Sunday, December 31, 2017

Time Of My Life (2017 Review)

Someone said you can tell a lot about a person by looking at his checkbook? Feel free to look at mine- I have nothing to hide and it is pretty boring. I think you can tell a lot about a person by looking back where he spent his time last year. I took photos off my  phone, added the dates, and put it to a song to show you not only how fast this past year went, but to show  you how blessed I am. (some did not want photos taken- and you will notice gaps in dates) I have so much to be thankful for and am thankful for those memories that have turned to Gold already. I am also thankful for little wasted time- thankful I could spend time with those I love this past year.  This song was composed 30 years ago- but I can say "I've had the Time of My Life in 2017 and look forward to what God has for me next year. Happy New Year and may 2018 be the time of your life.
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" is a 1987 song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz.  It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and used as the theme song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. It was 30 years ago on Christmas Day we moved to East Wenatchee. That too has been the time of my life, and could be another video. It is the longest we have lived in one place and I am thankful for those memories as well. 

Sunday, December 24, 2017

30 Christmas's In East Wenatchee

December 25th, 1987 we moved to East Wenatchee on Christmas Day. Those 30 years have gone by so fast and we have so many good memories. I wanted to share some of those Christmas photos with you as well as share some of my favorite Christmas Songs. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and if your photo is not in our video,  it is in our hearts. If you don't like the music, just wait as I tried to play favorites from my growing up years and I hope one is yours.
My family picture taken Christmas 1966 in Tacoma, Wa
Christmas 1975 in Grand Coulee, Wa. 
Our pets Tabitha and Heidi are in front and
 Jan is wearing a Maternity top I think. 
 Remember the 8 track players and the albums?
Christmas 1988-
 notice the bear Jan made for me that year- I still have it. 
Jessica spent Christmas with us that year- our first full Christmas in East Wenatchee on 11th St.




Thursday, December 7, 2017

Merry Christmas 2017

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with memories that will last for a long time. I appreciate those who take time to jot a short note this time of year to remind us you are fine. The hardest part of sending out cards is to see those names who are not with us this year. This is our 12th video and this  years video is set to the music, "Silent Night" and highlights this past year. Please take this as our wish for you to have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. I only wish we could sit down and visit, one on one.
2017
Merry Christmas
From the Hendricks Family
Christmas is a Special time of year
A Season giving hope and good cheer
 Hoping we  hear from friends, far and near
So grateful for memories we made this past year
This is our twelfth Video, and thirtieth Christmas Letter
Dennis is still plowing snow but has retired from paint striper
Jan taught at Royal Family Camp, but retired as nursery director
Janice has her spinning wheel, quilts and art entered in Chelan fair
Dennis has 233 videos on youtube, doing Facebook, and a blogger
We so Enjoyed a 17 day cruise through Panama Canal this summer
A Silverwood trip last August, and a boat trip to Stehikin last October
Drove to North Dakota for family reunion with a drive through Glacier
A Youth circus in April and the DuCette family reunion in September
Time spent with grandkids, car races,  and a monthly church greeter
We Can’t forget Mouse our cat, and Barney and Squeaky, our conure
We Hope you are Healthy, Happy, Blessed and all Ok,  is our prayer
God Bless you with another Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dennis and Janice Hendricks

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

I have Hope- Forever Young

Please allow me to post an old video to the song "I Have Hope" by Dallas Holm- one of my favorite songs to a video made back in 2010. I do not know what any year will hold, but I know who holds the future, and I have Hope and am trusting in The Lord. I wanted to combine several videos so I could reduce blogs of my birthdays. This came from a 2013 blog and this blog was most viewed birthday blog of me. There was one comment left on that blog that I posted below in Memory of Rick Klinge who has since passed on. Click on the Arrow to view video.
Thank you for your birthday wishes- its good to know I have so many friends and their sense of humor. I can’t remember being born, by my mom insists I was. It takes a long time to grow up. 
We actually each only have one birthday in a lifetime, we just celebrate that same birthday over and over- actually the more times, the better. Today I can again celebrate that day. So far, this is the oldest I have ever been. I was actually born in Virginia, Minnesota- and in 18 days I can say I have lived 30 years in East Wenatchee.  I made this video- sadly the title is not true, although it is a nice wish; “Forever Young”.  Sure I know it is nine years old, but not much has happened in the pasts nine years either- so check out the video and have a good day. My hair was not as gray back then, I think?

I would like to share today's devotional with you from Moments Together for Couples by Dennis and Barbara Rainey-
Making the Most of it All - Eph. 5:15,16

Someday when the kids are gone, there will be plenty of ice cream just for Barbara and me. I won't find the can of herseys chocolate on the lower shelf, empty with a sticky bottom. We will return to a small refrigerator and eat on the antique table we used when we were first married.
Cars will be clean again.. The floorboard won't be covered with sunday school papers or petrified McDonalds french fries. And gum, legos, matchbox cars, doll combs and even fishhooks won't be smushed in the carpet.
Doors will be shut, and I won't have to go through the house turning off every light. We won't stumble over herds of teddy bears, dolls, and stuffed animals grazing or napping on the carpet.

Fewer tools will be lost. No frantic search parties at bedtime for lost blankets. Socks will miraculously find their mates, and the car keys will be right where I left them.
But other things will have changed too.

When the kids are gone, we won't hear the pitter patter of little feet running down the hallway, then feel a warm, wiggly body crawliung into bed and snuggling with us early on Saturday morning.
No more little girl, frilly Easter dresses or first days of school. no winter picnics or log cabin playhouses.no more fishing or hunting trips or wiener roasts for just goofing around with a childish and in mine.
Someday there will be no more handmade Fathers Day cards or wooden plaques titled "Worlds best Mom". No more crayon drawings, verses and stick people drawn on construction paper and displayed on the refrigerator.
So Until that day arrives, we're going to cherish our moments together. We're going to try to take seriously, but happily the apostle Pauls' counsel, "Making the most of your time"
Sticky or not.


Have a great birthday Dennis. I am aging faster then you as I have had three transplants, a heart and two stem cell transplants. Now I am aging just about as fast as a dog. I am starting to look like one too. Have fun playing Laser Tag with Trent.
Rick
ReplyDelete



Friday, November 10, 2017

Happy Anniversary Mark and Maureen Johnson

Happy Anniversary to Mark and Maureen Johnson. We don't celebrate anniversaries enough- and I am thankful for ones like this who we can share some memories together, pray for each other, and be encouraged by their examples.  Never stop working on your marriage or take each other for granted. Lead On- May God grant you Many More Happy Anniversaries.
Best 20+ Happy anniversary funny ideas on Pinterest | Anniversary funny, Anni...
Nov. 11th is the official Anniversary Date- not the 10th- sorry.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Forever Young- (Paint Striping)


I have enjoyed the past 14 years working on striper crew.  I started in 2003. The last of the original crew I worked with retires next month. One has passed on. One is now a superintendent (who I have gone to work for) and three are lead techs, one is a radio operator in Yakima,  the rest retired. They have a great new crew and next week they select a new lead tech. This is my 17th video I have made on striping crew- the first one  in 2005 called Real Men of Genius.   It is time to move on. Thanks to all who made those years so special.
1000+ images about Maxine...JOKES on Pinterest | Jokes, Humor and Snowed in

Friday, September 8, 2017

Big Grand Coulee Dam

46 years ago today,  Sept. 8th, 1971- my parents moved to Coulee Dam; from Fife Washington. My Dad worked on the 3rd powerhouse as a carpenter. I had to look on the map to see where it was and I finished my last two years of high school there. I really met some special people there, including my wife who I married in 1974- over 43 years ago.  Its been interesting to hear of some of the history of Grand Coulee Dam from our 50 year class reunion site- I added a few photos of that area to an old Woodie Guthrie song that would be played before KFDR radio went of the air at sunset each night. The government actually paid Woodie to write this song- guess I can only hope I get paid for making this video.
Above-This was what the Dam looked like most of the time we lived there in High School- I actually never worked on Dam; my dad and my brother did. And we actually did not arrive in Coulee Dam until Sept. 10th as the mobile home mover decided to leave us 17 miles short of Coulee Dam due to another flat tire. We slept across from the now Steamboat Rock Entrance and my dad arranged for a mover from Wenatchee to  haul us the rest of the way in. 
I don't recall how coulee dam looked before the Dam was built, so here is a photo for us to see. Not sure the year taken?                         
  this was done before I moved there-so can't blame that on me
Jan and I taken in 1973, below Dam
Here are five fun facts about this very cool place to visit.
1. Grand Coulee Dam measures in at 550 feet high from base to top. The original plan was for a low dam to be built that would be just over half that high at 290 feet tall. At that height, it would’ve produced electricity but would not have contributed to the irrigation system that the surrounding area relies on.
2. Due to the rising water behind Grand Coulee Dam, known now as Lake Roosevelt or Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake, more than 3,000 people had to be relocated, many of them Native Americans.
3. The reservoir behind Grand Coulee was officially recognized as full on June 1, 1942 when the first water flowed over the dam’s spillway.
4. The Columbia River Treaty is a treaty between the United States and Canada that allows for water storage where backed up water of the Columbia River behind Grand Coulee Dam extends north of the Canadian’s border.
5. 1952 saw the United States Post Office issue a commemorative Grand Coulee Dam stamp with a face value of three cents.


Monday, August 21, 2017

Happy Days Are Here Again-(Silverwood Theme Park 2017)

 This video was our trip to Silver wood Theme Park, as well as "Get Ai"r at North town Mall, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sleep Inn to the song Happy Days are Here Again. We really had a great time and highly recommend each of those business's we visited.  I hope your summer was as great and went a bit slower than ours did.




Saturday, August 5, 2017

Happy Retirement Mr. Major Highway Line Painter

It is going to be hard not to have Al Willms part of our crew, when he officially retires after 15 years on August 15th, after  working with me on striping crew and many of the winters in maintenance. He actually started on striping crew before I came on full time by a year- (in photo below) I had several suggested songs to use for him, but I don't think he would have liked "take this job and shove it", or Oney by Johnny Cash- so here are two short  retirement songs and a few of the photos over the years.(I actually could not fit them all in song) I certainly wish you the best in your retirement- and thanks again for all  you have done for the crew and for our region in your work over the years- you are a Real men of Genius.
above photo was taken in 2002 and below photo was taken July of 2017 near Winthrop
above photo was taken in Maui a few years ago when we met up with him and his wife
We always had fun on the job- Going to Miss Al!
Retirement is a big decision- I am undecided on my plans. There are many who "I sure hope they do not retire for a long time." My brother sent me this clipping of a man who has been working for 75 years with American Airlines- wow! Hats off to his employer as well- many do not know how to keep someone that long or want to.  His wife's advice is pretty amazing too.
Age is just a number – from Al Blackman
In the July issue of American Way, Azriel "Al" Blackman, a JFK-based crew chief, reflects on his 75 years of service as an aviation maintenance technician at American. Read the full letter below and be sure to check out the video of Al's special anniversary celebration.
I could start this column by telling you how much I love my job working in Aircraft Maintenance. I could tell you that it's never really felt like a job because it's a craft I love and take great pride in every day. I could share that I've worked on more than 50 different aircraft types during my career or that I served with the U.S. Army in Korea at a facility located across from the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Yes, M.A.S.H. Yes, that M.A.S.H. But instead, I'll start with the reason I was asked to share my story. This year marks my 75th as an aviation maintenance technician at American Airlines. That's right -- 75 years. I started just before I turned 17; I'm now 92. That has landed me in the book of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS for having the "Longest Career as an Airline Mechanic." But don't think for a second that this is a retirement letter. See, American keeps buying new planes - in fact, we have the youngest fleet among major U.S. carriers. Many of these new planes are from Boeing, which happen to be my favorite to work on. And while I may not be as hands on as I used to be, I still do some sheet metal work from time to time. My primary role, however, is coordinating our team members so they're safe and successful at getting our planes back in service. You might find this hard to believe, but I still see every day as a new challenge. I always have. My late wife, Dolores, knew it too. She used to tell me, "Go to work; go play with your friends." We were married 57 years before she passed away about seven years ago. But I still hear those words, because they're true. My colleagues are my friends. And they are the finest group of aviation mechanics in the world. When I'm not working to maintain our fleet, you can find me restoring vintage aircraft for the Historical Aircraft Restoration Project at Floyd Bennett Field, a few miles west of my work home -- John F. Kennedy International Airport. I guess that makes me an antique fixing an antique. It's possible I know some of our aircraft as well as you know your kids, but I consider that a good quality in a mechanic. And while I will eventually leave our fleet in the capable hands of my colleagues, American's maintenance hangar at JFK will always be home. My fellow mechanics -- my friends -- have made sure of that.
Azriel "Al" Blackman

Saturday, July 29, 2017

The Woman In Our Little Girls Room

Kim and Dean  Hopper sing a song called the Little Girl in Our Little Girls Room. Many of the videos  labeled grandchildren I make, are about how fast kids grow up. I think it is something most do not realize until its too late or people think it only happens to other people? Being a grandparent when you don't see your grandkids every day- sometimes it is a shock how fast they have grown. For some, viewing this video will bring a tear to your eyes, for others, maybe you will  be reminded to take time with your child just a bit more today. Someone once said; "In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time."
You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. 

Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep. 

When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts.

It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.

Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. 

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders. 

What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give. 

If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.

These are my daughters, I suppose.
But where in the world did the children vanish?

The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed.

Friday, June 30, 2017

Good to Be Back Home Again (North Dakota Trip)

 
We just got home from a trip to North Dakota- You can see the photos in video above to John Denver's song, Its Good To Be Home Again. It was a short vacation but a memorable one. 

We left at 5am to drive to Billings, Montana on our vacation.

Sunday we drove to Minot and arrived about 4pm after getting lost briefly in Williston due to growth and changes. Minot had changed too- and we visited the grave of my dad, mom and sister first. We also visited Sunnyside Mobile Home park where we lived before sawyer- Lots of Changes!

Monday we all drove to Sawyer- the principal of the school was nice enough to update us on changes. Next year the high school goes to Max due to lack of students. We also visited the Sawyer Cemetery and Mennonite Cemetery where many who made a big influence on my life are buried. I owe a lot to even those who I did not know- your life influences so many- either for the good or bad.

The Hedahl Farm is in background-lived there from 1961 to 1966

Tuesday we drove to Kenmare- my grandpas old farm where my aunt Carol/Kenny have done such a great job fixing it up- again, the work they put into it I am still enjoying as will those after me. We had 19 attend- mostly aunts and uncles and most, I had not seen for years.


Wednesday I drove Wayne to airport for his flight, and then took off for home. I went home via route 2 and Tim via I-90(the way we came). Lots of good memories and a whole different view of Montana. My parents moved to Tacoma in June of 1966 on that route- and somewhere near the rockies, the van the truck was pulling came loose- luckily my mom was behind that wheel and brought it to a stop. We stayed in Shelby, about a 10 hour drive from Minot. Checked in around 4pm.

Thursday we saw our first accident- but hopefully no fatalities and we, were the 6th car behind lineup that they let us drive in ditch to get around. Around 9am we entered Glacier Park and drove the Going to the Sun Road- the first day it was open for this season- so lots of cars and full parking lots. We had done this with our kids and lots of memories again. We were out of park around noon and headed to Sandpoint to stay at Jan's sisters for night.

Friday we left for home about 8;30 and got home about noon. the traffic was picking up for the holiday weekend greatly and glad we go to go when we did. Thanks for our neighbors for watering our plants, to Darcie for feeding our pets, and for Tim, Wayne and so many others for making this such a memorable trip. It was a short trip and wish we could have seen others- but maybe next time.

We left Cindy's around 8:30 and got home about 12:30 on Friday, June 30th-  Below are photos from previous trips- you guess the year and who is in it....






Sunday, May 7, 2017

Thank God For Kids

How about we have a National Children's Day to show the importance of Children in our society? I cannot imagine a world without Kids- Thank God For Kids! I made this song a few years ago- I can ad one more grandchild to the 5 in video now- its fun being a Grandpa! 
How grandchildren perceive their grandparents
1. I was in the bathroom, putting on my makeup, under the watchful eyes of my young granddaughter, as I'd done many times before. After I applied my lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....
2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 72. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"
3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"
4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"
5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.
6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
"What's it about?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."
7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I really think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!"
8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."
9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised "Mine says I'm 4 to 6." (WOW! I really like this one -- it says I'm only '38'!)
10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said. "How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."
11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."
12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties.
"They use him to keep crowds back," said one child.
"No," said another. "He's just for good luck."
A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."
13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and whenever we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."
14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!
15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.



Thursday, April 13, 2017

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

April 13th, 1974, Janice and I were married in Coulee Dam, Wa.  It is not what you spend on one another, but it is important never to forget to say "I love You" and to thank God for your spouse at the end of the day; as this song says. The song is more important than the photos, but the photos show us through the years- and on our 42nd Anniversary, when the waiter asked us to hold hands- now that is a smart waiter.... Today,  Let me wish you Happy 43rd Anniversary Janice-  and most of all,  to say,"I Love You."

Monday, February 27, 2017

Happy Birthday Janice

We actually only have one birthday, we just celebrate that same date each year and the more you have, the longer you live. (I think) I added a few photos of my wife,  to a Birthday tune. (She asked me not to use last years tune again?) I hope Janice has the best year ever and many more. Happy Birthday Janice


Someone said the Happy Birthday Song is copyrighted, and it's hard to find a new birthday song for Jan on her birthday. Yes, I have made several for this occasion and I decided to make a new one for this birthday since it is a special one, a monumental one. I won't tell you how old she is, but it is the oldest she has ever been today.  Happy Birthday Janice and many more!

What Things Cost in 1954
Average Prices in 1954
Car: $1,950
House: $17,500
Gas: $0.29
Bread: $0.17
Gallon of Milk: $0.92
Stamp: 3 cents
1954 Facts you may not have known:
BUSINESS & ECONOMY:
  • New York Stock Exchange prices reach their highest level since 1929

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

  • Increasing global concern about nuclear fallout and radioactive waste disposal
  • Dr. Jonas Salk begins inoculating schoolchildren with his polio vaccine
  • Physicist and nuclear pioneer J. Robert Oppenheimer dismissed from government projects due to his political beliefs
  • First successful kidney transplant

SPORTS:

  • World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland, 4-0
  • Philadelphia Athletics move to Kansas City
  • Sports Illustrated debuts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

  • Movies: On the Waterfront, Rear Window, The Seven Samauri
  • Songs: Hernando’s Hideaway, Three Coins in a Fountain, Mister Sandman, Young at Heart
  • TV Shows: Jack Benny Show, Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, George Gobel Show, Mr. Wizard, Disneyland
  • Books: A Stillness at Appomattox, Bruce Catton; The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien; Lord of the Flies, William Golding
  • First annual Newport Jazz Festival held

EVERYDAY LIFE:

  • 29 million U.S. households have television sets, double the number in service three years before
  • Billy Graham leads an increasing interest in Christian revival meetings
  • Davy Crockett becomes a national fad; sales of "coonskin" caps soar

FUN FACTS:

  • Sales of comic books reach 20 million copies a month
  • The phrase "under God" added to the Pledge of Allegiance
January 14 – Marilyn Monroe marries baseball player Joe DiMaggio.
February 10 – After authorizing $385 million over the $400 million already budgeted for military aid to Vietnam, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower warns against United States intervention in Vietnam.
February 23 – The first mass vaccination of children against polio begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
March 25 The 26th Academy Awards ceremony is held. RCA manufactures the first color TV set (12-inch screen; price: $1,000)
April - Bill Haley & His Comets record "Rock Around The Clock", thus starting the Rock and Roll craze. April 1 The U.S. Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorize the founding of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.
May 14 – The Boeing 707 is released after about two years of development.
June 14 – The words "under God" are added to the United States Pledge of Allegiance.
August 16 – The first issue of Sports Illustrated magazine is published in the United States.
September 3 – The last new episode of The Lone Ranger radio program is broadcast, after 2,956 episodes over a period of 21 years. Reruns of old episodes continue to be transmitted.
November 23 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average rises 3.27 points, or 0.86 percent, closing at an all-time high of 382.74. More significantly, this is the first time the Dow has surpassed its peak level reached just before the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
December 1 – The first Hyatt Hotel, The Hyatt House Los Angeles, opens on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport. It is the first hotel in the world built on an airport property.
December 4 – The first Burger King opens in Miami, Florida.
The TV dinner is introduced by the American entrepreneur Gerry Thomas.