.

On Saturday nights, from 6 to 6:45 P.M., I was glued to the TV ... watching Pro Wrestling !! I was hooked immediately & each weekend we were there, I was watching each Saturday night. [And in the Winter, suffered from with drawl symptoms, not being able to get my weekly wrestling fix.]

The matches shown on TV were filmed at the Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium & were described by an announcer named Chuck Healey. He did an excellent job of conveying the action & soon had me rooting for the "good guys" & hating the "bad guys". I developed favorites like Illio DiPaolo, BoBo Brazil, Billy "Red" Lyons & Yukon Eric. Truth be told, I also enjoyed bad guy Fritz Von Erich, a dastardly, post-war, German Nazi. [Little did I know then.]

My favorite wrestler was Dick Beyer, a local "good guy" from Buffalo, who was a former star football player & amateur wrestler at Syracuse University. He wore white trunks & white wrestling shoes, which made him look good on that old B&W television.

I remember one night, during the introductions before a match Dick had on TV, Chuck Healey commenting that Dick's wife had just had a baby. Dick then proceeded to get the snot kicked out of him by Duke Keomuka, a post war, Japanese bad guy. [Do we see a recurring theme of former World War II foes, still battling us ??] Dick ended up beaten & bloody. [Good way to get prepared for parenthood !!]

My own Father made the effort to point out I was wasting my time being inside, watching ... "that fake stuff". This was a repeated presence by him, which seemed to occur each Saturday. I don't think I ever pointed it out to him he was wasting his time inside each week.

Note: None of the wrestling holds on the TV seemed to help me gain any advantage when my Father & me wrestled. He must have been the "bad guy" & I was the "good guy", since he had to cheat to beat me !!

The first "live" wrestling show I went to was in Rochester. My best friend -- Dale -- went with me to see Dick Beyer in the main event against the Nazi bad guy, Fritz Von Erich. Again, Dick was bloody & beaten, which just led to a "re-match", which Dale & I laid down our money again to see the next month.

Life changed & I was growing up. College came calling, as did moving to the South. New wrestlers & new "territories" came into my world. For years, one of the biggest cities for Pro Wrestling was Memphis, Tennessee, where I lived. How convenient for me.

Just as life changed for me, so to did it change for Dick Beyer. In his travels around the world to wrestle, he made the decision to become a "bad guy", or as it is known in wrestling -- the "Heel". [The good guy" in the match is called "The Baby Face".] He started wrestling in Southern California wearing a mask & calling himself ... THE DESTROYER.

Note: The first mask he used was given to him by a fellow wrestler. It fit poorly, affected Dick's vision & he tossed it away after the one match wearing it. Another mask was given to him, which to paraphrase Goldilocks ... "fit just right". The mask was made from a woman's girdle.

As Dick tells the story, the next day he & his wife were at Woolworth's, putting on women's girdles over his head, to find the correct size. Dick's wife then used her sewing skills to make the original Destroyer masks. [FYI -- Dick wears a size "Small-Tall".]

Becoming The Destroyer changed Dick's career. More money, main events & recognition as one of the best wrestlers in the world. He lived for over six years in Japan, wrestling, as well as hosting a Japanese variety show on TV. A long way from those "Baby Face" years in Buffalo, N.Y.

Although my interest in wrestling diminished as pro wrestling became "sports entertainment" thanks to Vince McMahon, I always tried to keep up with Dick Beyer, or, as he was known in Japan -- "The Intelligent, Sensational, Destroyer". [Well, he does have a masters degree from Syracuse University.]

Dick returned to the United States & settled in Akron, N.Y. Between wrestling tours, he was a teacher & coach at the local school in Akron. Even after he retired, Dick continued to coach swimming & wrestling.

Dick has been enshrined in the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. As he points out, he can be an old man walking down the street -- difficult ... after 8,500 matches & two hip operations -- but when he puts on the mask of The Destroyer, he's 35 years old again.

I have corresponded with Dick many times & exchange Christmas cards/letters each year. He has been more than kind to provide me with pictures & posters of his career, including the Destroyer mask which is framed & hanging in my hallway. I can even be found on his web site -- www.thedestroyer.com .

It may be a bit unique that I still have an attachment to memories from my childhood & the "hero" of that time is still an important part of who I am today. As I have grown & lived my life, I have also followed Dick Beyer/The Destroyer on his journeys as well.

I know neither Dick or I have any complaints on where life has taken us. I'd say both our lives have been ... "sensational".

THEY AIN'T CHICKENS

The January, 2010 issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Magazine had an informative article titled Asia's Wildlife Trade ... "Insatiable demand for the traditional medicines, exotic pets & culinary delicacies drives a multibillion-dollar business -- legal & illegal -- that is emptying forests, fields & seas".

Believe what you want about Global Warming -- I am going to try NOT to make this in any way political -- but I am a firm believer the human population on planet Earth has surpassed the number of people the Earth's resources can adequately sustain.

I'll leave all the particulars & details to Al Gore. I'll go with what I see & know. We have too many people on this planet.

The referred-to article above highlights one aspect of over-population; people are capturing, killing, eating & selling -- much of it illegally -- the plants & animals of our world. Many species are almost extinct. Others -- if measures are not taken -- will disappear in the next decade, if not sooner.

One group of animals being decimated -- are you ready for this ?? -- TURTLES !! They have long been captured & taken for the pet trade, & now, are a main staple on the dinner plates in many Oriental countries.

As populations of people increase, so does the demand for turtles. As the turtles become scarce or non existent in their own country, turtles in other countries are "harvested" & exported to meet the demand.

Turtles are becoming rare in many places where they once were common. It's happening right here in the United States. Literally millions of turtles are being shipped overseas each year.

A chicken can be farmed. It takes a couple months to grow a saleable bird. A turtle takes 10-15 years to reach a reproductive size. Take even a few turtles from a lake or pond & the ability to maintain the population is dramatically reduced. Take a few hundred & the population is doomed.

Some people are trying to do something to help. As a person who has had turtles as "pets" -- something they really are not, but that's a subject for another time -- for about 58 years as I can best figure, I am a member of a group called the Turtle Survival Alliance.

The main goal of the TSA is to prevent populations of turtle in the wild from being eliminated, as well as captive breeding to maintain species which might not survive in their native state.

I have several dozen turtles, of various species, in my collection. They are maintained in large cattle tanks, with filtered water, heat, special lighting & provided proper food & vitamins. It's not the old plastic dish with a green palm tree.

The turtle species I am "working with" is the Hamilton's Spotted Pond Turtle. [Okay ... for the scientist's & "need-to-knows" in the readership, the proper name is Geoclemeys Hamiltonii.]

This is a turtle originally from Pakistan & India. It's been basically eaten to extremes in the wild & in many places where it occurred, is no longer found in any sustainable number. Blame it on the Oriental food markets.

I have a Federal Permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to own & keep these turtle in my collection. I can trade, sell, & transport these turtles across state lines ... only with other permit holders ... which would be mostly zoos & museums which might have these turtles. From records & discussions, I believe I am the only individual/private citizen who has the necessary permit.

Each year, as a permit holder, I have to submit a report to Fish & Game as to the status of the "Hammy's" in my collection. Trust me ... the Federal Government may not be able to figure out health care, but they sure can keep track of endangered turtles.

Two years ago -- with help from the TSA, I was able to acquire two male Hammy's from the zoo in Denver Colorado. The intent was/is to breed my large female & produce more turtles -- "to sustain the species."

The new guys did their best efforts. What ever the testosterone of turtles might be, they have more than enough. I think these guys would try to mate with army helmets.

Quite often it got a bit too rowdy & I have had to keep the turtles separated a lot of the time. Still, my female laid eggs last year ... but ... in the water. All I found were egg shells, as the eggs were a meal for the turtles in the "pond".

So far this year ... no eggs. Maybe I did not let the turtles go on enough "dates" together in 2009.

"We" will keep trying.

After all ... it's not like raising chickens.