30 Jun 2015 – Goodbye June

Sat: after a Fri evening watching all kinds of TV programs and a good night sleep, am ready to run errands. Thank you Jeff for picking me at the Hardees as the Super 8 lobby was locked! To give an idea of the area 🙂

Getting the food, etc ready before Jeff’s family arrives and a nice catch up with Linn while we were on the road.

Down town CAE where Cupcake DownSouth*** donates 100% of the proceeds from a Charleston Love cupcake. Do enjoy visiting this part of town.

http://www.freshcupcakes.com/

Zoës Kitchen is a fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Plano/TX. Linn likes the Mediterranean-inspired food here and she ordered beef, chicken, salmon and shrimp kebab + a bunch of sides at the Irmo branch We now have enough food to feed an army 🙂 🙂

http://zoeskitchen.com/

And of course Party City to save on the clearing and washing of dishes. But it still bothers me to know and see what wasteful consumers we are…

Cindy, Terry&Dee, Kristy&family, her mom-in-law, Kathleen, David&friend, Charles who just arrived from UK after his 1yr basketball playing there,  Tiffany&her 2 boys and us all were here to be with Jeff’s ‘over the hill’ celebrations!

A lively evening with the game of spoons. #3&#5, the boys were wiped out in bed while #4 was completely engrossed with Dee’s Ipad. Everyone enjoyed the evening. Camera was acting up and rather unhappy with many of tonight’s pix.

Sun: Jeff’s actual Bday date. The others left while Terry&Dee stayed on to join us at church. Pastor Dick Lincoln gave a good sermon and coincidentally today’s bulletin also has the announcement with #1 as a new member in Shandon Baptist Church.

Lunched at Harper’s***in 5 Points. Some interesting places around there.

Glad that they managed to end the day with a family sunset cruise on Lake Murray (pix credits to Linn). Jeff will need this cane 🙂 🙂 🙂 after a week at Douthat State Park (Millboro/VA), USC Medical School Residents’ Graduation, Patrick’s 50Celebrations and his Over The Hill Celebrations. Happy 40th to a dear son-in-law who is loved and respected by his mother-in-law! He is a wonderful husband to Linn and a great father to my grandchildren.

Life begins at 40 – but so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times – Helen Rowland

27 Jun 2015 – Been There Done That
Thu: dep Clarksville/TN 15.10hrs with a delay of 45mins.

Arr Nashville/TN16.15hrs with a layover of 1.5hrs.

Picked up passengers at Murfreesboro/TN and a toilet break at Manchester/TN.

Arr Chattanooga/TN 20.20hrs with a 15min toilet break and then continuing to Marietta/GA to drop off passengers before hitting ATL/GA at 2310hrs with 4.5hrs layover.

Fri: ATL/GA station was packed due to delays with the bus to DC. A nice surprise from a Muslim group (Greyhound Angels!) who was serving free food at the car-park, tasted some rice and stew. Quite good ‘Greyhound Magic’ considering what is sold at these stations! Eyes could not keep open to focus on the camera for this last section of the journey…

Dep ATL/GA on time 04.30hrs with a short stop in Augusta/GA (looks like a delightful place thru’ the Greyhound windows!). Arr CAE 0900hrs and way too hot to walk out to the main road. Took a cab for the 0,5mi and had to pay a minimum US$10. Considering the heat on this narrow road with backpack and baggage, cab was the choice!

Bus journey – 9hrs 10min. Layovers – 6hrs US$62.

Been in SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, TN and GA within 2weeks; 26+hrs driving time, 16.30+layovers costing US$197.05 have certainly been like watching movies! Am Greyhounded out (if there is such a word) for 2015. All worth it to catch up with friends.

After 4hrs brunch at Denny’s, needed to find a hotel to rest for a night before Jeff’s 40Blast 🙂 Super 8 across the road from Denny’s. WiFi and TV to put me to sleep! The weather outside at present is that you can fry and eggs on the sidewalk and according to the weather channel it is 98°F feels Like 102°…

Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative – Oscar Wilde

26 Jun 2015 – An Inspiration To Runners

Clarksville where this incident happened. Sad, but what kind of parent is this who knows that her child needs ‘EpiPen’ and yet be so irresponsible and thoughtless???

http://clarksvillenow.com/local/family-sues-clarksville-publix-claiming-boy-died-from-cookie/

Tue: Nancy was invited to Hananoki Japanese Steakhouse and went along as her guest. Interesting 1hr talk about ‘Financial Facts’.

Dinner was served after the talk and the steak was OK. Probably not their best for a group who was provided with dinner at no cost for attending the talk, thus it will not be fair to rate it. Was informed later by Matt that this is the best restaurant here.

Wed: from historic locations to contemporary architecture, Montgomery Central High School (Cunningham, app 20mins from Clarksville) was completed in 1970. It is an unusual and interesting structure situated on a man-made lake and featuring concrete shell construction.

We were trying to find Wilma a few days ago on the river front where she was supposed to be. But alas she was not there and no wonder as she ran away in the event of more floods!

In 1960, she became the first American woman to win  3gold medals at a single Olympic Games. May she now RIP in her new home at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center.

http://www.biography.com/people/wilma-rudolph-9466552#synopsis

Lunched at Liberty Park Grill***next to the WR Event Center. Good salad with a good view to end this hot touring day. Grateful to Nancy for driving me around.

Appreciations to Matt & Kristy for having me out to their home. Good to see him and his family. Matt has been in K thru’ all his school years, including UF with Jeff. He crossed paths with Linn when we moved to FL in the late 1980s. Difficult to believe that Josh and Ellisa are now both in the U…

Thank you Nancy for putting me up and putting up with me near the little people! Thank you Linda for the use of her washer and dryer. It was a pleasure to meet a lovely local lady who is born and bred in this delightful place.

It’s not the days in life we remember, rather the moments – Walt Disney –

24 Jun 2015 – Montgomery County Tennessee

Mon: the only place in the world which has 4Es, 2Ns and 2Ss in a name!

https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Clarksville,_Tennessee

Clarksville visiting with Nancy and what an interesting and delightful place with an area of 95.5 sq mi/247.4 km2 and a pop of 132,929+ The area around here was first surveyed by Thomas Hutchins in 1768 and my first visit now in 2015.

Having gone thru’ wars and natural disasters (1999 tornado & 2010 flood), Clarksville has now been restored to a place well worth visiting.

Now it has rebuilt much of the damage as a symbol of the city’s resilience. Where one building on Franklin St once stood has been replaced with a large mural of the historic buildings of Clarksville on the side of one that remained.

Customs House Museum and Cultural Center – over 35,000 square feet of exhibit space, hands-on activities and special events.

The Montgomery County Courthouse – 1st one laid in 1796 and the 6th one in 1879. Repaired in 1900 after a fire and in 1999 after the tornado.

Madison St United Methodist Church completed in 1882 was also destroyed in the 1999 tornado. Thank you to the lady who showed us around the sanctuary.

Received the ‘Journey of Faith‘ with appreciations and thanks.

Public Square

Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern US. The 688-mile-long river drains almost 18,000 square miles/47,000 km2 of southern KY and north-central TN. In Apr-May 2010, due to extensive rains, the river overflowed its banks and flooded Nashville and Clarksville.  The downtown area was ordered to evacuate.

The public library has been in this location since 1995. After several attempts to start a library, a library opened its doors in the basement of the courthouse offices in 1894.

Bad things do happen in the world, like war, natural disasters, disease. But out of those situations always arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things – Daryn Kagan

22 Jun 2015 – Past & Present

Thu: Pokey and I had a pleasant quiet day catching up with online stuff at the local library (residence to Frank) and Panera Bread. Both places rather slow on their networks, but better than none!

Interesting Ghost Tour of HP by Rick Garland at 3 of the most haunted houses there. Highly recommended and well worth the US$14.

http://www.harpersferryghost.20m.com/

Fri: a walk thru’ town. HP is the only place I have been where the Town Hall, Police Station, Post Office and Olde Towne Liquors in the same building 🙂

Good to catch up with Miss Wiggy, Lizard & Loon who arrived this afternoon. HiHills, Franklin and Joe returned from DC this afternoon too.

Appreciations to Pokey and HiHills for all the yummy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks ie all the food consumed at Highacre.

Sat: so very nice to have caught up with my hiking buddies over the week but also time to go our separate ways.

Thank you to HiHills and Franklin for getting me to the Greyhound in Roanoke/VA to catch the bus to Clarksville/TN.

Roanoke/VA – Wytheville/VA 1hr, layover 40mins by a McD; Wythville – Marion/VA (Hungry Mother State Park!), parcel drop-off. An unusual name and an interesting legend to read.

Sun: Bristol/TN 10mins layover

Johnston City/TN 10mins layover

Knoxville/TN 1hr layover

Nashville/TN 3hrs 15mins layover.

Finally Nashville to Clarksville/TN 1hr on the bus. Appreciations to Nancy for meeting me.

Total bus journey – 8hrs 45min. Layovers – 4hrs 30mins US$66.50.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers. Fond memories of my own father and thank you for life.

Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow – Shakespeare

14 June 2015 – Swim Meet

Wed: fireflies are my favourite bugs when they light up, but nothing much to look at when they have no sparkles! First saw them at Lake Cumberland/KY many moons ago! Here they do not seem to be as abundant as it was then, or maybe it is not the season.

The red Cardinal has a nest in the Camilla tree by the outside deck. Saw the male bird flying towards the nest a couple of days ago. It was too fast to capture a shot but took this shot very carefully the day after when I realized the absence of the male bird. Looks to me like the baby birds are not alive…

Thu: congratulations Murraywood Sharks and to #2 & #4 for winning against Quail Valley. Tkx to Justin and Haley for their help. Last swim meet I attended was@LHHS in the 1990s when Jeff was in the swimming team…

Fri: cleaned and packed. Tkx Linn for getting me on time to the bus stop by Walmart on Harbision. Interesting ride on bus/Comet #34 from Irmo into Columbia. Connecting on #30 – efficient, cheap (US $1.50X2) and on time. Was the only Asian at the Sumter St Transit station and on board…

Edited 15 Jul 2015 – ‘4 people injured in downtown Columbia stabbing’. Forwarded by Linn when I was in FL. Sure glad that this did not happen when I was there less than a month ago!

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article26698078.html

#30 stopped on Fairfield Rd opp Denny’s where I had dinner. The walk to the Greyhound station was only about 0.6mi and took about 10mins which seemed forever as there was little street light (22.00hrs) and had to be careful not to be hit by oncoming traffic!

Small and clean station where the Coke vending machine swallowed my coins without giving me my drink 🙁 Bus took off 23.30hrs heading towards Charlotte/NC. Bye for now SC.

11 Jun 2015 – Let It Go…

Mon: appreciations to Elizabeth for having us over to their lovely house just across the street. There are white rocking chairs on the front porch, very Southern! and a swimming pool at the back.

 One of the most unusual and amazing sunsets I have captured.

Tue: Sophie is 6 and she is the only grandchild i fed for a week+ in the middle of the night while Linn had some complications after the birth. She was and still is such a good sweet natured child. Her first bath in the kitchen sink and now she is like a fish in the water.

Started the day with the opening of presents

Krispy Kreme Doughnut factory offers fee doughnuts for every A in their reports but not exceeding 1dozen which was more than enough for our gang.

 There was group of kids there seemingly for a field-trip.

Irmo Public Library to read and borrow books.

Bday party and guess what theme she chose 🙂

Finally letting it all go and had a drink at Haley’s. Thank you for having us.

… that is if you can still remember the kids after all the wine 🙂 🙂 🙂

8 Jun 2015 – Sabah Earthquake

Fri 5 Jun 2015 07.17hrs.: Condolences to the families and friends at the Tanjong Katong Primary School (one of my neighbourhood schools in SIN), where students and teachers perished on Mt Kinabalu, Sabah earthquake. Prayers and thoughts are with all affected.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/07/world/malaysia-kinabalu-quake/index.html

http://cilisos.my/what-is-this-weird-fish-found-in-redang-trying-to-warn-us-about/

This is an interesting read and it is not about believing or superstitious if read with an open-mind. Have never heard or seen this Oarfish until now. In Japanese is known as ryugu no tsukai = Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace.

Sat: congratulations to Linn and all these lovely ladies for placing at the 5K Sweat It Out Run & Walk this morning – Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia. Did not know what this was about until this morning.

Lovely neighbourhood at Old Woodlands Park. Appreciations to MC’s parents for allowing us to park the car by their house. In the golf-cart is Nick’s daddy and Nick who is unable to sweat it out but started the race for the runners with ‘Ready, get set,  go’. The last one in for this event received the price. A nice and unexpected gesture – to show appreciations to all for taking part.

Can never resist anyone making and shaping these balloons 🙂
http://www.sweatitout2015.com/

L&J had their Sunday School group here for swimming and boating. There were 40-50 people including kids. I went shopping but not too sure which was the lesser dreaded affair?

Picked up paper and disposable stuff from the Party City for Sophie’s 6Bday party next week. Guess what her Bday party theme is????

May wanted books in English for Olai. Was at 2nd and Charles and there was a good selection, including some new stuff like these Minions. Let’s hope that she will appreciate my choices – have to take them in my baggage first to SIN and then to OSL!!

Supplements at the Vitamin Shoppe to last the year + 2 new place mats at Pier1 Imports. Stopped into Ross and found that their standard has deteriorated. Was disappointed at 99% of the things there.

Witnessed two accidents – one on the way shopping and the other on the way back. Even when these were fender-benders, definitely a sign to NOT rent a car as planned.

The dandelion field of white has been completely cleared and not a sign of a single dandelion. Probably the owner of this land knows that the seeds are about to be dispersed in the air and cleared it. The majestic Magnolias are still in bloom.

Sun: family at church. Stayed in to update pix and blog. Showers in the afternoon and the cool down was pleasant. The front living room is in one of my favourtie warm red shades.

4 Jun 2015 – Hello Summer Holidays

Tue: pix of this yellow dandelion field which was first taken when they were in full bloom. That was about 4weeks ago.

Now all white to match my hair 🙂 and wondering how long will it take for those seeds to be blown away? One day, I too will be gone with the wind! Just enjoying all the moments while there still are – even with the morning runny nose… hahaha

Linn was going thru’ #3 school binder and notes to clear stuff. One of the assignments was to draw a butterfly and this is what my first grandson and only one born in SIN did – amazing kid. We had a good chuckle, what was going on in his mind???

#2 helped to clean out the backyard, front-yard and garage earning some pocket-money. #1 helped to look after kids in the evening as L&J had dinner guests – a family with 2younger kids, thus 7kids but #1 now being a teen is really not so much of a kid…

Wed: #1 awards presentation at Irmo Middle for 2014-2015 school year. So proud of her for making the Principal’s List – All As. Tkx Aileen for sporting me, had problems finding myself in the audience… lol.

And for The Science Student of the Year. This middle school is an International Academic Magnet School and offers Chinese language where she also is studying and will continue with for the next school year.

What a nice group of teens for #1 last day gathering by the lake. Happy memories of L&J, Scott, Matt and Gabe at Carmel in FL when they were in their teens…

Thu: early morning swim practices, parties, etc more lake gatherings the next few days, (ie if weather permits – time will show). Opting out as there will be many families with tons of kids (between 3-10yrs). That will certainly put me in my bucket 🙂 🙂 🙂