My Toyota

Back in December the wife and I bought a Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6. We had heard a little about the Toyota troubles but we really did not worry about them. So far we've drove it a bit over 2,000 miles and we still don't worry about the gas pedal problems.

We usually don't buy a new vehicle very often, for instant. In 92 we bought a new 1992 S-10 Blazer 4 X 4 V-6. In 2002 we bought a Jeep Laredo Grand Cherokee 2 wheel drive with a V-6. In that year we could not find a 2002 Chevy S-10 Blazer on a car lot, if we had we would have probably bought another Blazer S-10. We had drove the Jeep a bit over 100,000 miles, never rightly had any problems with it, but we always like the 92 Blazer S-10 better. In fact I'm still driving the old 92 S-10 Blazer. Before buying the Toyota we looked at the Chevy Colorado, but we could not find on anywhere close to us that we cared for. I've been told they stopped making them. I pulled up the picture of the Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6 on my computer and my wife liked it as did I. We went to a dealer and looked at one and bought it.

As for us we are still at ease having bought a Toyota. It has not given us a moments trouble. The just wish it got a bit better gas mileage, its not near as good on gas as our Jeep or Blazer.

The wife and I was wondering is the problem some are having as bad as they say it is. Is the problem really with Toyota? And just how many out there is having this accelerator problem. With Toyota being the number one seller it would not surprise me if the big three was not back to their old games. You know, back in the old day they did all they could to push everyone out of the automobile business in order to make more money for their selves. With the position they've been in just the last few years it would not surprise me if they have gone back to their old ways.

Maybe some Toyota owners will happen by here and tell me their experience. I might mention this. I asked my wife the other day, does it seem like the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are a bit closer together on this Toyota than they were on our Blazer of Jeep. Like me she thought they were. I would prefer for the brake pedal to have been just a bit further to the left and not so close to the accelerator pedal giving my feet a bit more room. It would not surprise me the least bit that some of those who had trouble were pushing down on the brake pedal with both feet while pushing the accelerator pedal down unknowingly at the same time, thus creating the problem their self. Perhaps us Americas have larger feet than those of Japan, especially where wearing boots of which many Americans wear.

All of this said I would like to know what other Toyota owners think about this. If you've made it here and got this far I would appreciate if you would leave some thoughts on this. Our is the 2010 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6 4.0 V6 DOHC 24V VVT-i 236HP Engine with the Sport package.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

Nashville Trucking

There must be some old hands out there who once drove for Nashville Trucking Company running out of Nashville, Arkansas, owners were C. C. Couch & Hansford Ray. I know of some of the old hands from those days have past on, Roy Swint who we called Number 9 & John Jones who was known as Big John, and Hook Byers and I can't remember his CB handle, there there was Buck Boler, can't remember his CB handle either at the moment. I drove for them from about 76 to 81.

For the 1st few months I ran east unloading. Quickly I found out I did not care for that, especially those A. G. Shore loads that most of the time we had to run all over the east coast nearly having to pedal those loads off of the back of the trailer in order to get rid of them. Plus those loads seem to take 4 to 5 days to get off the trailer. Anyone who has ever went east with a A. G. Shore load will know about how bad those loads were.

Quick as I could I got to running the west coast, that was much better than running east, at least for me it was. running east we had to detour ever scale house for most of the time we were either overloaded plus most of our trucks were just a bit to long for the 55 foot limit from Tennessee to the east coast.

And A. G. Shore load was not to much better one the west coast, for they generally had 20 or more pickup's and we got no pay for pickup's nor drop's.

I was trying to think of the truck numbers, can't remember many of them, I do remember Number 9, Roy Swint, who had his own truck for most of the time I was there, his truck was Number 9. I do remember # 7, # 64, # 62. Seem like the truck Fish Hook who has passed on drove was # 65. Some of the other hands went by Kidnapper, Paper Boy, Little Phantom, Bingen Bum, we had 2 Grasshoppers, Blue Boy, Grave Digger, Slow Poke. Maybe later I will think of some more of them and edit this entry to add them to it. That has now been about 28 years ago, so my memory has gotten a bit fussy.

We had mostly regular stops we made going and coming from the west coast. I feel sure I can't remember all of them either and I feel sure many of those truck stops have been gone for several years. Cunningham Truck Stop at the 380 marker west of Fort Worth, Texaco at Midland, Texas, there is one at Odessa but I can't remember its name right now. Sometimes stopped at one just west of Abilene, McClain's at El Paso, one at Rockwell, Texas. the Texaco at Tucson, the Texaco at Colton, CA., 7th Standard Road just north of Bakersfield. Of course there were a few others some of stopped at once in a while. During that time they built those Iron Skillets just west of Forth Worth and east of El Paso, I did not stop at them all that much.

I may think of more that I can add to this later, but I was just thinking of those west coast days, wondering if some of you hands were around anywhere. I do have about 4 more whose faces I can see right now, but I can't think of their names nor CB handle. I went by Flintstone. If any of you happen to come by here please take time and leave me a note, would love to hear from you. And who knows there were many other hands out there that we ratchet jawed with on the CB, run up and down the super slap with many a mile and stopped and had coffee with, it would be nice to hear from you as well.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Josh 24:15

Blytheville Air Force Base Forum

Blytheville Air Force Forum has been up and going since January 5, 2005 and we have had some good success. We now have 328 members and we have quite a few post made on our board most every day. We've had 2 reunions held at Blytheville with our 3rd Annual Blytheville Air Force Base Reunion coming up October 9, 10, 11, 2009.

During the 1st year or 2 it was slow going, but once some of those who had served at Blytheville Air Force Base which was later called Eaker Air Force Base more and more of those who served there begin to find Blytheville AFB Yahoo Group it started taking off. When 1st starting Blytheville AFB group I debated on what message board to use. I finally selected yahoo because is simple and easy for those who are new to the internet to use and find. About 2 years back I started thinking about moving Blytheville AFB group to another board because of the number of members plus the number of post. Last week I finally did this, choosing Yuku Forum. So now we are in the slow progress of moving to our new Blytheville AFB Forum.

Our group is made up by those who served in the United States Air Force Base, by those who served there is the Civil Service, and by family members of those who served at Blytheville AFB. If you had a part in Blytheville AFB you will probably find our forum interesting. For in our discussions we talked about most every aspect of our old Air Force Base and the city of Blytheville.

If you had a part in Blytheville AFB, later named Eaker Air Force Base, please come by and check us out at our new home. You just might find some of your friends from those by gone years. Even if you don't they might just show up at any time for we are constantly gaining new members. During the mean time you can enjoy discussing many different topics with people who you have something's in common with.

May the Lord Bless,
Jerry

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful
works to the children of men! Psalms 107:31

Blytheville AFB Reunion: 2009

 

  On October 7,8,9, 2008 we held our 2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion at Blytheville, Arkansas. All who attended our 2008 reunion enjoyed it so much they wanted to have a 3rd Blytheville AFB Reunion in 2009. We have set the date for our 3rd reunion to be held October 9, 10, 11, 2009 at Blytheville, Arkansas.

 

  If you were ever stationed at Blytheville AFB, later called Eaker AFB, please try and attend our next reunion. You just might get to meet once again many of those airmen you once served with at Blytheville AFB.

 

  I was stationed at Blytheville AFB from June 1966 till May 1969. For the 1st few months I worked in the engine shop, but soon went to the flight line and spent most of my time there working in the engines of the B-52's & KC-135's. I would love to see some of those airmen I worked with at our next reunion.

 

  If you would like more information about our reunion please stop by Blytheville AFB Group, while there you just might find some of those you served with in our group. We have a few over 300 members and almost every day we have someone who served at Blytheville AFB joining our group.

 

  If you would like to see a picture of some of those who attened our 2nd Annual Reunion just click on and it will take you to it.

 

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

 

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Josh 24:15

Christian Woman Needs Computer In the Philippians

I have a Christian friend in the Philippines who is in need of a computer. Jenny is her name and she has not asked me to do this. She is a member of a group which I am and you can see her post at OnLine Baptist.

I just feel like there is someone out there with an old computer that still works real good that could give this Christian woman a bit of help. If you could help this Christian woman out I know she would greatly appreciate it, plus it would be a great act of kindness. If you need help in contacting her please let me know.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:31

Texarkana Baptist Orphanage

 I posted the picture I have from Texarkana Baptist Orphanage on July, 2007, with great surprise the Debra, daughter of one of the girls in the picture found it on the net.

 Now I know who some of the people are in this picture, plus I have talked to her and her daughter on the telephone. We had quite a wonderful conversation. She could remember me and my brother, as well as things about the orphanage which I could not. Of course at that age I was a bit to young to remember things.

 Her name if Joann Clark Jones, she lives at Texarkana, which is about 50 miles from me. I have hopes that one evening in the future we can meet up and talk about old times. This is just unbelievable to me.

 In the picture her sister Gale is setting to my left, them Dale is setting next to her. The setting right of me is her sister Norma, setting by her is their brother Jimmy Don, setting by him I Joann Clark Jones who I just talked with on the telephone.

 Joann remember both my brother E W and me. This is so great, after so many years. How proud I am that I posted this picture on the internet. but I never dreamed of getting in touch with anyone in this picture after so many years.

 Joann and some of her brothers and sisters grew up in the orphanage, some were adopted out. She told me which ones, but I surely fail to remember. I will find out and post it on here.

 But what a great day July 17, 2007 has been. If this has happened, there is hope of other getting in touch with past friends and or family on this inter-net. If you have a picture of friend or family member post it on the net, be sure to but tags on it that is associated with something your friend and or family member might search for on the net. Debra found this picture of her mother by searching for "Texarkana Baptist Orphanage 1948."

 I send hugs to Joann and all of her family, my prayers are that each one of them shall always have loved ones to share their life with, I rejoice that I now know them, this has been a great blessing to me.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion 2008

October 10,11,12, 2008 we're having our 2nd Annual Reunion for Blytheville AFB. I know they're many people out there who served at Blytheville AFB that would love to attend this reunion it they knew about. Hopeful posting it here on my old blog they will come across it.

I served at Blytheville AFB from June 1966 thru May 1969, I was in the 97th FMS working out of the engine shop. We kept those jet engine on those B-52's & KC-135's whining.

We had our 1st reunion last October and it was a success and everyone who attended wanted to have another one this year. I hope we can keep it going, I really enjoyed going back to Blytheville seeing friends from long ago and having another look at that Air Force base and the city of Blytheville as well.

I started a Yahoo Group for Blytheville AFB in January 2005. Anyone wanting any information on our upcoming reunion please come check out our group, all updates on it will be posted. Even if you can't attend check out our group, you may well come across some of those wonderful people you served with at Blytheville AFB. We now have a bit over 250 members and have been steadily growing in numbers. Even if you were a civilian come check up out, We have several members who were civilians who worked on the base with us who are members of our group. We reall have a wonderful time talking about those days we worked at Blytheville AFB.

May the Lord Bless,
Jerry

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion: October 10,11,12, 2008

Blytheville AFB June 66 to May 69
97th FMS Propulsion shop, flight line
TDY 4133 Bomb Wing, Anderson AFB, Guam Sept. 68 thru Jan. 69