tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16487375399389340902024-03-13T23:30:24.126-05:00RobWrites"...As for the types of comments I make, sometimes I just, By God, get carried away with my own eloquence." Gen. George S. Patton, Jr...
"It is better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self." Cyril Connolly...
"Happiness is not attained through self gratification but through dedication to a worthy purpose." Helen Keller...Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-64727038944871970322022-06-02T13:42:00.000-05:002022-06-02T13:42:08.307-05:00Buying CandyBy Rob Watson Today I was in Lowes waiting to pay $1,500 for a lawn mower. (and feeling fortunate to find one so inexpensive) When I looked over to the candy rack. There for all the world to see was a box of Butterfinger bars, the large ones, marked $2.99 each. The guy in front of me appeared to be about my age, so I said " did you ever think you would see a dime candy bar Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-49202963822916418032020-04-11T06:46:00.000-05:002020-04-11T06:46:27.807-05:00A SuggestionSubject: A Suggestion...
Dear Bill,
I have taken the liberty of addressing you as such as there are no letters after your name. My name is Robert Edward Watson, Springhill High School graduate, Class of 1964. Proud son of Robert H. Watson and Cecilia P. Watson, Owners of Watson's Feed Store in Springhill.(I wouldn't want someone else to get credit for my suggestion.) I also worked for Webster Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-32812091364068671512020-04-11T06:45:00.000-05:002020-04-11T06:45:00.771-05:00One Quarter of a Master PointBy Rob Watson
Do you have some skill that, at a low level of involvement, you enjoy? Then when the involvement becomes concentrated and intense, you are first, very good and second, quite unhappy? I had such an experience some years ago.
The group with whom I worked, at the time, gathered at lunch each day and played bridge. As a way of expanding our joint experience we would occasionally Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-13281543513248364372020-04-11T06:42:00.000-05:002020-04-11T06:42:23.833-05:00Miss ReginaBy Rob Watson
I have reported, in a previous post, First Dates, my ineptitude with women. This is a followup relating pleasant times and more ineptitude... and my second kiss. These event took place 48 years ago, yet parts are remembered as if they were today, especially the perfume.
Miss Regina was a rather attractive, (I have a strong attraction to attractive women) young woman that I met Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-53631143281341175162020-04-11T06:37:00.000-05:002020-04-11T06:37:34.404-05:00Firearms in Self Defenceby Rob Watson
This post contains graphic descriptions of people killing people with firearms. If you are upset by such information you should not continue reading this.
I have moderate experience with firearms. Early in my life I was allowed to have air rifles, a CO2 pistol, and a small shotgun. The pistol and the shotgun were both relatively expensive to shoot so I did very little with them. Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-78294666519852075492020-04-11T06:32:00.000-05:002020-04-11T06:32:28.400-05:00Uncomfortable With War, A Letter to a FriendBy Rob Watson
Dear Friend,
Your comments about war caused me to evaluate my own feelings on the subject. As it happens, I recall sitting in Physics lab at College doing exactly that… quit school, join the army… (For some reason, at the time, I did not consider the Navy or Air Force as I did when the real decision was made.)
I had been in the Boy Scouts and gone camping in primitive conditions Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-19109833481484800292018-11-14T12:08:00.000-06:002019-06-27T10:21:42.812-05:00Making Hot TamalesMaking Hot Tamales
by rob Watson
{ I have updated this report with information from my second try at making Tamales. A careful cook will notice some inconsistencies with normal Home Ec practices. These, I expect, will cause me to be banned from the Latino Homemakers Society}
For many years, possibly from childhood, I have thought of making my own hot tamales. This, as much because I really likeRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-57325233896887902482018-09-10T04:44:00.000-05:002018-09-10T04:44:35.135-05:00Gary Phillips Safari: Rob Watson's Adventure of a lifetimeWritten by Rob and Shirley
This article skips around between first, second, and third person narratives. we apologize to those who care.
An Adventure of a Lifetime.
South Africa, April 25 – May 9, 2018
We flew out Alexandria at 6 am on Tuesday, April 24 ( 3:30 wake up) and spent the night in New York. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express because they had shuttle service from the airport. RoomRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-90174910985401645622016-12-31T10:03:00.003-06:002020-12-27T01:48:56.757-06:00SingaporeBy Rob Watson
Back in 1977 Big Electronics Inc. sent me to teach computer repair to their customers in Southeast Asia. Recently a friend from Denmark went to Singapore and her Facebook pictures and comments reminded me of my own experiences there.
When I was told of my assignment, I began to think of one of my life's goals: to circumnavigate the globe. Singapore, as you may know, is exactly Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-88808410732813977462016-07-02T12:20:00.002-05:002016-07-02T12:20:49.608-05:00A Boy Scout Fourth of JulyBy Rob Watson
For those who may not know, Boy Scouts is an organization made of a core of paid professionals. Their job is to organize the various units and recruit adult volunteers to run the units. A good portion of their money comes from the United Way and other charitable organizations. Each unit ( Cub pack, Scout troop, Explorer post) is sponsored by a local civic volunteer organization or Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-45178617478109415522016-04-11T04:14:00.000-05:002016-04-11T04:14:16.895-05:00More Civil War ReenactmentsBy Rob Watson
If this is the first time to read some of my stuff you might look through the list on the right for other Civil War Reenactment pieces.
I expect Civil War reenacting will eventually become boring. But this passed weekend did not contribute to that expectation. First, I read about the events and movements of the original battle. This contributed to my understanding of how the Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-56160093263674338502015-10-20T08:16:00.000-05:002015-10-20T08:16:04.001-05:00Civil War Plus...By Rob Watson
As you may know, I do a fair amount of traveling to attend Civil War Reenactments. Most are just sitting around camp and swapping old stories then standing out on a simulated battlefield loading and firing a simulated Civil War era cannon. Last month at, Pea Ridge, was an interesting change in the battle and events in camp. This month almost everything was different and interestingRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-85926410854310744712015-10-01T03:17:00.002-05:002015-10-01T03:17:45.627-05:00Pea Ridge Civil War Battle ReenactmentBy Rob Watson
Thursday, after an 8 hour drive, I arrived at Pea Ridge battle reenactment site. I paid my entry fee and set up camp at the top of a very high hill. The view in all directions was of rolling hills, forests, and pasture land typical of the lower Ozark region of northern Arkansas. During the night my camp was inspected by a skunk, who did not leave any odorous markers.
Friday Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-26249661136699918582015-08-06T10:15:00.000-05:002015-08-06T10:37:53.777-05:00An Hour FishingAn Hour Fishing,
By Rob Watson
Back in June, I bought a fishing boat. Because of heavy Spring rains, most waters were closed to boats. This week, the week of my 69th birthday, I decided to take time off from my chores to try out the boat and update my fishing skills. My neighbor likes to fish, so I invited him to come along. After consulting the sun and moon fishing tables, we decided today, 5amRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-9842846304438097232015-08-06T10:14:00.000-05:002015-08-06T10:14:01.977-05:00Boating with the BossBy Rob Watson,
My recent attempt at going fishing brought to mind an experience from many years ago... 30 years, give or take.
One of the things I enjoy most is seeing what is around the next bend or over the next hill. As a child I just walked through the woods and down the creek bottom. As a teenager I went on my bicycle. After I built the Merry Bee, she was my mode of transport. When I couldRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-31538596827815452252015-04-26T07:21:00.000-05:002015-04-26T07:21:29.085-05:00Salt from LaesoBy Rob Watson
The best story is from the salt processor, a former school teacher: Salt processing was begun in Laeso about 1100 AD when a subsurface source of concentrated brine was discovered there, and discontinued in the late 1600's when all the trees on the island were gone. In the mid 20th century the Danish forest service planted trees on the island. By the 1990s a few citizens decided to Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-58040180588148240382015-02-22T18:30:00.002-06:002015-02-22T18:30:23.978-06:00Mixed BlessingsBy Rob Watson
Today began with church. I was to read the scriptures, which I enjoy doing. (plus) The first was from Genesis, and was easy and straightforward. (plus) The second was from St. Peter, who's tranlater insists on writing in 100 word sentences full of prepositional phrases which don't come out well when reading aloud. (minus)
My big task for the day was a Civil War Reenactment. (plus)Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-29655392096020095152015-01-21T07:59:00.000-06:002015-01-21T08:47:37.187-06:00The Battle of New OrleansBy Rob Watson,
A History: The United States began the War of 1812 to redress certain violations of its sovereignty by the British and to capture Canada for itself. The American leaders chose 1812 because Britain was heavily involved in fighting Napoleon in Europe. By mid 1814 little progress had been made by either side in accomplishing their war goals.
With the problems in Europe abated Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-50207421338266732002014-12-29T23:44:00.001-06:002014-12-29T23:44:38.018-06:00Decisions...by Rob Watson
Perhaps you have had cause to wonder how any change in a series of events might have changed an outcome. In the cases of great outcomes and cases of tragedies, we humans take time to examine our decisions and speculate on how we might have made things better or worse. The following is a story of a rather benign series of events with a pleasant outcome.
Wife made friends with a Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-4000536648633492062014-12-19T02:24:00.000-06:002014-12-19T02:24:38.114-06:00Knights.By Rob Watson
The
group is a Catholic men’s organization first formed by Irish Catholics
in Boston in the 1880’s to provide charity to catholic widows and
orphans. It has grown to an international group. When I was in college,
the Catholic student club, the Newman Club, finally saved enough money
to build a new building. It was unfurnished until the Knights of
Columbus men of Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-56813810327330686242014-10-17T02:44:00.000-05:002014-10-17T02:44:19.449-05:00Serving A Civil War Cannon: Part 3By Rob Watson
You might read the three previous posts on the Civil War In April 2013, April 2014, and May 2014, before reading this. You will find they add color to this post. April 2014 has a short video as well.
The type of cannon I have served, so far, is called a Mountain Howitzer. Previous to my Civil War experiences I was exposed to this type cannon at Fort Laramie National Historical Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-84638366327918466662014-10-01T13:33:00.001-05:002014-10-01T13:33:20.561-05:00Colonoscopy and Upper GIBy Rob Watson
I am writing this for the benefit of my nieces and nephews who share my family history, and for those who might need one of these, or are just curious. In the interests of full disclosure, you should know there is no part of this experience that is in any way pleasant, uplifting, or enlightening. But, as they say about getting old, it sure beats the alternative.
I am currently twoRob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-52088249274161306602014-09-28T02:28:00.000-05:002014-09-28T02:28:39.697-05:00Leaving...By Rob Watson
Recently a close personal friend completed the process of retiring. She sold her home, moved temporarily, into an apartment, completed the paperwork for retiring with her job and set about to wait for the magic day. In the week before that day, her friends gathered to say a fond farewell then, she packed her remaining belongings. The day after retiring from a life of working, she Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-14198678191322330312014-07-26T01:05:00.000-05:002014-07-26T01:05:20.876-05:00The Long ShotBy Rob Watson
If you are a sensitive person and are upset by reports of harm to animals, You will not want to continue reading this account of a hunting trip.
One of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams, has a line that goes something like this: "When all the cosmic tumblers fall into place, anything is possible." This essay describes just such an event.
I have always had an attraction to nice Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648737539938934090.post-14560916098081005212014-04-29T00:19:00.000-05:002014-04-29T00:19:36.564-05:00Serving a Civil War Cannon: Part 2By Rob Watson
If you have not already, you might want to go back and read my previous posts on the US Civil War. The first (Civil War Battle Re-enactment: Pleasant Hill, Mansfield) was written a year ago and the second (Serving a Civil War Cannon) was written the first of this month (April 2014).
I was slow in contacting the folks that keep the Battery organized and was fortunate to encounter Rob Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16395377816048320263noreply@blogger.com0