Smilin' Jack: Catch Up!! Part II....

It's been so doggone long and I've been so many places and taken so many pictures that I've given up trying put anything in order....so, here's the deal!! I'm gonna put out the pictures and make some appropriate and witty comments...they'll be in no particular order so don't look for continuity or any sort of sense....there they are...

So, let's get started and you can get an idea of what kind of a Summer I've had!! It's been crazy, long, surprising and fun!! I put over 8,000 miles on the mini and had a flat. Stayed in some of the worse Motel 6's I've ever seen. Visited with family and loved it all. I've found things that I thought were lost and relearned things I had forgotten!! It was a solid kick in the pants!!

OK? OK!! Let's go!!

There she is!! My Little Domino Player!! From the looks of it, I taught her well and I know my Dad taught Michelle....You can get an idea of who is winning by the tote board!! Way to go, Michelle!! Doesn't happen often but on occasions she bests the Old Man!! You hang in there, Alexis!! And stay away from my Cream Sodas!!!

Awww, who wouldn't let her have anything she wanted!?! I mean, What a smile!!!

Yeah, she has everyone wrapped around her finger!!

I made Ice Box Pickles and I'm going to do it again!! Actually Chris and I made them. Wasn't too difficult....It was fun working with Chris!!

Chris and I took off for a swap meet to buy him a knife. We brought along our cameras and stopped by a small lake along the road. Now this was fun, to be out with Chris....

We did make it to the Market...plenty of fresh produce

And, other things. I almost bought a couple of these....Christmas gifts, eh?

And found some abandoned barns....Chris is now shooting pictures for the Annual...shooting the Girl's Field Hockey Team....Hooah!!

We went to a LOT of baseball games!! A lot!! Still, is there a better way to spend a Summer afternoon? Watching Chris playing ball!!

These girls have actually adjusted easily to the baseball routine....get there and then look for something to get into!! Easy enough!!

And then there are these two!! Wbo is cuter? OK, Delaney, just by a bit....

Awww, isn't that nice!?!

Awww, isn't this typical!!

Jerk!!

I had a great visit with the Ray's but I bet when they saw my taillights heading off into the distance they all breathed a collective sigh of relief!! Whew, now we don't have to get beat at dominoes anymore and listen to that old man cackle. (Yes, I do cackle!!)

I headed down South....First stop to visit my niece, Jennifer, in Georgia. She was gracious enough to let me drop in and spend a couple nights with her. I got a good night's sleep and the next morning headed out to MCRD, Perris Island.

I've read so much about this place and heard so many stories that I wanted to make a special trip there just to see it. I've already been to MCRD, San Diego and know, very well, what that place is like.

It was fascinating...The Corps of today is far different, far better than the Corps I knew back in the Sixties. More pride and it shows!! I was in the Marines when I think it was at its lowest point in the whole history of the Corps. It is good to see it has rebounded and gotten better than it has ever been.

Bur, before anyone takes a tour of Perris Island, you need a hearty breakfast!! Where better to get one than at any of the hundreds of Waffle Houses around the area! No trouble in finding one and me and Bucky went in for some chow!! Waffle style!!

After a delicious and filling breakfast, we headed out to the Island.

Here's some Marines, Boots, field marching to the rifle range.

Tradition is everywhere here.

Evidently they do....and they're doing a pretty good job. I got to park and watch two platoons march by. They looked good.

Perris Island was an island but now has a causeway to connect them to the mainland. What a place. I can understand the pride that Marines who were made here have in their accomplishments.