Dad the Builder
Ned 01 April 2012
I never appreciated my dad's job. When I was young, his line of work only meant that I had a never-ending supply of cruel and interesting chores. I remember getting the tedious jobs that required no constant supervision on the part of my parents. Hauling dirt, scraping years of old paint, scrubbing walls, picking up debris. My childhood didn't set me up to really appreciate the things my dad can do.
At 70 years old, my dad made the 3 day drive to Georgia, bringing his tools along. He then set out to overhaul our house. He removed the tangled mess of vines from the carport. He sealed the water leaks in the skylights. He replaced old, worn siding, and nailed down all the rest to tighten it up. He painted a new coat of stain, giving the house several more years before we need to decide whether to take on the expense of new siding. He fixed the lights and windshield wipers on my car. But, perhaps the best thing he did was use his experience and knowledge to hunt down great prices for all the equipment we'd need to get the jobs done. He had me take him to estate sales, then he scoped out the local construction retailers that we didn't even know to look for. He knew exactly what we could use, and how to get it. And he saved us thousands of dollars in the process.
He climbed up on layers of scaffolding and ladders, battled the persistent and pervasive carpenter bees, and marveled at the oppressiveness of the humidity (poor little desert man - it wasn't even humid, by our standards). At night he ate dinner with us, and a few times we sat down to go over old photos so he could relate the stories for me to record. And then he went out and forged a social life.
I guess I have a new respect for my dad. He's old and a bit frailer than he ever was, but it doesn't stop him from really living. I've always had a lot of objections about the lifestyle he chose for himself, but after watching him for the month that he was here, I can't help but envy him a little bit. There are some really great things in that obnoxious old man. Things worth emulating.
We sent him off this morning, with a bag of sandwiches and a bunch of fruit, and a newly pressure-washed car. He left a little broken down and thoroughly exhausted, but I'm so grateful for what he did for me, for my family and my home. I'm glad that he made his mark in the home we chose to settle down in. It puts a little bit of legacy into it, and binds the place to us a little more. I'm especially grateful to have these memories of my father now, to overshadow the negativity from the past. It was a really great visit.
Pascarella Descendants
Kyle Watts 10 March 2012
Some useful links to keep track of the descendants of Nick Pascarella.
Nick Pascarella (b.16 Jul 1903 in Ohio, m. age 21, d. 5 Mar 1988 age 84) m. Rose Marie ?, then m. Jul 1961 to Nora (McGriff), b. 17 Mar 1925, 36 yo when they married (?).
Note: 1930 Census shows Nick and Rose married and living in HickoryTwp., Lawrence County, PA with children Alice M. (25 mos, Apr 1928) and Josephine (4 mos, Jan 1930). States Nick age at last birthday 25, age when married 21, born in Ohio and parents born in Italy. Nick a butcher at that time. States Rose was 20, married at age 16, born in Pennsylvania and parents born in Poland.
Note: 1910 Census shows Nick's parents were named Mike (38 in 1910) and Alice (35 in 1910). Several siblings, Nick oldest.
Note: Social Security Death Index shows Rose M. Pascarella b. 23 Sep 1909, d. 15 Mar 1994, SSN issued in PA between 1958-1960, last residence 30906 zip code. SSN 205-32-2397.
Note: Florida Divorce Index shows a Nick and Rose Pascarella divorced Jun 1961 in Dade county, FL. Shows marriage certificate issued to a Nick Pascarella in July 1961, same year.
Note: Nora referenced as sister of Everett Shamblin (obit) who died in 2001 at age 81. b. 1920?
Note: Nora referenced as mother of Larry J. Schlagenhauser (obit) who died in 2007 at age 61. b. 1946? All Larry's brothers have surname McGriff. Believe McGriff was Nora's married name, first marriage, at time of second marriage to Nick?
Bizarre note about Schlagenhauser: MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Funeral Services for Mr. Gary D. Cook, Sr., 73, of Vinson Highway, Milledgeville, GA, who entered into rest August 28, 2010, will be conducted Thursday morning at 11 o'clock from the Posey Funeral Chapel. Dr. Kelly McKnight, Jr. officiating. Interment in Sunset Memory Gardens with veterans honors. Mr. Cook was a native of Charlotte, NC, a former resident of Augusta prior to moving to Milledgeville four years ago. He was a Vietnam Veteran having served in the U. S Army and U. S. Air Force. Mr. Cook was a retired truck driver and a member of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thalia Hallman Cook and a daughter, Anne Cook. Survivors include eight sons, Van Trimnal, Dean Cook, Buddy Cook, Timothy Cook, Daniel Cook, Nick Schlagenhauser, Larry Schlagenhauser and Drew Gaddy; three daughters, Nora Lord, Laura Ross and Rebekah Cook; seventeen grandchildren; a dear friend, Johnnie Guthrie.
Children:
Edward Pascarella, VP of Western Sizzlin after Nick's death in 1988, with mother Nora. Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Elaine m. Kirk Mickley. Evans, GA
Josephine (Pascarella) m. Charles A. Morris. Lived in 1749 Goshen Rd. Obit "associated with Western Sizzlin for many years"
Dorothy (Pascarella) m. ? Frayer, then George Christen (obit). Died at age 75, buried Dec 19, 2010. Obit
Son Gilbert Frayer m. Kimberly. Crested Butte, CO
Daughter Bonnie m. Cary Schwab. Vienna, VA
Grandchildren (mostly unknown whether children of Frayers or Schwabs):
Leah m. BJ Predum. Children Shay and Jasmine
Janna m. Tyler Hansen. Child Micah
Lauren m. Marc Grunberg
Kristina (Schwab)
Ah, Augusta!
Ned 16 December 2011
The chapter of my life that was Maryland is now closed. I often remarked that I spent many lives there, with all that I've seen and done. It was a lesson in growth, and change, and courage... a successful venture, I feel. And now I'm left with the bones of that life - enough to build a new creature.
Always Plan to Have a Floor
... weightlessness is so fickle ...
I digested the mountain of pictures and videos that we took of the Kawm#, and with a little quick magic I think I got fairly close to the right dimensions on the floorplans. Read the rest of the article to get a general idea of the layout for the house and the theatre/hof/media room/whatever you want to call it.
Househunting in the Georgian Outback
Kyle Watts 31 October 2011
I having successfully avoided the headsman's axe by shaving off a few inches around the tummy, we were finally able to take a trip down to Georgia. Although we stodgily insisted that we were keeping our options open, it was no secret that we had one specific target --- Burning Tree.
