I'm warm and safe today.  I'm home for the holiday's.  But so many are not.  I'm going to wrap a small box for under the tree and inside will be a note to our men and women in the armed forces who can't be home.  The note will simply say:  "Thank You and may you be home next year to open this small box with your loved ones at home."  I can envision many small boxes under trees across America this Christmas.  It may not be the gift they would like to receive, but it is the only one I can give.  Be safe and Please be sure to open this box next Christmas with your loved ones at your side.

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Last week I was lucky enough to adopt a shelter dog from the great volunteers from Wasco.  "Bob"  is the newest addition to the family.  He now has a sister, Sara Lee, a Border Collie who was also rescued.  Bob is still adjusting but seems like he is going to enjoy his new home.  We decided to take the "kids" camping this weekend. I have been converting a bus to a motor home for the last 3 years, so its not really roughing it...Bob and Sara Lee have all the comforts of home.  Hope there are many more camping trips to come.  Here are a few pics of the kids and the bus and I hope life treats all of you good during the holidays.

Just rembering back to 1981 and a beautiful song and some beautiful people I knew then...enjoy the music if you want...It sure was a good time in my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

I remember the day my father passed so vividly.  I remember being in a third grade reading circle when we were told that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.  I remember being in the Astrodome when it was announced that Richard Nixon was going to resign the presidency.  I remember sitting in the front yard in east Bakersfield and watching the flames from the burning Bakersfield Inn in the distance.  I remember sitting in our back yard the night men landed on the moon and looking up.  And this one is really strange....I remember traveling down U.S. 93 in Utah coming home from vacation with my family when it was announced on the radio that Jayne Mansfield had been killed in a car accident outside of New Orleans.  The song preceding that announcement was "This Guys In love With You" by Herb Alpert, and followed by "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder.   To this day, hearing those two songs triggers that moment.  Why is that?  What makes a day a day that lives forever in our minds?

How bout all of you?  What are your days that live forever?

I was surfing You Tube today and listened to some great songs I like.  There are just some songs you can't improve on.  The voice is one-of-a-kind and a classic.  No one should even try to sing. Here are a few I think qualify...how bout you guys?

I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Tony Bennett

Crazy, or anything by Patsy Cline

Chances Are - Johnny Mathis

Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland

Make The World Go Away - Eddy Arnold

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A few weeks ago Nancy posted some great old photos of Bakersfield.  The Bakersfield Inn was once a classic, a beautiful place for a meal or fine lodging at a time when Union Avenue was the "strip" going through town under its arch.  In the mid 60's a fire took all of that away.  The night of the fre, all 3 TV stations in town posted news bulletins on the event.

I thought I would share some downloads of a menu in my collection from the Inn.  I'm not sure what year this is from, but judging from the prices, it was a while back.  Hope you enjoy the pics of a little bit of history of what used to be something great.