Oil Tanker

My father served on an oil tanker after WWII, although not one that looks like this, which is the USS San Juan Capistrano. The kit is from Revell.

The Monitor and the Merrimack

Here are models I built of the two ironclads who dueled on March 9, 1862, and changed naval warfare forever. I hope I don't have to tell you which is which.

The Sound and the Fury

The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner.

     This is the worst book I have ever read that wasn't written by a Russian. All right, I didn't read it all. I stopped around 40 pages in because life's too short for this nonsense. And here's the deal: after 40 pages I have no idea who the characters are, how they relate to each other, what they're doing, what time of year it is, or why I ought to care a whit about them. I know they're black and some are kids, but that's it. Notice this copy says "The Corrected Text." I hate to imagine what the uncorrected text looked like, or perhaps it made sense after some courageous editor got his hands on it. I bought this because I thought I ought to read a few more American classics before I die. To broaden my range of experience and education. If this is an example of American classics, I'll croak without such enlightenment.

Throwback Thursday

May, 1976, with my mother in Campbell, California. Oh, for that 30" waist again.

Throwback Thursday

     I presume I was about 10 here, maybe 9. I think the shirt was supposed to last me another five years judging from its size.

An Italian mini-sub used in World War II. The two crewmen rode it like a horse and these figures are in scale to the sub. They were supposed to sneak in at night, attach mines to a ship's hull, set a timer, and scram. It was more likely to kill the crew than its prey, but they managed to sink a few British ships before the war ended. The word Maiale is Italian for pig.

The model is from Italeri in 1/35 scale.

S.S. United States

A Revell model kit from the 1950s. My older sister gave me one of these kits for Christmas when I was about 11 and I knew right away it was too challenging for me. Last year I bought another of these kits and decided to build it. It turned out to be no less challenging for a mature man than it was for a boy. The biggest problem was locating the parts in the right places and making the lines on the deck for the tennis courts show up. And the decals, of course, were brittle and brown with age. They're aren't on in this photo. It came out okay when all is said and done, but not as good as I'd hoped.

Father's Day

                                                                           The ideal.

The Real.

    I'll take the real one, much as I admire Ward Cleaver.

The Graduate

     I'm extremely proud of my older daughter, Stephanie Ann Smith, who was awarded her Associates Degree today in Arts and Sciences. Believe me, she has worked long and hard under tough circumstances to achieve this goal and I know the sacrifices she made to reach it. Way to go, Steph!

     Top: On stage about to get the sheepskin.
     Bottom: After the processional. Steph is fourth from the right.

Throwback Thursday

     I'm probably 11 here. The mug shot is for my ID card as a US Navy dependent.

D-Day + 70

The greatest military operation ever attempted happened on this day in 1944. The Cap'n salutes all the brave men and women of the allied forces who made it a memorable victory.

198 and Throwback Thursday

That's been my weight for the past week, 198. I've been trying to reach the sub-200 level for a while and it's staring to look like I'll make it. There are no dieting secrets involved. I just eat less and minimize snacking. Ideally, I'd like to be 175, but 180 would be fine.


     And while we're at it, here's a Throwback Thursday pic of me at a Lancecon in the early 1980s. It looks like I have a protruding gut there, but I think it's just the shirt bagging out. Or maybe I stuffed a bunch of paperbacks under my shirt from Bruce Taylor's table.

Throwback Thursday

     I'm 13 here, 8th grade, Warwick Junior High in Newport News, Virginia. No, I didn't have a black speck on my face; it must be on the scanner.

Sofia's Portrait

My granddaughter. Photo taken about two weeks ago.

Throwback Thursday

Peekskill, NY, 1965. (l-r), me, sister Denise, cousin Dennis.

Throwback Thursday

November, 1966. Basic Combat Training graduation day at Fort Gordon, GA. B-16-2, mighty, mighty Bravo!  I'm the lean, mean, fighting machine on the left. With me is Bob Kwaitkowski. I'm probably one of the few people who actually enjoyed basic.

Foodfighters

     I found these at Goodwill today and several things attracted me to them. One was the title, Foodfighters. I didn't get the significance of that until I took a close look and saw each figure has a two-inch spear coming off the bottom of his foot. With these, it's possible to stick them in your food and create a battle scene out of your dinner. "Incoming! Take cover behind the pot roast!"
     What really made my day, however, were the blurbs on the header card: NOT A TOY. FOR USE BY ADULTS ONLY. FUNCTIONAL SHARP POINT.
     You can also use them as picks, stabbing them into canapes, cheese puffs, or what-have-you during your next party.
     A must item for the hostess with the mostess.

Happy Mother's Day

     Happy day to all you mothers out there and especially mine. Here she is about 50 years ago. The store where she worked had a fashion show and she was asked to be one of the models. I don't think she ever wore her hair that way at any other time. She's 91 now and still maintains her own apartment. Quite a woman, my mother.


     Don't forget to check out my previous blog about the Kickstarter project.

A Worthy Kickstarter Project

My old pal Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. has been publishing a gorgeous art magazine called ImageS for years. He showcases the best in illustration during its Golden Age, work that graced books, posters, magazines, etc. It's a high quality project from cover to cover and fans of this work should check it out right away.

Here's the Kickstarter part: In order to publish the final issue he needs some financial aid. As I understand it, those who donate using Kickstarter don't lose a cent when the project doesn't come to fruition and can get their money back when it does. I chose to donate outright and let him keep the money, but Jim's done so many good turns for me over the years I'd be a cad to do anything else. But that's me; you make up your own mind. I know he's not asking for charity, just a little help. To sign up just click on the e-dress below. Or drag and paste if it doesn't work that way. You'll be glad you did.      

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1694106638/images-magazine-13-the-golden-glory-of-the-art-i-l

Throwback Thursday

From that wonderful year 1952. Me on the left, sister Wendy in the center, and cousin Georgie on the right.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Porsche makes an SUV? I didn't until I saw one in traffic the other day. There are two models, the Macan and Cayenne. I find this odd.

Throwback Thursday

That's me on the left. Denbigh, Virginia, 1960, 7th grade. The kid with me is Bradley Dixon. He was the kid brother of my friend and classmate Wayne Dixon, who took the photo.

Throwback Thursday

Second grade, Shelton Park Elementary School, Norfolk, VA.  Yes, it's a clip-on tie.

Easter Outfits

Easter 1964. Showing off our finery are me (left) and cousin Dennis Weaver, now deceased. I assume that's my sister's thumb covering the right side of the picture. The house was on Ringgold Street in Peekskill, New York. You can't see it, but Peekskill High School was on the other side of my house, no more than 30 feet from the opposite wall. That's the house at my back, on the left, I'm talking about. The one in the background of the photo was someone else's.

Throwback Thursday

I'm about four in this awwww-inspiring snapshot. We lived in Rhode Island by a cove. You could reach the water by climbing down what we called the cliff walk, a feat I accomplished a couple of times.

Throwback Thursday

That's me, 40 years and 50 pounds ago. My Jefferson Airplane wifebeater was obtained by a friend who went to their mansion in San Francisco. I lived in the Bay Area at the time.

Throwback Thursday

     The final LouieFest, held about seven years ago at Sprinker Center in Parkland, WA, adjacent to Tacoma. This was an attempt to gather as many guitarists together as possible to play "Louie, Louie" simultaneously. The first year they had about 750, the second year 450 and this time perhaps 300.

     The stars are, from left to right: Me in red T-shirt, Dave "Evan" Lewis in hat, my daughter Kristine who hated being there, and in the foreground Dave/Evan's friend Drew, at that time a Midwest dj.

Throwback Thursday

I was supposed to prep for a colonoscopy today but 30 minutes before I would have taken my first medication they called it off. Gee, what a bummer. I was so looking forward to it.

It's still officially Thursday here in the Great Northwest so here's a photo of me taken around 1980 by Art Scott. I was sick as a dog at the time thanks to another visitor of his who had the world's greatest flu bug.

Kit of the Day

     We've seen on this excuse for a blog the lobster kit, the roach kit, and the Sasquash kit. Next up is this swell ladybug kit from Heller. Heller is a French model company--perhaps their only model kit company--and I assume coccinella means ladybug in their tongue, although it looks Italian to me. The finished bug measures 4 3/4 inches and the kit includes 2 colors of paint (presumably red and black), a paint brush, and a tiny tube of glue. The eBay seller wants $18 for it and I believe I put in a bid. If I win I'll assemble it and put it on the rose bush out front. Imagine how the aphids will react to that.

Throwback Thursday

     Here I am reading to my girls, about 1991. You can tell Linda took the photo by her signature style--the top of my head is missing. How about those old porthole glasses?

At El Toro

Here's Sofia showing off her new sunglasses. I love the Don't Mess With Me expression.

This picture has already appeared on Facebook.

T-Town Sites 11

Local art that represents a train. Photo by Stephanie Smith.

For An Unlimited Time Only

Hurry! Vault Media is selling my second Jack Lorentz book, The Toyman Rides Again, for a mere $257.65. I don't know how they stay in business. And I really don't know what the 65 cents represents.

And if you really want it, you can find it for around three bucks used from other, more sane dealers.

Remember the Alamo

             On March 6, 1936, the Alamo fell to the forces of General Santa Anna after a 13-day siege.

Baby's First Haircut

Okay, it may not be earth-shattering in your world but these little milestones are important to me and I like to celebrate them on my blog. I've also posted these pictures on Facebook. She behaved very nicely through it, too. Sofia is three years and three months old.

Happy Birthday, Linda

Two days after my mother's birthday is my wife's. Here she is when she was a tad younger.

Happy birthday, Mom

Yep, my mother (Gloria Marie Newsome) is 91 years old today. She lives in her own place and gets along pretty well. Here she is 73 years earlier. 

How Do You Eat?

      When I was in the fifth grade I noticed a kid sitting across from me in the lunch room eat his meal. He opened his metal lunch box, took out his sandwich, and ate it. Next he did the same to some chips. Then an apple. Finally, a Hostess cupcake. His food consumed, he drank his half-pint of milk.

     I was appalled. Who taught this kid to consume a meal, I wondered.

     I have my own system and it goes like this: I have a bite of each item in turn--sometimes combining a couple of them--until I have exactly one bite each of everything on my plate, which I then consume. I sip my beverage as needed. Now, I'm not overboard with this method. I don't assess the number of bites each dish will require. I don't mentally weigh or measure each item to accomplish an even finish to the meal. It just flows naturally for me. I barely realize I'm doing it.
     If we have bread, I always make sure there's enough left to sop up any gravy or meat drippings, too. I have this last.

     How about you?

SEAHAWKS RULE

                            43-8. Need I say more? We are the                                   best. Go Seahawks!

             

Happy Birthday, Molly

My, how our puppy has grown. Three years old today.