Carol's Pond

November 29, 2021 This date is the 55 th Anniversary of Carol Ellen Hodgdon's passing. While that is a lifetime, it seems like it was just yesterday. I miss her more everyday. Later, Rex  

  Carol's Pond Oct 9, 2021 A tribute to another great lady, Lorna Bailey Lorna's uncle, Charles Bailey was married to my first cousin, Louise Fivecoat, so are Lorna and I cousins? I don't know and I don't care. Lorna was a great friend, confidant and a great lady. Lorna lived in Alabama but for a short period in 1991 she moved to Lebanon. She had worked as a locksmith and was extremely helpful in helping me get A Better Lock Company up and going. She went through all the tool catalogs with me, pointing out the tools I had to have, tools that would be nice to have and what I did not need at all. She saved me a lot of money. In January this year, she came from her home in Alabama and was my nurse while I recovered from cataract surgery. Because of Parkinson's I shake too bad too put drops in my eyes. Lorna was a great nurse. We had a great time while she was here. We tormented her sons, telling them I lived in a nudist colony and that they pass...

  Why did I move to Texas and some other thoughts. I know many of you have wondered and some have asked why I moved 800 miles away, especially considering my health. There are several reasons. Since the hospital bought my house, I had to move someplace, so I decided to move where it was warmer. The other reason I moved so far away, is my health. In 2002, I put Frank and Rusty, Kenny and others through a lot. I did not want to impose upon my family and friends again. Parkinson's Disease is a very nasty ugly disease. And besides the shakes which are a major pain in the ass, the other sides effects are worse. Sometimes now, I drool or slobber like a St. Bernard dog. It disgust the hell out of me. The hyper sexuality is very frustrating, I feel like I am 15 again again but while my mind says go find a woman, my body says what the hell do you think you are doing. The muscle weakness is also very frustrating. While Parkinson's is a degenerative disease of the brain, i...

  June 17, 2021 Today was a day of accomplishments. The major accomplishment was riding a train pulled by a steam driven locomotive. That is something that I had wanted to do for years and years. I have ridden modern diesel electric trains from Indiana to California and again from Indiana to Seattle to Los Angeles and then back to Indy. Sadly this train was fueled with fuel oil. It was a full size boiler on a narrow gauge frame. The train was delayed about 30 minutes so we got a late start. We stopped 4 times for water and to oil the engine on the way up and 3 times on the way back. The scenery was magnificent. However, Silverton is a tourist trap. They cut into our lunch time so I just had an order of french fries and a sweet tea for $10. I did not have time to finish either one, because time was against me. On the way to the restaurant, I saw a shop I wanted to go to. There I found the wallet and check book cover I have been looking for. They turn the tra...

  June 16, 2021 Today was a very short driving day. It was only about 150 miles from Farmington, NM to Durango, CO. I tried to call the train station this morning to make reservations and could not get a live human on the phone. The clown that invented automated answering machines systems had to be one sadistic jerk. But I walked in the depot and luckily someone had canceled and I was able to get a ticket. I will be on the train that is being pulled by a steam locomotive. To ride a steam train has been a dream of mine for many years. We tried in Alaska but they were doing the diesel that day. Ticked me off, which is easy to do. Like Virginia City, NV, Durango, CO is a tourist trap. However, I had been looking for new moccasins and found a pair made in Canada. The others I had seen were made in the Dominican Republic. At least Canada is an ally. My old ones were purchased in Mt. Home, Idaho in 1968. But sadly my feet have grown and I can no longer wear them. ...

  June 13 th to 15 th June 13 th found me in Carson City, NV. I left and went up to Lake Tahoe. But being a cheap jerk, I refused to pay 15 bucks to park and go down to the waters edge. But it is a pretty lake. I like Craters Lake better. I met Sammy's uncle at Tahoe. He is black and is missing part of his tail. But he really enjoyed eating the ants. So I have named it Anti. One thing I really liked about Tahoe was the fragrance of the air. It was very pleasant, but I could not identify it. From Carson City, I headed to Bryce Canyon. A truly spectacular place. The rock formations are amazing. Traffic was a pain and I encountered one idiot on the way there that by his driving he must be suicidal. From Bryce I headed to Zion National Park. It is rather disappointing after Bryce but it was still worth the trip. I saw a couple of things that surprised me. One was the skeleton of a horse just off the road. That area is wild horse country. And I also saw some d...

  June 10 th , 11 th and 12 th June 10 th , I was in Carson City, Nevada. It is a pretty town and kind of a gateway to Virginia City, Silver City and Lake Tahoe. I explored Virginia City via the truck. Sadly I did not see any of the Cartwrights. On the 11 th I went back and walked most of the main street. It is a pure tourist trap. I bought 2 bars of Bonomo's Turkish taffy. When the clerk said that will be $7.98. I almost wet myself. I was so shocked I just paid it. But then I headed for a diner that had been highly recommended. That was a bad idea too. The chicken was acceptable, but the mashed potatoes were out of a box and not fit to eat. The slaw was not real good either. I left town, never to return. There is a train ride there that I considered going back for, because on the weekend they run a steam engine. I want to experience that. June 12 th is my late sister Gini's birthday. Happy 82 nd Birthday!!!! This morning I took a drive up to L...