Happy New Year…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

As I sit here tonight, 31 Dec 2008, the wind is gusting to 50 mph, it’s heading toward 20 degrees, and I’m tired. Hell, I’m Old and tired, I’ll be in bed by 10pm since I have to get up in the morning…

I’m not 21 anymore, nor honestly do I want to be…

I would never trade my friends, my life, or my family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. I’ve bought and paid for every grey hair and the belly too!

I figure I’m lucky to be here. I’ve seen too many friends leave this world too soon, before they had a chance to enjoy the laughter, and too many have died before their time. Some are on the Wall, some in Arlington, some buried in small towns across the USA, living only in our memories…

I listen to the tunes of the 60 & 70’s, and maybe I have to turn the radio up a bit, but at least I can still hear (as long as it’s not above 3000 Hz).

I know I’m not perfect, but I’m satisfied with that. I’ve always been lousy with names, but I can still remember faces. I got an email a couple of weeks ago from a shipmate, telling of another shipmate who was in the hospital after a pretty bad fall.

I had a few minutes, so I called him up. Now we had not spoken in probably 15 years, as I’d lost touch, but we had a good chat until we started talking about others we had flown with. He didn’t know four of our shipmates had died in the last year…

Come to find out, he is not on the Internet, has no desire to be, and I believe, purposefully doesn’t keep up with folks for that reason. He was always one of those with plenty of strength, but little understanding and compassion.

I’m finding as I get older, it is easier for me to be positive. I could care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore (I never win those arguments with myself anyway).

I know I’m not going to live forever, but while I’m still here, I won’t waste time with what could have been, or worry about what will be. The Man upstairs has a plan for us all, and I’m just playing out the string as they say…

Work is work- not fun, but it keeps me occupied (way too much). While I’m not retired yet (again), I am trying to take time to smell the roses, see the kids more than once a year, play a little golf and shoot a few guns in 2009.

This blog has brought me new friends, some old friends I’d lost contact with, and a little bit of release in writing… I appreciate those that read it, those that comment, and I appreciate the opportunity I have to read many others who are MUCH more prolific and MUCH better writers.

I wish each of you the best for 2009 and propose this toast-

Health, wealth, love and happiness where ever you may find it!

Attention to detail, yet again…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Folks, THIS is why you pay attention to details…


ESPECIALLY around firearms… sigh…


Sighting in your expensive new deer rifle

1. Shiny new, high-powered deer rifle…………..$ 1,200.00
2. Quality, high-powered scope……………………$ 550.00
3. Bore sighting device……………………………….$ 140.00
4. Forgetting to remove the bore sighting device prior to actually shooting the damned thing?

This is called a banana peel…



What you don’t see in this view, it also blew the back of the bolt out and into the shooter’s cheek and forehead. Needless to say, I’m NOT posting that picture, but he did survive…

Here’s what’s left of the boresighter… Worked good as a bore plug…

“Life’s tough……It’s even tougher if you’re stupid.” -John Wayne

Random stuff…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

After picking up the Model 1917, I didn’t have any gun leather for it, so my Christmas present to myself was a belt and holster for it… I contacted Johnny at Grassburr and he did a custom holster for the hogleg along with a belt to support it. Since the 1917 uses moon clips, I didn’t get any ammo slots on the belt, but I’m VERY happy with the quality and the price of the work! It’s a beautiful dark tan antique look and a perfect fit! Thanks Johnny!


The other thing was a meme I saw on somebodies site (CRS kicking in, so I can’t remember whose)… It was what’s in your pocket…
(edit: Thanks to Earl for the reminder, it was Bear on a Bicycle, but I STILL can’t find the post…)

What was the old Mae West line, is that a pistol, or are you just glad to see me? Well, in my case… sigh….

Wallet, comb (don’t know why I bother), keys and a Streamlight Nano, a few bucks, Zippo, Benchmade 154, S&W 637 in a Nemesis holster, Bianchi speed strip with 5 Gold Dots, and that’s it…
Other than my watch and electronic leash (Blackberry), which weren’t in my pocket… 🙂
Play along if you want to…

Twas the day AFTER Christmas…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Burp… The presents have been played with, the boxes lost, at least one set of batteries burned through, the turkey and mounds of food eaten, and now the reality sets in… Oh $%^&, now I’ve got to PAY for all this…
But the up side is getting to spend time with the kids and Grandson, and the joy on his face at getting a computer!

Note: I never thought I’d be buying a computer (used; dumb yes, stoopid no) for a 10 year old, but he wants/needs it for school…sigh… 10 year olds that are computer literate are SCARY!!! His first question was whether it had Internet 🙂

And then we bought the dog a bone…

Of course the bone happened to be as big as the dog, so he barked and nipped at it, and still doesn’t know what to do with it…

I’m firmly convinced the best investment is in battery companies, everything I saw needed batteries, except maybe underwear, and I’m not sure about that; there was this ad… 🙂



I hope each and every one that could got to spend time with family during this holiday season, since THAT is really what the season is about…

I wish each and everyone Best Wishes for 2009!

The Navy’s Night Before Christmas…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

With apologies to C.C. Moore… and a tribute to our Sailors where ever they may be tonight…

‘Twas the night before Christmas, all compartments were still,
The Sailors were sleeping, as most Sailors will.
The ditty bags hung by the lockers with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Our Sailors were all peacefully dreaming in bed,
as visions of liberty danced in each head.
The Chief in his skivvies, hopped into his rack,
Having just came from Chief’s mess for a quick midnight snack.

When out on the deck there arose such a roar,
I ran to the porthole to find out the score.
I stuck out my head and started to shout,
“Just what the ?? is that noise all about?”

A moon made for independent steaming showed with a glow,
It was downright cold out, ’bout seven below.
What I saw out there looked like one of those Mardi Gras floats,
‘Twas a Captain’s gig drawn by four white Navy goats.


Rising from the craft was a man who seemed quiet and moody,
I knew in an instant St. Nick had the duty.
To him quickly the billy goats came,
as he shouted and whistled and called each by name.


“Now Perry, now Farragut, Dewey and Jones,
What’s the matter John Paul, got lead in your bones?
A little to Starboard, now hold it up short,
No fluffing off now, or you’ll go on report!

“He was wearing dress “Reds” that fit like a charm,
Hash marks covered the length of his arm.
The gifts to be issued were all in his pack,
The gedunk was ready to leave on each rack.


His eyes they were watering, his nose caked with ice,
He wiped it with canvas, then sneezed once or twice.
He opened his mouth and started to yawn,
It looked like the Sun coming up with the dawn.

The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth,
And took a small nip from a bottle beneath.
He wasn’t so big, but he must have been ever so strong,
I figured he’d been a SEAL early and long.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Tar,
with a smiling face and a well-chewed cigar.
He filled every sea bag with presents galore,
And left us all leave papers, right by the door.


With “Anchors Aweigh” he climbed back into place,
A broad smile was creeping all over his face.
One look at his watch and he started to frown,
“This mid watch is certainly getting me down.


“Then out to the breakwater and into the night,
The gig started fading, the landscape was bright.
“Merry Christmas, Mateys ” he said, as he got underway,
“I got more ships to visit before I finish the day.

Merry Christmas…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

I want to take a minute and wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2009! Regardless of how bad we percieve things to be, we are still looking down at the daisies, not up at them; so we’re ahead of the game as far as I’m concerned…

I got this from a friend, author unknown, but it’s worth the read, and it does put things in perspective…

Dear Children, It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of you’re predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do
appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a
teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks are. If you have forgot that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here’s my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one.Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them (and I suspect you don’t) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love; and remember, I LOVE YOU,

God

Blue Angels Solo: 3 Days – 3 Sneak Passes

Posted on by March 6, 2013

From Fleet Week 2008 at San Francisco-

Not quite supersonic (761.2 mph), he was doing 650 kts indicated, which is 748.5 mph give or take…

On the third pass, he was 23 feet off the water, good thing he had a clear lane, as he was below many of the masts and tops of the bigger boats!

A few more pics from underway…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Found a couple more y’all might enjoy (or not)…

There were a few other folks out there… You, 63, pick it up… Get in line there shipmate… 🙂

View from the bridge of a RAS being done just ahead, with a third ship positioning on the port (left) side to get gas…

View from the helo inbound to the boat, and yes they fly with the door open 🙂 It’s called flow through ventilation! The four folks kneeling are the ship board recovery team, their job is to chain the helo down when it gets on deck.

Red Sky at night, sailor’s delight!

That is all.

Citizens are "up in arms"…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
NICS checks are up… WAY up…

Background checks on the sale of firearms reached record levels during the month of November. Data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show a 42 percent increase in November firearm purchaser background checks. A total of 1,529,635 checks — the highest monthly total ever — were reported for the month, up from 1,079,923 in November 2007.

Retailers and firearm manufacturers are enjoying the lack of enthusiasm for Barrack Obama, no question…
And a little gun pr0n from Beretta… This guy is GOOD!!!!

Blogs you need to read…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Afganistan Shrugged is written by one of the folks out on the pointy end… Worth stopping by and you will find yourself reading back through the archives!

Go read today’s post about the latest insult from the Onion, and go send email to those assholes to protest their farsical attempt at humor that denigrates all our wounded soldiers, sailors and Marines.

Bayou Renaissance Man is worth the read for the variety of things he comes up with… My personal favorites are the Doofus(i) of the day! A man with wide experience and interests, Peter does not limit himself to the US stupidity, but find humor throughout the world.