Walsine Pierce

Monday, January 30, 2012

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM: Judge Slowly!

WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY FIRST SEEM!

Around 1949, in the Navy, I was transfered from a temporary assignment aboard the USS Hector, AR7 in Long Beach, California to the USS Yuma ATF94 in Vallejo, California. The Hector was a very large repair ship and the flag ship of CONSERPAC. It was salute, spit and polish, inspections and, excepting for liberty 3 nights out of 4 in Long Beach, it was the most miserable of duties, BOOT CAMP ALL OVER AGAIN!.

When I reported for duty aboard the Yuma, she had just finished tours of duty in China and Alaska and was completing a long, badly needed overhaul. She was a bit over 200 feet long and only 35 feet in width, she could have fit on the Hector's stern. Half the crew was on leave. The galley was outside on the dock and electrical lines and assorted hoses totally fouled the ship. As I went aboard, saluting the flag and the quarterdeck, Shields, in t-shirt and dungarees, the seaman on watch, broke right out laughing, asking where I was coming from.

I thought, DEAR LORD, WHAT HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO?

Eighteen years of age at the time, I grew up on the Yuma. She took me up and down the U.S. west coast, to and from Hawaii many times, to Guam and the Marianas Islands, Japan, the Philippines, down to the northern tip of New Guinea and to every major island group in the Pacific. Eventually, I became a petty officer and the ship's senior radioman. Cmdr. Howard G. Labo was the best skipper in the world and quartermaster Lewis Tucker the best of friends. And, perhaps most important, the old Yuma was a feeder!

MY THREE YEARS ABOARD THE USS YUMA ARE AMONG MY FONDEST MEMORIES.

Look at this picture of a fleet tug tied up to what looks like an ugly part of the world.

NOT SO!

I have had the "ready duty" at this very dock many times. Two miles away is the beach at Waikiki in Honolulu, truly a paradise full of beautiful wahines. looking for their sailor boy. Un Huh! UGLY PART OF THE WORLD? NOT REALLY!

CLEARLY, THINGS WERE NOT AS THEY FIRST SEEMED!

Think about a country where 25% of it's area is below sea level as is 21% of it's population. In fact, 50% of it's land is only one metre above sea level.

Wouldn't you at first imagine the people who live in such a land would tend to be depressed?

IT AIN'T SO!

In May 2011 the Netherlands were judged to be the happiest country in the world. Yes, it might be because they love and respect Queen Beatrix.

The happiness of the Dutch may be due to the extreme liberalness of the country. They are not hampered with all the laws and regulations as we are in America. Drugs? Yep, they are legal! No drug wars in Holland. Prostitution? It's on public display. Actually, they are more into bicycles and ice skates. The economy? The Dutch have always done quite well, thank you. The Peace Palace of the world, THE HAGUE, is located in the Netherlands.

Don't let all this sweet talk about the Netherlands lead you to think the Dutch are the push overs of the world. Financially, we owe them our shirts for money we have borrowed from them. Their miltary is small but sound. Although they had the wisdom not to destroy themselves against the Nazi juggernaut, today they join in with other nations to maintain peace in the world. An ancient sea going people, this is a picture of one of their modern naval vessels.

DON'T JUDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DUTCH BY THEIR SIZE

I have been to Amsterdam and would love to return.

I also have blog readers in the Netherlands.

SO OFTEN WE SUCUMB TO QUICK JUDGEMENTS

Take care, first judgements are often wrong!

God Bless You and Yours

GOD BLESS THE USA

Sunday, January 29, 2012

PROGRESS TOWARD BLOGGING GOAL: It's A'coming!

THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE

I can dream, and plan for my mid-spring cross-country camping trip to the National Parks and my drive to Simi Valley, California, seen under a rainbow in the above picture. The truth of the matter, however, is it is mid-winter in northeast Ohio and, as the old song goes, "Baby, its cold out there" . Retired for some 20+ years, I am mostly keeping pretty close to the house. I do keep busy doing this and that, among which is my blog writting. As with everything in my life, I set goals for myself in my blog.

Since late summer my blog readership has tripled as can be seen on the chart on the left. Since inception in 2008, readership has run about a thousand a month. It is now over three thousand. My son, Mark, gave me a book on my Kindle entitled "Finding your blogging MoJo". Following the suggestions in the book, I upgraded my blog in several ways and the results can be seen in this chart.

My goal for this year is to double the readership again to 6,000 a month. The readership has now leveled off in the last five months. I LOVE A CHALLENGE!

My previously most blogs written per month were 27 written in November, 2011. This is my 44TH blog written in January of 2012. Of course I do not intend to continue at this pace. The weather has been keeping me inside but that will change. Also, I have another writing goal beside my blog which is quite time consuming. I'll start that on February 1, 2012.

Do you know what absolutely blows my mind? My blog is being read in 77 countries around the world! Take a moment and read the list on my blog page. Mostly people find the blog doing a subject search then I see them coming back to read day-by-day. I have commenced writing welcoming blogs to the new readers from these new countries. And, I am learning so much. Who in America knows much about Jersey or Macae, yet they are so interesting. Even countries I know about, like the Ukraine, I now know so much more than I did. While in Poland I now want to ground travel to Kiev, Ukraine.

I am also learning what readers are mostly interested in. Would you believe that one of the most read blogs is anything about shanty boats. A LOT OF DREAMERS OUT THERE! I get great response to my travel blogs, one of the most is about Westminister Abby. I have also learned what people don't want to read, jokes. That surprized me. So far this month my blogs have been The Good Life, 44.2%, Politics, 25.6%, Wisdom, 21.0% and Humor, 9.2%. I'd like to balance out Politics and Wisdom, but this is how it worked out this month. The GOP debates probably were a factor.

I DO NOT GET NEARLY THE FEED BACK i'D LIKE TO GET! The "Mojo" book said this was a problem pointing out how rarely we respond to blogs we read. That's true! Several suggestions were made, such as ending the blog with a question, which I've tried. I haven't significantly increased response. I'm still trying, the topic banner is one such effort. Most response is by email, which is okay.

And, I have a faithful cadre of readers who faithfully respond, and send items of interest to me, which I use. Thank you so much! YOU ARE A REAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME.

Well, as the song goes "That's my story and I'm sticking to it". One of my faithful and most responsive readers asked about the blog, she didn't see much response. I thought you might be interested also? Compared to my peers, the other 89 writers in Barberton, Ohio, my blog is many times what the others average, and is far ahead of the nearest. NONE OF THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME! The blog is an opportunity to express myself and to share, which it gives me pleasure to do. Thank you for your interest!

God Bless You and Yours

GOD BLESS THE USA

WANT MORE MONEY?: Spend Less, Get More!

THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE

YOU GET TO DECIDE

Choose wisely and you can live the good live for very little

WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE? Well, for certain, it is different things for different people. For my wife and I, probably the best thing in life is time spent with family. From a retreat with my daughter, son and spouses on March 3rd at a historic bed and breakfast, The Spread Eagle Tavern and Inn, to the month long stay in a beach front penthouse suite in October, we have plans to be with family. Last week we had lunch with daughter and grandson, next weekend we do superbowl with a son and spouse. We have special family guests coming for Thanksgiving dinner.

We don't "hope" it happens, we make certain that we plan for it to happen! We dearly love our family. The picture on the left is of me talking with my daughter, Kimberly, my son, Todd, and my much loved daughter-in-law, Amy.

THE GOOD LIFE IS HAVING PLACES TO GO! There are so many places to go. There are few things I absolutely know in life, but that I will not make it to all the places that I want to visit in my life time is something I know for certain! No! I didn't wait until I am nearly 81 years of age to start. I've been going places since I was 17 and joined the Navy! In mid May of this year, I plan to make a three week cross country camping trip in the western National Parks and visiting a high school classmate in California. Next year, I plan to drive to Alaska and also to fly around the world visiting Poland, Russia and China.

YOU CAN NOT HAVE A GOOD LIFE WITHOUT THINGS TO DO! In addition to planned improvements to home and lakeside retreat, I plan to build me a shanty boat this coming summer with which I can "Huckle Berry Finn" it on southern waters in winter months, not to mention a week now and then on the Ohio River at various times. I am also having a go at writing a book, albeit, quite slowly. I also have plans for trips on my Terra Trike. I'm never happier than when I'm hoeing my garden. I have things to do, thats not a problem!

IT MUST BE NICE!

I HEAR THIS SO OFTEN! More often than not from people who are younger, in better health and who have far greater assets. They infer that we are somehow or other blessed with riches that they have been denied. They are only poor in spirit! Want more money? Let me tell you how we manage to pay for our "fun and games". We simply spend less! My wife Julie and our housekeeper, Donna, went shopping today. They specifically went to Giant Eagle to buy 10 dozen eggs for a dollar a dozen, currently eggs are a $2.19 a dozen, and boneless, split chicken breast for a dollar a pound. Before going on to Aldies, a discount grocery store, they compared prices of what they planned to buy there.

FOOD GIANT EAGLE ALDIES

Cauliflower $2.99 $0.99

Carrots 1.00/# 0.49/#

Celery 2.00 1.19

Green Peppers 1.99/# 0.69/#

Half and Half 3.49 1.79

Turkey Breast 15.98

A Whole Butterball Turkey 13.54

WANT TO SAVE EVEN MORE MONEY? Stay away from places where they sell things! Un Huh! Do you have any idea how much money people spend unintentionally? It is a bundle. Last Friday, Julie asked if I had any cash, she was running late and didn't have time to stop by the bank. I had $41 which I gave her. She said "Keep the dollar". I asked "What am I supposed to do with it?" She repaid the money and it has laid on the table for a couple days. I haven't been out of the house to spend any money. This is Donna and my $41

I LOVE SPRING TIME!
However, I am no longer in the springtime of my life

I AM IN MY SUNSET YEARS
Aren't Sun Sets A Wonder To Behold?

God Bless You and Yours

GOD BLESS THE USA

Saturday, January 28, 2012

BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS: Their's Is The Kingdom Of Heaven!

POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL POLITICAL

A VERY INTERESTING BLOG SITE

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has announced it will not talk to Israel, a country with which it has a peace treaty

U.S. President, Barrach Hussein Obama, has anounced he will reward the Brotherhood by speeding up assistance to it. The next time you see whats happening in Egypt, especially the burning of the U. S. flag, remember that $2.3 Billion of your tax dollars are going to Egypt for Foreign Aide and another $1.3 Billion for Miltary Aide.

MAXINE WILL THROW IN MY TWO CENTS!

WHY AM I WRITING THIS BLOG?
TO HAVE A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT ME:

ENTITLED

WALT PIERCE

RABBLE- ROUSER FOR PEACE

(IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE - CHECK BELOW)

PLEASE PLAN TO VOTE IN 2012

YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU

God Bless You and Yours

GOD BLESS THE USA

(THANKS MAUDE)

Friday, January 27, 2012

WEALTHY? Yes Or No. You Decide!

WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM WISDOM

This is a picuture of Rush Limbaugh's $450,000 Maybach 57S. It is one of Maybach's cheaper models. Rusbo makes up for it being cheaper by owning six of them! He likes to change color from day-to-day to match his mood. Un Huh! Rush Limbaugh is famous and his fame has brougt him wealth.

Will fame, and being at the top of your "game" bring you wealth? Consider what Cleopatra, Vincent Van Gogh, Adolph Hitler, Meriweather Lewis and Marilyn Monroe had in common. They were all famous. What they had in common is that they all comitted suicide. Life was not worth living. Anything but wealthy!

THERE IS FAR MORE THAN FINANCIAL WEALTH!

Wealth (n) A great quanity or store of money, valuable possessions, property and other riches. An abundance or profusion of ANYTHING; plentiful amount of a wealth of imaginry.

THE KEY WORD HERE IS "ANYTHING"

Yesterday, I helped celebrate my youngest grandson's 13th birthday. Riley James Pierce Boggs is now a teen ager! Seemingly impossible. His mother invited me to a birthday lunch and movie with Riley. We had a steak at the Longhorn Steak House and went to see Very Loud and Up Close. I enjoyed myself immensely! We took this same picture a year ago when I took him to lunch on his 12th birthday. Riley got a year older and I just got better looking.

Riley is going to be faced with a very difficult challenge in life. I pray that he will do well. He has so much going for him. His parents, both well educated and extremely hard working, are quite successful as may be measured by their new 8,000+ square foot home in a gated community of similiar homes. He and his sister, Delanie Rose Pierce Boggs, attend a private school, pictured right, with some of American icons of wealth and industry. The cost of their schooling is about twice my annual income.

Riley, in the 7th grade, has studied four languages and speaks French well. From 20,000 students considered, he is one of only 20 that has been chosen to represent his country as a student-to-student ambassador around the world throughout his high school years. He has been a key player on two youth league champion winning football teams and now plays "shooting guard" on an undefeated basketball team. He is good looking, takes after me, no doubt!

He is polite, speaks English so well that he amazes his teachers, (His mother is an English Major). He started to be a perfect host when he was about five years of age. He dresses well and, for the most part, conforms to all you could want in a 13 year old youngster.

SO, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Riley's neighbor boys are the sons of two doctors. His class mates parents are within the top one percent of the wealthiest. His paternal grandparents are very well-to-do, at the least, and his older cousins reflect their wealth and have considerable influence on Riley.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR RILEY TO RECOGNIZE TRUE WEALTH,

NOT JUST FINANCIAL WEALTH.

My wife, Julie, and I have cared for Riley and his sister a lot over the years. One of the joys we had with the kids was to give them each $2.00 and take them shopping at the Dollar Tree. They would choose this and then that. They would change their minds over and over. It was an easy and fun hour of baby sitting for their parents. The day came, however, when Riley just rode in the shopping cart, playing a game, and didn't want anything. When I pursued the reason why, he eventually told me that "This store just has junk".

Were I a betting man, I'd bet he was reflecting what his cousins had told him when Riley bragged about our fun times in the Dollar Tree. We've never been back. I miss it!

When Kimberly and Jack bought their new Lexus, they gave us their 1995 Lexus ES300. The current blue book resale value of the car is $4,330 and it was a generous gift. I have put about $2,300 into improvements and have made arrangements to have the paint touched up here and there. Riley asked his dad "Why would you want to give them that old car, and why would they want it?"

It is too small for me but Julie loves this little car. She will probably drive it until she retires and then, in order to reduce maintenance, insurance and license fees, we will probably go from three cars to one, newer van.

RILEY SAW THE CAR AS WORTHLESS!

When we were both out of a job due to a plant closure, after travelling the country for three months in a travel trailer, we decided we wanted to live right where we were, in Barberton, Ohio. When I considered early retirement, we downgraded to a smaller home which we had been renting. I had the home completely remodeled, inside and out, and had a professional decorator furnish it to our tastes. IT IS A 107 YEAR OLD HOME IN A BLUE COLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT. A wide range of friends and family scramble for invitations to our theme dinners, from a Tijuana Whorehouse to a South Seas Island Sea Food Buffet.

Riley asked us "WHY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THIS OLD HOUSE? IT'S SO SMALL!"

RILEY COULD NOT SEE THE HOUSE PERFECTLY FIT OUR CHOSEN LIFESTYLE!

I remember how difficult it was coming from the extreme poverty of the great depression. It was difficult coming from a backward part of the country. That probably helped Julie and I to assess true wealth, the part of "having an abundance or profusion of anything". We are warm and dry. We have food to eat and food to share. We have things to do and places to go. We have many wonderful friends. The extended Pierce family is a profusion of everything good.

I SEE WHERE HAVING SO MUCH

MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR RILEY TO UNDERSTAND

THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO WEALTH THAN JUST POSSESSIONS

He is blessed with wonderful, down-to-earth parents who love him very much. They are great examples. They are both involved in his life. I am sure he will turn out to be just like them. I pray I shall be around to enjoy him into manhood. He has brought such joy into my life!

May God Care For Riley

May God Bless You and Yours

GOD BLESS THE USA

A NEW BLOG READER FROM JERSEY: Welcome!

THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE

MONT ORGUEIL
Jersey's only city, built in the 13th century as protection from France

Greetings, Friend!

You are the first to read my blog from Jersey.
Welcome!
I am delighted to have you as a reader.
I would love to visit your beautiful island nation.

May God bless you and yours.

Greetings from my family to yours

To all of you who are as ignorant as I am of Jersey, it is an island nation, one of the Channel Islands between France and England. The Viking invasion of the 9th century had a strong influence on the people. Contension of ownership has continued throughout history. Although it lies closer to France, Jersey eventually became more or less an United Kingdom protectorate and their language is English. With a population of only 92,500, I am pleased that one reads my blog.

Although we may not be overly familiar with Jersey, we know some of the people who at one time called Jersey home. Sir Walter Raleigh was Governor of the Island from 1600-1603. Lilly Langtry, 1853-1929, the "Jersey Lilly", who was so enamoured by the hanging judge of the American west, Judge Roy Bean. And, Victor Hugo, exiled to Jersey 1825-55. The list of poets, writers, and sports people is quite long. Although small, Jersey is all about location and it's influence throughout the world is extensive. In America, for instance, we have New Jersey.