Seabat nailed it in the comments to yesterday's post. It was the anti-seasickness patch that was causing me all those problems. I got rid of it during our dinner hour when I heard a perfect horror story that one of the guests experienced.
The patch made him hallucinate and think he was home. His family confined him to his cabin because they were afraid he would 'walk' off the ship. I found the silly thing made me dizzy when we were walking around the shops in Nassau. I guess the infirmary on the ship here has been flooded with people experiencing bad reactions to these patches. After yesterday I would tend to agree about their negative side effects.
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. For me this has been a chance to recharge the batteries and a welcome change of events and situations. However, I must say I will be glad to get back to the Midwest and return to the normal routine of things.
God Bless....
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
NASSAU...
Our ship arrived in Nassau just a little before Noon. The last time I was in the Bahamas was back in 1967 and the location was Freeport. However this is different. There are the usual alleyway bars and what-not, but most of the shops close to the pier seem to be gold and/or jewelry stores.
I, however, went searching for a bookstore while our son and our friends went golfing with two different golf pros. I didn't find much in terms of bookstores, but still this area is quaint and has an atmosphere all its own. I did find a book on 'tasteless' jokes and I will be bringing that back home to Indiana.
One negative I've found with this ship is it seems to have an extremely low humidity. My head and nose have dried out terribly and that seems strange because we are surrounded by water, even if it is salt water. That may be an unfair criticism, but it is actually the only complaint I have. Every other aspect of this experience has well above 'Par', if you know what I mean.
Most of the guests on this boat have left for a day in the Bahamas or the beach (we don't sail until 10:00PM tonight), but after my hour or so foray on shore, I returned to our cabin on the boat. I want to 'relax', not hurry here and there in order to get as much 'sight' seeing in as possible. Such a behavior comes too close to being like "WORK" and that's not why I signed up for this trip.
There's one thing I really like and appreciate about this 'Cruising' and that is you can prevent an agenda being established and do whatever you want at whatever pace you want. (Although I carry my cell phone for when we get separated, the truth is it has yet to ring.) Except, of course, for the evening meal which is set up like clockwork and it has been fabulous food so far.
After this past harvest, it really feels good to drink a few adult beverages and just flat LAY-AROUND. My wife commented she hadn't seen me this relaxed in years, if e'var! Lets just say I'm really digging this inactivity, but once we return to the farm I know for a fact it will be 'Wheels Up' with the throttle all the way forward. And I'm okay with that. The odd thing is I haven't checked the weather since the boat left the dock back in the states. That should be an indication of how dis-connected I am and it feels 'frickin' GREAT.
This being Christmas eve our family has already exchanged many gifts in our cabin and I have to say watching their reaction was a thing of joy. I 'fooled' my wife and got her something totally unexpected. It's neat to find something for a change that is totally unexpected and positive.
May all of you enjoy a Safe and Wonderful Christmas day tomorrow as well as a wonderful Christmas Eve tonight. Each of us have burdens we have to carry and ours seem more painful around the holidays. But, I want to wish every one reading these words, "MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR."
We all have to do whatever is necessary in order to get through these things....
All The Best,
Frank W. James
I, however, went searching for a bookstore while our son and our friends went golfing with two different golf pros. I didn't find much in terms of bookstores, but still this area is quaint and has an atmosphere all its own. I did find a book on 'tasteless' jokes and I will be bringing that back home to Indiana.
One negative I've found with this ship is it seems to have an extremely low humidity. My head and nose have dried out terribly and that seems strange because we are surrounded by water, even if it is salt water. That may be an unfair criticism, but it is actually the only complaint I have. Every other aspect of this experience has well above 'Par', if you know what I mean.
Most of the guests on this boat have left for a day in the Bahamas or the beach (we don't sail until 10:00PM tonight), but after my hour or so foray on shore, I returned to our cabin on the boat. I want to 'relax', not hurry here and there in order to get as much 'sight' seeing in as possible. Such a behavior comes too close to being like "WORK" and that's not why I signed up for this trip.
There's one thing I really like and appreciate about this 'Cruising' and that is you can prevent an agenda being established and do whatever you want at whatever pace you want. (Although I carry my cell phone for when we get separated, the truth is it has yet to ring.) Except, of course, for the evening meal which is set up like clockwork and it has been fabulous food so far.
After this past harvest, it really feels good to drink a few adult beverages and just flat LAY-AROUND. My wife commented she hadn't seen me this relaxed in years, if e'var! Lets just say I'm really digging this inactivity, but once we return to the farm I know for a fact it will be 'Wheels Up' with the throttle all the way forward. And I'm okay with that. The odd thing is I haven't checked the weather since the boat left the dock back in the states. That should be an indication of how dis-connected I am and it feels 'frickin' GREAT.
This being Christmas eve our family has already exchanged many gifts in our cabin and I have to say watching their reaction was a thing of joy. I 'fooled' my wife and got her something totally unexpected. It's neat to find something for a change that is totally unexpected and positive.
May all of you enjoy a Safe and Wonderful Christmas day tomorrow as well as a wonderful Christmas Eve tonight. Each of us have burdens we have to carry and ours seem more painful around the holidays. But, I want to wish every one reading these words, "MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR."
We all have to do whatever is necessary in order to get through these things....
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
KEY WEST IS KOOL....
Our ship arrived early at Key West, Florida this morning and we soon left to tour the island. Of course, being 'writers', both my son and I (along with Mom) headed straight for Ernest Hemingway's home. We had one detour on the way and that was to the Mel Fisher Museum and all the treasure he has found and brought to the surface. Fascinating stuff, That.
Hemingway's home has been left just as it was when he lived here. (Harry Truman did as well as his 'summer' white house is only a few blocks away from the former Hemingway residence, but we just walked on by and didn't visit that one.) Ernest Hemingway had a love for cats and some of his felines were of the 6 toed variety. Well, their descendants are still there. 43 to be exact and you can't pick 'em up.....that's the rule. We did pet or stroke a couple and they growled and complained. (I'll bet they complain during their Happy Hour catnip, "Some more of those damn humans tried to 'pet' me again today when I was enjoying my sunbath. I tell ya Humans have no couth and Don't Know how to leave ya alone."
I took a bunch of pictures today and I was going to post 'em, but when I tried to fire up the laptop back in our cabin on the ship. It refused. It is totally inert. Sooooo, that's something I have to address when I return home because I'm going to need it to post during the Shot Show in less than four weeks.
We visited Sloppy Joe's on Duvall street, had a small bite to eat and then my son and I went para-sailing. That was a hoot. And Yes, I got wet!
Residing on a cruise ship is actually living in a city THAT MOVES. We are on our way to the Bahamas presently. So we will see what happens next.
We met some folks last year on our Christmas cruise who had also lost a child and they too are on this cruise. They are good people and they are struggling with their grief just as most of us do. Yet, we enjoy each other's company and we had a good time in Key West.
Key West is not a very big island. I could really see it all when I was 400 feet in the air on the para-sailing adventure. It would be fun to visit on an irregular basis, but I don't see how they could have an outdoor shooting range anywhere because there is just so little free space. That does dampen my enthusiasm for the place, but it remains quaint and has a character and feel all its own.
Of course, there are more people in the world who would want to visit Key West over some grain farm in northwestern Indiana, so I guess it falls into the area of different strokes for different folks....
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Hemingway's home has been left just as it was when he lived here. (Harry Truman did as well as his 'summer' white house is only a few blocks away from the former Hemingway residence, but we just walked on by and didn't visit that one.) Ernest Hemingway had a love for cats and some of his felines were of the 6 toed variety. Well, their descendants are still there. 43 to be exact and you can't pick 'em up.....that's the rule. We did pet or stroke a couple and they growled and complained. (I'll bet they complain during their Happy Hour catnip, "Some more of those damn humans tried to 'pet' me again today when I was enjoying my sunbath. I tell ya Humans have no couth and Don't Know how to leave ya alone."
I took a bunch of pictures today and I was going to post 'em, but when I tried to fire up the laptop back in our cabin on the ship. It refused. It is totally inert. Sooooo, that's something I have to address when I return home because I'm going to need it to post during the Shot Show in less than four weeks.
We visited Sloppy Joe's on Duvall street, had a small bite to eat and then my son and I went para-sailing. That was a hoot. And Yes, I got wet!
Residing on a cruise ship is actually living in a city THAT MOVES. We are on our way to the Bahamas presently. So we will see what happens next.
We met some folks last year on our Christmas cruise who had also lost a child and they too are on this cruise. They are good people and they are struggling with their grief just as most of us do. Yet, we enjoy each other's company and we had a good time in Key West.
Key West is not a very big island. I could really see it all when I was 400 feet in the air on the para-sailing adventure. It would be fun to visit on an irregular basis, but I don't see how they could have an outdoor shooting range anywhere because there is just so little free space. That does dampen my enthusiasm for the place, but it remains quaint and has a character and feel all its own.
Of course, there are more people in the world who would want to visit Key West over some grain farm in northwestern Indiana, so I guess it falls into the area of different strokes for different folks....
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
RELAXATION....
We are on the Carnival Cruise ship "Fascination" and I have to say this is one of the more relaxing vacations I have ever experienced. Obviously food is NOT a problem! I ate four times yesterday and I slept in till well past 9:00AM this morning (wouldn't do that at home regardless of the weather or what needed or wasn't needed to be done).
Last night my wife and I truly enjoyed visiting with our son. (You know he IS maturing and becoming a really good young man.) He is dedicated to what's he is doing and we feel he will achieve his goals if he can get just one small break. Hollywood is to my way of thinking probably the toughest town (possibly the most evil one as well) on the face of the earth; especially for someone wanting to become a successful film-maker.
There is a wide variety of guests on board this boat, but the crew members are what I find fascinating. Yesterday I spoke to a pretty blond about 5' 6" in height on the elevator as she was moving a service cart from one floor to another. She was from Belarus and 27 years old. This was her first job with Carnival and she had been with the company for over 3 months. I think I could detect a small trace of homesickness in her answers, but she said the experience of working on a cruise ship had overall been extremely positive. It seems to me the Pacific rim countries contribute a big portion of the workers on board that do everything from housekeeping, cooking and serving to God knows what else. Everyone I've seen so far are tremendous workers and the ship is CLEAN!
I get a kick out of their reaction when I wish them "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" as we pass in the hallways. In every case they break out in a broad smile. It's kind of funny.
As for news of the world, I'm in a bubble and have no idea what's happening beyond what I pick up off the internet. Kind of blissful and certainly far easier on my blood pressure.
Tomorrow we supposed to dock at Key West and our family is planning on going to Ernest Hemingway's home with all the 6 toed cats. (I'm going to try and post pictures.) This afternoon however I have found an extremely interesting book about post-World War II Germany and I'm going to sit outside on the balcony and see how much of it I can get finished and.....Oh Yeah, I might, just MIGHT, enjoy an adult beverage while I reading it...
All The Best,
Frank W. Jame
Last night my wife and I truly enjoyed visiting with our son. (You know he IS maturing and becoming a really good young man.) He is dedicated to what's he is doing and we feel he will achieve his goals if he can get just one small break. Hollywood is to my way of thinking probably the toughest town (possibly the most evil one as well) on the face of the earth; especially for someone wanting to become a successful film-maker.
There is a wide variety of guests on board this boat, but the crew members are what I find fascinating. Yesterday I spoke to a pretty blond about 5' 6" in height on the elevator as she was moving a service cart from one floor to another. She was from Belarus and 27 years old. This was her first job with Carnival and she had been with the company for over 3 months. I think I could detect a small trace of homesickness in her answers, but she said the experience of working on a cruise ship had overall been extremely positive. It seems to me the Pacific rim countries contribute a big portion of the workers on board that do everything from housekeeping, cooking and serving to God knows what else. Everyone I've seen so far are tremendous workers and the ship is CLEAN!
I get a kick out of their reaction when I wish them "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" as we pass in the hallways. In every case they break out in a broad smile. It's kind of funny.
As for news of the world, I'm in a bubble and have no idea what's happening beyond what I pick up off the internet. Kind of blissful and certainly far easier on my blood pressure.
Tomorrow we supposed to dock at Key West and our family is planning on going to Ernest Hemingway's home with all the 6 toed cats. (I'm going to try and post pictures.) This afternoon however I have found an extremely interesting book about post-World War II Germany and I'm going to sit outside on the balcony and see how much of it I can get finished and.....Oh Yeah, I might, just MIGHT, enjoy an adult beverage while I reading it...
All The Best,
Frank W. Jame
Monday, December 21, 2009
ON THE ROAD AGAIN...
As we did last year at this time of year, we are once again on the 'water'. Only this time we are 'cruising' the Eastern Caribbean as opposed to last year's Western. The three of us are together and we have joined with friends we made on last year's voyage.
Most of you who read my words on a regular basis know what I think of the present state of TSA and airline security in general. It has not changed and I have even convinced my son that most of this stuff is all about 'show', not about actually doing something effective....like profiling potential bad guys. My wife had a tube of toothpaste, a tube of 'aleo' and a third tube of sun tan lotion confiscated today in Indy at security. Some would say the world is safer for it, but I won't go into great detail on what they passed that was in another bag that I'm aware of.
Like my son says it's all 'smoke and mirrors'. It certainly is. They will not get TRUE security until they conduct body cavity searches and examine in minute detail every item they allow in their 'secure and sterile' area, but that's an old rant so I'll leave it for now.
The weather at our disembarkation point in Florida was decidedly 'chilly' and my most sincere hope is for something far warmer as we head to Key West and our one stop in the Bahamas. I have to say I wasn't sure I would like these things over a year ago, but the truth is these cruises are relaxing and that to me is what makes them enjoyable.
More info tomorrow (that is IF my nausea/motion sickness patch continues to hold)...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Most of you who read my words on a regular basis know what I think of the present state of TSA and airline security in general. It has not changed and I have even convinced my son that most of this stuff is all about 'show', not about actually doing something effective....like profiling potential bad guys. My wife had a tube of toothpaste, a tube of 'aleo' and a third tube of sun tan lotion confiscated today in Indy at security. Some would say the world is safer for it, but I won't go into great detail on what they passed that was in another bag that I'm aware of.
Like my son says it's all 'smoke and mirrors'. It certainly is. They will not get TRUE security until they conduct body cavity searches and examine in minute detail every item they allow in their 'secure and sterile' area, but that's an old rant so I'll leave it for now.
The weather at our disembarkation point in Florida was decidedly 'chilly' and my most sincere hope is for something far warmer as we head to Key West and our one stop in the Bahamas. I have to say I wasn't sure I would like these things over a year ago, but the truth is these cruises are relaxing and that to me is what makes them enjoyable.
More info tomorrow (that is IF my nausea/motion sickness patch continues to hold)...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Saturday, December 19, 2009
LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW and HOLIDAY CHEER...
It's snowing....lightly and has been all morning. It's not going to amount to too much, but it is 'decorative' for the season. The coming week is Christmas week and with all that families do our days will be full and hectic with some last minute shopping (for which I am NOTORIOUS!) and other factors, so perhaps now would be a good time to forewarn the regular readers of my nonsense that while I intend to post something on a daily basis over the coming week, there is a good possibility I won't.
If I don't get something up before hand, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who stop by on a regular basis and read whatever drivel I put down. I shoot because I AM A SHOOTER and A Man Of The Gun. I farm because I AM A FARMER and An Outdoorsman and A Shepard Of The Soil. I write because I AM A WRITER and A Man Of The Written Word. I feel this blog has helped me improve as a writer and your feedback has been an integral part of that improvement.
I pray that each of you has an AWESOME Christmas season and one that is filled with laughter, joy and simple pleasures. I hope you all are able to surround yourselves with loving family and friends and for those who, due to circumstances beyond their control, are away from family and friends, I want you to know there are those of us who want nothing but the best for you this holiday season. We will pray daily for you. You are NOT alone.
Christmas is about the joy of giving. As a Christian I recognize that God gave us a Savior on this day to save us from our sins.
May each of you this Christmas season enjoy his Never Ending Mercy and Love...
God Bless, and All The Best to each of you,
Frank W. James
If I don't get something up before hand, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who stop by on a regular basis and read whatever drivel I put down. I shoot because I AM A SHOOTER and A Man Of The Gun. I farm because I AM A FARMER and An Outdoorsman and A Shepard Of The Soil. I write because I AM A WRITER and A Man Of The Written Word. I feel this blog has helped me improve as a writer and your feedback has been an integral part of that improvement.
I pray that each of you has an AWESOME Christmas season and one that is filled with laughter, joy and simple pleasures. I hope you all are able to surround yourselves with loving family and friends and for those who, due to circumstances beyond their control, are away from family and friends, I want you to know there are those of us who want nothing but the best for you this holiday season. We will pray daily for you. You are NOT alone.
Christmas is about the joy of giving. As a Christian I recognize that God gave us a Savior on this day to save us from our sins.
May each of you this Christmas season enjoy his Never Ending Mercy and Love...
God Bless, and All The Best to each of you,
Frank W. James
Friday, December 18, 2009
THAT 'KNOCK' ON THE BACK DOOR...
Yesterday's post about the courage of an editor of a farm oriented publication listing the website of an organization extremely critical of Monsanto and genetically modified seeds in general brought back a lot of deep seated feelings on the subject of this company, its strong-arm tactics, farming and rural life in general.
I've probably posted about the incident previously, but in review in March, 2003 I was working in the office here when someone in a white Chevy mini-SUV drove in the barnyard at mid-afternoon. My first thought was "Aw crap, not some shitbird salesman?", but I was wrong.
Initially, the male, beginning to bald, individual (who was not very big by the way) and probably in his early forties said he was taking a survey. Farmers get these idiots from time to time and most often I do my best to get rid of them without being tooo overtly rude. He had a clipboard and said he wanted to ask me some questions?
I responded, "Not until you show me some ID?" Whereupon, he produced a photo ID that identified him as a Private Investigator licensed in Missouri with an address out of St. Louis. Of course, this sounded all kinds of alarm bells inside my head and I asked, "What's a Missouri PI doing taking surveys out here in the middle of no-where Indiana?"
By now, the pretext for a survey was totally gone and he got right down to business. "Well, you know a lot of farmers are pirating seed."
"I wouldn't know anything about that. I don't clean my own seed. I purchase it from reputable dealers."
"You're a Select Seed dealer, aren't you?"
"Yeah, what's that got to do with anything? We handle seed corn, You Dumb Ass! We don't have a thing to do with soybeans." (All the issues between Monsanto and farmers saving seed in this area have to do with soybeans, NOT corn. Open pollinated dent-corn is NOT a good source of seed for anything, but decorative corn.)
"Well, we think some of you are pirating our seed!"
"GET OFF MY FARM or I'M GOING TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPT.!!!!" I slammed the back door in his face and locked it. Then I took two steps back into what we call the 'gun-room' at our home and pulled off a rack and stuck the loaded .41 Magnum revolver into my waistband while taking cover behind the doorjam. I was waiting for that door to be kicked open.
I had every intention of being the next morning's headline in a number of different local and state newspapers.
He left and never came back. Nor did I ever hear anymore from ANY one representing Monsanto.
In all our years of operation James Family Farms have never had a private investigator come and make inquiries on items related to normal farm operations. We've had lawmen of various degrees stop from time to time and ask if we heard something going past our home on a late summer's eve, or if we saw something suspicious in any of our fields at a certain location or our neighbor's fields. I've had accident investigators come and ask questions about vehicular accidents on local roads. I've even had federal investigators come and ask questions about kids from our area who gave my name as a reference for a high security clearance position in the military.
NEVER, I mean NEVER has anyone come to my backdoor and accused me of stealing! And if they did they would know that they better have the documentation to back up that claim.
Monsanto thinks they can bully and 'buffalo' farmers into buying their extremely over-priced seed. They as a Fortune 500 company believe in and practice physical and mental INTIMIDATION.
They can Kiss My Ass.
Of course, that's a lot like telling the aggressive King Cobra in the room to Kiss Your Ass because Monsanto routinely sues farmers who are totally innocent (and they know it), but they want to bankrupt them through the legal process just so they can intimidate the remainder so much more effortlessly. It's all part of their normal business procedure. Their business practices are so under-handed, dirty and crooked (in my view) they could give lessons to the Mafia....IN SICILY!!!
I'm extremely careful about where and from whom I get my seed stock. I don't clean my own and have no intention of violating their 'patents', which I think are as bogus as Tiger Woods martial fidelity, but I remain extremely cautious and careful.
I'm also extremely careful and cautious as to where and on what kind of document I put my signature when dealing with ANY seed company. I've had an inked rubber stamp made for disclaimers and I USE IT!
Still, Monsanto and their private investigators can Kiss My Ass!!!!!...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
I've probably posted about the incident previously, but in review in March, 2003 I was working in the office here when someone in a white Chevy mini-SUV drove in the barnyard at mid-afternoon. My first thought was "Aw crap, not some shitbird salesman?", but I was wrong.
Initially, the male, beginning to bald, individual (who was not very big by the way) and probably in his early forties said he was taking a survey. Farmers get these idiots from time to time and most often I do my best to get rid of them without being tooo overtly rude. He had a clipboard and said he wanted to ask me some questions?
I responded, "Not until you show me some ID?" Whereupon, he produced a photo ID that identified him as a Private Investigator licensed in Missouri with an address out of St. Louis. Of course, this sounded all kinds of alarm bells inside my head and I asked, "What's a Missouri PI doing taking surveys out here in the middle of no-where Indiana?"
By now, the pretext for a survey was totally gone and he got right down to business. "Well, you know a lot of farmers are pirating seed."
"I wouldn't know anything about that. I don't clean my own seed. I purchase it from reputable dealers."
"You're a Select Seed dealer, aren't you?"
"Yeah, what's that got to do with anything? We handle seed corn, You Dumb Ass! We don't have a thing to do with soybeans." (All the issues between Monsanto and farmers saving seed in this area have to do with soybeans, NOT corn. Open pollinated dent-corn is NOT a good source of seed for anything, but decorative corn.)
"Well, we think some of you are pirating our seed!"
"GET OFF MY FARM or I'M GOING TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPT.!!!!" I slammed the back door in his face and locked it. Then I took two steps back into what we call the 'gun-room' at our home and pulled off a rack and stuck the loaded .41 Magnum revolver into my waistband while taking cover behind the doorjam. I was waiting for that door to be kicked open.
I had every intention of being the next morning's headline in a number of different local and state newspapers.
He left and never came back. Nor did I ever hear anymore from ANY one representing Monsanto.
In all our years of operation James Family Farms have never had a private investigator come and make inquiries on items related to normal farm operations. We've had lawmen of various degrees stop from time to time and ask if we heard something going past our home on a late summer's eve, or if we saw something suspicious in any of our fields at a certain location or our neighbor's fields. I've had accident investigators come and ask questions about vehicular accidents on local roads. I've even had federal investigators come and ask questions about kids from our area who gave my name as a reference for a high security clearance position in the military.
NEVER, I mean NEVER has anyone come to my backdoor and accused me of stealing! And if they did they would know that they better have the documentation to back up that claim.
Monsanto thinks they can bully and 'buffalo' farmers into buying their extremely over-priced seed. They as a Fortune 500 company believe in and practice physical and mental INTIMIDATION.
They can Kiss My Ass.
Of course, that's a lot like telling the aggressive King Cobra in the room to Kiss Your Ass because Monsanto routinely sues farmers who are totally innocent (and they know it), but they want to bankrupt them through the legal process just so they can intimidate the remainder so much more effortlessly. It's all part of their normal business procedure. Their business practices are so under-handed, dirty and crooked (in my view) they could give lessons to the Mafia....IN SICILY!!!
I'm extremely careful about where and from whom I get my seed stock. I don't clean my own and have no intention of violating their 'patents', which I think are as bogus as Tiger Woods martial fidelity, but I remain extremely cautious and careful.
I'm also extremely careful and cautious as to where and on what kind of document I put my signature when dealing with ANY seed company. I've had an inked rubber stamp made for disclaimers and I USE IT!
Still, Monsanto and their private investigators can Kiss My Ass!!!!!...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
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