9 August 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our favorite POP!!!!

We love you so much! Thanks for leading our family in love and righteousness!!

Go get a root beer float and a corn dog :)

04 August 2013

Dear Ones,

It's one of those once in a long time events-all you "star" people.  I know Tom told me once that he purchased a telescope and Tim, I remember in Orange County or Phoenix, someone he worked with was a "star" person so TIm went out one night in the hills east of San Diego, is that correct.

Well, it looks like from what I read here today this one comes on 11-12 August.  Will the "clear sky" be there? That would be the only hang up. (Read the Article Here)

Know you are all very busy so please enjoy what is given to say "Did you see that?"

Pop!

P.S.  Edith's dad is home.  It's near the end.  Pete and the girls came down yesterday so Edith was able to see him and they spoke and the girls too. Held his hand.  Pete said, "We were really in a wonder if we would make it in time."  Breathing not good.  Who knows.  ?? and her daughter from Alaska came down last week.  She, his daughter, works in this medical area some way.  Not a nurse, but an aide maybe, I am not sure.

Anyway, good to have her here.  They brought a bed and she said no that's the wrong bed.  So whoever it was brought a bed to meet her specs.  24/7 someone is with him now.  It's okay to be at home during this time.

Love you all-

Dad

31 July 2013

Dear Ones,

Every Saturday night the whole town (Helotas, TX) meets and dances on this cement slab behind John Floores' Store.  So there was a crowd, maybe 80-100+ all having fun consuming adult beverages.  It was maybe midnight or so when big fat John Flores, the man of this town-he ran the general store, the dance behind, mayor and friend to everyone-one great old Texan that I was proud to meet that night.  Then in the daytime we (the tower operator and I) with the press.  Old John just wrote to the General he was some kind of an operator.

The problem was bad PR in that a lady was (she said) riding her horse, a jet flew by, she fell off the horse, broke her leg I guess and wanted to sue the Air Force.  "The noise of the jet engine spooked my horse and that's why I was bucked off and broke every bone in my body" or something like that.

So here I come many days later.  The PR people wrote "The noise of the jet brought attention to all 107 people (round about) the area for 21.7 miles and led the people to the fire."  It's a stretch of the truth but so positive.  Not true.

I was on red light with 65 gallons left.  To top off the total gas in the T-33 is 813 gallons.  The refueling crew told me 801+ gallons into this group of tanks, 12 gallons to spare.  Oh sure-my knees moved a little and alas we're on the Terra Ferma at this time.

Love you all,
Mom & Dad

12 July 1956

Letter from the mayor, John Foote, to the General

Air Force response

One of the many newspaper articles about the incident

Air Force Times 14 July 1956

Honorary Fire Marshall

Twin Village News 19 July 1956

THE WHOLE STORY:

While flying on a local test hop in T-33 aircraft I was making an approach for landing from the north of Kelly AFB on the new runway about 15 miles north of the field. In the foothills of San Antonio is a community, Helotes.  Not for maybe 3 or 4 miles I see a big brush (trees not tall in this point of Texas) "fire".  I call the tower "any reported aircraft in??" I said, the tower operator said, "No".  So I buzzed around looking close at the fields houses.  No people, some cattle, etc.  Maybe 6 or 7 passes of the area.  I see no life, no movement. Of course I'm I am flying 100-200 feet above ground.  I fly over Helotes on these passes.  No I am low on fuel.  I report to the tower no sign of life but the fire is spreading maybe 50 -100 acres by now.

That night I leave for Dover, Delaware as co-pilot in YC124A.  Come back Sunday and Monday in the paper-here it is.  "Jet Pilot Saves the Town".  Leads in the fire trucks, saves the cows, the chickens, etc... the "noise" of the jet engine alerts the town folks.  John Floore, mayor, sends a letter to the General and the tower operator and I are invited to the next Saturday in the square dance where we are made Honorary Fire Chiefs.

I get a note from an old classmate who is flying C119's in Japan, Doc Blanchard.  "Hey David, I read about you saving the town there near San Antonio with your T-33 leading the fire trucks and all that then Honorary Fire Chief in the Pacific Times (Military newspaper).  I always knew you would do some fancy flying."  Doc and I sent Christmas cards for years after this.

In Vietnam one late afternoon our crew C123K was loading at GiaNghia (like an aircraft carrier) was a very tricky place to land and we caught fire in the right engine upon landing.  We did not want to RON (remain over night) because the bad guys would love to blow up a C123 just for fun.  What to do.  It's getting darker and darker.

A C-7 lands and out jumps Doc Blanchard from St. Louis my roommate at C-119 school at Randolph AFB and sang in the choir at Morone?, AZ and Laredo, TX.  A good friend, Doc.  It's 1969 and I haven't seen him since December 1955.  He looked great.  Our crew chief engineer and the load master did the best they could checking for leaks of fuel.  All looked good.  Gave Doc a hug and off he went in his C-7.  We crank the engines OK no fire and off we go back to Phon Rong.  Small world.  I saw Doc and his wife at '55 flying class reunion in San Antonio around 1995.  Some old classmates about half of the original bunch.  One became a 2 star General.

So now you know how this little fire chief badge came to me.

27 July 2013

(In response to article "US Students need better words than LOL and BFF")

Power is not gold, power is KNOWLEDGE and vocabulary skills follow reading comprehension.  That made me think on SOS school 1958 in Montgomery, Alabama.  Speed reading and speed writing courses taught.

I took speed reading: WPM 260, comprehension 35%.  This is not good.  At the end of the speed reading course almost 500 WPM and comprehension went up to almost 60%.  So there you have it.  I could comprehend more, almost twice as much.  That was in 1958.  This is July 2013.  55 years ago.  What advancements have been made in speed reading and comprehension and that would mean POWER and if you Warriors remember I told you to (as soon as you get a position in some company/enterprise) get a copy of the SOP's, the company book on how to do the work they want, because no one READS the book of instructions.

I believe your next move-that if you don't like the words-you submit your own and offer them as a "change to improve the SOP's (standard operating procedures)" then up the ladder of success you went.

OK, so stupid me....What is LOL and BFF?

Turn off the TV and have your children read a book.  As I recall, Tom and NanC no TV for 3 children and to date how many books have they studied and what do they remember and apply in their daily lives? Oh me. I believe they love books.  WOW.  There is no stopping someone who is well read.

I remember in Trabsay? Turkey I met with an LDS airman.  We shared some good times together and we met in the library.  Shared some great moments there not just religious discussions.  1965-68.  He was reading great books someone (where he was stationed in the states) told him, "You will be gone for one year then on the coast of the Black Sea.  Here is a list of 84 great books."  I wish now, as I did then why did I not get that list? He gave it to me but when I got back to Germany I could not find the list then he was transferred.  I lost contact with him.  I'll bet if you go to a library and ask one fo those workers, maybe an old very old grey hair worker just ask them.  I'll bet there are more books added to that list.  Hey that was 48 years ago-ok.  The list must be 84 x 10 now.

My input to new Warriors is ONE first after all the scriptures-Old, New, Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, Jesus the Christ-there is one I cared a lot about, Music in Western Civilization by Lang.  Our music played a part in our civilizations history, trade, commonwealth, a myriad of areas that effected and affected mankind.  Read this one too, it's not an easy read but will make you become a better musician in all forms of musical expression.

Which brings me back to reading.  I agree it's SO much fun.  I am very happy I can see well, my vision today is near 20/20 without glasses.

Love to all,
Grandpa, Pops, the Old Geezer
Love U!
xxxooo

10 July 2013

Whittling wood and making a whistle with my dad in the woods about 1938-39.  All my life I would see men at dad's service station just sitting there whittling wood making "stuff".  Amazing to me! as a young boy.

Dad cut a green branch from a hazelnut bush.  The key is to have the bark 360 degrees move no knots so it will slide.  Then notch a V, cut out and blow air 360 degrees between bark and wood so it slides easy.  It will make a sound to use to help your friend.  A lost friend.  Survival help.

Operation Sage Brush C-119
We supported along with other C-199's there at Randolph AFB all over the SE USA for 4 days hauling troops.  Troops that jumped from aircrafts and load other passengers/cargo from San Antonio to Valdosta, Georgia.  We were a crew of 8 all together walking down a paved street curb-side walk with mom and pop shops-a negro alone is coming at us all 2-3 abreast on the sidewalk.  He steps in the street and continues towards us and speaks, "Good evening gentlemen." We reply "Good evening." When in a little more distance he moves back on the sidewalk.  Hmmm... I've never in my life experienced anything like this before in my life.  Hmmmm.....

After 0100 midnight to 4AM to an army base near Murfreesboro, Tennessee in the next afternoon we are free will fly at night back to San Antonio.  There is the center of town.  Our instructor had been to this town before so it was a guided tour with him telling of these people and what really impressed him.  All around the court house were out the door bunches with ?? married- 5 or 6 people, we could sit here and watch people in their walk abouts.  He told us not to start conversations just nod your head and be respectful.  If the whittler speaks to you, it's ok to talk to him.  Lot's of men (no women) just sitting there busy in their work of whittling wood.  One man making a chain out of a tree branch, a long stick. Just so much.  Wow I've never seen so much whittling going on at one time at one place in all my living.  It was a quiet time.  Some men were taking a practice nap.  Canes decorated, all items so beautiful things.

Whenever my dad would make something he would give it away.  He must have made 20-30 of those wood hazelnut branch whistles maybe 1/2 inch or a little smaller.  Slide bark it was.  What happened to them?

Next time you're in Murfreesboro, Tennessee take time to watch these old and young whittlers making beautiful "stuff" out of wood there on the benches in front of the courthouse. (All white building).

01 July 2013

(In response to an article "Take life insurance in your own hands-Term policy plus mutual fund might be best strategy")

Dear Ones,
So what will your family do if you are not here.  Tomorrow you are gone.  What is your plan to have them help themselves? Your options are:
1. Do nothing.
2. Do something.
3. Everyone has to have a will and all the legal documents that go with the will to protect your life's work.  The boy scouts were correct.  BE PREPARED.  This is your life, your time is today to take action.  All Weiland Warriors DO THIS.

I sold this stuff for a time in San Antonio licensed by the state of Texas, worked my way up to RVP at Primerica company.

Who in the world cares more about you than the mirror? When I did this in 1979-89 it's now for you to know.
1. 90% of life insurance sold in the world was sold in the US.
2. Most loud in US outside government were insurance companies.
3. Insurance companies bet you are going to LIVE and you bet you are going to DIE.
4. Who in this world care more about your money than you? Only you and the mirror.
5. So please understand TERM is the only kind you should buy.  NOTHING ELSE EVER! and some day you may have so much money you will not need any insurance.

OK, When you buy term you RENT that amount for 30 days.  So it's $50-100 or more or less.  You MUST be full of the program to keep your body near 100% HEALTH so that easy.  The Word of Wisdom you have been part of your upbringing so if you follow that plan your life will be long and full of good living.  If using your free will (only men and women can will and reason) no other living thing can do that! (Down the chain of living things it's called condition reflex.) So you decide how to care for your body.  The insurance company "actuary" is the group in the insurance company that KNOWS exactly the day +/- a few days that you will die.  That's their job.  If you smoke, do drugs, boogie it up and tell the truth to the insurance company you pay a higher rate for $____ because you are going to die sooner.  They then do what from day one.  They take your money, invest it, make a profit on hour money and live in a big house, drive a big car and take a vacation every month for about 10 days each and every month.  Hey.  Why did I give them my money so they can use my money to make a profit.

Ok, so what we did was (1980) say $100 is what you have in your budget for insurance.  We took $50 and you had, for 20 years, a $500,000 plan with goal of $100,000 in your investment plan.  This would give your wife $1,000 a month forever and still leave the $100,000.  We then take the other $50 and invest it into mutual funds.  Short need, long term stuff.  It grows, you never touch it.  It's your money you invest and you can buy/sell as you want.  This program will grow.  It is about 7% +/- since George Washington times more or less.  Just keep trucking.

Do you did OK.  Dead $500,000 + $1,000 a month + what the mutual funds, stocks, bonds and she can work some part time and home or whatever she is full of passion for.  An ice cream ?? will do just fine.  If you buy anything else these insurance people will fool you, take advantage of you.  They do just fine.  Because people trust them.  The words they use will trick you.

All Weiland Warriors are smarter than that.  If you want to ask me more, I am still here.  It's 01 July 2013.  Just buy term and invest the difference.  Emergency fund 1st. 6 months pay in cash. 100% debt free.  0 credit cards.  No loans. Pay cash for everything.  You can barter.  Americans are the the worst barter people in this world.  We just accept the stated printed price.  Never do this.  People can't say no unless you ask them.

29 May 2013

(In response to an article, USA TODAY, "Best Ice Cream Parlors in the World")

1. Luxurious treat for the elite ups until 1800s when ice houses were invented.
2. Also called sorbet, gelato, frozen custard, ices.  Names vanilla then plain, cone sandwiches to floats, sundaes and spectrum is continuing to expand across the globe.
3. Blue Bell near Houston, Texas.  Best, I believe.  Close to home, cows are hormone free.  Must be the key!
4. Toppings.  Everything you can think of even catsup.
5. My most memorable time to eat ice cream 1963-65.  Pshauar Pakistan, CIA compound edge of city-night.  Dinner for our crew.  Chuck Empy.  Great mormon friend from Adona Turkey, Peshaoor Pakistan and Frankfurt Germany.  Well, after this meal we all went for a walk about in the back yard there. "Watch out for critters." But just as we get into the backyard, Chuck fires his dum dum cannon (it's in OLD books, a toy one and then water buffalo milk.  The butter milk content must be not big 10,000) But noise and anyway that home crank wooden USA metal.  Three paks were cranking these manual machines, we all maybe 20+ of us just stared in the dark, but bright starlit night sky!
It was about 90 degrees but there is no question that was one time that I was so....felt good all over.  In this place, just about if you drilled a hole thru the earth was almost 1/2 way around the world from San Antonio, Texas.  The stars were so close.  Quiet words in 2 different languages.  To me, no English for a time.  I truly enjoyed this ice cream.  So cold.  Home made.  I ate TWO servings.  What a neat adventure for me and now here I am sharing this memory with you.  I don't think I ever told you "My time with the CIA eating home made ice cream not too far from the Kyber Pass."

The LIST:
1. Fenocchio, Nice France
2. Bar Gelatetia, Erccole? Pizzo Italy
3. Vipiteno Galeria, Sao Paulo Brazil
4. Antico Caffe Spirnato, Palermo Italy Sicily
5. Big Gay Ice Cream, New York City
6. Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, Seattle (Tom and NanC, have you taken the team to this place? It must be on the requirement list.)
7. Perche No!, Florence Italy
8. Murphy's, Dingle Ireland
9. Bi-Rite Creamery, San Francisco
10. Vaffelbageriet, Copenhagen Denmark
11. The Creamery, Capetown South Africa
12. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, Ohio and Nashiville, TN
13. Eddie's Sweet Shop, Forest Hills NY
14. A M Scannapieco, Buenos Aires Argentina
15. Simmo's Ice Creamery, Dunsborough Australia

Hmmmm... Blue Bell is not here is it? But it could be.....

12 May 2013

(In response to an article, "What is the greatest invention? Duct Tape.  It's like the force.  It has a light side and a dark side and it holds everything together." by Ricky Loveland, Jr.)

If you were all here, write down what you believe (at your age) what it is (the greatest invention) and why you believe this is the greatest invention in the history of mankind?

Then if you have time tell us in some way.  A written note, email, skype, or eye to eye.  Each person will be so unique.  I believe you know from their life experiences to this Mother's Day 2013. I recall for it was your mother who loved you before you were born, who carried you close to her heart and then passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death to give you life which you have accepted as a matter of course without any emphasis of appreciation or conscience gratitude as you've grown older.

Ask each person alone, in private so one will not feed off another one, a true measure of each Warriors thinking at this one on one with your.  Here a true measure of what each Warrior believes at this moment-this 12th day of May 2013.

Yes indeed-Moms are special and once each year is not enough for sure to do what mom wants.  This is a want, not a need.  Of course there is a big difference between these two.  Im in Dairy Queen getting Fran a surprise cause it's Mother's Day.  A big man stands behind me in line and orders a big ice cream cake.  I said, "Your wife is really special for you" He butts in, "No sir.  Not for my wife.  This is for my mom.  I asked her what she wanted for Mother's Day and she said Ice Cream Cake from Dairy Queen."  Then I said, "Are you going to test it first to make sure it's just right?" He said, "No.  This my mother will really enjoy.  Maybe she will share."  We smiled and walked away.  Go to my sweet Frances.

-Pop


15 May 2013

Dear Warriors,
This is one tough question for me.  The wheel, make and control fire, Hmmmm..... How about the first DIODE (did I spell that correctly).  Look at what Benjamin Franklin did, the ability to record ideas.

The greatest invention, you all know this story, stuff has been there all the time.  Man (who can will and reason-no other living thing can do that-what these other living things can do is called conductive reflex) Ok so Man will and reasons either inductively or deductively and he discovers what was there all the time.  Hmmm..... Who is it that does not believe in _____? Hmmm... How about finding and organizing and recording DNA.  How about aides for the eyes so we can see 20/20.  In all your life experiences you have become what you are today the sum of your family, mom and dad, and here you are today. Now what will you do with what has been given you and your fine tuned abilities to be able to do so many things SO WELL.

Maybe it was the very first ice cream.  I wonder who and where.  Or was it an accident. Some inventions appear when those searching on something else and WOW!  Something brand new.  NASA from it's first day has discovered a big invention generator that has helped mankind the world over.

Well, what in your life experience in your mind has been the greatest invention to help all of mankind? Please tell me.

-Pop

10 March 2013

I Am Bored-Nothing to Do!!

Boring is not part of the Weiland Warrior lifestyle.  If you want to do nothing, then change your name and leave our tribe, if on the other hand you elect never to ever use or to "be bored" you are a true blue Weiland Warrior.

I am bored! Not in this family.  I wish I had something to do. Oh.  Okay.  Why don't you read letters that our second president, what was his name, that's correct-John Adams.  He wrote to Thomas Jefferson (oh your third president) the two exchanged letters which are VERY interesting for you even in this day 2013! Go ahead, read one and see if you like it!

Adams to Jefferson letter so interesting.  Any subject you can think of you will find in your local library, maybe even the library in your very own home.  Everyone has access to a computer, iPad, iPod or what some electric machine.

Just click on ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA or National Geographic and in your lifetime you can never read all the subjects they have information about which then with this knowledge you, a famous Weiland Warrior, can go out there in this world and do great things to help.  Even help Mother Nature.

To be bored is not who we are.

Love you all
Grandpa-the old Geezer-Pops
xxxooo

26 April 2013

George Jones just passed away yesterday.  Congestive heart failure.

Delia, our good friend from San Antonio (since 1956) is at Tropicana.  We visit, have lunch then Fran and I stop to play.  I go get change.  George Jones slides in and sits next to Fran.  I return as he is walking away.  She said we talked a little.  A good old western singer who was like no other.  Ha.  I saw his backside only. Late 1990's-2002

27 February 2013

TAPS Designated National Song

I have a history on "Taps".  Father and son (I mailed to you) and here is one good thing.  As I can, here goes.... Father in the Union Army he did not know his son was fighting for the south.  Its night battle has let up some, the father hears sounds of pain not too far away.  He closes in and finds this soldier and carries him back to safety behind the lines with some lights the older man finds this wounded man is his son! The lad dies.  In going through his pockets the father find the notes.  He gets a musician, a bugler, to play these notes.  Sounds somber but a great tune or whatever they call a bugle call.  The father asks his commander could I have a burial service for my son (who is a confederate soldier) and have the music "Taps" played by the Union musician.  The commander after a time says "yes" so TAPS is born and first played at the grave side service of the man who wrote it on a piece of paper.  I think I am close to the true story.  Some time during the civil war.  Again, what are the odds-Father to find son in the ward zone, son dies, and TAPS is born and here we are 2013 and Taps is played at almost every military funeral.

-POP

07 February 2013

WHEN YOU SPEAK IN PUBLIC

There you are at the mic.  You are face to face with one or 10,000 people.

Do not underestimate the use of the pause.  Jack Benny was a master of silence at just the right time.  The LEAST number of words you use to make a point, the more powerful you are in your speech! I've told you before the mind runs at 400-600 WPM yet the speaking between people goes at 100-150 WPM so what's going on then in the brain? So you see this helps the statement-Fewer words spoken most impact on that target or persons.

07 February 2013

FLASH MESSAGE TO ALL WEILAND WARRIORS

Problem: COUGH

Why? I don't know. Cough, cough, cough.  Stop it.  I can't.  Cough, cough, cough.  I don't know how.

Solution: (this will effect or affect smokers?) Health advisor on radio said...

Vicks Vapor Rub
Apply to the sole of both feet, apply socks over feet. Wait 5 minutes.  Coughing STOPS!

Ok, so how does this work? I don't know.  But it works.  Try this then call the old geezer.