Happy Hour

"IF A LIFETIME CAN BE LIKENED TO A DAY, THEN THIS IS HAPPY HOUR!"
BUCK PENNINGTON

Mother, Mother Ocean

Mother, Mother Ocean, I've heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all
Watched the men who rode you, switch from sails to steam
In your belly you hold the treasures, few have ever seen
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream
Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred year's too late
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

Yoda

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."
―Yoda, to Luke Skywalker

Counted the Stars

Counted the stars on the 4th of July
Wishing we were rockets bursting in the sky
Talking about redemption and leaving things behind
I have these pictures and I keep these photographs
To remind me of a time
These pictures and these photographs
Let me know I'm doin' fine
We used to be so happy once upon a time
Once upon a time
But the sun sank west of the Mendocino County Line
And the sun sank west of the Mendocino County Line


""SOME SEE A GLASS AS HALF FULL, SOME SEE IT AS HALF EMPTY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO’S DRINKING MY RUM."
Rumbear

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Waxing Philosophical for a moment.


Four years, three months ago, I had a life changing event. The Left Kidney went Bye-Bye. The Pathology said Cancer. Every time the counter rolls over, it is a good thing.
Yep. The calendar changes...............Still here. What's not to like.
To all of you who follow this here blog and the members I have, I wish you the best in the New Year. 
Do not let the Bastards wear you down!
 

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Linkage-Exile in Portales: Seasonal Art, Beer Division

Exile in Portales: Seasonal Art, Beer Division: We'll be knocking back a couple o' those fine Monks' Ales this afternoon when Happy Hour rolls around but I thought you might ...
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RBVzf93cOMc/UsB0PW9auNI/AAAAAAAAUXo/VV9YRveufY0/s1600/MA_six-pack_2013-12-29+12-06-15_0023.jpg

Seems Blog Bud Buck has the goods!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Susan Katz Keating: In Which Pinch Sends Rushes From Northrop Grumman'...

Susan Katz Keating: In Which Pinch Sends Rushes From Northrop Grumman'...: I love this pic from Bill Paisley, who attended yesterday's  Military Bowl , pitting Marshall v Maryland,  on behalf of Echo Six Media. ...
Paisley does get some good gigs.................................

The flag pic was taken from the Press Box, which Pinch assures me had great chow
     

Feet

I am now soaking my feet in Epsom Salt with some Listerine.
Back in 1979, during the Monsoon in the Philippines, I wound up with Immersion Foot.
The VA rated me Zero Percent for Contact Dermatitis in 97. I still have that even after the latest evaluations.
The feet do cause me some discomfort from time to time.
The use of Listerine is something that Missus ORPO found on the internet. I figured I should give it a try.................................................Felt good going in the hot water mixture.
Blog Bud Buck is right when he says gettin' old ain't for sissies.........................................

Friday, December 27, 2013

Update: 416 CTF/AMU at Red Flag 12-2


It took a new computer with more capability to get this one done. I loaded it to UTooB for all to enjoy but it is Blog Worthy!
Almost forgot to give the credit to Chad "Snap" Bellay for all of this. He was our media guy for quite awhile. Moved to Lockheed Martin Fort Worth.


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Day 2013: Angeles National Forest and Wrightwood

Since it was just the two of us today. The first time in 31 years it has happened.
We took a day trip to Wrightwood and the Angeles National Forest.
Dinner was at the IHOP in Hesperia. We decided to let someone else do the cooking!























Tuesday, December 24, 2013

World Pop Star: Kelly Brook Photoshoot For New Look Christmas 2013

A little more Rule 5 for Christmas!
Also included is a picture of that excellent IPA from down below in Escondido!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



 World Pop Star: Kelly Brook Photoshoot For New Look Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas From ORPO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rule 5 Style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words....................................This one was too good to pass up!
Enjoy this time with Family!

Report: Beechcraft sold to Textron for $1.4 billion

"Textron Inc., the parent company of Cessna Aircraft Co., is buying Beechcraft Corp. in a $1.4 billion deal, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The report cites “people familiar with the situation” but does say neither company would discuss the deal."
I did some time on the King Air Final Assembly Line at then Hawker Beechcraft. It was not run very well then.............................This. if true, would give stability to Beechcraft that I truly believe it needs
The remainder is at the link below.
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/12/report-beechcraft-sold-to-textron.html 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Cessna parent Textron acquiring Beechcraft, report says


In a move that promises a newfound stability for two of Wichita’s struggling aircraft makers, Cessna Aircraft parent Textron has reportedly acquired Beechcraft for nearly $1.4 billion, according to the Financial Times .
Neither company is commenting on the report.
 FILE  Production work on a Beechcraft King Air takes place inside the company

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/20/3189471/report-cessna-parent-acquiring.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/20/3189471/report-cessna-parent-acquiring.html

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Gina Elise: All American Rule 5

This is the lovely lady who does the Pinups for Vets Calendars.
Miss Gina is that wholesome, sweet and oh so beautiful gal we all love.













Any questions? I didn't think so...........................................

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Landing Signal Officer, immortalized

From Bayou Renaissance Man comes this excellent post.
"The good people at Vintage Wings of Canada have produced a wonderful photographic essay about the Landing Signal Officer, the person responsible for guiding planes to a safe landing aboard an aircraft carrier."

He included a few pictures from the site and I give you one to gain your interest to hit the link below...............................

During World War II, Batsman Lieutenant Malcolm Brown, his name painted in white on the back of his Irwin flying jacket, warmly bundled up against the cold North Atlantic with flight boots, works a Supermarine Seafire down to the deck of HMS Indomitable.



 On 14 July 1955 Lieutenant Commander Jay Alkire, USNR, of the VF-124 "Stingrays", Carrier Air Group Twelve (CVG-12), aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19) was far too low as he reached the round down (the rounded aftermost edge of the flight deck). In this photo, we see him pitch his F7U-3 Cutlass up drastically in an last minute attempt to avoid striking the stern of the ship.  Ted Reilly, a U.S. Navy Landing Signal Officer, runs for his life.

The Landing Signal Officer, Immortalized


Saturday, December 14, 2013

24 Reasons Why Hockey Players Are Actually Big, Cuddly Sweethearts

From an old friend in Kansas who sat by us for many years at Wichita Thunder Home Games in the old Kansas Coliseum in Park City.
Buzzfeed
Hockey players have a reputation for being tough, brutal, manly men. And for the most part, that stereotype holds up. But among the people who cover sports they’re also consistently considered the most approachable and friendly athletes in any league. Here are some of the reasons why.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mrloganrhoades/24-reasons-why-hockey-players-are-actually-big-cuddly-sweeth

Because they go out of their way to make their fans happy.

24. Because they go out of their way to make their fans happy.

The rest are at the link above the picture........Enjoy, especially you Buck Pennington!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Cessna’s Scorpion low cost tactical jet makes first flight

The photo is over Cheney Reservoir, east of Wichita, Kansas. I wonder what the Air Force thinks, with the penchant for fast and high in that service. I think it is a possibility for other countries as well in the realm of not a lot of cash required.




Cessna’s Scorpion low cost tactical jet makes first flight

The Beech Boys | Military Aviation | Air & Space Magazine

.
Plane Pr0n of a different order.
If Marilyn Monroe had been an airplane, she would have been a Beechcraft Model 18. With buxom radial engines and ample forked tail, the Beech 18 has not just the movie star’s curves, but, like her, an adoring fan club. Pilot and civil engineer Matt Walker is a member.
Beech aircraft
“There are many Beech twins, but only one Twin Beech,” in the words of Model 18 owner Enrico Bottieri.



The Beech Boys | Military Aviation | Air & Space Magazine
I will not go down and tell my children I didn't have the courage, the conviction, the commitment or the character to fight for this country...Don't go home and let your children down~~ LTC Allen West

Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus

‎"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.("Therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war")" from "Epitoma Rei Militaris," by Vegetius (Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus)