Synopsis
I moved back into my old half of a single wide at 266 South Roscoe Boulevard in Palm Valley in January of 1986. I forget who was in the other half, it may have been vacant. The rent was still $100 a month for each side. Sal and Helen Tolerico, the landlords, who lived next door, had sold their house and moved to North Carolina, down the mountain a little ways from Mother and Dad. Sal's son Todd, and his wife Vicki, and Vicki's sons, Robby and Mike, lived in a trailer at the back of our property, which I believe was about 15 acres. We had an artesian well that put out 40 to 50 pounds of pressure. Our trailer was on a shallow well, which provided sulfur water. Later Rusty's girlfriend, Debbie (AKA "Deaf Debbie"), and my girlfriend Camille, conspired to deprive us of their intimate company (Lysistrata?) until we installed an aerator to get rid of the sulfur smell. There was an aerator there, and we had it hooked up within a week. I had to replace the plumbing for the trailer after the great freeze of Christmas Eve, 1989, and was able to hook up to the artesian well then. In return for cheap rent, I did all the repairs on the property, including installing a drainfield for the septic tank in 1993. I made many improvements to the property while I lived there including a doghouse in a pen, a very popular swing in the front, a deck I built mostly from scrap wood scavenged at the dump and from Nell Johnson's garage in Mayport (George and I cleaned out her garage, I also trimmed her trees, and put up a fence for her), 2 adjoining sheds where we would get on the roofs sometimes at night and get cosmic, 2 8X15 or so concrete pads that I built from 2X2 squares I formed up during concrete pours, a pet graveyard, a small garden, a chain link fence drive gate with grape vines that I crashed through without brakes not once, but twice in the big Ford 4X, a pole shed and bench for plants and light work, and a travel trailer I bought from Fred Carlson for $500 (I parked it in front of and to the south side of the single wide, and extended the deck as a walkway to its door). The single wide had an electrical short somewhere, I never could find it. I installed an extra ground pole, but you could still feel a little tingle when you touched the metal skin of the trailer.
I did a lot of tree work while living here and would sometimes have to back my trailer into the yard. I had to do it quickly as we lived just south of a curve and people flew down Roscoe Boulevard. It was sketchy, but I got pretty good at it and luckily, never got smashed. Occasionally, I would unload tree brush in the dirt driveway and burn it to save going to the dump, which was 20 miles a way and cost $30 a ton. The engine in the 4X Ford blew up while George and Big Phil Edwards were driving it back from a fence job near Philips Highway. I made a deal with Diesel Bob Mays to buy an old truck from him and put the engine in my truck. I think the deal was if he would help me put in the engine, he could have his truck back and sell it for parts.
Many things happened during this era. I am going to list events by date for now and write stories later.
1986
Fletcher Gainey and his sons live next door
Susan and her Mom live next door
1/28 Challenger blows up
Work at Ward's Landing, Pete's Bar, trim trees, pour concrete, some security work
Joann Garner and I get up in the middle of the night to stargaze at the Guano Dam.
I drive the 1964 white Ford flatbed truck up to North Carolina and tow back the green Ford 4X
I have a party for the 4X truck 6/15
Max and Linda visit, also Deborah Crow
Bill Lampp visits
I keep Anna in July
Anna goes to Alice Andersons Nursery, I trade tree work for day care.
Pat and Sharon Hodel visit in October and attend Mother and Dad's Coast to Coast slide show party 10/19
I fly to my last Soldier of Fortune magazine convention in Las Vegas, in October, George and Vicki keep the squirrels and Madam and Blackie.
Barry Shaw does my taxes for 1986
I go to the ARCVLSC 75th annual banquet at the Flag Pavilion in Jax Beach.
1987
Randy leaves in March, Andy waits at Florida Boulevard for him and Tidda to come back from the bank in the Fiesta
I take Randy's green Chevrolet flatbed truck (which he left loaded with brush) to Ronnie Bass' junkyard in Palm Valley. Andy and I help clean up Randy's apartment for landlord, Joe Bullard
Joann Garner and I ride sweep for the inaugral MS 150 bike ride September 26 and 27 in my 4x Ford
I am on the BOD of the Palm Valley Community Association.
I lead a Sierra Club hike at Lake Guano and host a party afterward. Blackie chases a ball until I have to put him up
Bill Lampp rents the other side of the trailer. I am renting the whole trailer now and subletting the other half
Max and Linda visit
Blackie is poisoned and dies at the vet's office. Axel calls to tell me at 8:30 pm. I took him to the vet in the back seat of the Firebird
I go to an NRA pistol shooting school in Tallahasse November 26 - 30, try to have dinner with Brooke, who is attending FSU. Madam (and Blackie?) go too, and we stay at a campground in the Ford 4X
1988
Rocky joins the family in February
Drive down to Crystal River to visit Mother and Dad, walk the levee
Rusty moves in next door early in the year
Date Allison White briefly
Buy 1974 Ford van from Coyd Cross, 6/7/1988
Participate in a Doberman rescue club, place Dobermans in new homes
I give the 1964 Ford flatbed truck to Andy Davis
I buy Randy's old flatbed trailer from Jimmy Rogers for $350
I give a rape prevention talk at the Pace Center for Girls
I sell the Firebird to Karen Montoya in the summer or fall?
Making payments to IRS for back taxes
First date with Camille - Accidental Tourist - 12/88?
In early 1988, Rusty Johnston and I go to the Palm Valley Fish Camp where Roscoe Boulevard meets the Intercoastal Waterway. The bridge there was known as the clatter bridge as that was the sound vehicles made when going over the drawbridge part in the middle. We would go there for lunch or dinner and to get out and about. There was a medium size brown dog running loose outside the bar/restaurant. I threw a ball for him a few times before we went home. Over the next 3 weeks whenever I went to the fish camp, the dog was still there running loose. I asked the bartender about him and he said someone had left him there. Madam, my Doberman had recently lost her buddy, Blackie, to poisoning, so I was open to getting her a new friend. I took the new male dog home and named him Chomper as he had a serious overbite. A month or so later after taking Chomper to the vet, I got a phone call from the bartender at the fish camp. He told me the guy who left Chomper there was at the bar. He had gotten drunk coming back to Jax from Daytona, and forgot to take the dog with him when he left. Later he couldn’t remember where he had left the dog. I went down to to the fish camp and met the fellow. I asked him if he wanted the dog back. He said I would take better care of him (his given name was Rocky) and that I could keep him. I offered him $100 to pay for previous vet visits. He said to just give him $50. I was amazed and impressed and gave him $50 cash and never saw the fellow again. Rocky was a very good dog and lived with me for another 10 years before succumbing to old age.
1989
Doberman Rescue
IRS loses a payment check and takes my bank account - chapped, see Haden McCormick and his accountant at IRS office downtown Jax
Pour concrete driveway for Mrs. Swanson, possibly last concrete pour, dogs chase one of her cats up a tree, I have to put on climbing gear and retrieve cat (Jerry Pilcher lived next door and reminded me of this story)
Grandmother Fry passes away in January
Help teach Cuong Nhu children's classes
Rusty lives next door, dating Deaf Debbie
Make fireworks run to South Carolina with Andy
Winter Beach 5 mile run: 39:01
Go to Rolling Stones Steel Wheels concert in Gator Bowl with Camille, Jennifer Hammock, and Allison Armstrong 11/25
Pete's Bar Halloween golf tournament
Spring shuttle launch - Camille, Andy Davis, Frank Celler,Mary Hess (Ian)
Fall - shuttle launch
1/16 hernia and vasectomy surgery - Dr. Jagadish
Pete's Bar softball team
Great Christmas eve freeze - hot water pipes in trailer froze and broke. Drove 4X crewcab from Pete's to 16th Avenue South on the beach in the snow to take Kenny Stokes home
Spent a week on my back under the trailer replacing all the plumbing
Ride along with JSO - Jimmy Johnston
Farming in the woods behind the stables
Safety Tips talk to Seniors by the Sea at the Methodist Church, 7th Avenue N Jax Bch
Shoot out neighbor's window (accidentally) when dog keeps barking (I'm not 100% sure it was during this time, but I know it happened)
Camille and David visit Mother and Dad in Crystal River with Rocky and Madam
1990
Camille and David
Pete's Bar Halloween golf tournament - I am Popeye, Camille is Olive Oyl, Frank is Bluto
St. Johns County grand jury 11/90 to 5/12/91 - Amy Blount and one other capital case
Lessons with Jennifer Hammock - once a week martial arts - $20 - learned Nhu One soft style form
Fireworks run to SC
Palm Valley Community Association BOD
10 year anniversary party 12/1
Cook at Ward's landing into Spring 1991
1991
Second Chance Boys home next door - taught martial arts to boys
Cook at Ward's Jan, Feb, March?
Private lesson with Master Ngo Dong in park in Gainesville
Take brown belt test, probational promotion
California trip with Madam middle of May to the middle of June
Retrieve last of my goods from storage in Sacramento
Camille breaks up with me @ end of June - depressed for a year +
Counselling - Roger Wilde, Carmen Rich, Michael Kowalski
Join Unity Church in St. Augustine
Mother and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary in December
Date Gerry Buik, Carolyn Johnson, Tine Harris
1992
Christ Unity church BOD - secretary
Second Chance Boys home next door
Give van to Andy Davis
2 trips to SC for fireworks for the 4th
Buy dune buggy 4/23
Big Phil's out of prison party 5/23
Date Carolyn Johnson, aka Blondie
8/8/92 Party to raise money for Madam's hip operation in Gainesville
Work as stagehand with Mary Hess
October - back in Lifesaving Corps
October - buy 1979 black Ford truck from Mark Justice
Karen McAlear calls in September, we don't go to a Chet Atkins concert
Karen, Rocky, Madam, and I go to North Carolina to visit Mother and Dad, by way of Tybee Island to see George
Rosemary, Anna, and Edwin stay in the travel trailer Christmas Eve
1993
Seance in Mary's apartment to hoot Randy back, Jennifer and Frank there too
Randy comes back from Arkansas with Hickory a week or so before our wedding (I wrote to his Mother in Houston about Karen and I getting married)
Rusty Johnston in other 1/2 of trailer
Karen and David live in 1/2 of a single wide
Suki and Dryfus live in the travel trailer
Mel Wilson helps me install a new drainfield for our septic tank
I receive surfman of the year with the Lifesaving Corps and am elected to Quartermaster for 1994
Karen and I are married 5/15/93
Go on honeymoon to Costa Rica in July, get bumped off flight in Orlando, get 2 free tickets and go back in 1994
We file taxes jointly
Mother and Dad move to an apartment at Cypress Village in 1994
Almost the last year in the fireworks business, reprimanded for selling w/o a license
800 Acre Investment Group initiates destruction of Palm Valley via Sanchez Grant - now Odom's Mill, Plantation Oaks, and Sawmill Lakes
Pass the parking lot duties at Ward's Landing to Eric Goodling
Karen sells her condo at Shadowood
Move to DeLeon Shores at 105 Dolphin Boulevard East at the end of the year
August 7, 2010
Billie Richardson moves into other half of trailer.
