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 29, 2016

A picture is truly worth a thousand words

Ok, how about a picture with a few words in it?
Those who spent significant time in 7th Fleet will know automatically what it means....................

Pass this story on to future generations: theChive

This was in theChive's Weekly Weekap this morning. There are some great photos, some with good captions.

I was able to visit Missouri in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in late 1979 with my parents and my toddler daughter.

I have to admit that it was a sobering experience.

Here are few of the pictures from the post.

This is the USS Missouri (BB-63), better known as "Mighty Mo".



From a historical perspective, the USS Missouri is arguably one of the most famous ships the world has ever seen.  Let's begin with an over-view of some of her many feats.

From a historical perspective, the USS Missouri is arguably one of the most famous ships the world has ever seen. Let’s begin with an over-view of some of her many feats.

These achievements over such a long period of time are amazing but it is one other event in which history will forever remember this ship.

These achievements over such a long period of time are amazing but it is one other event in which history will forever remember this ship.

b-Kamikaze-USS-Missouri-600-0

An iconic photo of the Surrender of The Empire of Japan officially surrendering on board Missouri. I have stood on this very spot.



The rest of the pictures are at the link below. I hope you all enjoy them.



(1) Photos of Kamikaze Crash into Navy USS Missouri Battle during WW2 WWII : theCHIVE

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

HMS Hood's bell unveiled at Navy museum Portsmouth - BBC News

The restored bell from the World War Two battlecruiser HMS Hood has been unveiled 75 years after the ship was sunk by the Bismarck.

Solemn Day for the Royal Navy and HM Dockyard Portsmouth. 

I think most of us read about the sinking of HMS Hood by Bismarck and the subsequent pursuit and sinking of Bismarck.....

I read Ludovic Kennedy's book as a youngster.
HMS Hood

HMS Hood's bell unveiled at Navy museum Portsmouth - BBC News

Sunday, May 22, 2016

New horned dinosaur species discovered in Montana by amateur | Montana News | billingsgazette.com

This one is quite interesting. The Badlands of East Central, North Central and Eastern Montana seem to be a new treasure trove of dinosaur fossils. The complete T-Rex, Leonardo, was found near a little town I lived in for five years as a little boy.

I hope all enjoy reading the full story at the link below.

Spiclypeus shipporum

New horned dinosaur species discovered in Montana by amateur | Montana News | billingsgazette.com

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

20 breathtaking pictures of Israel on its 68th birthday-Ynetnews

20 breathtaking pictures of Israel on its 68th birthday - Israel Culture, Ynetnews

Damascus Gate in the Old City to Jerusalem (Photo: Israel Berdugo)

Damascus Gate in the Old City to Jerusalem (Photo: Israel Berdugo)


Masada (Photo: Israel Berdugo)

Masada (Photo: Israel Berdugo)


Western Wall Plaza (Photo: Israel Berdugo)

Western Wall Plaza (Photo: Israel Berdugo)



The above are just a sample, The rest are at the link above.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

BNSF 7561 East on The Mojave Subdivision

The BNSF Mojave Subdivision runs from Mojave Junction at East Mojave to Valley Junction at Barstow. Sometimes I get an opportunity to get a few shots.
BNSF 7651 is an Intermodal High Priority Train bound for somewhere in the East. It was moving at the posted track speed of 65 mph getting ready to go by Edwards Siding.







Sunday, May 15, 2016

Suspended

I got suspended for three days from Facebook as of Friday afternoon. I said a bad, politically incorrect word....................
Imagine that!
It ends tomorrow afternoon.
Shit happens.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Are We Alone? Scientists Discuss the Search for Life and Odds of E.T.

I think there is life out there. I always have, even when the Methodist Pastors of my youth said it wasn't so. I was heavy into space exploration in grade school and junior high. The Universe is just to vast for there not to be.

Just my perspective.

An artist's concept of planet system Kepler-47. As scientists learn more about the cosmos, estimations of the likelihood that life exists beyond Earth are changing.



Are We Alone? Scientists Discuss the Search for Life and Odds of E.T.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Sad news

My sister notified me this afternoon that one of my younger cousins suffered a massive heart attack today and passed as a result.
My aunt lost the younger son some years ago as well. All that remains is the daughter. My aunt had been married twice. The first husband died of a heart attack in 1972 and the second one to the same in 1985 while I was deployed.
Rick was an HM2, Retired and worked in physical therapy. When I lived in Wichita, we went fishing together.

Sunday, May 01, 2016

Safe Space

Since there is so much traffic about "safe spaces" for those unable to cope with any adversity, I thought this one would settle things down...............................or not.
Anyway, I like it. I was 19 when I first reported aboard USS Independence.


Nuff said.
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)