Brother Jack Reviews The College Football Game Held At The Bristol NASCAR Track

Jack and Tami Cox

Bristol NASCAR Speedway - and 160,000 fans
watch football

Harry Comment - Lulu's brother Jack and wife Tami went to the football game at the NASCAR track in Bristol by their home. He wrote such a good report - I asked him to let me publish it. Here it is - 

The game at the Racetrack was more of a personal experience than having a good seat at a game to actually see the game well.  The place is so huge that all the seats are fairly far away from the field and some are so high it’s really hard to watch a game there.  We went because of all the hype and also everyone we know was going, so we made a full day party of it.  The parking and traffic was a disaster as getting to the track isn’t exactly easy in the first place.  I’m fortunate that I’m a local in that regard as I had things figured out about as well as one could.  Our Bristol Plant is just 5 miles up the road from the track, so I’m very

Jameis

Donald John Trump - A History

Coach Crackers - Dick - Jan - Carl - Marylou - Enjoy A Whirlwind Weekend in Tallahassee

We parked in front of Bobby Bowden's statue. The FSU Hall of Fame -
is behind this group of coal crackers

Wednesday night - Dick and Jan met FSU
Coach Jimbo Fisher at the call-in show.

Our pre-game party at Doak Campbell Stadium

Wednesday - It all started Wednesday when Jan and Dick flew into Panama City from their home in Arizona. I picked them up around noon and we drove home to Tallahassee. No sooner than we got into town - we went to see the Seminole girls win a Volleyball match against Baylor - and also beat UConn in soccer. 

Thursday - we enjoyed the opening of the movie - Sully - about the plane that landed in the Hudson River.

Friday -  Carl and Marylou completed a marathon drive from Tamaqua PA to join our party. 

Almost halftime 35-6

I think we go home at halftime and swim.

We went home after the band show at halftime. The men watched the rest of the game on TV and fell asleep on the sofas. The women went in the pool and solved the world's problems.

Seminoles Football Game

We have 6 great seats on the 40 yard line. Row 6. We are parked in Golden Chief lot 1. It is hot hot hot.

Noles scored first possession. Stadium is not full. Look like 10000 stayed home. Lots of empty seats around us.

Just scored again.

Still Without Internet

Is has been exactly one week since Hurricane Hermine hit Tallahassee. Although we got electricity the next day - some of my neighbor's are still in the dark. Trees down on houses and power lines is the story. Just too much for the city to clear. They have announced $10 million of damage. We lost nothing.

We still do not cable or internet but expect it today.

I have tons of pictures and stories to post when back online.

We have coal cracker visitors for tomorrow's game. Carl. MaryLou. Dick. Jan. If you do not know those names - you are not a coal cracker :-)

PS - Internet and Cable TV just went on at noon today.

Four Days After Hurricane Hermine in Tallahassee

This is our west neighbors' house. Ironically - she complained to me
about taking down pine trees. I must tell her that her
removing trees is ruining my sunset views.
The trees pointed southwest.

Lull and I are sitting in the local McDonalds - face to face on our laptops. Except for having no Internet at home - everything is pretty back to normal for us. We just had a late supper and are enjoying the free high speed Internet. I am surprised there is only one other family in here with us. 

Le me review the whole scene. On Thursday I deliver the motor home that was sitting in my driveway for two months. I had just sold it to Stuart and Sharon - they lived north of town. We knew the storm was coming and were just happy to get the camper under their carport. 

We went to bed early on Thursday night - maybe 10 PM. It had started to rain - but nothing unusual. I was out like a light. At about 11:30 PM I woke to notice the power was out. I fell right back to sleep and did not hear another thing until I woke up at 7 AM. I went outside in a mild rain to find a bunch of branches - leaves - twigs - and pine cones in our yard. It looked like pretty mild damage for a Class 1 hurricane. 

Camper Is Finally Gone - I Delivered It Just Now

New Coachmen on left -
older Coleman on the right

I would love a carport like that to support a
solar electric system

Today we went to the DMV and sold the camper. Then I delivered it did it to Sharon and Stuart's home. They have a really cool carport. The camper will be pampered under cover. Bring on today's hurricane.

They gave me a very nice compliment.  They asked me to sell their 2010 Coleman traveler trailer - shown in the picture. I said I would be happy to help.

As I type - Joan is on the way to the bank - with the check.

Out of the Blue - An Old High School Friend Just Called

Jim's matching numbers 1966 Corvette

The view from Jim's home overlooking some
Pennsylvania farmland. In the background
is the Blue Ridge Mountains

I was watching television tonight - and all of a sudden I got a call from back home in Schuylkill County. It was a strange number but it said Pottsville PA. The minute I heard the voice - I just knew it was Dr Jim Fogarty. Jim sat behind me in most of our classes at Tamaqua Junior and Senior High Schools. We had so many common interests - cars - music - science - electronics - and friends. We could harmonize almost every Beach Boys surfing and auto song. Jim's voice was literally music to my ears. 

Jim and I both went into education. Although I started and ended my teaching career in the same science classroom - Jim climbed the ladder quickly to end up being the director of the county school system. 

On September 25

I Sold My Friend's Camper

My friend Joan asked me to sell her camper. It was a 2012 Ford Coachmen. It took 2 months to sell - mainly because we were away from home so often.

The final price was $46,400. It is in excellent shape - it only has 15000 miles on it. It sleeps 4 and has seats belts for 6 people. It has a full bathroom - full kitchen - flat screen TV - and many more options. It can tow 5000 pounds.

To speed up the sale we had the upholstery redone because it was faded.

The new list price on it new was $82,000,

Harry's James Bond Glasses A Bit Of A Flop

Harry as Steven King in The Wonder Eyes

People love candid pictures and video. Folks just behave differently when they know they are being photographed. So before our London trip - I bought a pair of glasses on Amazon with a video camera in them for $70. I had visions of going into museums and theaters - and just recording what I saw.

On our second day in town - we went to see Rebel Wilson in Guys and Dolls. Rebel Wilson is a very funny lady from Australia. We have seen her in many movies and also in a few comedy performances on Netflix. So I tried to capture here with my glasses at the theatre. We got great seats for $30.

The glasses could not keep up with the lighting in the theatre. You can only shoot video - and later you can pick out single frames to make photos. There is not viewfinder on the glasses - so you are not sure where to point your head. Also - you not even sure the camera is on. It is not dependable.

The glasses are a little goofy looking - they make you look like Steven King. But I do not think anyone knew I was recording. I do like the idea of video glasses - just not this pair. I am still hunting for a better pair.

Day 13 - London - The Last Night in Town at Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall is beautiful and special

We were there for a concert.

It is our last night in London - we fly home in the morning. Lulu always wanted to see a concert in the Royal Albert Hall - and tonight she got her wish. In the summer - they hold a concert series called The Proms. I do not get the name but ticket can be had for as little as 5 pounds to see world class acts. 

Tonight we saw The Welsh Symphony Orchestra. We bought nice close tickets on line for 9 pounds. 

Royal Albert Hall is 150 years old. They have 400 shows a year there. Of course it is famous for hosting Beatles and Rolling Stones concerts. You may recall the line on the Beatles - Sargent Pepper Album - "now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall." the hall seats 5200 people. 

The concert hall is on the Imperial College campus in the Kensington section of London. In that complex is a series of museums - including the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

We took the subway home - we must get a good night's rest because tomorrow we fly from 11:30 AM  London time to 8:00 PM Tallahassee time. We go from London to Atlanta to Tallahassee. It is a total of 13 hours  in the air and lay over in Atlanta. 

We were very close to the Welsh Orchestra

The people on the floor had to stand

Day 13 - London - The British Museum

Seminole Indian Jacket

Venus

It is Friday afternoon - we are trying to fit in everything we can. The British Museum is just around the corner from our apartment. We walked over and spent an hour looking at some of our favorite artifacts. Admission is free - and sometimes we take it for granted. Just down the street is the FSU Study Centre.

We have a special feeling for what the British call The Elgin Marbles. They are the famous marble sections of the Greek Parthenon. The Parthenon is the symbol of the world's first Democracy. We visited the building in Athens Greece on the Acropolis in the middle of the city. When we designed our home - we used several of the perspectives of this fine temple - the symbol of civilization. 

Saturday - tomorrow - we will head home. We are flying from 11:30 AM here to 8 PM in Tallahassee.

Centaur and Lapith from the Parthenon 

This room contains the Parthenon Marbles
stolen in the 1800s

This room is very controversial

The Rosetta Stone - has 3 languages on it -
it cracked the translation code

The famous British Museum Atrium

Cupid

Roman Vase from 200 AD

Seminole Explanation 

Day 13 - London - Snorkel Masks

The Masks

The Store

Tami and Jackie told us about these snorkel masks. They are only available in England. We found a sports store that had them along the Thames River - out by the Olympic Park.

The masks cover the whole face and water does not come down the snorkel tube. They seem pretty neat.

Lulu is at the post office now sending them to Virginia.

Day 12 - London - Ben Franklin's Home

The only remaining home of
Ben Franklin.

From this desk - Ben would write to his
wife Deborah

Ironically this Rolls Royce was parked out
front. I imagined that Ben would ride in
one of these

Buckingham Palace is not very far from
Ben's home - same with Parliament

They give tours and multi media
presentations in the house. Someone
dresses up as Polly Stevenson

Many people do not realize that Ben Franklin lived in London 16 years from 1758 to 1774. He represented Pennsylvania and several other colonies to the Crown. In essence - his home here in London was the first American Embassy.  His house - 36 Craven Street - is just off the Thames River - between Parliament and Buckingham Palace. At one time it fell into disrepair - but it still has the original floors and woodwork. 

To the people in Europe - Ben Franklin was the greatest American. He was such a Renaissance man - he was a master in science - literature - government - art. He had more influence on the formation of America than any other man. He signed the Declaration of Independence - the Treaty of Paris - and the American Constitution. He invented - the Franklin Stove - bifocals - lightning rod - and glass harmonica. He founded the University of Pennsylvania - the first insurance company - the American postal system - and the first fire company. He convinced France to support the USA in the American Revolution. After the war - he served many years in France as our ambassador.

Lulu just reminded me that Franklin started the first lending library.

He spent almost the last 30 years of his life in Europe. His wife in Philadelphia - Deborah - feared travel and stayed home. She died while he was in England. Ben was very much a lady's man and several historians say he had an affair with both his landlady and her daughter in England. 

Tamaqua PA From The Air - 8/10/2016

I love Andy Leibenguth's videos. He does a spectacular job.

This is my hometown - August 10 - 2016.