ADDING INSULT TO INJURY -2008 HONDA

When you think your life is "problem free" think again!




My lunch at the WB Senior Center was innocent. I'm not a big fan of Tri-Valley cuisine, per se, yet the friendship is very good.




The  ship hit the fan! As I was driving back to the Poodle I noticed billowing white smoke coming from my car. Not funny as I just paid an arm and a leg for an A/C Compressor, etc. I knew I was in deep doo do by the time I pulled into my driveway. Smoke and apparent oil everywhere! I was fearful; of seeing flames.




I shut the engine off, lifted the hood and witnessed splashed of oil everywhere. After checking the dip stick. "full" I realized it was transmission oil (red) every where. I had called the repairing mechanic thinking it was motor oil and called him back saying it was red transmission fluid... everywhere!




So now the car has been picked up and is back in the garage. With 217,571 miles it is anybody's guess what gives.


For a Monday I guess I'm right on track. No further comments needed.

Henry's Model-T

Bob's Model-H

TOP 10 HOMERUN HITTERS

With the crack of the bat Albert Pujols is in the elite club of hitting 600 major league home runs or more. A review of the listing shows Barry Bonds at 762 HRs. Hammering Hank Aaron is second at 755.  Babe Ruth  is at 714 and A-Rod is way up on the  all-time list with 696. Say-Hey Willie Mays is at 660 and Ben's favorite is Ken Griffey, Jr.at 630.


Ever think of the power and concentration required to clear the fence at Fenway?! Try hitting a 100 mph fastball The crowd cheers for a home run like no other! Cleveland's Jim Thome is at 619 and Sammy Sosa is ten less at 609.


Being a major-leaguer is no easy assignment but when I see the West Brookfield All-Stars I think of the reality that "some day," they too, can become a boy

of summer.


I noticed where Bill Jankins is sporting a "RED SOX" sign on his barn! I think Bill and Louise have a special grandson in the Big Leagues! Congrats!
In the meantime I'll cheer for Chase and his friends.

AERIAL AMERICA - NEW YORK CITY - NEW EPISODE - Sunday Night 8:00 PM

The Smithsonian Channel has produced 67 episodes according To Wikipedia. Tomorrow night there's an all new episode on The Smithsonian Channel: NEW YORK CITY. I call this form of education of the USA and beyond spectacular! U.S. history and geography personified and a delight on my 65 inch Toshiba HDTV.




This day was all about my three  grade school sports stars: Chase, Lily and Maddie. Poor Madeline went from the soccer playing field to Mary Lane Hospital as Maddie fell from the swings at school  and probably fractured her navicular? No reports yet from Josh.




It looks like Chase will be chosen for the All-Star team in baseball?! Man, the boy is going places and he seems to be so happy on the fields.




Today's weather was mostly sunny except when it was cloudy. Reasonably cold for early June. It was a "Laundry Saturday" to kick things off. The AC in the Honda runs fine but who needs it? LOL.




P.S. IF you do not subscribe to The Smithsonian Channel I say go for it. It will

give you some entertainment for when the next batch of incessant rain comes this way. OMG

CHASE HAS A COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY

It was another idyllic June night for the boys to defeat Warren in West Warren. Homerun balls and extra bases and excellent pitches spelled victory. Son Josh and the three granddaughters had fun.


My AC has been repaired at half - the - price. Just in time for summer LOL. Mark the bill "PAID!"


Three soccer games tomorrow.


No further comment on Mr. Trump. Who knows what can happen and what will happen? I think the media enjoys the turmoil. I know I do not. Amen.

More organizing in my pad today. Still need light bulb replacements and yes, some black raspberry ice cream before my bath!

CAPE COD RANGER 1964

CCNS - 1964

Nothing seemingly has changed on  Outer Cape Cod since it was transformed into part of the National Park System in 1961 . Uniformed park rangers and life guards and law officials welcome you like no other.

Cape Cod is very accessible  to all. I-495, I-95 and others give you full access. Then, after you cross the bridge take Route 6A for the "full Cape Cod affect." June will be exceptional no matter where you travel.

As a Park Ranger I delighted in being privileged the summer I patrolled the sand dunes. Awesome, baby. But be prepared for bone-chilling ocean waters from Eastham north to P-Town!

Cape Cod From Space

A COOL JUNE NIGHT IN THE MAKING

The one thing we get to appreciate in New England is the cool air from Canada! I just did two laps around our delightful Town Common and admire everything about it. Committed fathers and mothers oversaw the construction of a new black backstop and benches. I sat there last night cheering Chase onto victory.




West Brookfield is West Brookfield...both historic and a great place to raise a family. I know this. The Elementary school is a dedicated group of concerned citizens and the ballfields and tennis courts have meaning. Its in town location serves us all very well. Josh and Heidi and friends seem to "click" like no others. I think it's wonderful.




West Brookfield showcases itself constantly between the commuter flow of Route 9 and 67 as well as ICC.. Thousands of cars witness our lives every day. And history lives with the historic Franklin Markers. State employees have been working on these. The one on the Common reads "68 Miles From Boston." Nothing has changed in more than 225 years. Right on, "Ben Franklin."




Now I will sit outside and reflect on the Junes of my youth.

As mentioned Dad and I savored a June night like this one coming to bat ! My father Joe lived to age 70. He was a good and descent man, a shoe maker and a master carpenter. How lucky can I be to have been raised by this humble and loving soul!? We were very, very close!




Dad, too, was a Massachusetts license plate enthusiast. I tie this in to this blog as E6804 (his phone number) was obtained by me from the Registry of Motor Vehicles in 1958 Clement A. Riley Registrar! It gives me goosebumps to realize how we fostered his plate collecting hobby in old age. As an antique dealer I would buy early Massachusetts  issues and dad would nail them in out basement. Louis B. Grace,  MD,

This guy is Number One... Right on!

even gave dad an awesome "House 1." with the historic Massachusetts state shield. Speaking of low digits I saw House 2 Massachusetts while in Worcester today!  Maybe Harriet Chandler?




The most difficult task when dad died was removing his plate collection from the pine plank overhead! So, if you understand where I am coming from you know why I am so hip with Vanity! Only Doctor Grace can understand the passion of our beloved quest for "Low Numbers!"


So now you know the rest of the story! ... and a special thanks to Mike Lee in Ware and Charlene Whitman in S.C. for your unswerving loyalty and friendship!

BOBBY 1959 My sister Jan's wedding

06804 IS THE ZIP CODE for BROOKFIELD, CT!

IS PRESIDENT TRUMP CYNICAL, SKEPTICAL OR JUST REALISTIC?

I thought the President's message from  The Rose Garden regarding the Paris withdrawal was solid! The technologies of a very complex topic is not understood by the masses. Then, WAM. As soon as the speech was ended the sharks in the Media started to rip "Poor Donald" apart. Actually I was surprised! Is this what we must endure for the duration of his presidency?


In weather news the thunder and lightening storm of last night finally cleared the air, at least for a while. The cloud-to-cloud displays of electric shock were stunning. I thought something like this would be necessary to clear the atmosphere. Don't worry. The reprieve may last several days or several hours. A cloudburst in mid-afternoon sent some towns adrift.


Okay, It is now June! Only maybe will we see a summer worth crowing about?! It has cleared here in the West.


Had a good visit in Worcester at the VA. Therapist Anthony C. is amongst the best. Tony reminds me of yours truly in Uniform 0f 50 years ago. Gotta return to VA Plantation Street in the AM. Another delay in getting the Honda AC fixed.


How do you feel about Mr. Trump?