Traveling Through Time and Space Setting Still we are all still moving. So the next time someone tells you to get a move on, you can tell them you are already moving over 2 million miles per hour. _____________________________________________________________________ Earth 18.52 mps (Miles per Second) 66,673.36046 mph (Miles per Hour) 29.80566 kps (Kilometers […]
1986 – Commodore 128
1986 – Commodore 128 It was the autumn of 1986, and we had moved into base housing a few weeks earlier. I do not know if it was that Mr.Mike was a single parent of two boys or what but once we had settled in our house was the place for what seemed like the […]
1987 – Macintosh SE
1987 Macintosh SE: 1st Apple Experience Bunschoten, The Netherlands 1987…. I was NCOIC (Non Commission Officer in Charge) of Computer Operations for the Logistic Complex, at Soestergberg AFB, The Netherlands, home of the Wolfhounds. Mission to provide support for the F15 Fighter, which protected the northern tier of Europe. Oh yes, I had seen the […]
Blue Tiki God
I call it my “Blue Tiki God”. My Brother Kenneth hand carved and painted it for me. It is made out of balsa, a very light wood from a tropical tree. It has been many years since its birth in the late 1950s, but it is still with me and in pretty good shape.
2,018,304,000 seconds
2,018,304,000 seconds in 64 years 31,536,000 seconds in a year X 64 86,400 seconds in a day 3,600 seconds in a hour 60 seconds in a minute __________ “Nemo Nobody aged 118: Each of these lives is the right one! Every path is the right path. Everything could have been anything else and it would […]
I Want to Hold Your Hand
It was late December 1963 when I first heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the British musical group known as The Beatles. I really liked the song, not knowing at the time, I would enjoy The Beatles and their music all of my life. “The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety […]
1985 – SBSS Remote Processing Station
1985 – SBSS Remote Processing Station The Supply Connection After my Training in Minneapolis for the Sperry UNIVAC 1100/60 and my return to Little Rock AFB in 1984, we setup a Remote Processing Station for Base Supply. Meanwhile I had orders for Soesterberg AFB, the Netherlands. I had been promoted to MSgt (E7) and would […]
1984 – Sperry (UNIVAC) 1100/60
Sperry (UNIVAC) 1100/60 – 1984 Jacksonville, Arkansas home of Little Rock Air Force Base 354th Supply Squadron. It was the summer of 1984, and as the NCOIC of ADPM/PCAM unit, I was chosen to go to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota to be trained to operate the Sperry – UNIVAC 1100/60. BACKGROUND A contract was awarded in […]
Mr. Hayes
My first year of school in South Texas was at Lamar Elementary School in 1960. It is not important to my memory that this was my first year of school in South Texas. It is just a place marker for one of a few an individual Teachers that had an influence on me. Those teachers […]
Lands Drive Inn
The Seventh Grade, E. Merle Smith Junior High School, 1961. There were several new things I experience when I entered Junior High School. One such things was wonderful and stayed with me not only, throughout my few years in Junior High, and High School but beyond. That was the experience of eating at Lands Drive […]
Corner Gas Station
Our Family first moved to South Texas, in 1960. We lived on North Odem Avenue, in Sinton, San Patricio County, Texas. We had just moved a few weeks back, and it was time to mow the grass. I do not remember where my Brother Ralph was at, or maybe he pulled a Huckleberry Finn’s, “White […]
N. Odem Avenue
North Odem Avenue, don’t remember the number, think it was 221 (see note at bottom of page), but not sure. This is the street where the first house we as a Family first settled in, in Sinton, Texas. The year was 1960. I was month away from attending the sixth grade. The house was located […]
Remembering Mom
Thoughts of Mom have been walking softly in the background of my mind for the past few days. Tangling up, over whelming and interrupting my current ones, sometimes I hear the echoes too … “LOYD MICHAEL”. I miss her, as I am sure all of us do in our own special way. January […]
Ghost Sighting
My Ghost from May 20, 2008, in the Texas Hill Country. It was late at night, around 2 am. I had just been outside photographing the moon. I came back to my room and was reviewing the photos I had just taken when this rush of cool air came over me. The only light I […]
As if it wasn’t there
I guess there are not to many folks around that know that my classmates and I were the last Senior Class and therefore the last to graduate from the old Sinton High School in 1967. I believe the building is now occupied by Sinton Independent School District and used for adult classes in the evening. (snapshot […]
1976 – UNIVAC DCT 2000
It was actually my second overseas tour for the Air Force, and Personal Computers (PCs) nor Apple Computers did not yet exist. I was stationed at San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, Italy, 7275th Support Group. The Day after meeting my sponsor, and getting settled in the local Minerva Hotel room, he picked me up […]
Steve Jobs
In Memory of Steve Paul Jobs February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011 “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, […]
Logical Song
The Logical Song “story of… idealism lost” Steve B. Now, I do not think of you every day, but every now and again. Especially when “The Logical Song” comes ’round in iTunes, then my gray matter erupts with its somewhat shaky synapses, forming the memory traces which links this song to memories bringing them to […]
Nashville : Made a Big Mistake
Nashville : Made a Big Mistake Isle Delange.
Relaxation Steps
Mike’s Relaxation Steps : It is best to have someone coach you through these steps until you have them down and feel comfortable that you can do them on your own. 1. Find a quiet location within your house where you can lay down and relax, you can do this setting in a recliner, etc. […]
1974 – Univac 1050-II
1974 – Univac 1050-II (Updated 23 Nov 2012) The First Computer I worked with was a UNIVAC 1050-II. It was back in 1974, while I was stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. This mainframe computer used extensively by the U.S. Air Force Logistics, Base Supply System for Inventory Control. In order to even to […]
Charles Goodnight and Lonesome Dove
We are Kin folks, I am like a Seventh Cousin removed a couple of times or more, who is counting though, but find it kinda neat that we are remotely but still linked to my fellow and Famous Texan. Peter (2) Boucher, wife is Sarah “Sally” Goodnight. Sarah is the Daughter of Hans (John) Micheael […]
How Could I Forget
These memories came to me today, lined up and then lead me from one to another, and another. Dusty, the Family Dog, was half dachshund and half terrier. He was redish brown in color with a golden tint seen when the sunlight was on him. The last time I saw him was when I returned […]
“Sgt. Pepper’s Turns 40” for Mary Kate
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” Album Turns 40 (Pic from full screen iTunes on my Mac) The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper Album Turned Forty Years Old this last Friday. It was on the News and in the papers and all over the internet. One of the best links that I surfed up on the internet […]
Found Lost Twin
Since Mom mentioned to Barbara one time, that she thought I travelled so much, because I was looking for my Twin…..I saw this in a Dutch Newspaper and thought about what she said. (Scanned Newspaper and photo of me… )
1,830,297,600 Seconds – not soooo… Grumpy Ramblings
1,830,297,600 Seconds – not so Grumpy Ramblings by Mike Vauthier (Calculations : 365.245614035088 Days in a year * 58 yrs = 21184.24561403511 number of days ; 21184 number of days * 24 hours in a Day = 508416 number of hours ; 508416 number of hours * 60 minutes in an hour = 30504960 ; […]
“The Scream” by Edvard Munch
“The Scream” is a painting by Edvard Munch, 1863 -1944, who was from Norway. Many think that “The Scream” was done by Van Gogh but it was done by Munch, although he was heavily influenced by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lantrec. The painting’s also called “The Cry” (1893), but Munch himself named it “Der […]
A “Dreadful Selfish Crime”
A “Dreadful Selfish Crime” A “Dreadful Selfish Crime” is a song by Robert Earl Keen, who is a Texas Singer, I have come to enjoy. While listening to this song I came to the blind realization that I too, might be guilty of a dreadful selfish crime. Maybe it is just that time of life, […]
I am a Lucky Guy
I am a Lucky Guy – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas I am a Lucky Guy, I have two older Brothers, who were always there for me, especially when I was small, and two pretty neat little Sisters, too. When I was growing up in Dublin, Texas life was full. Everyday was like a new […]
Drive-In Picture Show
Drive-In Picture Show Growing Up in Dublin, Texas As I mentioned in Part I, my Brother Kenneth had Black 40 Ford Sedan, although I am sure I rode in it more than once, I remember one time in particular, the Drive-in trip, Dublin had a Drive-In back in the late fifties, and it also had […]
Dublin Lions Football Field
Dublin Lions Football Field – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas My Brother Kenneth played Tight-End for the Dublin Football Team. Each Friday night that Dublin played their Home Games the whole family would go. I remember a couple of incidents which happened at that field. As a kid I would play under the bleachers when […]
Dish Washing Hierarchy
Dish Washing Hierarchy – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas I guess it is no longer any concern today with most houses having an Automatic Dish Washer in their house. But when I was growing up there what I call the Dish Washing Hierarchy. After the evening meal was finished, any left over scarps had been […]
The BB Incident
The BB Incident – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas One hot summer day I was outside our house on 502 Thomas Street. I had just came downthe steps of the concrete porch and was headed for the stockyard and pasture, where we would spend a lot of our time playing and what not, when something […]
Tree House
Tree House – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Across Harris Street, next to the side of our house was another area we would play, and another large mesquite tree. We gathered rocks from the field behind it, and made a small wall to form a fort for playing Cowboys and Indians, or like we were […]
Run, Run, Run….. Runaway
Run, Run, Run….. Runaway – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Del Shannon song by the same name runs through my head, as I began to type this… “I’m walking in the rain,to the Ball and I feel a pain, and I wonder, I Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa Wonder, if you will stay, my little runaway, my run run run Runaway….” […]
Just Look What Thoughts Will Do
Just Look What Thoughts Will Do I some times think we humans are basically flawed. The reason I say this is when I think, and my mind does not really deal with what is present. That is this “Now” thought I am having immediately transforms into something it isn’t. It is mired in the circumstances […]
Stormy Night
Stormy Night – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Every now and again we get some pretty nice Thunder Storms coming through north central Texas. Well one night it came a gully washer. In the pasture there was trail worn in the grass which stood about knee high, it lead from the beginning of the pasture […]
Stockyards and Hobos
Stockyards and Hobos – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas In front of our house was a pasture, where my Father kept a couple of cows, and usually a few pigs. Next to the pasture was a stockyard used to keep the Rodeo stock prior to them being used in the Dublin Rodeo, and after the […]
Pasture Escape
Pasture Escape – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Now we were all responsible for the care taking of the cows and making sure they would stay in their designated area, the pasture. Dad had two milk cows a brown one think we just called her Brownie and then a bluish gray and white one called […]
The Butter Churn
The Butter Churn – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Every day I would have to stretch the water hose across the gravel road in front of our house and make sure the water trough for the cows was filled up with water. This was a must as they get hot and thirsty just like we […]
My Baptism, Lord Help Me
My Baptism, Lord Help Me – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas My Mom tried to get us kids to church and Sunday School, man I hated it I would have rather been playing outside rifing bikes, or down by the stockyards or trying to catch a crawfish with a piece of bacon on a string, […]
Ice ? in Dublin Texas
Ice ? in Dublin Texas – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Alright I have to admit it does get cold in Dublin Texas from time to time. It happened while I was in the the first or second year. We would always walk to school as it was really only a couple of blocks away. […]
Invasion of Sandbox City
Invasion of Sandbox City – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas There on the corner of Thomas and East Harris St. / Harbin Road was a large mesquite tree and beneath the shade of the mesquite was Sand Box City. Dad had taken two, 2 X 6 boards and placed them to form a border facing […]
Tonsil Removal and Rebirth
Tonsil Removal and Rebirth – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas I do not remember being sick and in the hospital at all except for when I had my Tonsils taken out. It was around Christmas Time when I was six or seven. I remember it was hard for me to swallow and when I did […]
Bikes and Kites
Bikes and Kites – Growing Up in Dublin, Texas Emmet and Jimmy were two boys, who lived down the street from us, and my Brother Ralph and my buddies, when we were kids. We all had fix-em-up bikes, we all wore cutoffs and hand me down clothes. Our bikes were nothing fancy, just the frame, […]
No one but a Texan (About Growing Up in Dublin, Texas)
No one but a Texan – About Growing Up in Dublin, Texas No one but a Texan can truly understand what it means to grow up in Texas. Of all the States in the United States there are three, maybe four that people outside the United States think of and two, maybe three that don’t […]
The Move
The Move “ The best laid plans of Mice and Men often go a stray. “, from Steinbeck’s novel, “Mice and Menâ€Â. Guess I could sum it up with that, but that might leave you hanging out there a bit, wondering, “What the heck, did the Poppadillo mean by that?â€Â, I guess I would be […]
20819 days Ramblings of a Grumpy Ol’ Man
20819 days Ramblings of a Grumpy Ol’ Man Happy Birthday…. 365.245614035088 days in a year times 57, countdown started at 7:05 in the morning, on the 24th of April 1949, in Dublin, Texas time. This is a lot of days to be living a life. Understandably the first few years are a bit lost somewhere […]
Cowboys, Cowgirls and Buckaroos
Cowboys, Cowgirls and Buckaroos This is to all my Grandchildren, Grand-nieces, Grand-nephews, and cousins out there. I think that ALL of you, each and every one of you, are GRAND, and I Love You All, Since You are not just down the road from me. I thought I would let you in on some things […]
Texas Tortillas Factory
Texas Tortillas Factory Speaking of Texas, and Tortillas. I searched the internet for the name “Texas Tortilla Factory” and of course got a quite a few items. But the closest and one of the earliest references was a business, which at one time was called the “Texas Tortillas Factory”, (notice that the spelling of tortilla […]