W2DR

My wife saying "yes" when, on Christmas day, I asked her to marry me.

I know I posted this somewhere once before, and I apologize if many of you remember it. My oldest son is here for Christmas and we were talking about "the early" years. You know, those years before we knew much about life. I told him this story..... As I grow older it's a never-ending source of amazement to me how I can remember events in my life. Meeting Grady Mathews is one of those remembrances. I know that 99.9% of you have no idea who Grady Mathews was nor why he should be special to anyone, especially me. Let me try to explain. When I was seven years old my best friend's father bought a pool table. An old slate-top 5x10 Brunswick. He converted one of his chicken coops to hold it and "the pool room" was born. I played pool on that table 4-5 days a week for the next eight years. Back in those days "the game" was straight pool. He who sinks 125 balls first wins. The smaller 4 1/2 x 9 tables and the popularity of 9-ball was 20 years away. Willie Mosconi was my hero in those years. To heck with The Lone Ranger and those wimpy cartoon guys. By the time I was 15 there was nobody in town willing to put a five on the rail to try me. But there was always the soldiers. The town I lived in was adjacent to the largest Army basic-training base in the country. And the first of every month "the boys" would come to town. Ready to find the local bars, the local girls, and the local pool hall. And for the first three days of every month I was always at the local pool hall. Back then, the minimum wage was US$1.00/hr. Work a 160 hour month and, before taxes, you would earn US$160. Appealing? Not to me. On the first three days of the month I could easily "earn" US$400-500 from our soldier friends. And there were no taxes. And still over three weeks of the month to go. But let's get back to Grady Mathews. When I was 18 years old a met a guy who was to become my mentor. His name was Charlie. I knew how to shoot pool. I knew all the shots. Charlie knew that. But he also knew that I didn't know how to hustle. So he set out to teach me. About an hour's drive north from where I lived there was a world-class Brunswick dealer. Let me call it GCB. And at that dealer was a friend of Charlie's - a guy named Fred. We'd drive up on the weekend nights (when the dealership was closed) to play on the world-class tables in the showroom. One night a friend of Fred's showed up. Some kid named Grady. He and I were about the same age (I think I was about a month older) and we hit it off right away. Over the next couple of years I shared many tables with Grady. No money was involved. We just played for bragging rights. Grady was one of the greatest sticks of all time. I'll never forget him or what he taught me. Sometime in 1962-63 he moved on up the road to Cochran's, 1028 Market St., San Francisco. The mecca of pool in those days. And pool hustling. Ronnie Allen, One Eyed Hank, San Jose Dick, Ears, Legs, Sleepy Bob, and Okie Sam are just a few of the "regulars" I remember. The love of my life (and now my wife) lived in San Francisco in those days. I'd drive up on Friday evening, spend a few hours at Cochcran's shootng the WNA with Grady, meet her the next day and night, and drive back home on Sunday. What a life. Sadly, Grady has passed on now. It's been almost 60 years since I last saw him. But the memories linger on. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grady_Mathews

https://www.creepypasta.com/i-found-a-forum-for-dead-people/ .

I'll celebrate the 41st anniversary of my 39th birthday on the 23rd. That'll make this a Christmas to be thankful for...Doug

Standing on her front porch after striking out with Donna Jean.

My picture of the Memphis Belle in flight signed by Col. Morgan.

DNA

Here's just one example: https://getadblock.com/en/ . Do a search for "ad blocker" and you'll find many others.

How true. I haven't seen an ad anywhere on the internet in years.

FlightSim 11475 users online. Avsim 1761 users online. Orbx 74 Users online. How the heck is this possible? It's been this way for a long time. I find it hard to believe.

Just an FYI...maybe it's just something local but I couldn't view the videos with an IP address in the U.S. Once I moved the VPN over to Sydney all was well.

My sons last game. I quit coaching the team after that. And I was so happy that I didn't have to put up with the obnoxious parents anymore.

It seems you have confused us with someone who gives a word-not-allowed. Buy something or don't buy something, I don't give a word-not-allowed.

...it's been a long time now. 55 years since I coached your brother Victor's Little League team and you came out to help as our batting coach. I'm so happy for you today. The goal has been reached at last. Stay safe my friend..........Doug

Thanks Doug..........

Good catch...........

One of the best posts I've ever seen. So many of us can benefit from this answer. Please make it a sticky

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/03/london-giant-baubles/

I sure remember.......R.I.P Jerry

Col. Robert Morgan. Pilot of the Memphis Belle. I'm looking at his autograph on a picture of Belle as I write this. He should be in the Hall of Fame. As should all the other members of Belle's crew. And all of the others who flew and sacrificed so much for us back then.

Since low-and-slow is the way to go, I'll take the Cessna 185.

My teens. You never forget your first...........

Help me understand this. I can but a 55" Samsung curved 4K smart TV for US$497. Why the price difference for the "gaming" monitor. Something just doesn't add up here.

Welcome to the forum(s). Hardware has sure changed a lot in the six years since the original post .

Welcome to the forum(s). I don't think your FPS will change. But, that said, there are just too many variables involved to be sure. The best way to find out is to install them and see what happens. They can be uninstalled at any time so there's no real risk.