AOL users and some others, some High Definitions videos may not play on AOL browsers..try opening up Internet Explorer and pasting the following url in the address bar. www.otr.studio221.net

 

NELSON'S NOTES #78

Fun N Sun, San Benito, Texas, Dec. 23, 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BRUCE AND MARIANNA

May your "sack" also be full this holiday season

 

Also, let 2009 be the year in which the world community takes great strides to make human lives better. My hero in this regard is Greg Mortenson. In 1993, after a thwarted climbing expedition in Pakistan, Greg was trekking through the mountains--sick, exhausted, and lost. He ended up in a Pakistani village where he was nursed back to health. As he got to know the villagers, he was inspired to help them build schools, especially for girls. In his book, Three Cups of Tea--One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, his work spread to other villages where he has set up over 60 schools that have educated over 25,000 girls. To learn more and be truly inspired, visit: threecupsoftea.com and read Mortenson's book.

 

 

HIDALGO'S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

 

These Chinese lions, two of the outstanding displays at the Festival of Lights, are made of 8,000 medicine bottles filled with colored water and individually attached with wire. Light bulbs inside the frameworks shine through the bottles.

 

This year we had the good fortune to go to the festival when "Estudiantina Guadalupana" was performing. This professional group from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, consists of three generations of strolling minstrels dressed like this young member.

The performers sang in Spanish and were in constant motion. To the audience's delight, the boys sometimes performed in the aisles. Their voices were amazingly strong and beautiful and they used expressive hand motions that were fun to watch.

 

 

THE BOOK IS PUBLISHED!

Click here to see the press release:

 

The Writers Group at Fun N Sun finished Fun N Sun ~ Then N Now this fall after working on it for 2 ½ years. In November we ordered 350 books and distributed most of them to those who'd paid last spring, sight-unseen; the remaining copies were bought immediately. To see information about the book, go to lulu.com/content/4932781.

You may also order the book at the Lulu site; the cost is $17.95 plus shipping. In addition, the Writers Group is taking orders through Jan. 31 for the convenience of residents in the park. The cost is $17.95 and shipping is courtesy of the Writers Group.

For Carolyn Ross, one of the book's 10 editors, popping bubble wrap is how her family celebrates important events. To see the editors celebrate the book's publication with a bubble-wrap-popping party, click on this link: http://www.studio221.net/dadtv/ and then click on History Writers picture on the right-hand side. (You'll need high-speed Internet to see the video.)

 

 

"WILD" AWARD

In October Bruce submitted "The Computer Fix-It Shop," one of the scenes from RV Park: The Movie, to the WILD Film Festival in McAllen, Texas. He forgot all about it until 3 weeks ago when he received an e-mail from Tom Fuschetto, the English and drama instructor at Texas State College who started WILD (Writers In Literary Discussion) a few years ago. To his surprise, it was an invitation to accept an award at the WILD awards ceremony on Dec. 5.

 

Tom Fuschetto gives Bruce the award for "Best Technical Achievement"

 

 

DON SCOTT'S GOLF-CART PROJECT

 

Don, a full-time resident at Fun N Sun, is making his golf cart look like an antique car. He calls the project "my nightmare." When I walked by his place last summer and fall, I thought his cart looked pretty snazzy. One time I was sure he had almost finished whatever he was doing to it, but the next time I walked by, it looked stripped down again. Maybe he'd hit a snag. When I asked what he was doing, this is what he said:

"The project started because I have chronic pain and need something to keep my mind off the pain, get me through the days, and allow me to sleep at night. It's a slow project because I have to do most of the work from a handicapped scooter and have had to construct a movable, tiltable frame to allow me to work underneath.

 

First, I sketched a combination golf cart converted to an old-car look.
The project has gone way overboard since then, and I may never complete it.

 

I started with a 1996 Club Car Electric Golf Cart

 

"I built the rear body to include a removable trunk lid with a T-shaped handle and hinges. It can be removed when the seat is in use and it covers the rear seats when they're not being used. The rear seat will be mounted so that passengers will face the rear, as in old-style seating, rather than the front.

"The front body will have a hood assembly to allow for access to the fuse panel and the front end for repairs. It will include simulated grills and a chrome look-alike radiator shell and radiator cap mounted on top to carry out the old-car theme. The body will be painted dark red and the fenders will be black, as will any accessories.

"I hope to lower and rake back the existing windshield somewhat so it will look like an old car. The existing top will be modified and altered so it will rake back with the windshield and simulate a padded convertible top covered in black material.

"I am removing the existing cover over the steering column and either covering with a stainless cover or polishing the existing aluminum column to resemble a chromed cover. The turn signal wiring along the column will be covered with polished aluminum "C" channel so there are no loose wires showing.

"These are the things I (Don) have added or changed so far:

  • Purchased new 10" offset metal wheels with 20"X9"X10" tires.
  • Purchased new super sport type hub caps (1960's Chevrolet type )
  • Extended the front suspension 2" to allow for tires rubbing on body.
  • Purchased and installed 2" spacers ont he front wheels to match the rear wheel width.
  • Purchased and installed 1 5/8" wheel lug spacers on all 4 wheels to clear frame.
  • Cut off existing rear body to clear the new body that I built.
  • Removed the existing front body to make major changes and allow for the new body to be built.
  • Converted the forward and reverse shift switch on front of battery box to a floor-mounted lever similar to an old car shift with an old antique style glass shift knob and boot assembly.
  • Purchased "T" handle and breakdown hinges for trunk.
  • Purchased a wood-grained dash with locking compartment doors.
  • Purchased a 48-Volt battery meter mounted in dash to show power left in batteries.
  • Purchased a small deep cycle 12 volt handicapped scooter battery to power all added needs.
  • Purchased a volt and ampere meter for the 12 volt accessory battery that powers all lights and turn signals and horn that are mounted in dash.
  • Added a solenoid connected to key switch to isolate 12 volt battery circuits and keep them from being on all the time.
  • Purchased a power, battery charger, lighter supply plug in to be mounted in dash to allow for charging and powering any needed accessories .
  • Purchased and replaced the original dash control switch with an auto type so that not everyone has a key for (Factory only uses 3 keys for all years of Club Car).
  • Replaced the original light switch with a heavy duty unit for additional lighting.
  • Purchased a floor mounted horn button.
  • Purchased turn signal unit to be mounted on steering column.
  • Purchased an old style OOGAH horn to carry on the old car theme.
  • Purchased a fuse panel to allow for additional 12 volt circuits.
  • Purchased "LED" tail light assemblies to allow for extended battery life.
  • Purchased old style round head lights to be mounted on sides of dummy radiator shell.
  • Purchased front small lights to be used as front turn signals to be mounted on dummy radiator shell.
  • Purchased and converted a 1956 Chevrolet brake light switch to automatically work when brakes are applied.
  • Purchased and installed old car style wood grained steering wheel assembly.
  • Purchased and will be installing 2 new seat assemblies for front of car and rumble seat area.
  • Purchased and will be installing old car style bumpers made of aluminum to look chromed.
  • Purchased and will be installing fenders that look old style.
  • Will be making fender skirts for rear fenders.
  • Will be installing (LAKE PIPES) old style exhaust running along lower body sides."

 

##

Marianna Nelson