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

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Oddball-Kelly-Big Joe

Kelly: Well Oddball, what do you think?
Oddball: It's a wasted trip baby. Nobody said nothing about locking horns with no Tigers.
Big Joe: Hey look, you just keep them Tigers busy and we'll take care of the rest.
Oddball: The only way I got to keep them Tigers busy is to LET THEM SHOOT HOLES IN ME!
Crapgame: Hey, Oddball, this is your hour of glory. And you're chickening out!
Oddball: To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich, not some nut who takes on three Tigers.
Kelly: Nobody's asking you to be a hero.
Oddball: No? Then YOU sit up in that turret baby.
Kelly: No, because you're gonna be up there, baby, and I'll be right outside showing you which way to go.
Oddball: Yeah?
Kelly: Yeah.
Oddball: Crazy... I mean like, so many positive waves... maybe we can't lose, you're on!

Saturday, May 30, 2015

New Flavour from Sierra Nevada(new for me, anyway!)

Went to the Rite Aid to get Missus ORPO's prescription and this was in the cooler and even on sale!!!!!!!!!
It is pretty good for a lager like this...................

The opener is that standard box lunch issue one!!!!!

17 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town - Wide Open Country

Among my favourites are number 8 and number 13

Twitter/ @10bgood

8. You’re completely unphased when you encounter a tractor or a horseback rider while driving.


train

13. You’ve been late to something because you (and half the town) got stuck behind a passing train.


These two I picked out are right out of my youth in small towns in Montana and Alberta.
The full listing is at the link below.
Enjoy!

17 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town - Wide Open Country

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Life Change-Update

I went to my Doc yesterday.
The feet are making things damn difficult.
He wrote a note for my bosses to find me another job at Edwards due to my physical issues of Neuropathy, Capsulitis and Plantar Faciitis in the feet. They hurt pretty much all the time and by the time I am half way through the shift on the line, I am pretty much tapped out.
I also took the DMV form to the DMV in Ridgecrest and got the Disabled Person Plates and a Placard for use when a passenger in other vehicles.
I may be headed for a disability retirement from Civil Service at 62.
The Civil Service does have to try and give me a reasonable accomodation and move to another position that is less demanding.
Doc and I also discussed the surgery option as my Podiatrist had mentioned as a possiblility. Due to only having one kidney, I cannot take anti-inflammatories. I have to find out how long I would be down from said surgery.
Wait and see, I guess.

Plane/Space Pr0n from Air and Space-Our Second Annual Photo Contest | Photos | Air

I was surfing the net and found this little gem...............

My favourite is the Super Guppy..............

I was a kid when the first Aero Spacelines Guppy first flew and I thought it was a really cool airplane. Being that there are no B-377 or C-97/KC-97 aircraft left in flying condition, this is the next best thing.



The big turbo props do leave a trail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Second Annual Photo Contest | Photos | Air

Wikipedia article on the Super Guppy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Super_Guppy

Monday, May 25, 2015

Plane Pr0n-Photos of the A-4 Skyhawk : theBRIGADE

Scooter Rocks!

The best show the Blue Angels flew was with the A-4E.

I first saw the Blues in the Spring of 1975 at NAS Norfolk-Chambers Field on a Sunday.

a4 skyhawk 920 9 The A 4 Skyhawk aka the Bantam Bomber (19 HQ Photos)
















The rest of the pics and a short paragraph on the history of the A-4 is at the link below.

Photos of the A-4 Skyhawk : theBRIGADE

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Randomness from The California Central Coast

Missus ORPO and I did some galavanting around today.................
We went up to Cambria and out on Moonstone State Beach.......................................You read that right folks.................Moonstone. Californijuanastan, ya know.











Dude.......
We also hit Morro Strand State Beach for a bit.






Mother
Mother
Ocean
I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters
Since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all

Then we went to Tap It Brewing in San Luis Obispo.....The Barrelhouse is from our stop in Paso Robles on Friday. Central Coast Craft Beer is Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, May 22, 2015

Central Coast

We are at Vandenberg AFB VQ for the long weekend. It was time to get out of Dodge, ya know.
The required stop at Firestone Walker resulted in a full growler of Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA. The Blue Retired ID netted a discount of $5.00 off of the $27.95 regular fill price. They give a wicked discount to The Armed Forces Of The United States. If you ever get to Paso Robles, California, do stop by and find a flavour that you will surely enjoy.
About one and one-half miles to the south of this fine establishment is another one we discovered, Barrelhouse Brewing is another in the plethora of Central Coast Craft Breweries that I have come to enjoy and Missus ORPO loves the glass ware available at all of them.
Tonight's fare is the Wookey Jack as we relax a bit from the trip. Missus ORPO is out like a light. Yours truly is bringing you some pictures of the Wookey Jack................
When I set my growler on the bar, all I said was "Wookey" and viola, it was magically filled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Cheers to our most beloved friend and comrade, Buck Pennington. This one is for you my friend.
Tomorrow, I hope to have a review of the two 22 OZ bottles I procured from Barrelhouse..............Till then my dear friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daughter Amanda and Eldest Granddaughter Bailee

It was Bailee's last day of Junior High. This coming Fall she will be a Freshman in High School.

One of those subtle reminders that I may be getting old. 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Saturday Night Funny

Join the resistance.............................................

Admit it, it's funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Springtime in The Southeast Kern County Desert

From today, on the way to work, I stopped at just shy of CA Route 58 on California City Boulevard to shoot a few pics..........................
These were taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Smart Phone that I own. Pretty good resolution for a phone camera, methinks!




Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Kanza Art Studio The art of M.T. Liggett-This was featured on an episode of American Pickers a couple of years ago

"Kanza art is an unique collection of junk metal folk art, windmills and signs that line several of the streets of Mullinville along the arms of the "V" formed by US Highways 400 and 54 in southwest Kansas." From Kansas Travel.Org

The American Pickers show episode with this place is on right now.

This is one of those wonderful and unique things about the Sunflower State! I miss Kansas!

M. T. Liggett's Kanza Art Studeo


M. T. Liggett Kanza Art

Hit the link to the site and enjoy some more pictures of the Art Of M. T. Liggett!
http://www.kansastravel.org/liggettkanzaart.htm

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Photographing Railroads: How to Stay Safe and Legal

Everyone knows that I love trains. When I take pictures is from a safe distance. Having been a railroad worker, I understand the dangers. Now that I do not have the E-Rail Safe credentials, I am like everyone else and I cannot trespass on any railroad property.

Taking pictures of trains is a lot of fun but I like waking up in the morning.

So hit the link below and have a read.

Photographing Railroads: How to Stay Safe and Legal

Thursday, May 07, 2015

One airman’s trash: Pieces of WWII aircraft were recycled for all kinds of purposes.

I found this at Air and Space Mag.

The ingenuity is pretty awesome and recyclers should take note!



A small car built from a P-38 Drop Tank. There are some really neat uses of stuff in this. Go to the link and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One airman’s trash: Pieces of WWII aircraft were recycled for all kinds of purposes.

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

New Tiger Meet Rafales-Plane Pr0n

Found these shots at Facebook at a group I belong to.
Awesome scheme!
It's a shame that we have nothing like this in the US Air Force.
At least Navy and Marine Air CAG Birds have colourful schemes.




Monday, May 04, 2015

GORDON JOHNSON: Entering the craft beer world - Press Enterprise-Temecula Brew Pubs Rock!

Good things are happening in Temecula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The establishment mentioned is a favourite of Missus ORPO and I. The Pizza is amazing and an excellent value. I do have a growler from there as well and I fill it when heading to Oceanside and on the return trip. The Black IPA is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you find yourself along The Fifteen in Southern Riverside County, take the south Old Town Front Street exit and have a taste.

Blatant Plug, I know but





GORDON JOHNSON: Entering the craft beer world - Press Enterprise

Why Nikola Tesla was the greatest geek who ever lived - The Oatmeal

Sample from the Cartoon that has good stuff about Nikola Tesla



Go check it out! Some of it will make you laugh!

Why Nikola Tesla was the greatest geek who ever lived - The Oatmeal

Saturday, May 02, 2015

Leftist Journos: Praising 'Baltimore Mom' Is Racist

At Newsbusters.

I am amazed by the lack of vision, if that is the right descriptive when it comes to the MSM.

Sample follows:

"Take for instance, this gem from an absurd piece written by Salon editor-at-large Joan Walsh, who denounces the  "hideous white hypocrisy" behind the praise of Ms. Graham:

 The debate over the moment Graham says she “lost it” is complex. There’s a parallel black debate going on that, as always when it comes to racial issues, is richer and more nuanced. But anyone white who’s applauding Graham’s moment of desperation, along with the white media figures who are hyping her “heroism,” is essentially justifying police brutality, and saying the only way to control black kids is to beat the shit out of them."

The entire piece is at the link.........................Makes one go hmmmmmmmm?

More along the lines of Good Grief.................................Yeah, I am so tired of the Weapons Grade Stupid we see in the media these days.

That is all.

Leftist Journos: Praising 'Baltimore Mom' Is Racist

Pictures from this past Wednesday

I had an appointment with a podiatrist in Tehachapi on Wednesday. I took the trusty Nikon with me. Here are the results.
The Southeast Kern County Desert, where Missus ORPO and I live.

That is Edwards AFB way out there in the distance


Cal City

Add caption

Power Lines. We have Power Lines.



Mojave Spaceport, home of Space Ship One and all those neat things from Rutan and Scaled Composites






Looking West up The Tehachapi

Wind Turbines that do not send power to Kern County but to Los Angeles

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind






Long shot of airliners, awaiting their fate. In this mix is the infamous Gimli Glider, ex-Air Canada 767, C-GAUN


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)