What to Do ?

There are many types of pain, both physical and emotional including here in blog land with other bloggers. 

In recent weeks, many fellow bloggers have posted about how what's been happening and how they have been dealing with these issues, either their own or of loved ones or even both. 

And sadly, some bloggers are dealing with multiple situations. Several have shared what's been happening in heartfelt posts that myself and others have read and commented on. 

Reading these posts can be difficult since as fellow humans, we feel empathy and compassion for others, wishing we could do more than expressing those feelings in our comments. We can only hope this provides some measure of comfort.

While, this post does not list specific bloggers going through difficult times, several are listed on the sidebar. Anyone who has read their blog and recent posts knows what issues they have been and are still dealing with now. Some may be on your blog lists or you may know others dealing with some similar issues.

Each of us has our own ways of dealing with pain and suffering — either our own or that of others. Perhaps it involves prayer, every one is different. But, I believe that even a virtual hug and words of comfort could lift someone's spirits even if just for a while.

Kindness and caring are indeed priceless.

Please note, comments are off for this post. It's not about myself, but others.

Drive-In at Airport

Last Saturday's weather was picture perfect, a break from recent sweltering temps here in NH.  It was a perfect day for a short road trip to a local aviation museum.

A lineup of vintage and muscle cars at the Aviation Museum car show

No, we didn't go to see planes — instead, we saw a lot full of vintage and muscle cars on display at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry, NH. The auto show was a fundraiser for the museum and show admission also allowed visitors to tour the museum at no additional charge. We did too, but the museum is small and was very crowded, so no interior photos taken on this trip.

Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, Londonderry, NH

The main building includes the airfield’s 1937 passenger terminal and control tower. In 2011, the museum was enlarged to include an Aviation Learning Center. The museum supports plane building programs at area high schools. The historical museum is operated by the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society, a non-profit group focused on preserving aviation history within the state through various exhibits and programs. (Astronaut Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr, a native of nearby Derry, NH, was the first American to travel into space. In 1971, he became the fifth and oldest person to walk on the Moon, age 47.)

There was no lack of vintage autos at Saturday's show. Below are assorted views of some beautifully restored cars with a bit of history and tunes. Over the years, autos have been glorified in in pop music across genres. Why? In music, cars symbolize the open road, settings for romance, cruising and nostalgia.

There were a number of vintage Ford cars in this show, although I'm not sure any were the 1932 Ford Coupe hot rod popularized in the 1963 song, Little Deuce Coupe by the Beach Boys. This song was the B-side to group's hit single, Surfer Girl. The term specifically references the year of the car's production, with deuce being slang for two in 1932. The Beach Boys released an album titled after the car and also included the song on the later Sounds of Summer album. The Deuce Coupe became a cultural icon and appeared in hot rod culture movies like American Graffiti.

This Oldsmobile model was spotted in two different colors, red and gray. 

The photos below show a close up of the front and rear styling of the vehicles.

There were a number of colorful pick-up trucks at the show.

Here's a look at a few more colorful autos, including a Hot Wheels version of a popular die-cast toy car.

The Buick auto below had a vanity plate of Tank with a carful of passengers. The front seat driver was a large stuffed toy version of the Tweety Bird cartoon.

And, this Dodge ↓ had a plate of Esther, perhaps a sweetheart or the car's owner?

Some of my earliest car rides were taken in a car similar to this one ↓ which was the pride and joy of my late father years ago..

This Studebaker Coupe was like one owned by my father

The 1950 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe attracted attention because of its ultramodern styling. Its center "nose" resembled part of an airplane, its wraparound rear window and long, horizontal rear deck were radically different from 1930s and 1940s teardrop cars. (This term referred to autos with a distinct aerodynamic, shaped body design, which is referred to as Streamline Moderne.) 

The 1950 and 1951 Studebaker models marked a sharp break from 1930s streamline or art deco styling and the beginning of flamboyant, futuristic styling of the 1950s. Studebaker led the way in this design and marketing change. The unique front end, combined with sleek and stylish lines, set it apart from anything on the road and Studebaker sales were fairly strong after WW II reaching a peak with the 1950 model. The Champion was one of Studebaker's best-selling models because of its low price, originally between $1,514 to $1,592, depending on the specific model (Custom or Deluxe). Today, the price of a 1950 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe varies, ranging between $17,309 and $31,037 depending on condition.

The Plymouth Road Runner was named after a cartoon character

Beep Beep is the sound most associated with the Plymouth Road Runner, a muscle car that Chrysler introduced in the US for the 1968 model year, marketed under its Plymouth brand. The Road Runner combined a powerful engine with a sparse trim and a price that undercut increasingly upscale and expensive muscle cars like the Pontiac GTO and Plymouth's GTX. The Roadrunner model was initially a sales success. However, in the 1970s, its performance and sales declined due to an increasing focus on fuel economy and the adoption of stringent US emission standards. 

Plymouth paid $50,000 to Warner Bros.-Seven Arts to use the Road Runner name and likeness from the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons. Plymouth also paid $10,000 to develop a beep beep horn.

Two different model years of Pontiac GTO

The mid 1960s Pontiac GTO remains one of the most popular muscle cars in auto history with nearly 100,000 sold in a single year. The GTO name was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO and is an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato 

The most iconic song about the Pontiac GTO is the 1964 tune, Little G.T.O by Ronny and the Daytonas. This pop song celebrates the then-new muscle car, highlighting its performance and features like the three deuces and a four-speed, and a three-eighty-nine. The song was a hit. It sold 1,250,000 records and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1964.

According to one story, originally the Beach Boys were approached to record the song, but wanted a lot of money up front to record it. The Beach Boys later did the song, but in my opinion their version is not as good as the original.

Ironically, the Beach Boys released their own muscle car song in 1962 song, 409 was about a Chevrolet Impala, equipped with the 409 cubic inch V8 engine. The song, which celebrates the engine's power and performance, was originally released as the B-side of the single Surfin' Safari.

Monkees & Monkeemobile (Internet source)

The Monkeemobile was the iconic car of the 1960s pop group, The Monkees. This customized 1966 Pontiac GTO was built and designed by custom car designer Dean Jeffries and further customized by George Barris for the group's popular TV show The Monkees. Two cars were contracted and built in 4 weeks, one for the TV show and one as a promotional for touring car shows around the US. After the television show ended, both cars were offered back to Jeffries for $2,000 each. He declined to purchase them.

The AMC Nash Rambler was featured in a popular novelty song

The Nash Rambler was a compact, front-engine, rear-drive automobile manufactured and marketed by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation for model years 1950-1954 in a sedan, wagon and convertible body style. When Nash-Kelvinator merged with the Hudson Motor Car Company in 1954, the Rambler became a product of the American Motors Corporation (AMC).

This car was featured in the humorous novelty song, Beep Beep (the Little Nash Rambler) recorded by The Playmates (1958). The song describes a road duel between drivers of a Cadillac and a Nash Rambler. Concurrent with this song, AMC was setting production and sales records for the Rambler models. Beep Beep was also popular with workers building the cars on assembly lines in Kenosha, WI.

The Playmates from Waterbury, CT, were one of the first rock & roll groups signed to NY-based Roulette Records. The label didn't want to release Beep Beep as a single for several reasons: it changed tempo with the increasing speed of the drivers; it named contemporary cars on the market; and it wasn't danceable. However, when disc jockeys began playing it off the Playmates album it forced the label's hand, and Roulette released it as a single. It stayed on the Billboard Top 40 charts for 12 weeks and peaked at No. 4 selling over a million copies and garnering a gold record. 

Obviously from previous posts about cars, we enjoy seeing them in all shapes and styles having gone to many outdoor shows and indoor museums. Summer months are the most popular for outdoor shows as most vintage car owners keep them garaged the rest of the year. Apologies for any ear worms from the song links. For anyone who enjoys novelty car songs, here's a 1959 tune sung by Paul Evans.

Friday Funnies

If you've visited this blog before, you will know that Friday Funnies often features vanity plates. Here's a few more funnies that are related to automobiles.

It would be nice if no fuel was required, just a good old-fashioned wind-up.

Both these autos were spotted recently in downtown Nashua, NH.

These car owners didn't have vanity plates, but their vehicles were unique for other reasons.

There's never a lack of something unusual to see even when we're out doing errands locally.

Full disclosure - My other half, Patrick, has a couple of bumper stickers on his car related to ham radio; there's not one on mine

Your turn — do you have any bumper stickers on your car ?

And, Patrick thanks everyone for the 🎂 wishes. We're continuing the celebration and going to Happy 🎉 Hour at a downtown restaurant with fellow residents tonight 🍷🍻.

Keep 🆒😎 & Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

It's been a 90℉ week in Nashua, NH; cooldown is forecast this weekend

Bloomin' in Nashua

It took quite a long time for spring to arrive in Nashua, NH, and it wasn't until late May and early June that flowers were seen in outdoor areas of Clocktower Place (CTP), our mill apartment residence.

This display is at the main entry as people drive into the apartment parking area. The mill apartment has two main entrances referred to as CTP 1 and CTP 1

This is the large flower pot that leads up to CTP1, which is our entry.

There isn't an entry ramp at CTP2. These flowers are placed in pots close to the main door.

These flower pots of colorful blooms are also at two of the side entrances.

Downtown Nashua has a lot of colorful blooms, like these at pedestrian crossings on Main Street. Most of the Main Street restaurants that offer outdoor dining have various floral arrangements.

Martha's Exchange is a popular restaurant and brewery serving lunch and dinner daily.

Surf Restaurant is a few doors down from Martha's, and specializes in seafood dining. It has been regularly named as the Best Seafood in New Hampshire. This restaurant also benefits from its location adjacent to the Nashua Center for the Arts and on show nights, there's usually a lengthy wait time to be seated.

Nearly all of the Main Street restaurants that offer outdoor dining have various flowers.

Red, white and nearly blue flowers are popular colors in many of the arrangements.

The city's Department of Public Works does a great job of regularly watering all of these flowers so that residents and visitors can enjoy them all summer.

Speaking of enjoyment, we celebrated 🎉 a special occasion yesterday — Patrick's 🎂.

His lunch time choice was to go to the Big One, a local family-owned ice cream stand for the lunch time special of two hot dogs, soda and chips capped off with a hot fudge sundae for dessert. This local visit is a once-a year treat, usually around the time of his birthday, this year, it was a timely one as well. 

That's because today, July 16, is National Hot 🌭 Dog Day, which is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. The earliest known Hot Dog Day began in Alfred, NY, in 1972 started by two Alfred University students as a fundraiser for local charities and community organizations.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is an American trade association that promotes the hot dog and sausage industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it was founded in 1994 by the American Meat Institute, which promotes July as National Hot Dog Month and October as National Sausage Month. During the pandemic, the council designated the third July Wednesday as cause for a national celebration. According to council statistics, Americans eat about 7 billion hot dogs during hot dog season, or some 818 each second. 

That's a lot of  🌭. Patrick helped this week but won't be entering any eating contests !

Friday Funnies

In yesterday's post, I stated that many folks were shopping online for Amazon Prime Day deals this week, ourselves included. Sometimes, looking at items we don't plan to buy.

That said, there can be those deals that seem too good to be true, like this ↓ one .

Just look at that price $10 — this looked like such a great deal, true or not ?

Of course, I did click the Amazon link to find out more about this supposed deal.

Yes, it wasn't so much a deal as the last number had been left off the preview ad. Who knows if this was intentional. But, it does seem someone didn't check the ad for the correct price.

If we were looking for new luggage 😏 for upcoming trips (more on those later), this would have been a fantastic deal even for Prime Days.

After distressing news about the flooding and deaths in Texas and New Mexico, plus USPS postal increases effective this weekend, a bit of humor can lighten the mood. Thanks to all who commented on my previous post about organizations supporting relief efforts.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Did anyone shop and/or find deals during Prime Days ?

Spending $$$ Online

That's what so many folks have been doing from Tuesday, July 8 at 12:01 am to midnight, Friday, July 11 (EDT).

Why? It's because of Amazon Prime Days. The annual big sale has expanded this year from two to four days (48 to 96 hours) for Prime members to shop millions of bargains. Admittedly, we had wish lists prepared for online shopping.

However, that changed after learning of last weekend's devastating flash floods in the Texas Hill country along the Guadalupe River with the loss of so many lives and so much property.

Instead of shopping for deals, I decided to do something else — read and learn about the organizations collecting monetary donations. While many, if not all, have online click to donate. My preference is old style sending checks in the mail. I needed to find mailing addresses.

With so many worthwhile organizations, the decision becomes a personal choice of which one(s). Difficult to only select one, choices were narrowed down to a few, some are described below.

Disclaimer: Please note that these organizations are some that caught my attention. This post is not an endorsement of one vs. another. There are so many worthwhile organizations to support. Your choice(s) may, of course, differ based on many things.

This is one that I kept reading about for Kerr County and Kerrville, TX, relief efforts. In Kerrville, the local police department and some local groups are now prioritizing monetary donations as food or water donations were not needed. 

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, an area nonprofit group, launched the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to help support local response, relief and recovery efforts.The foundation will direct funds to organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. 

All donations will go to organizations helping with the emergency. Monetary donations  can be sent to: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, 241 Earl Garrett Street, Kerrville, TX 78028. Checks should be made payable to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.

Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) is an Austin-based nonprofit group that serves all citizens of the State of Texas deploying at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management agencies. It specializes in emergency response using ground search and rescue, flood and swift water rescue teams, K9 search dogs, drones to aid in the search for the missing. The group was aiming to raise $100,000 to sustain its efforts. 

 

Services are free to requesting agencies and are staffed trained professional volunteers. TEXSAR consists of multiple divisions across Texas and deploys to all 254 counties in the state. Since 2004, it has evolved into one of the largest non-paid search and rescue organizations in the Texas.

All funding comes from sponsors, corporations, and the community. There is never a charge for its services. Donations can be mailed to TEXSAR, 13501 Ranch Road 12 Ste. 103 Wimberley, TX 78676.

Friday’s flooding devastated the fire house of the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department’s. The flood waters destroyed the interior of the station and ruined much of what was inside the building, including essential gear and equipment. Patrick is a former NJ firefighter, so this organization was definitely added to our list. 

This station, which is the base of operations for search and rescue in Center Point lost all of its emergency equipment. Area residents have volunteered to clean up what they can and support the firefighters. Monetary donations are welcomed: Center Point VFD, PO Box 494, Center Point, TX 78010-0494

The United Cajun Navy is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disaster relief and emergency response services to communities in need.

Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the organization has since grown to become a critical part of disaster response efforts across the U.S. Its mission is to swiftly and effectively mobilize volunteers and resources to areas affected by natural disasters, ensuring that those in need receive timely assistance.

Unlike traditional relief organizations, the United Cajun Navy is not a government agency or large nonprofit. It's a decentralized network of volunteer-based groups of private boat owners who assist in search and rescue efforts during natural disasters, particularly in the Southern U.S. These groups, often come from Cajun communities in Louisiana and use their boats and skills to rescue those stranded by natural disasters. Donations can be mailed to: United Cajun Navy, 2053 W Magna Carta Place, Baton Rouge LA 70815.

Currently, Samaritan's Purse is responding to deadly flash flooding in central Texas. This non-denominational evangelical Christian organization provides spiritual and physical aid to people worldwide. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of those who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. Samaritan's Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. Donations can be mailed to: Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

The Salvation Army is mobilizing in response to severe floods in Texas. Its services include providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers. 

For those who support Salvation Army disaster services, 100% of that donation is applied to the disaster relief operation selected. The Salvation Army never applies an administrative fee to any disaster gift. If disaster donations exceed identified needs, excess funds will be restricted to support future disaster services. For information and service locations, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that provides food relief. It was founded in 2010 by Spanish-American chef and restaurateur José Andrés following the earthquake in Haiti and has since responded to Hurricane Harvey, the 2018 lower Puna eruption, 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is in central Texas to support communities impacted by catastrophic flooding in Hill Country on Friday, July 4. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes to the frontlines to start cooking and provide meals to people in need. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of food trucks or emergency kitchens, WCK provides freshly made, nutritious meals to communities impacted by disasters quickly and effectively. Monetary donations can be mailed to: World Central Kitchen, PO Box 96538, Washington, DC, 20090-6538

Direct Relief provides disaster relief across all 50 U.S. states and throughout the world and is on the ground in Texas. The organization is in communication with responding search and rescue groups, camps and healthcare partners in affected areas, including National Emergency Management and Response, which deployed personnel to Kerrville.

To meet needs related to extreme weather in Texas, Direct Relief has committed an initial $50,000 in direct funding and made its $90 million stockpile of medications and supplies available to responding organizations.

Direct Relief is nongovernmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit. It relies entirely on private contributions to advance its mission and perform a wide range of functions. Donations can be sent to: Direct Relief, 6100 Wallace Becknell Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117.

Of course, not only individuals, but countless companies and celebrities countrywide have contributed funds to Central Texas relief efforts. It was heartwarming to read about many.

No doubt many fellow bloggers have favorite organization(s) they support. In times of far too many recent disasters, we've contributed to some new to us, including some of these.

Got Stamps?

If you need to buy some and live in the U.S., you still have a few days before they will cost more.

That's because on Saturday, July 13, new postage increases from the U.S. Postal System (USPS) take effect. 

These rate increases impact for First-Class, marketing,  non-profit mail, and more. The cost of a First Class postage stamp will rise 5 cents from 73 to 78 cents.

There's still time to stock up on First Class Forever stamps which by their very name are good forever, whether you bought them years ago or today. 

Nothing lasts forever, except death and taxes is a popular idiom most famously attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who wrote it in a 1789 letter. Some historians suggest the saying was used before Franklin, but his letter is the earliest known written instance. 

Apparently, Franklin did know about the rise in postal rates.

Postage rates have been on the rise since July 1863. Anyone interested in how First Class postage has gone up can check out the USPS Postal History changes.

Why the increases?

The multiple increases are part of a broader set of adjustments that will raise mailing services prices an average of 7.4%. 

The USPS is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. The USPS generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

According to USPS officials, the price adjustments are needed to achieve financial stability and support the 10-year "Delivering for America" plan to modernize the USPS, achieve financial sustainability and improve service performance. The goals are to reverse projected losses of $160 billion, improve on-time delivery to 95%, and invest $40 billion in infrastructure and technology. The plan includes network modernization, investments in people and technology, and enhanced customer experience. 

That may be the plan's goal, but most times I've been to the Nashua Post Office, there's been only a single clerk handling a steady line of customers. Thankfully, everyone seems to remain patient. On good days, there has been up to a couple of clerks.

Here's a breakdown of some of the increases:

These costs are going up: 

• Metered letters (1 oz): 69 cents to 74 cents
• Flats (1 ounce):$1.50 to $1.65
• Certified Mail: $5.30 per piece, additional fees for return receipts
• Additional-ounce price for single-piece letters goes from 28 cents to 29 cents

When were these increases proposed?

Not that long ago — in April 2025, the USPS submitted a proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). That's because it's part of the process. 

The PRC is an independent agency that provides regulatory oversight of the USPS and ensures that the USPS complies with laws and regulations, manages postal rates and services and promotes transparency and accountability in postal operations. It reviews all changes before the effective date. 

As long as the USPS meets the statutory requirements, the PRC doesn't have the authority to deny or amend the price proposals.

How long did it take?

Only about a month since on May 30, 2025, the PRC approved the USPS July rate increases. 

Does the PRC always approves a rate hike?

No, the PRC doesn't automatically approve every USPS increase request. It's not a rubber-stamp process, and the PRC can deny or influence rate proposals if they do not meet the legal requirements. 

In 2010, the PRC formally denied a USPS request for a 2-cent increase on First-Class stamps. The USPS appealed the decision with the result that the price of first-class postage did go from 44 to 46 cents, but not until January 2011.

And, in a 2019 case, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the PRC violated the Administrative Procedures Act by failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for a rate increase and address public comments. But, in January 2019, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp went up 5 cents — 50 to 55 cents. The largest jump in the history of the Forever stamp, until now. 

As for myself, I'm a frequent snail-mail sender with a supply of Forever stamps. But, I'm buying more of these and international stamps, today. Why? you never know when the next increase will happen. Yes, I've searched online and nothing has been proposed, yet.

Fireworks on the 4th

The ball field is less than 3 miles from CTP

There wasn't a lot of Independence Day events in Nashua, NH, for last weekend's long July 4th holiday. We attended the veterans flag raising ceremony at City Hall, which unfortunately was sparsely attended by the public.

As noted in previous posts, we prepared foods to bring to our friends' home for an afternoon get together. We were home by early evening and waited until dusk for the start of the fireworks display at nearby Holman Stadium baseball field.

In years past, we would join other residents and watch the display from the walkway of the pocket park next to the mill apts. However, as that park is under reconstruction, access wasn't possible. maybe next year we'll be back.

Admittedly, I am unskilled at photographing fireworks displays compared to many others. All of these photos were taken from our 5th floor apartment at Clocktower Place.

This view is looking towards the downtown area of Nashua, NH. Fireworks were going off in the distance on a very clear evening. The dark area at the right of the photo is where the park is being rebuilt.

Downtown Nashua, NH, viewed from our apt window

You will notice that the smoke stack seen in the video is missing from these still images, which were extracted from a video. 

After trying to capture burst displays as single images with my cell phone, I switched to video mode, which is not something I do often and for no particular reason. 

The short video below was the result. It was taken from the comfort of our 5th floor apartment. You probably noticed that the smoke stack seen in the video is missing from the still images. 

How did that happen? It was removed right within photos on my iPhone using the Clean Up feature available on certain iPhone models (14 Pro and up). This tool allows users to remove distracting objects from the background of photos. The tool automatically highlights objects to remove or allows users to manually select and remove items by brushing or circling them. Speaking from my experience, it's quite handy and effective.

The still photos were extracted from my iPhone 14 video by playing the video, finding a specific scene, then taking a screenshot. To take a screen shot, I held the side button and the volume up button together. Sometimes, that resulted in turning off the phone.

After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail temporarily appears in the lower-left corner of the screen. The screen shot is saved to Photos where it can be edited or even deleted.

FYI: The screenshot method can differ depending on the model iPhone; some have Touch ID and top buttons. I checked online for the "How to" using my specific iPhone model.

Did you see or take photos of fireworks displays on the 4th ?