This page contains historical stories and items that used to grace our Home page:

Moved here on Sunday April 26, 2014
A lot has transpired since I updated our web site last.
Here is the most recent picture I have to post.

Some other memorable times these last months

We celebrated birthdays	We had lots of great breakfasts
There are new NERF Guns	We lounged
JC and I did some climbing at Frankies
And I did some planking!

Christmas Day Snow!

Our House after the seven inches of snow.	Not driving any where today.
Me and JC out walking.	JC and Robin
Christmas Morning we opened presents. Then Christmas Dinner was with an awesome example for God.
Robin and JC opening Presents.	Ray and Jackie, two of Gods best examples.

Moved here on August 11, 2011

Blowing Leaves in the Snow!

The following pictures were taken less than 30 minutes after the above pictures.

Thanksgiving 2010

The Thanksgiving holiday was nice. I had Thursday Friday off, and took Monday Tuesday off. Was able to spend some very nice time with my Dad and Step Mom. We had some good food, good times, and good laughs. I will miss having them here.

Beach Trip 2010
This year was another year of fun and relaxation. We had some friends, Mike and Jenn and their son join us for a few days. We all had a great time.

Look what Uncles are For:
Here is a blast from the past. I have an uncle I have not seen in many years.
He sent the below picture to me. It is my sister and I. Not sure what age.

JC Gets Baptized

A week ago JC came out of church and almost the first words were "Dad I want to get Baptized". So we read the bible and talked about what it meant and why. And he still wanted to. Sunday August 8th 2010 JC was Baptized.
Waiting his turn	Entering the pool	Confirmation of faith	Rising in Christ

Vacation Bible School
This will be the last year JC gets to attend VBS. He has aged out.
Below are pictures of the camp site project he created.
He was one of three to receive an award for his camp site.

Walt Disney 2010

We had a wonderful trip to Walt Disney World in early February.
We celebrated JC's Birthday.
Click here to see the hundreds of pictures.

Moved here November 17, 2010.

NC ZOO Trip
I took a Wednesday off work to accompany the childrens church group to the NC Zoo.
Besides it being blazing hot, it was fun.

The Bird Nest
We had a bird couple come and build a nest on our front porch.

The Nest	Momma Bird sitting	Mamma Bird	Again....
week two	week three	week four
	Baby Bird getting ready to leave		The empty nest

23rd Anniversary

	I took Robin and JC to Kings Dominion. I have no idea when or who took this picture with my phone.
	The Intimidator 305. This is looking up the start hill. 305 feet up. It takes 14 seconds for the ride to make it to the top.
	Looking across the second hill on the ride. This easily was the fastest ride I have ever ridden.

JC is now helping to mow the yard

	JC stopped for a smile while mowing.
	JC says "there is the mower".
	Push...Push...

Here is a picture of me in High School. Getting ready to return home after one of those "Band Trips", 1979.

Sprng is Here!!
Well we have had snow and cold and almost over night, things are blooming.

		Here are two of my favorite spring things. The trees bloom white and pretty. My favorite is the tree in front of the house.
	This was taken early in the winter. My Dad and Step Mom, JC and I went to hit golf balls. We paused for a unique picture.
	This is the MAD face. Can you tell?
	This is a picture I received from my Uncle Buddy. Guess where and when it was taken?

SNOW!!!
Last night when we went to bed it had started snowing.
Of course we prayed for more.
This morning when we woke up we had about 2 to 3 inches of snow.

Walt Disney October 2007

We had a wonderful trip to Walt Disney World in October 2007.
Click here to see the hundreds of pictures.

Moved here February 1, 2010

CHRISTMAS 2009

Here I am warming by the fire after to quote JC, "This was the best Christmas ever!!"

Christmas eve we opened two presents.

First present opened was from Erika my niece. She sure hit the mark with this one.
I had been looking at these for JC for science in school.
As I write this we have spent a couple hours working on the first fifteen out of 300 projects.

We also opened one other present that was a new drum head for his current snare drum.
This was the start of the image that we were upgrading his current drum set. No new drums this year.

After waking up I woke everyone and fixed us another famous breakfast.
After dishes were done, we continued opening our Christmas presents.

JC opened the new Cymbal stand for his drum set.
The thoughts being planted was that we were adding to his current drum set.

Next came two video games he had been asking for.
One was from Grandpa and Grandma, one was from me and Robin.

Next was perpetrating more by giving him a bag of new drum sticks.

Then I got to open a gift from Robin and JC, then another I really needed.

Robin got to open the present she forgot she was getting.

We all opened a few others that were great to receive. Thank you to all.

Then the fruad was perpetrated further opening another box that rattled and clanked.

JC was surprised to see the new base drum peddle and other mounting hardware.
At this point we told him this was for his NEW drum set. Get this and he said "for next year".
We told him no, that he needed to go look in the laundry room.

He went down stairs to the laundry room and started to uncover what he thought was it.

Here you can see the surprised JC, holding his hands to his face with surprise and tears,
as Robin helps to uncover the drums.

All that turned to joy and happiness. Here he is with the new Cymbal.

After some work putting the new drum set together.
JC finally gets to play his new drum set.

After lunch my sister, brother in law and nephew stopped by.

They had a couple of presents for JC. And a cake for us with cookies to share.

So JC got started opening presents. First was a Savings Bond, for which we are grateful.

Then came the wrapped package, and all the hands to help open it.
Turned out to be a Ball Glove and a Baseball.

Then there was an even further surprize. They had given an Amazon gift card to JC as well.
And of course JC said another game.

Moved here Friday December 25,2009

I received a picture from my friend Marty Van Blair. It is me as a Corporal 1981 in front of the band barracks.

Thanksgiving 2009
We had a great week. I was off work all week. I had to burn up vacation time since we are not allowed vacation in December. Due to a new software release at work and new CMS regulations taking affect Jan 01.

We ate Thanksgiving Dinner at my sisters house.
Note my sister's new dog in the lower right named "Stormy, Stormy, Stormy, Stormy....."

During the week:
Dad and I worked on a small project. We fixed some dresser drawers.
We hit golf balls one day.
Dad went with me to pick up the new Christmas Present for JC. Pictures will be seen after the big reveal.

Here is my Dad walking his cat.

It was a really good weeks visit. Dad and Step Mom spent time with me and Robin and JC.
We all really love and appreciate them both. Here are a few pictures:
The Family, Me, Dad and my Son click Here.

And if you want to see how Pumkin Pies are really made, click HERE.

To see a picture I took of JC at the Fair click HERE.

Moved here Saturday December 5, 2009

JC and I had an awesome walk tonight. We got around to the Fire Station and the Firemen were cleaning the trucks. So we stopped by and they gave JC a tour of the trucks. It was awesome.
Then the alarms went off and we got to see them jump into action and drive off sirens blaring. WOW!!

So this summer came and went. We stayed a week in N. Myrtle Beach again, and enjoyed it as always.
JC learned to Boogie Board and did very well at it. Here are some videos:
Video One, Video Two, Video Three, Video Four.

Pictures:
Click Here to see where we stayed. We stayed in the top right corner.
If you look South down the beach, or North up the beach.
The afternoons were pretty.
We enjoyed being together inside. Here is JC smiling.
Here is a picture of Robin and JC. Here is me and JC.
And of course there was the foot comparison. Can you tell whose is bigger?

Here are some on the beach pictures. Here is the ONE picture of Robin.
Here is JC in the surf. And here, here, here, here.

Moved here Friday August 14, 2009

Well I have not updated the site in a few months.
A lot has happened. Most recently, and I am excited about, are our recent excursions to the swimming pool.

JC finally got the courage to go off the diving boards.
Click HERE and HERE to see him jumping off the low dive.

After a little while he decided to jump off the High Dive.
Liek the proud Daddy I am I took several pictures.
Click HERE to see him up top, HERE to see him having jumped, HERE he hit the water.

Then before too long today, he was doing flips.
I wish I had the other camera so I could have taken video.

Moved here Sunday June 14,2009

Can you tell from this picture what is new in my life? This cost me a whopping $35.99 from here. You know you are getting older when those things you used to see clearly are no longer clear. I am amazed at how clear things look again. But I only need them for everything beyond arms reach or my immediate vacinity.

We also recently said good byes to Ms Bitsy. Our kitty cat for the last 15 1/2 years was put down Monday evening. We will miss her.

Click here to read this Prayer. it is The Marines Prayer. I thought it was Awesome.

New Updates to life!
I have an Uncle I have not spoken to in many years.
Due to turbutent family relations I lost contact with him and tried to find him many times.
There I was sitting at home and checked my email, and guess what.
I had an email from my Uncle Paul.
He had been successful in getting my email address and sent me an email.

Here are some pictures he has sent me.
Click Here to see my Uncle Paul and Cousin Chris
Uncle Paul's house
His motorhome with his wife my Aunt Connie

JC Turned Ten
Well JC has turned ten. We went out to dinner to our favorite Japanese Steakhouse.
He got taken to the Circus. And we got some awesome pictures taken.

JC Judging Others
This last Christmas JC played the part of Judge Thomas.
Months before I asked if he wanted to be in the play.
JC said he did. I told him to choose the part and try out.
He did and was selected for the part he wanted.
The play was called "The Christmas County Spelling Bee".
And in the play JC was the Judge. He did a wonderful job.
Before the play started I snapped a few pictures with my phone.
Look at how handsom he is by clicking Here, Here, and Here.

Moved here Feb 5th, 2009

My Beloved Taurus (Pic) is Donated!!
I know most people would try to sell their used cars.
Well in today's market what do you think you can get for a 1987 Ford Taurus?
Specially when it has 254533 miles, an oil leak, and a transmission that is becoming some what iffy.
My last full tank of gas got a whopping 133 miles.

Starting to determine the value in it self was monumental.
The Kelly Blue Book and NADA web sites do not provide data for anything older than 1989.
Both sites using the 1989 data said I could get $300 clean trade in, or $1400 clean sale. Right.
Of course the 1987 with it's issues did not classify it as a clean car, so the sale value would not work.
No plans of trade in, so that will not work.
What was left? Donation! We will get tax benefits out of a car of it's stature.

So I started searching Google for a good place to donate my car.
There were places for Kidneys, Livers, Pets, Eyes, Diabetes, Cancer, Children, Homeless, etc..
Then I found the Purple Heart Car Donation Program.

Being a medically retired veteran, with a big heart for those who served our country in the military.
I found the perfect organization to donate my beloved Taurus.

So I filled out their on-line donation form.
They called me and we arranged for pickup of my beloved Taurus.

The car runs good, considering, and started right up.
Then the tow truck driver drove it onto the tow truck.
This is where the video comes in.
The driver then worked to fasten it down as we waved by by,
as pictured here, here, here, and here, with me pictured literally having just arrived home from work.

After a Thank you! The driver then climbed into his truck.
And we watched as he drove away as pictured here, here, and here.
Thus ending another chapter in Wakeman history on Sept 24, 2008.

Moved here Sept 24, 2008

Recent Laptop Issues:
I have been going through issues with my laptop.
And after lots of troubles I think I finally figured it out.  
As I am typing this on my laptop.
It started a couple weeks ago my mouse pad and keyboard started responding very slow.
I could not type one five letter word in less than two minutes.
I knew I had a virus.  So I started pursuing it.

I found some new tools and determined I had a RootKit virus.
The RootKit installs itself into the registry.  
The purpose of the RootKit is to hide the virus.
So no matter what you do, there is no seeing the virus.

So I erased the hard drive and deleted the partitions, which made it look like two hard drives. Re formatted and re-added the partitions.  Reloaded the restore disks.

At this point if there was ever any software problems or viruses they would have been gone, gone.

But still had the same problems.  Every once in a while after re-installing I would make a
change and everything would work.
So I figured I had it.  Not even close.

So I uninstalled everything one at a time and rebooted.  Every once in
a while I would think I got it, then nope not yet.

Then in one of my tribulations of "can't shut down" I removed the battery.

Amazingly after the reboot everything worked.  So test drive and install
something all is good. Put the battery back in and reboot.  Nope nothing works.

I talked with a friend at work, and he said the battery could be
shorting out, causing the hardware to not work.

So I came home and took the battery out.  Works great, put it in nothing works.

So after almost three weeks of no laptop.
I finally think I figured it out.  The stupid battery is going dead.

I still have not gotten close to re-installing everything.
I have found a great price of $40 for a battery, and hopefully the problem is solved.

RootKit virus?  I am starting to think it was a false positive.
The lesson here is, when the laptop starts to not work.
Take the battery out.  If it works, get a new battery.

UPDATE:
I found a replacement battery on eBay. Received it today (Wednesday).
Plugged it into my laptop. Booted the laptop and everything is working great.
Confirmation it was the battery.