D & D to BOSTON

Well it's hard to believe it happened. Darleen and I (Denise) decided to plan a trip to Boston to see Lucas & Kim. After long and hard research for the best plane ticket price ever....we were on our way!! I started looking for plane tickets in June, when my boss told me he was taking a week off in September to go on an elk hunt in Montana. One day while I was at work the tickets were $198.00 but I wasn't sure at that time if Darleen was going with me or not so I didn't book them. All of a sudden they started going up and up and up.....I was not feeling good about this. So I decided to see how the price was on Sept 11th. Well it must not be the favorite day to fly because the tickets on that day were $218.00 round trip. Still not clicking on the purchase ticket button, I decided to go to church that Sunday and if I was meant to go and at a good price the tickets would be that same price when I got home. So...after thinking about it a little longer I called Lucas and asked him if he thought we'd get a better price and he said, "Mother click the purchase ticket NOW." I knew from the tone of his voice he was tired of me and my pickyness. It's a good thing I clicked because the next day the ticket was $589.00 and then they kept going up and up. At the end the ticket was $1,285.00 for the same ticket. By the way those seats were empty still on the day of the flight. So then the planning began. Of course Darleen was packed and organized a week before our trip, with Christmas present wrapped to go, unlike her baby sister who packed the night before and morning of. Dan would tell you that is normal for me! The trip started off a little shaky at the get-go. We drove to Flint and stayed the night at Dale & Deb's house. Dale decided he wouldn't be able to take us to Loralee's so David jumped in and said he would. Well the night he was suppose to take us he was sitting in a locked garage waiting for someone to show up to unload his truck. Loralee to the rescue. She came and picked us up. We spent the night watching a marathon of the Wedding Channel which we planned Loralee's up-coming wedding. Only one thing we have to find the groom!! Anyway during the night I woke up with a horrible sore-throat, headache, chills, and sick to my stomach. I woke Darleen up at 6:00 am and told her I didn't know if I could go I was so sick. They made me a hot chocolate, and I decided to start getting ready. We were on our way. An hour late but plenty of time when we got there. We said our goodbye's to Loralee and without any problems got our e-tickets and had plenty of time to spare. The flight was good except for the girl who sat next to Darleen spilled her drink into her lap and we had to help her out. The landing was fantastic....it was raining so hard and foggy we didn't see land until the tires hit the runway. The timing was perfect because Lucas was running a little late, so after we got our luggage he was there with a few minutes to spare. Also he had a clean trunk...that is a whole other story. We decided to go to the store and buy groceries and surprise Kim with a homecooked chicken dinner when she got home from work. So out in the pouring rain we went. It was just great to see them both and spend time. The next day we went into Boston and went to a Museum. It was Darleen's first time on the subways. The next day we went into Boston and did a tour on the trolley around town. We got off and went and took a tour of the USS Constitution ship. That was fun. The day was long but Darleen saw alot. I've seen most of the sites except the USS Constitution. We also took a boat around the harbor. It was a beautiful day. We played alot of euchere in the evenings and had to put up with Lucas doing a stupid "LONER DANCE", I think Kim did a couple of those dances also. One was when she was making fun of him. Friday evening Kim, Darleen and I went to a local pub for supper and watched a little of the Red Sox game. After we drove to the church and showed Darleen around. Lucas was having a kick-off Spam Party for the youth. That was interesting and smelly. Soon it was Saturday and time for us to leave. The worst part of the trip is always having to say goodbye. We made it quick with a few tears. The flight home was so fast we couldn't believe it. We must have had a tail wind pushing us. We held hands when the plane took off, which I like to do because I don't like taking off, but Darleen went along with it. It was ok when we sat next to each other but it was kinda weird looking across the isle. People probably thought we were lezzies. haha......I'm not sure on that spelling but you know what I mean. The rest of the trip was smooth and easy. Did I mention Darleen's poor hurting feet. The day after our tour of Boston, she had swelling and pain like no other. That is going to be checked out when she goes to the doctor. So other than my sickness and her feet the trip was GREAT!! also Lucas didn't get a spanking for the first time. This only a few people will get.

Take your wife & daughter to work day(s).

I have a unique job to say the least. A lot of you, at first, did not understand how my job worked. Maybe you still don't. But it does have a few perks. Like take your wife to work day (or week). In the past 20 years I have been able to bring my wife and/or children for a trip on the boat. I have taken advantage of this in the past...Lucas went from Rogers City to Cedarville about 4 hours. Logan went from Rogers City to Duluth and back to the Soo Locks. Denise has been able to go on the boat a number of times. (Thank you P Dot for watching the kids.) My favorite was when she came on the Calcite II and it was our anniversary. The boat was going thru the Detroit River. (Remember that is where the world's only floating post office is located.) I called ahead and had the "Flower Lady" ( A woman with a flower shop who send flowers to alot of the boats on special days like Father's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving,Christmas, etc...) send a bouquet of flowers sent to the boat by way of the floating post office or AKA.. J.W. Westcott. They came while we were sleeping and put just outside our room but when I got up for work I put them in our room. When she woke up in the dark she could not figure out where that smell was coming from.
Well, Denise has not been able to come aboard for a few years due to work and other things. Plus, the last time she came on the boat was rolling quite a bit. Denise pulled a "Debbie". She did not feel very well.
Anyway, this past Labor Day weekend she was able to come aboard for 3 days as her boss was out of town giving her some time off. She came aboard at Stoneport and we went to Detroit to unload stone and then back to Stoneport. We even had a visitor at Detroit. Loralee came to see us. But to come to the boat the J.W. Wescott must bring you from under the Ambassador Bridge to our dock at Zug Island. About a 20-30 minute ride. We had high hopes that she would be able to ride with us up to Stoneport but the boat took longer to unload than usual and she needed to make sure she could get back to work on Tuesday. But she did get to spend the day with us and was treated to a nice supper of filet mignon.

As Loralee has never been on the boat while it was moving I am hoping to get her on before I retire. I have a few more years to make this happen if she will still be willing and able.
I was hoping Denise would put this post up with some pictures of the trip but she probably is too busy. Maybe I can edit this when I get home to add some pictures because I know how you all like pictures on the blogs.
That is all for now...wait a minute... what about the trivia question and the interesting fact.

Interesting fact #9...A duck can not walk without bobbing it's head.

Trivia Question #9...Where in American history was printed the motto: "Mind your own business"?

Good Luck Denise , Lauren, Darleen, and anyone else that would like to play our game.

Some things to think about

According to my sweet wife, my posts have been boring. She suggests I put in something funny or add some pictures. Something to make it interesting.
So here goes:
Why is it that when you get old everything that works hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?
You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes, why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
Why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?
If you throw a cat out a car window does it become kitty liter?
If a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success?
If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
Why does your nose run and your feet smell?
Why do we sing 'Take me out to the ball game', when we are already there?
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.


And now for pictures:.........Sorry not fast enough connection speed.

Why is it that night falls but day breaks?
Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?
What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
Strange! No one ever says "It's only a game," when their team is winning.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?
If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery.
Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. Wouldn't a good response be to write . . . A Good Doctor!

Interseting fact #8: If a statue in a park of a person on a horse, if the horse has both front legs in the air...the person died in battle. One leg in the air... the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. Both legs on the ground...that person died of natueal causes.

Question #8. What is missing from the tv show "Sixty Minutes" that all the other tv shows have?

72 Days Left

How's everyone's summer going? I have been busy hauling coal. Coal is becoming quite a cherished commodity. A lot of countries have been buying up a lot of our coal leaving less for the powerplants in our country. I am in Toledo today for the second day in a row. Taking our third coal load in a row to Detroit. I should get home Saturday morning for a few hours. I am down to 72 days left until vacation time.

Yes, it is a kangaroo and an emu that can not walk backward.

Interesting fact #8: If you keep a goldfish in a dark room it will eventually turn white.

Question #8: Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

Fun Days in Rogers City

Rogers City had a Independece Day type celebration on Friday July 6th. I was lucky enough to be loading stone at Stoneport, MI (30 miles away). We were at anchor just before that for about 16 hours while we waited for another boat to finish unloading before we could get space at the dock. I got home and found Loralee, P. Dot and Darleen at the house waiting for Denise to get home from work. P. Dot was making her famous and the family's favorite meal, Gleasons. That in itself was fantastic enough but Pat came over to join us for supper and after supper we played a little of the golf game in our back yard. Pat and Denise were champions for the day. Then we decided to go down to the Lakside Park where the group "Chasing Steel" was preforming a free concert. This was a bluegrass band of four men (three were brothers) from the U.P. They were not playing my favorite type music but Loralee was really getting into it. I'm not an expert in music but I thought they were pretty good if you liked that type of music. There was a pretty big crowd there for Rogers City. There was even a few that were from Onaway and Tower. In fact even Minnie and Merv were there. There was a big fish boil going on all day there. And a big slide for the kids. I guess they were displaying the big equipment at Calcite Plant at the gate. Many people were getting their picture taken in front of these huge pieces of machinery.

The day was topped off with a very nice fireworks display. All in all, it was a very nice break. I am glad I got the 3rd mate to work my shift so I could get more time at home.



And now for the answer for trivia question #5: The answer was supposed to be Broccoli but more information was found to support artichoke for an answer, also. So Denise and Darleen were both correct.



Now interesting fact #7: Mosquitos are attracted to people who just ate bananas.



Trivia question #7: What two animals can not walk backward?

Update from Lake Michigan

How 's everyone enjoying the summer weather? It has been cooler than normal on Lake Michigan (about 60 degrees) that's both in the air and in the water. Right now, Saturday, I am in Buffington, IN. unloading stone. We are due to go up into the big lake, Lake Superior. I may not get home again until 2nd week in July. Countdown for my vacation in October is at 100 days. Maybe that is a little early to be counting but that's what I do.
I want to wish a couple people a belated birthday wish. Rosey's birthday was the 14th and Kim's birthday was the 15th. I hope they had a great day. And don't forget Loralee's birthday July 9th. If I have missed someone just send a comment.

Now for the trivia question answer, the answer is Pope Benedict IX at age 11. But I guess there is a lot of contrversy concerning his correct age but the oldest they have him listed is 18.

Interesting fact #6: A bal of glass will bounce higher than a ball of rubber.

Trivia Question #6: What is the only vegetable that is also a flower?

On Line On Boat

I am offically on line from the freighter Arthur M. Anderson. I will be posting a little more often. Maybe we can get Denise to put in a post or two. I am in Stoneport, Michigan as of 2200 (that's 10:00 P.M. for you landlubbers). We are heading for Huron, Ohio which is (interesting fact #5) the most southern point a ship can be on the Great Lakes. It is near Cedar Point for all you amusement park goers. Then it is off to Toledo to load coal for Detroit, then back to Toledo to load coal for Escanaba, MI then back to Stoneport, Michigan on the 18th.



My last day of vacation I went and saw the Detroit Pistons lose to Lebron James and the rest of the Cleveland team. But we did see an exciting double overtime game. We, being Denise, Logan, Loralee, and myself. Denise and I took Loralee's bed and made her sleep on the sofa. She lives

just a few miles from the Palace of Auburn Hills. The very next morning Denise and Loralee had to to take me to Detroit to meet the boat. They got an unexpected treat. They got to take a ride on the J.W. Westcott (the only floating post office in the U.S. and the only boat with it's own zip code: 48222)



By the way there were no correct answers to my last trivia question. The correct answer is: Back in the olden days in jolly old England they used to serve beer in pints and quarts. When the customers got rowdy they were told to mind their own pints and quarts. This got shortened to P's and Q's. Better luck next time.



Trivia Question #5: How old was the youngest Pope?