Tuesday, August 23, 2016

What Do I Miss Today While in Qwangyang, Korea


Of course, I miss my wife most of all...  Every night she visits me in my dreams.
Here she visited while in Mexico I think.  She promised to make me a magarita if
I went to see her.  I tried but woke up - still in South Korea.



I miss Family too of course.  The Boy is walking and Papa cannot be there.



I have to say that I sort of miss Bremen, my last duty station.  It was a
great roaming city - weather was perfect for roaming after work.



One of my last walks, near the city center next to the theatre.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

My Last Few Days in Bremen, Germany


Noticed this nice VW as I was walking from the soccer stadium back to the tram.

Thursday, August 11, 2016


The bubble man was in the square about 50 yards away - still had a couple float by me though.  I closed my eyes and made a wish just before it popped but Carol never did show up.  The good news though is that Starbucks was right behind me.  I had coffee and talked to myself.  
(I am pretty interesting actually.  Witty, great conversationalist and can keep quiet when necessary.)



She may not be here but I still listen to her.  Yes, I found Chinese with lots of veggies!



I like this City - lots of things to see & do.  They have a Riverwalk that I have just discovered.

    


Europe has the greatest old scooters.  I love this one.  I can see our Grand Daughters buzzing down the street with their hair flying on this one.   Helmets Girls... Helmets!

Sunday, August 7, 2016

My Thoughts are Confirmed - A Silver Buy is Emminent!


Now admit it...  you have an idea.  It brews awhile and then suddenly
you see confirmation in something that you do or see.  Today it happened to me.

I was riding the 90 bus and continuing to mull about the possibility that it might be
time to purchase some 90% junk silver when I see this!!!

A Silver Couch Sitting Next to a Dumpster!
How much confirmation can one possibly need?
Yes, Your Junk Silver Idea is a Good One!!!
(Well anyway, that could be one take-a-way.)



Saturday, July 30, 2016

Back to Work in Bremen, Germany

Was offered a job at ArcelorMittal in Bremen so took a Dulles 744 to Frankfurt and
drove a C3 to an Air BnB apartment near the plant.  The job is without problems and
the technical people are very cooperative (so far).
 
Spotted a Gold Car in the rental car area but they did not give me the
keys to it.  (Rather a little while French Citroen.)

Planning to take back some German Lowensenf mustard, the family favorite.  
Amaya wants some Kinder Eggs and a pony of some kind.  Not sure I will
take the Kinder Eggs back though - we keep hearing that they are not
technically allowed in the USA because of the small swallowable toy inside.
Probably not worth the risk.


Friday, July 29, 2016

Fun Summer at the Neighborhood Pool!

Amaya getting ready for her last race of the season.  She did really well
as one of the younger in her age group.  Papa has all of her swim ribbons
in the workshop right in front of her second story apartment.

She and Addy have been helping Papa work on coins - their books are
almost full - now working on Xmas Present books.  (As well as watching
for coins to finish up Panama's book.)

The Neighborhood Pool was great for the summer.  We sure enjoyed it.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Whats Wrong With This Picture?


Noted at the bookstore tonight that this is an odd coin book.
One of the books had the back cover put on upside down.
That is the way coins are made.  Only one book of many
had this problem - I suspect it was an error by the printer
and not an intentional "coin emulation joke."

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Coin Collecting - Who Wooda Thunk


I have decided that half dollar coin collecting is more fun than working.
(Not sure that I expected any singular occupation would overcome the joy of making money.)

So I am coin collecting half dollars - I am also motivating my three granddaughters to
appreciate the value of counting dollars by 4-bit increments.

The first couple of half dollar boxes were uneventful.  However, the last two yielded
some 40% silver, some NIFC coins as well as a beautiful 2002 San Francisco Proof. 

The highlight, in my mind was to find a 1951 Ben Franklin.  It is pretty worn but I find
it kind of neat that my first Benjamin was dated the year of our birth.  (Carol and I were
both born the same year.)  So on we go down the coin collecting path.  It would be much
easier to buy the coins... however, it seems to me that "discovering" the coins is much
more interesting.



Sunday, June 19, 2016

Another Baptized Grandbaby Added to the Family Tree


Another baptized Grandbaby added to the Clan!

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Panama & Papa - Working the Half Dollars from BNA BAC

We worked the $240 that we got courtesy of Fed at
the BNA BAC (our home bank actually).  No statistics
yet but we practically filled Panama's two coin books! 


We found a 2001 and a 2005 but nothing else from the 
years newer than 2000.  These are years where the coins
are available from the mint in uncirculated condition - no
one dropped any of these more expensive coins in our box.  


Nana thought this picture was funny.  The squinting 
makes my face more wrinkled than normal.  It did
capture my general disposition however. 


Wow is all I can say.  We did pretty well
on the first coin haul.  Good job all!!!

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

My Daughter & Granddaughter - Jumper & Rower


Panama came in 2nd in her first time trying this event.
Papa has been practicing jumping into the shower w/o falling.



Erica came in second in the Women's Rowing Time Trials at the Gym.
This was her first time.  She is going to keep at it to see if she can get better.
Papa has taken up rowing too:  5000 meters today in 30-minutes.  Not too fast!
His motto:  I hustled at work for 30-years, time to stroll not roll...

Friday, May 13, 2016

Going to Miss Greece - Almost Last Day Today


Today is my almost last day before I go back to the USA.
I will miss the beautiful sites here in Thisvi, Greece.
This is the top of the mountain above St Nicholas Beach.
Drive slow on this road as there are almost always sheep.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Nearly Died of Fright - Almost Stepped on a Huge Snake - Wasn't Looking!


I was taking a cool picture and nearly stepped on a Greek Python - estimate it
was 40-feet long and as round as a beach ball.  I felt my soul slowly leaving
my body and traveling down the proverbial tunnel with heaven at
the other end.  There was a bit of hesitation - almost like time for a
snap decision.  I made it!!!  Decided not to go.  It was a hard decision
as Heaven seemed delightful - the little that I could see anyway.





But I decided to turn my back on the tunnel travel.  Decided that I really wanted
to see Meteora.  Nana says that she will come back with me and take me there.

Just wanted the family to know that Nana is on the hook for at least one more
trip to Greece.  The snake?  Oh, it turned out to just be an old firehose.  Not
sure why it looked so big and onerous.  Would have been a funny story in Heaven...

Friday, May 6, 2016

A Baden-Baden Walkabout - May, 2015




This Sculptor was getting a lot of attention from the lady tourists.
I think that they were impressed by his big hammer.


Found a quiet spot where young people obviously hang out & smoke.
I noticed that they have written a few things on their local red wall.


A couple of them were cute.


I have never heard this one.  A lot of truth to it... yes indeed...

I Keep Going Around in Circles - Must be From My Work!


This turned out to be a cool picture.  It is a picture taken through a very long, large
diameter pipe that has epoxy coating on the internal diameter.  The pipe is actually
spiral formed & welded.  The epoxy is applied in a spiral fashion as well.

All told, the picture has a very spiral looking appearance.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Snake!! Open Slowly...


As I have been hiking in Greece, I have been wary of snakes, a few of the locals
are poisonous.  I did see a very small snake but later in the hike, next to a cistern
in the mountains, I spied a large molt...  This is almost as good a a big bug taped
to my underwear... I put the molted skin head onto my little finger and chased
myself around...  Oh my gosh... how old memories prevail!  

As always, Pops  (With a twisted sense of humor.)

Sunset in Thisvi on Tuesday Night


It was a stark contrast, the receding sun illuminating the cumulus leftovers
on top of the black mountain as the evening crept into night time.

White versus Black... should be Gray in between, right?!

But all I see a bit of Blue...  Alas, I am Blue as
I am Here and She is There.      I miss Her!

Good night my Dear One...   as I said...   I miss You!

Sunday, May 1, 2016


At work, in Thisvi, Greece.  Oh wait, it is Easter Sunday, Orthodox Easter Sunday, so it is a day-off.
As I recall, looking at the down loaded photograph, I think that I am sitting on a bench at the Saranti Beach near Thisvi.  Let me know if you think otherwise.  Just to keep things known, Erica, Carol and the Kids are at Chunky Sneeze in DC playing games on Pops Dollar - with a coupon!


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Did Anyone Ever Think of Double Readers? I did, had to, dang-it!

.

Could not quite make out my very small map plan to Meteora this weekend so
I thought that I would try double readers (1.25 mag x 2 = perhaps 250)

Well, at any rate, it worked for me tonight.  

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Greek Honey is the Best; Missing my Big Honey but Bought Some Greek Honey for My Little Honey


Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

Amaya, Papa bought you some of that Greek Honey that you liked the last
time that I brought it home.  I look forward to seeing you!