Todd Benatar » Friends and/or family http://toddbenatar.com Seeds of thoughts from down on the farm Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:50:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Dad’s Old Harley Davidson http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/30/dads-old-harley-davidson-now-a-basket-case-but-not-for-long/ http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/30/dads-old-harley-davidson-now-a-basket-case-but-not-for-long/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:09:35 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=148 I guess if you really want the best quality Motorcycle Boots that can be found for purchasing, a good place to find them would be a company that makes and sells footwear for our law enforcement personnel. Since my one brother is a motorcycle riding police officer and has been for most of his adult life, he would certainly know about such things.

You see, I located my father’s old Harley Davidson, a 1932 VL Flathead, in the back area of one of the out buildings, a basket case at this point, but still an exciting prospect. I’m pretty good with a wrench and my brother has a good amount of knowledge concerning Harley’s and has a lot of contacts that will come into play for parts and questions, I’m sure, in putting Dad’s old scooter back together and back on the road once again.

If and when she is back together and running I’ll need the appropriate clothing and accessories to keep me warm and safe while riding this wonderful piece of machinery that my Dad so enjoyed in his younger years. So I have been taking some time looking online to find the various items that I will be needing in the near future for my use. One particular good site for good quality motorcycle boots, per my brother, can be found at Copshoes.com, he has used them in the past and has always been happy with his purchases and the customer service that he has received, with their toll free number which is manned Monday through Friday, 8:30  to 5, for questions or concerns about their high quality footwear and your particular orders.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/30/dads-old-harley-davidson-now-a-basket-case-but-not-for-long/feed/ 0 An Anxious Boat Enthusiast http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/19/an-anxious-boat-enthusiast/ http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/19/an-anxious-boat-enthusiast/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:24:43 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=129 These wonderful High Intensity Discharge lights that they have available these days are a truly a most useful tool, especially for boaters that find themselves in need of a good lighting system, such as my brother-in-law found himself in just the other day.

He had received some nice HID boat spotlights, by Magnalight for Christmas and some other boating accessories as well, that he was very anxious to try out and did, on a day that most people wouldn’t venture onto the water on, but as I stated he was a bit anxious. He got a late start and ended up out farther than he calculated on and it got dark quickly on him and he ended up losing his way, all alone, wet and cold. A good thing that he is an experienced water man because it could have ended up real ugly.

He certainly got the opportunity to use his newly acquired spotlight and got home safe and sound, just his ego was bruised a bit, but he has a sense of humor and has made a good entertaining story out of the whole deal that will be told for years to come.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2012/01/19/an-anxious-boat-enthusiast/feed/ 0 Pause and Reflect http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/15/pause-and-reflect/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/15/pause-and-reflect/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:49:52 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=73 Well, even though I have a little tree, I haven’t finished decorating it yet.  I ran into a little bit of a snag when I opened the boxes of ornaments.  These are the same ornaments that have decorated the family tree for many decades; perhaps even generations.  I found that every ornament that I saw brought back powerful memories of my family, and the sense of loss from having both of my parents taken from me so early in my life, such a short time ago, made it difficult to actually decorate the tree.

I know I’ll get through it, and the tree WILL get decorated, but it is going to take a long time to do it!  I think now I have a better understanding of how emotional my mother would get at Christmas time, when she would decorate the tree.  Her mother had made many of the ornaments, and so has she.  It truly IS a family tree, and right now there isn’t much family around to enjoy it.  Maybe it’s time I started thinking about taking on a family of my own and stop rattling around by myself in this big old farmhouse.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/12/15/pause-and-reflect/feed/ 0 My Parents Grandfather Clock on the Farm http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/27/my-parents-grandfather-clock-on-the-farm/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/27/my-parents-grandfather-clock-on-the-farm/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:41:22 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=121 My sister has been after me to go ahead and give her the grandfather clock that has been sitting in the same spot in this old house for as long as the house has been here, our parents treasured this wonderful piece that was made by the famous Howard Miller Company so long ago. I have mixed feelings about moving it and allowing it to leave the place that my father so lovingly placed it for my mother, way before any of us kids were even born, but I know that it would be in good hands with her at her place. She has a place all ready picked out and ready, just waiting for me to give her the go ahead.

Too bad I can’t talk her into buying one of her own to pass down, I know of a great company that has a great selection of grandfather clocks that I found one day while surfing the net, looking at the different styles and varieties that can be found online. Looking to see if I could find one that looks just like the one here at the farm, at 1-800-4clocks.com they have more wonderful old and new time pieces that I spent a good amount of timing gazing at that really peaked my interest, but none that looked exactly like our family’s antique grandfather clock, close but no cigar.

They even offer an interesting blog here that I took the time to check out and found some good information and was entertaining as well. One in particular that I found useful spoke about maintenance for grandfather clocks that I was glad to read and pick up some tips from, it’s all good.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/27/my-parents-grandfather-clock-on-the-farm/feed/ 0 What’s Up With That http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:57:18 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1587 Spent most of the day looking for the cans of degreasers that I swore were kept in the grey out building behind the garage. I always seem to be looking for something around here. If I didn’t know any better I would swear that some one is playing jokes on me, but considering that I am the only one that lives here and that I rarely have any visitors I really don’t think that that is the case. My sister tells me that she thinks that it is our late father messing with my head like he used to like to do to me while he was still on this earth. Or that I am just getting old and burned out, which is the explanation that I believe to be true.

I really could use a vacation, but I can’t leave this house and the farm to run it’s self for even two days in a row for heaven’s sake. A week away from here, some where nice and warm by the water sounds wonderful, but I don’t see that happening any time soon unless I can find some one to take over all the things that need to be done around the old homestead and I don’t know even one person that I could rely on to due that for me.

In the mean time I guess I’ll need to take a trip into town tomorrow and buy a new can of degreaser. As much as I am burned out from being here all alone all the time I really hate going into town.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/26/whats-up-with-that/feed/ 0 Safety, Common Sense is Involved http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:51:18 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=417 I have several friends that ride their Harleys and they all come from different kinds of backgrounds and a few have careers that you wouldn’t imagine them to have, while sporting the tattoos and all that black leather that is essential for any rider. Several times a year, I will hear the sound of Harleys coming down our road and then keep on coming up into the driveway and I end up have quite a good old time with some very interesting folks who have come by for a entertaining visit.We have heard so many stories of fallen brothers that have been killed or severally injured while riding their bikes, and all of my “Biker” friends seem very adamant about safety issues that are mostly just common sense if you ask me. There are many places no that anyone can go to and purchase all types of motorcycle safety clothing and Shoei Modular Helmets and get Nolan n102 helmets discount offerings and all types of accessories that play an important part of motorcycle riding.

One such online company that has a great selection of these types of items is bikerhiway.com, give them a look and see if you are interested or in need of any type of motorcycle products that are very reasonably priced and accept major credit cards for online purchases.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/22/safety-common-sense-is-involved/feed/ 0 Being Single http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/08/being-single/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/08/being-single/#comments Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:19:01 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=176 I love my sister, all of them actually, but my one sister, who lives in New Jersey has it in her head big time, and she is trying very hard to get me hooked up and married off. She has made this one of her lives missions and is constantly trying to get into my business.

It’s not that I wouldn’t like to meet a young lady, but right now the farm is my priority and is taking up all of my time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, money and love. There just isn’t enough of me to go around the place.

Sis found someone in her hometown that has been utilizing an online Dating Site with over 30 years of experience by the name of Great Expectations – Summit, NJ. Her new friend had many positive things to say about how this company goes the extra mile for their clients and she has made many new friends, online and at local functions that they host frequently. Sis then found out that there is one of their offices in Richmond, VA, which isn’t far from the farm and she immediately sent me an email with all of their information and the link for the site.

I’ll take a look around, might as well, just can’t promise anything, but it wouldn’t hurt to look since I spend what little extra time that I have online anyway.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/08/being-single/feed/ 0 The Need For A New Kitchen Undermount Sink http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:13:24 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1408 It really shouldn’t surprise me that so many things are in such bad shape around here, but with so little time and little money to put back into the old homestead it sure is frustrating and very disappointing. The latest thing that I have discovered is the need for a new Undermount Sink in the kitchen. Instead of going into town and spending the time and money that it takes for the gasoline that it takes for the trip, I have asked my eldest sister to take a look for me on the Internet to help find some sites that have affordable Undermount Sinks  since she is very familiar with everything around here as well as I am and I trust her judgement since she helps out more than anyone else around the house when she is able. Right now I really have my hands full on the farm, with Fall being one of the busiest times of the year for us here, so any help right now is totally appreciated.

 

 

 

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/05/the-need-for-a-new-kitchen-undermount-sink/feed/ 0 Time Honored Family Traditions http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/03/time-honored-family-traditions/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/03/time-honored-family-traditions/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:57:40 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=1405 I have to admit that the holiday season’s are still pretty tough for me considering that I am living at the homestead and farm that we all grew up on and our parents were running up until they passed away over 3 years ago now. It is just me here, all though I have a ton of relatives that live close by. All of those holiday traditions are the hardest. My eldest sister and her family all try so very hard to keep most of these traditions alive and are always there for me each and every day and they go the extra mile during the holidays.

I haven’t spend a full Christmas day here at the house yet. So far I go over to my sister’s house and spent Christmas eve with them and spend the night there so that I can be there to see the kids eyes when they come down the stairs early Christmas morning. Then I am there dealing with the kids while my sister is busy in the kitchen preparing all the holiday foods for that evenings Christmas meal that she has taken over from my mom, with the rest of the family is on the road on their way to her house and the place gets filled up quickly through out the day.

One of the holiday traditions that we now have is going over to the family cemetery to pay our respects to our parents and all the other members of the family that are there with them as well.

]]> http://toddbenatar.com/2011/10/03/time-honored-family-traditions/feed/ 0 Charity Comes From the Heart http://toddbenatar.com/2011/09/29/charity-comes-from-the-heart/ http://toddbenatar.com/2011/09/29/charity-comes-from-the-heart/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:11:52 +0000 Todd http://toddbenatar.com/?p=215 My sister’s husband and his co-workers are always getting involved with some sort of community service or a fundraising activity. Like at Christmas, they all pitched in and adopted a local low income family to supply all kinds of goods to help them get through the Holiday Season easier and they say that you can always find a booklet or two or pamphlets in the break room for people to order things for some type of fundraising for their kids from school, church, or sports.

I think that it is a very good positive attitude to have when there are so many people out there that need help. Their latest approach is in a lupus fundraising attempt, in which they have gone “high tech” and have enlisted the assistance of the World Wide Web through a company called Firstgiving, the link to their home page being Firstgiving.com. Firstgiving makes it possible for anybody to raise money on-line for any cause that they see fit to. You actually go on-line and make your own on-line fundraising page that can then be emailed to people to enlist them into giving an on-line donation. I find this whole idea fascinating and couldn’t wait to bring it up on our PC at home. And when I did bring up the site I really was impressed with what I saw, and I would encourage anybody to check it out also, it is a site that is full of good positive things, we need more of these, don’t you agree.

The reason for choosing this horrible disease by the name of Lupus, apparently is because one of the top management guys has a teen-age daughter inflicted with this health issue and he is very popular with all of the workers and they want to show him their respect by coordinating this fundraiser because of his daughter. I wish them all the luck in the world and give them nothing less than respect that they so highly deserve for their efforts.

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