Tuesday, June 14, 2011

TVI BIG ADVENTURES DAYS 3 AND 4

HELLO TO ALL. I WAS TOO TIRED TO POST YESTERDAY, CAME BACK TO THE CAMPER AND TOOK A SHOWER AND WENT TO BED. GOT THE CEILING COMPLETED EXCEPT FOR THE DROPPED CEILING, BECAUSE HE HAS TO RUN ALL THE WIRING FOR MICROPHONES, MONITORS, ETC..THAT JOB IS GOING TO BE WORTH IT  BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE LEFT HE CAN HANDLE BY HIMSELF( AT LEAST I CERTAINLY HOPE SO! LOL!)

     THAT WAS DAY THREE, AS FOR DAY FOUR, WE SPENT MOST OF THE DAY USING MY PICKUP TO GET MATERIALS. DRYWALL, ROCK WOOL (FOR SOUND INSULATION), HARDWARE AND A NEW TAPE MEASURE FOR ME. MINE BROKE LAST NIGHT. WE DID GET ONE WALL FRAMED UP. THAT LOOKS TO BE A FAIRLY EASY JOB FOR HIM TO DO BY HIMSELF. HE'LL HAVE TO RUN WIRES AND PUT IN BOXES FOR THE ELECTRICAL, AND I GUESS FRAME SOME OPENINGS OUT FOR MIC JACKS AND STUFF, BUT ALL IN ALL, I THINK WE DID FAIRLY WELL.

     SO MY TIME IN NASHVILLE IS QUICKLY DRAWING TO A CLOSE. I WILL BE HEADING UP TOMMORROW MORNING TO BOWLING GREEN AND THE VACATION STARTS FOR REAL. AFTER I GET THE CAMPER SET UP AT BEECH BEND I'LL HEAD OVER TO THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM AND THEN MAYBE IN THE AFTERNOON TRY TO GET ON FACTORY TOUR AT THE CORVETTE FACTORY. SOMETIME TOMMORROW I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE CAMPER'S LIGHT SYSTEM, I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS.

      OH WELL, PART OF THE FUN OF CAMPING I GUESS.

      TALK TO YOU SOON,


                      TVI

Sunday, June 12, 2011

TVI BIG ADVENTURE DAY TWO

HELLO TO ALL,
SPENT THE DAY AT THE SON'S, WORKING ON HIS STUDIO. HE'S TRYING TO BUILD A RECORDING STUDIO IN A WORKSHOP ADDED ON TO HIS GARAGE. I'VE HELPED DO SOME OF THE WORK(ELECTRICAL, FRAMING ETC.) BUT TODAY WE WERE HANGING SHEETS OF DRYWALL ON THE CEILING, AND THEN CHIPBOARD ON TOP OF THAT. NOT A BIG SPACE BUT FOR MOST OF THE DAY JUST HIM AND I. A FRIEND SHOWED UP ABOUT 1:30 AND HELPED HANG THE FULL SHEETS OF CHIPBOARD. GOT MOST OF THE CEILING COVERED, IF THINGS GO WELL SHOULD BE FINISHED WITH THAT TOMMORROW ABOUT LUNCH TIME.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS I ONCE WAS(SUPRISE, SUPRISE!), BUT I HELD MY OWN WITH MY 32 YEAR OLD. HE'S AS TIRED TONIGHT AS I AM, AND I'M BEAT.
WELL, OFF TO THE SHOWERS AND THEN PROBABLY BED.
TALK TO YOU SOON,
TVI

TVI'S BIG ADVENTURE



HELLO TO ALL,
YESTERDAY I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO ON VACATION. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS, WITHOUT MY WIFE. I NEEDED A BREAK FROM EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT WORK HAS BEEN CRAZY, WORK HAS BEEN NUTS AT HOME ALSO,WITH ALL THE STORMS BLOWING THROUGH( NOT AS BAD AS SHOP TEACHER BOB'S TROUBLES BUT STILL CLEAN UP), AND WITH ALL THAT WE'RE BUYING A HOUSE FOR MY MOM TO MOVE INTO (AND, OF COURSE, IT NEEDS A LITTLE WORK TOO! LOL).
I JUST NEED TO RECHARGE MY BATTERIES, I'M PRETTY TIRED. SO, I DECIDED TO GO TO BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY, BUT FIRST I GOT TALKED INTO HELPING MY SON IN NASVILLE FOR A FEW DAYS( I'M A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT LOL). IT WILL WORK OUT FINE,AND HE NEEDS THE HELP.
SO I LEFT THE HOUSE ABOUT 8:45, DROVE TO TOWN AND STOPPED AT THE FARMER'S MARKET AND BOUGHT SOME SUPPLIES( BY THE WAY PEOPLE PLEASE SUPPORT THE EFFORTS, THESE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT SMALL TOWNS DO AND IT MAKES SENSE TO USE THEM. WONDERFUL BREADS, FRESH VEGES, AND OTHER ITEMS)AND OFF I WENT.
GOT TO COLUMBUS INDIANA, STOPPED AT THE REST AREA TO TINKLE( IT HAPPENS WHEN COFFEE AND OLD KIDNEYS ARE INVOLVED) TOOK A WALK AROUND THE TRUCK AND CAMPER AND VOILA ! A TIRE ON THE TRUCK GOING FLAT. CHANGED THE TIRE, DROVE TO COLUMBUS AND SPENT TWO HOURS TRYING TO FIND A TIRE STORE OPEN AND GET A NEW TIRE. NOT TOO BAD, THEY PUT THE NEW TIRE ON AND REPLACED THE SPARE BACK IN THE HOLDER AND ON MY WAY AGAIN.
SO I MADE IT TO NASHVILLE, GOT MY SPOT IN THE CAMPGROUND, AND GOT PARKED NEXT TO A GUY FROM MARYLAND WHO HAS A 1964 EL CAMINO THAT RUNS 7:50 IN THE QUARTER MILE. I TOOK SOME PICS, I HOPE THEY SHOW UP.
WELL THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, I'M OFF TO THE SON'S HOUSE TO HANG DRYWALL ON THE CEILING OF HIS NEW STUDIO. WISH ME LUCK.
TALK TO YOU SOON,
TVI

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

BEEN AWHILE

HELLO TO ALL,

I KNOW IT'S BEEN AWHILE. WORK IS EVEN CRAZIER THAN LAST TIME I POSTED. NOW IT'S SUMMER(ALMOST), AND ALL THE THINGS HERE ARE UP FOR REVIEW. THE HOUSE NEEDS PAINTING, THE GARDEN NEEDS PLANTING AND ALL THE OTHER MAINTENANCE ITEMS ARE STARTING. WEEDING, SPRAYING, GRASS PLANTING, WOOD CUTTING ETC., ETC., ETC..

THE BIKE IS ON SORT OF HOLD, WHILE I ATTEND TO OTHER THINGS, BUT IT ISN'T FAR BACK IN MY MIND.

MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS REUNION IS THIS YEAR. MY GOD, 40 YEARS, AND IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE YESTERDAY SOMETIMES. PLUS I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS TO ATTEND, FOR ME. THE HOT ROD REUNION IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY, THE ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF AMERICA'S MEET IN OHIO, THE JASPER COUNTY FAIR, THE LIST IS LONG.

I WILL TRY TO POST SOMETHING ABOUT THESE THINGS AS THEY COME UP, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M NOT ALL THAT DILIGENT ABOUT THIS.

WELL I GUESS THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

TALK TO YOU SOON(I HOPE),

TVI

Friday, December 24, 2010

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM TVI

HELLO TO ALL,

I HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT WORK HAS BEEN INSANE, WELL I HAD TO WORK TODAY. NOT SO BAD, I MADE A LOT OF MONEY. BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE BEEN HERE WITH MY FAMILY.

I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. HOPE THIS FINDS ALL OF YOU HEALTHY AND HAPPY.


HO HO HO

TVI

Thursday, December 9, 2010

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

HELLO TO ALL,

A FRIEND OF MINE POSTED AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT HOW OUR CHILDREN IN THE U.S. ARE SCORING LOWER IN TESTING THAN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY.

WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR GOVERNMENT TO DICTATE TO US WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN TO LEARN, AND THE MORE THEY DICTATE THE WORSE IT GETS. STANDARDIZED TESTING DOES NOT WORK, MATH MODULES DO NOT WORK, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO MAKE UP TESTS THAT THEY FAIL DOES NOT WORK, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

I'M NOT GOING TO STAND HERE(OR SIT) AND TELL YOU IT IS ALL THE GOVERNMENT'S FAULT. WE HAVE STOOD IDLY BY AND LET THIS HAPPEN, WE HAVE VOTED IN PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE DECIDED TO LET THE SCHOOLS CHANGE POLICY YEAR AFTER YEAR IN ORDER TO MEET STANDARDIZED TESTING SCORES THAT PAY THE SCHOOLS BASED ON THOSE SCORES. WE HAVE ALLOWED BAD TEACHERS TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN(THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM KNOWS AND WILL DO NOTHING!).

WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL WE LEARNED THE "NEW" MATH. HUH? WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL 2 + 2 STILL EQUALED 4. I ASKED MY SEVENTH GRADE SON THE OTHER DAY(HE'S GETTING MATH IN MODULES) IF 2 + 2 STILL EQUALS 4 AND HE TOLD ME IT DID. SO HOW IS IT THAT MATH IS SO HARD? HOW IS IT THAT IN THIS COUNTRY 70 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE FAILING MATH? ISN'T MATH AN ABSOLUTE? ISN'T THE ONLY THING ABOUT MATH YOU NEED TO KNOW ARE THE FORMULAS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS? IS THE "NEW MATH" OR THE "MODULES" CHANGING THE FORMULAS, SO THAT NOW THERE IS A DIFFERENT ANSWER?

HOW ABOUT READING? MY SON IS A VORACIOUS READER. (MUCH THE SAME AS HIS OLD MAN I MIGHT ADD!) YET WHEN HIS FRIENDS COME OVER TO PLAY OR WHATEVER, THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF BOOKS IN OUR HOUSE. THEY SAY THEY NEVER READ. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? HOW IS IT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO GET THROUGH LIFE WITH THIS SO CALLED EDUCATION YOU ARE RECEIVING FROM OUR ILLUSTRIOUS LEARNING INSTITUTIONS? NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT CARE APPARENTLY THEIR PARENTS DON'T EITHER.

WE ARE AT A POINT IN OUR HISTORY THAT WE HAVE MORE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE THEN EVER. TELEPHONES, TEXTS, BLOGS, E-MAIL, CELL PHONES, ETC., ETC., AND YET WE DON'T TALK. REALLY TALK, AND COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. WE MOVE ABOUT EACH DAY, ALL INTO OUR OWN LIVES, AND WE ARE PAYING A TERRIBLE PRICE. OUR CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN THE THINGS THEY NEED TO LEARN TO MOVE INTO THE LIFE STREAM. WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME MINDLESS CONSUMERS OF DRIVEL.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION WITH A CHILD? A SCHOOL AGE CHILD? THEY HAVE A HARD TIME COMMUNICATING WITH YOU. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE EASIER IF THEY COULD JUST TEXT YOU. I HAD A FEW OF MY SON'S FRIENDS OVER LAST SATURDAY AND I LET THEM RUN THROUGH THE WOODS ALL DAY MAKING A PAINTBALL FIELD. SOME OF THOSE KIDS HAD NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO BE CREATIVE, TO USE THEIR HANDS TO DO PHYSICAL LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT IS MISSING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING, THE SHOP CLASSES AND ART PROGRAMS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS ARE BEING LOST AT OUR SCHOOLS. THESE ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GREAT EDUCATION. THEY ALLOW YOU TO ENGAGE YOUR HANDS AND MIND AT THE SAME TIME, TO CREATE, TO THINK, TO PROBLEM SOLVE. IF WE ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO THINK AND CREATE AND PROBLEM SOLVE FOR THEMSELVES, WE GIVE A VALUABLE TOOL TO CARRY WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THE ABILITY TO THINK. NOT JUST TO SCORE HIGH ON A TEST(AN ADDED BONUS I MUST ADMIT), BUT THE ABILITY TO MOVE ON IN LIFE.

PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE YOUNGER CHILDREN, OR EVEN GRAND CHILDREN, ENGAGE THEM IN CREATIVITY, ENGAGE THEM IN CONVERSATION, ENGAGE THEM IN READING, ENGAGE THEM IN ANYTHING THAT BRINGS THE HANDS AND MIND TOGETHER. ALLOW THEM TO FIGURE IT OUT, ALMOST DEMAND THAT THEY THINK THE PROBLEMS THAT ARISE THROUGH AND COME UP WITH THEIR OWN ANSWERS. ALLOW THEM TO FLOURISH, AT THEIR OWN PACE.

WELL I'VE RAMBLED ON ENOUGH FOR NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY ASLEEP.

TALK TO YOU SOON,

TVI

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

SLOW PROGRESS

HELLO TO ALL,

WELL PROGRESS IS SLOW, I HAVEN'T GOT THE CRACKS IN THE FRAME WELDED YET, BUT "SHOP TEACHER BOB", STOPPED BY THE HOUSE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO PLAY POKER AND INSPECTED THEM AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THEY COULD BE REPAIRED.

I DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE THE WRONG PISTONS IN THE MOTOR, AND I STARTED DISASSEMBLING IT, I'M GOING TO USE THE EMPTY CASES TO FIT THE FRAME, SO IT WILL BE LIGHTER TO LUG AROUND.

WORK IS GETTING CRAZIER EVERY WEEK, WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HIRED THREE FIELD MECHANICS THIS YEAR. I'M NOT COMPLAINING, I FEEL VERY BLESSED.

I HOPE EVERY ONE HAD A GOOD THANKSGIVING, AND IF I DON'T WRITE BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GOOD ONE THERE TOO.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, I'LL TRY TO KEEP POSTING.


TALK TO YOU SOON,

TVI