Thursday Thirteen

During last week's visit to Charleston, SC, we spent a couple of hours in the North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center, which is located near the Tanger Outlets should you ever visit.

The museum and visitors' center opened in 2007 and is housed in a $7 million building constructed by the City of North Charleston. The Fire Museum has more than 20 fully restored fire vehicles, including hand pumper engines that pre-date the 20th century.

Hopefully, I have most of these photos captioned properly.



1886 Silsby Steam Pumper



Not sure what this is, but it's old.



Patches from various fire departments all over the world.



My county's patch. A little blurry. It was dark in the museum and I didn't have my good camera.



My husband's place of employment, before
it became Roanoke-Fire EMS



A showcase of early firefighting helmets.



More helmets.



1857 Button & Blake Hand Pumper




Not sure what this one is, but it is a 1912 apparatus.



1911 "Type 5" double tank combination



1914 "Type 12" pumper



1920 "Type 75" Pump & Hose Car



The early system for fire alarms, which used a ticker-tape type of instrument. This was still in use in Roanoke
when my husband went to work with the fire department over 30 years ago.



1935 "400" Series



1940 "500 Series" Pumper

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 414th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Charleston - USS Yorktown - Part 3

Having never been to Charleston before, we weren't sure where anything was. We were driving around and saw a sign pointing towards "Patriots Point." Being novices in the tourism department, we went to see what it was.

It was the U.S.S. Yorktown and assorted displays. I had been looking for this in the tourism information and could not find it. Who knew it was called Patriots Point? Not us.

Visiting the ship required much walking, but fortunately the park officials provide folks with canes or disabilities a ride on a golf cart and they have installed an elevator on the ship. Had they not I think I would have fallen overboard from exhaustion and pain, but fortunately that did not happen.

My husband was thrilled with the ship. The Yorktown served in World War II as an aircraft carrier. The ship also served in other wars (Korea, Vietnam) and was the ship that picked up the Apollo 8 astronauts. The ship was decommissioned in 1970 and it became a tourist attraction in 1975.

The deck is full of old aircraft. Inside the aircraft carrier is a museum. A battleship, the U.S.S. Laffey, is also moored near the aircraft carrier.

The U.S.S. Yorktown

It's a very big boat.



Many planes sat on the upper deck.



My husband examining some kind of gun.

 

Husband examining a plane. He said the planes all looked
like they would fall apart if you touched them. He was awed.



A helicopter on deck.



Another plane.



Two more planes. Big ship to hold so many planes.



The observation tower and a plane.



Below, they had a museum.



A wall of honor.



The Apollo 8 capsule. This captivated me more than the
ship did, since I am a big NASA fan. I stood and admired
this while the husband roamed around looking at the
things he wanted to see.



Go NASA! Go NASA!



Yorktown Museum exhibits.



A battleship called the U.S.S. Laffey



More U.S.S. Laffey



A little bit about the battleship.



We did not go down into the submarine. It is just before a dock, as you can tell from all the boats.



Husband admiring the battleship.

Charleston - Charles Pinckney - Part 2

Charles Pinckney was a South Carolina statesman, senator, and former governor who was also instrumental in the writing of the U.S. Constitution. He is one of the signers of that document (I think, actually, many people do not know who actually signed the Constitution, confusing it with the Declaration of Independence, a different document entirely).

They call Pinckney the "forgotten founder."

He is best known for insisting on the clause in the Constitution that says "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States," a phrase we seem to have forgotten as time has passed, at least by the populace at large. Otherwise religion wouldn't play such an important role in politics.

Pinckney's original home place, Snee Farm, is gone, but foundations of some buildings remain. A home constructed in the 19th century stands there now and serves as a museum for the National Historic Site.

We visited the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site as one of our first stops while in Charleston. It is in the Mount Pleasant area and wasn't far from our hotel.

Entrance sign.

Informational stop.

More information about the Founding Father.

Doodads from excavations of old foundations.

A plate found at the old homesite

House built circa 1800s that now houses the museum.

Somebody's tombstone; we didn't get close enough to
read what was on it.

Off to Charleston, Part 1

Last week, my husband and I slipped away and spent five days in Charleston, SC. We'd never been there and it had been three years since our last vacation, thanks to my surgery and his farming accident last summer.

So off we went.

My sweetie at the wheel.

The first thing I noticed about Charleston was that there were lots and lots of bridges.

This was but one bridge.

 

I think this entire roadway - about 26 miles - was actually a bridge.

 
It was also really flat and at sea level. I don't know how the place keeps from flooding at high tide.



More bridge off in the distance.

We stayed at a Wyndham in the Mount Pleasant area. This is apparently a separate city from Charleston but right next door, or something.

 

 

We've actually gone to hotels and demanded our money back
after checking out the rooms. Or as long-time readers may recall, once
we simply turned around and drove back home.

We were happy with our accommodations, which is often an obstacle for us. So whew. That was over with. We were there and could unpack.

Sunday Stealing: Random

From Sunday Stealing

Really Random Meme

Do you believe that Walt Disney is really frozen? A. You mean like in the movie Frozen or the rumor that his head is frozen somewhere? No, I don't believe his head is frozen somewhere. Although I suppose it could be. People with money do some weird things.

Do you believe its easy to forgive and forget? A. It is not easy. Doable, but not easy. It is easier to forgive than to forget. There are some things one should not forget.

When you feel like running away from it all who do you call? A. Ghostbusters.

Is there anyone who knows your entire life story? A. Yes.

Have you had to have stitches at all in the last year?  A. Not in the last year.

Which is coming next: Christmas or your birthday? A. A visit from St. Nicholas is next.

Have you ever been a clown for Halloween? A. Not that I can recall. I was a tramp once. However, I am sure that in a parallel universe, somewhere, at some time, I was a clown. Scientific theories suggest this is so.

What time did you go to bed last night? A. About 9 p.m.

When did you get up this morning? A. About 7 a.m.

When was the last time it rained? A. It is pouring at the moment.

Are your finger nails painted at the moment? A. I never paint my nails.

Do you ever go hunting/fishing? A. I have, but it has been a long time.

Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A. Yes, several of them.

Which parent do you look most like? A. It depends on my mood.

Do you have any friends who are famous? A. I have met many famous people during my lifetime.

Do you use eBay to buy or sell? A. Occasionally.

Is music a daily part of your life? A. I play the guitar and love music. So yes, it is a part of my life almost daily.

Is your self esteem high or low? A. Lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut.
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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Take a Letter

Saturday 9: Take a Letter, Maria (1969)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

(I have always liked this song. I remember my father singing it when I was young.)

 

1) In this song, R. B. Greaves gets a shock when he gets home from work. When is the last time you were surprised? Was it a happy or sad surprise?

A. Last Christmas a friend gave me an unexpected gift. It was a throw blanket from Barnes & Noble with first sentences from novels on it. It was lovely and it's very warm. It was very unexpected and much appreciated.

2)  Mr. Greaves sings that he didn't get home until "about a half past ten." That's a very long workday. No wonder his wife felt neglected! Have you ever had trouble maintaining balance between homelife and career?

A. When I was writing for the newspaper full time, I worked from home and it was as if I were working all waking hours. People called me with stories all the time, no matter the hour, and sometimes I would be writing at 2 a.m. I would say that was a problem.

3) According to the song, "Maria" is a secretary. Have you ever worked in an office?

A. I have worked in many offices. I started out as a file clerk and ended up as a legal secretary. I did that for about 10 years. I know administrative professionals (as I believe they call themselves these days) provide a vital function, but it is not my thing, really. I might enjoy it in a different setting but law offices were incredibly stressful, and no offense to nice lawyers (I did work for one or two), but many of them are jackasses.

4)  In today's office, R.B. Greaves wouldn't ask Maria to "take a letter." Instead, he'd keystroke his own email to his wife and cc his lawyer before hitting, "send." Think of another phrase, like "take a letter," that we seldom hear anymore because of technology.

A. "I'm going to take a Polaroid."

5) "Maria" is mentioned in many songs ("Maria" from West Side Story, "Maria, Shut Up and Kiss Me" by Willie Nelson, "How Do Solve a Problem like Maria?" . . .) but Crazy Sam discovered  few, if any, "Samantha" songs. Does your first name figure prominently in any lyrics?

 

A. I don't know of any and a search turned up zilch.

6) 1969 was the year that Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon. Do you believe in life on other planets?

 

A. I do. You didn't define "life" and a microbe or amoeba or something is a life form. Surely there are things like that out there someplace. As far as beings like us, maybe. I don't see any reason why there shouldn't be. Or an infinite number of parallel galaxies, for that matter, in which one of them I am a clown.

 

7) In 1969, the Beatles performed publicly for the last time as a band, on the roof of Abbey Road studios. When did you last climb up onto your roof?

 

A. Never. I have a husband for that.
 

8) Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries sold at a brisk pace at Christmastime in 1969. Were you a fan of these books? If not, tell us about a book you remember enjoying when you were young.

A. I loved Nancy Drew and enjoyed Hardy Boys. I preferred the first to the second. As far as other books, I loved the Black Beauty series, Misty at Chincoteague, Island of the Blue Dolphin, Across Five Aprils, and every "Little Golden Book" I could get my hands on. I read Wuthering Heights before I was 10 years old. I was always reading.

9) Random question: Do you consider yourself old fashioned?

 

A. Is there a word for middle fashioned? I don't think I'm exactly old fashioned but I do think that some things have changed for the worse instead of better.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen

Places I'd like to visit, but probably never will.

1. The Great Pyramids. I've always wanted to see those up close and personal.

2. Ireland. My father's family hails from the Emerald Isle. I'm also taken by the legends of druids and Celts.

3. Scotland. Some of my mother's family hails from this land. I've always had a thing for Mary, Queen of Scots, too. I've read several biographies about her.

4. England. Because England swings like a pendulum do, bobbies on the bicycle two by two, West Minister Abby, the Tower of Big Ben and the rosy little cheeks of the little children. Plus I have an Internet friend there. And there's Stonehenge.

5. Japan. I know little about Asian culture and would like to see and learn about these people.

6. Machu Picchu, Peru. Because it is old and I strongly suspect I would feel lots of energetic vibes from this place.

7. Someplace deep in the Amazon. I wouldn't mind getting lost in the jungle for a while.

8. Paris. I've actually been to Paris once, but I was a teenager. I would like to go back as an adult, when I can better appreciate it.

9. Italy. Because Under the Tuscan Sun is one of my favorite chick flicks.

10.  Greece. Because I like old stuff and would like to see the places where the many gods were worshipped, particularly the female ones, like Artemis and Athena.

11. Alaska. It looks like beautiful country in the travel guide my father brought back from his trip.

12. Hawaii. Because Alaska is cold!

13. New Zealand. Hobbits. Dwarves. Gandalf. Need I say more?



Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 413th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Dr. D. H.

Recently I made another stab at finding a doctor who might offer suggestions as to the pain in my abdomen.

At my husband's suggestion, this time I sought out the guy who did the original surgeries on me more than 20 years ago. I didn't even know he was still in practice.

My husband liked Dr. D*ckHead way back when but I never really did. He always discussed my issues with my husband, talking around me as if I were an object he would cut on and not a human being. For example, he asked my husband before every surgery (all six of them) if we still wanted to have children, not me. I don't think he ever once asked me. He assumed that I'd rather go through six years of agony and attempt to have children than maybe have the hysterectomy in the first surgery and be done with it. And while I did want children and maybe nothing would have been changed, it would have been nice to have been asked.

At the time so long ago, he was considered one of the better GYN doctors in the area. I mean, we didn't even have a transvaginal ultrasound machine here locally back then, something so common now that a former governor was nicknamed for the device a few years.

Anyway, I went to see Dr. D*ckHead, and he gets the top mark as biggest jerk of a doctor I've seen. I think he even beats out Dr. Dumba*s, the one who did the surgery on me two years ago that has since ruined my life. I pity any woman who is still seeing this jerk for gynecological needs.

I don't know where these doctors get their lack of compassion. Do they teach that in school? Or are jerks drawn to the medical profession for reasons I can't comprehend?

Dr. D*ckHead didn't even try to find out what was wrong with me. He hurt me with his exam, and then told me it was all in my head and the only thing wrong with me was that I was overweight and didn't exercise enough. Never mind that I have a torn ligament in my ankle. Never mind that my weight gain didn't start until I began taking infertility treatment medications that Dr. D*ckHead himself put me on 20 years ago. Never mind that he gave me no direction, offered no suggestions, but dismissed me as if I were a bulging tick on his buttocks. Too bad I wasn't, maybe I'd have given him Lyme Disease.

On top of that, he had the nerve to tell me that physical therapy was a waste of time. Physical therapy is the only healing modality that has kept me on my feet for the past two years. If you need to see a physical therapist more than three times, said Dr. D*ckHead, then either you weren't putting forth any effort or the physical therapist wasn't any good. I call bullshit on that one.

Dr. D*ckHead also said that adhesions and scar tissue don't cause pain. Tell that to every physical therapist in the valley who has to deal with scar tissue. But most surgeons dismiss the theory of scar tissue and adhesions. It is very weird how they get these ideas in their minds and don't let go of them.

And yes, Dr. D*ckHead, I'm overweight. Do you think I don't know that? Do doctors think that obese people are not aware that they're wearing 10 sizes more than they should be? What, you think we don't own mirrors? What is the point in telling me that without offering a solution? Couldn't you give me a printout - here, try this diet, it's been known to be helpful for women who've had a zillion drugs and hysterectomies and whose hormones are screwy. I guess that would be too hard. You might actually do some healing with something like that.

So Dr. D*ckHead, you saw me for the last time. Your name gets filed under "trash," and I hope you never need a physical therapist, because I guarantee you'll be there more than three times.

Sunflowers' Last Days

Wild - The Movie

Wild, a movie based on a 2012 book by the same name by Cheryl Strayed, was released in 2014. It played on HBO recently.

My book club read the book in 2013 (review at the link). I was ambivalent about the book, and when I heard that it would become a movie, I wondered how the filmmakers would manage that. The book was heavy and portrayed the heroine, such as she was, as rather ignorant. Nor was she someone to admire, even if she did hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Just because somebody takes a long walk doesn't mean they deserve admiration.

Reese Witherspoon starred as Cheryl. She did a nice job of portraying the character, though I confess when I looked the movie up I was surprised to learn she received an Academy Award nomination for the role. Laura Dern, who played Cheryl's mother, also received a nomination. I don't watch a lot of movies so maybe the standards are different now.

During this long hike, Cheryl reflects upon her mother's death. Her mother loved her, but her father was an alcoholic and mean, which can take a toll on a sensitive child. The reflective parts in the movie showed how this tortured past lead Cheryl astray (pun intended), probably better than the book did. The book spent a lot of time reflecting on her mother's death instead of earlier childhood demons. I was glad the movie reversed that.

It is hard to write a book that is reflective and which focuses on a single character to the exclusion of all else. It is hard to do a movie like that, too. The only one I can recall seeing that was successful in recent years is Castaway, with Tom Hanks. And even he had to invent a character with a volley ball to make some dialogue happen.

This is not a movie I would watch again. The acting was fine and the story didn't drag, but I guess I like my heroines to be a bit more, I don't know, loveable.