Read it. Remember. Reflect.

I learned this as a kid, in two countries.
The United States and Canada. Written by a Canadian Army Doctor in WW1. Still appropriate today as on Veterans Day/Remembrance Day/Armistice Day. Depends on where and when you have lived as to what it is called.
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day. I still remember nothing being open for business on this day.
And My Great Grandpa Wambeke came to this Land from Flanders. It is in the blood.

From the past, Darkly?

The left one is from my first cruise to the Med aboard USS Independence. Taken in about November of 1974.

The one on the right is from Boot Camp in San Diego in the Fall of 1973. The Navy was in the process of going to the coat, tie and combination cover uniform. That lasted until about 79 or so. I went back to the jumper uniforms in 1981.

Dennis Hopper. RIP

Gone. But not forgotten.
For a 15-16 year old, this was the ultimate symbol of the age.
Three movies, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now and Hoosiers.
Prostate Cancer at 74. Same stuff got my Dad. Get checked for it if you are over 35 and in a risk category.
Nuff Said.
ORPO Sends

From a friend of mine.

Got this in the email from Mary. She is a friend of mine from up on the Hi Line.




A short spelling lesson:

The last four letters in "American" =I Can
The last four letters in "Republican" =I Can
The last four letters in "Democrats"= Rats
 
End of Lesson.
 
Test to follow in November.
November will be set aside as rodentextermination month.

One for Buck

On Preston Platform,
Do your soft shoe shuffle dance,
Brush away the cigarette ash,
That's falling down your pants,
And you sadly wonder,
Does the Nurse treat your old man,
The way she should?
Does she make you tea,
Ask for your autograph,
What a Laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ouch. Still.

One week after the radiator incident.

They are healing, Really! As ugly as they look, the pain is down. Getting oil samples from a jet that just shut down was interesting this past week but I kept them protected. New skin is very, very tender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cup Final Set

My HABS were eliminated by the Broad Street Bullies tonight. The score was 4-2 and the series took five games. Congrats to all you Flyers fans. My boys from La Belle Quebec made it a lot further than anyone expected.
On a limb. Flyers in Six. Got that, Buck, old buddy!

Habs Lose, Arghhhhhhhhhhhh! Down Three to One.

OK. Stick the fork in 'em. The Flyers are running rampant over my boys from Montreal. But it was a good run. Being down three to one to a team on a roll like the Broad Street Bullies is not a good spot to be. I have to go with a Flyers-Blackhawks Final this year. Original Six team and a Second Six team in the final. Good historical value there.

I get bored sometimes, OK?

I figured that I would succumb to vanity and put up a shot of "My Jet" on the header. There she is, F-16C, 83-1120. I still have to get my name on the canopy rail. I was waiting for a few things to occur. Like the paperwork and such for the clearance the Air Force requires of one to simply turn wrenches. When I get my name on it, I will get some pics of me in the cockpit or on a stand next to it. Hopefully this week or next.

Radiator Burns. Not to be confused with Radiator Springs

On the way back from Los Angeles this afternoon........The dear old(2001) PT Cruiser had a temp issue. I finally got it over to the shoulder on the 5 freeway and popped the hood to get air through. Then I leaned into the engine compartment to get a look at the overflow reservoir. Precisely at that moment the cap popped off. I got hit with 50/50 mix somewhere above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Upper left arm and lower right arm got hit, rather heavily. And a few little other spots. But for some reason the stuff that hit my face was thinned and therefore cooled. And wearing spectacles didn't hurt in that department either.
The Paramedics from the LA County Fire Department arrived about the time a tow truck did(AAA comes in handy!) They said that from the time it actually happened till they checked me out I had fared well. About like a really severe sunburn. REALLY SEVERE. But only one blister.
After getting the car into a shop and a rental, we headed home. Stop at Walmart in Lancaster to get some medical type supplies. Gauze in the four inch wide roll and some super duper tylenol. The Missus had some burn cream left from her burned toe adventure last December. Things are looking good right now. Should tomorrow bring any difficulties, it will be off to the High Desert Medical Group in Lancaster for treatment. It is an anytime kind of operation. And they take Tricare!
BTW the visit in LA for The Missus went well. I can't actually tell you what it was about, yet. But eventually, she will be much better off after a certain procedure.
And lunch at In and Out Burger was da bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eight Months

No! I ain't pregnant. Smart asses anyway!
Naw. Tomorrow the 21st it is eight months since I had the surgery for the cancerous kidney. Wow has time flown. Eight months, already.
It is early due to having to take the Missus to a specialist in LA, on Wilshire Boulevard, no less. It is related to her diabetes. Tricare covered, don'tcha know.
And my HABS WON! 5-1 over the Flyers!

Connecticut Liar

Seems the State AG in CT, Mr. Blumethal, has been telling folks he was in Vietnam during his time in the Marine Corps Reserve. This Ain't Hell got him in this lie. The dirtbag was in Vietnam as much as I was. I wasn't. But I also served during the last two years or so of our involvement there. Started in September of 73, I did. And in the Regular Navy, it was. First duty station was United States Ship, Independence CV62 out of Norfolk, Virginia. Nothing special or extraordinary, just a sea tour for an AA to AMH2.
Vietnam Era, yes, I will give him that. But in SE Asia? I think not. Sad to see Marines actually standing up for him. I saw part of the press conference, spectacle or tap dance routine at lunch.
Irregardless, the man lied to all. As a Marine he should have thought long and hard about that. But being a Democrat in a small, socialist, welfare state and adored by the left is his pass. Marines, past, present and future should make sure that the voters in CT get the straight skinney about this man.
The Old Retired Petty Officer has no use for him, even as a man. All his claims to any respect and honour are now null and void.

Idiot Personified

I did manage to catch some of the AGs testimony to some Senate Committee on the news yesterday.
Is this guy a real corker or what. He has not read a ten page bill that in a short while will become law in Arizona. He has however determined that it is unconstituional, biased and racial profiling. Where did the BO find this piece of garbage? In Bill and Hillary's closet or garage or outhouse, something like that. And he seemed to have an amazing amount of difficulty with the phrase...........radical islamic terrorist. We know who owns his sorry ass, with that part of the performance.
Wouldn't let this piece of crap shine my shoes or shovel the manure out of a barn. And somewhere along the line, he became the AG!
No love for any of the BO's cabinet secretaries. Most of them couldn't pour piss from a boot with the directions on the heel. I even have issues with SecDef and SecNav so I do this as an equal opportunity member of the rabble/angry mob.

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Conference Finals Set

The Philadelphia Flyers pulled it off. From a 3 games to none deficit to a date with my Canadiens in the Eastern Final. The last NHL team to win a series after trailing 3-0 was the 1975 Islanders.
In the West it will be San Jose against Chicago.
The neat trivia is that in the West, it is the one seed and the two seed, while in the East it is the seven seed against the eight seed. What a playoff. Even Buck is amazed considering his Red Wings are out of it. IT IS THAT GOOD THIS YEAR!

Irony, Indeed! Note: A bit on the raw side

I have a buddy at Falcon Maintenance that finds these. I told you, a bit on the raw side due to language, mostly.

AG Holder, Piece of Shit, One Each

Watched a bit of yesterday's fun at the committee hearing. Seems that the AG had his head up his ass! Pretty much SOP for this crowd. He hasn't even read the law in Arizona and is ready to sue to have it overturned. Worthless Piece of Shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That scumbag is not good enough to kiss my salt encrusted, buckskin ass! And should we meet, he had better be at the position of attention, until I tell him otherwise.......Old Retired Petty Officers, Master Sergeants and First Sergeants out rank everyone of them. Period.

HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Part Conference Final!

Montreal 5, Pittsburgh 2. Game seven. HABS in a conference final since 1993 when they last hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup.
Blue, Blanc et Rouge.
Watched the last half of the game at Coach's in Rosamond. With Rod Renteria and Bobby McAdoo and of course the Missus. Wings, Fat Tire and Hockey! Great evening with friends.

Six Months Here

Tomorrow is the six month mark as a civil service crew chief here at Edwards AFB. Wow! It has gone by fairly fast. Half way through a lease on a house!
I got me a COLA raise already and should be getting a step two one shortly. That will put me well above what I was making in the Aircraft Industry in Wichita and even with the ballast train salary. And I still miss being out there on the trains but c'est le vie! Or is it Le Guerre!
Since I had the interesting times following the discovery on the 4th of September, I have made new friends and acquaintances via this blogging thing.........Fun. Lot's of fun. I got the first chance at Parrothead Jeff and Friends when along with Kath, Jeff took as on as authors on his blog. Things degenerated from there(joke!) To all who have been along for this ride, I thank you for all the support, prayers, laughs and candor you have given me.
Special to Jeff, Kath, kc(kid sister), Buck, MUD and all of my followers. Couldn't have done it with out y'all!
"I may be going to Hell in a Bucket
But at least I'm enjoying the Ride!"

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the Mom's that grace this blog with their presence, I wish you a wonderful day tomorrow. The Ninth of May, Two Thousand Eight.
All the Best.

Seal Acquittal update/rant

SO2 Matt McCabe found not guilty. One hour and forty minutes of deliberations. All counts. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Prosecution's case fell on it's ass! Score Three now for the good guys! And I am sure that the three SEALS are now on Nappy's list at DHS. I figure I made it by just having the USN Retired thing behind the name.
But the CinC and AG are probably beside themselves with this one. Apoplectic Fit, Yeah, that's it! And the slime known as the mainstream media is probably scheduling therapy. Got that Contessa! You're a cute and tasty number. But not even with Billy Jeff's ****! I have standards and you ain't even close, baby cakes!
OK. I have been waiting for a chance to take a cheap shot at Contessa Brewer, Air Head Extraordinare! 

Thinking. Possibilities?

Got an email at work today. It was from a guy I worked with at Herzog on the ballast trains. The are fully staffed but he would keep it in mind and be in touch.
A few weeks ago, my Production Supervisor, pulled a faux pas of sorts in his manners and bearing. Or more specifically lack of both. One hitch wonder that has 25 years of civil service now. No leadership skills, whatsoever, none, nada.
I sent my old friend a note then. I said that the civil service was a let down and not what it is cracked up to be. And if there was a chance, I would go back out on the ballast trains. And I finished with the phrase, Dead Serious. Hmmmmm? Possibilities. Changes other than having my name on a jet. I am not overly impressed with where I work. It does pay the bills and launching and recovering airplanes is fun for the most part. But the railroad in the blood is hard to get rid of. I miss it. Seriously.
Some would say that at my age, I should be happy where I am. The road kept me alive.
The crew chief thing is a good gig, for the most part. I do have to do things that I have no background in. Such as engines, liquid breathing oxygen and the like. And I am not able to do things I know how to do due to the organizational structure of the Air Force.
I am an airframes system mechanic. Hydraulics and Pneumatics being the primary background. The job was advertised as a pneudraulics mechanic. Not even close when I got here.
So, the proverbial horns of a dilemma.
And I am not getting any younger, either.

Suspect in Custody

Seems the FBI and NYPD made an arrest in the "possible, attempted car bombing" in Times Square. Pakistani, naturalized US Citizen. He was arrested in Terminal Four at JFK getting ready to get on a plane to Dubai. Connecting to Islamabad or Karachi afterwards? Hmmmmmmmmmmm? The plot thickens. They got pictures of him in close proximity of the vehicle. And the left hasn't said a bloody word. Was is profiling? Yup. Worked. Basic police work.
FBI gets an attaboy from me. Still need 999 more of them. Navy thing. I will explain at a later point.
Actually, I am surprised the State Run Media didn't make accusations of a "Right Wing Extremist" being responsible. That would be me and most of the guys I work with. My friends, Shipmates and Squadron Mates and one or two old girlfriends.

Desert Tortoise Days

Not what I expected. I should have gone to the parade.
The Desert Tortoise has a sanctuary to the north of town. Newly assigned and hired folks at Edwards have to go through training about the Tortoise. I kid you not!
It was like a small town carnival. And I mean Small! However two young men decided that a fight was in order. Right in front of the police at the entrance to the festivities. Tasers are kind of neat to see in action. The young punk hit the ground like the proverbial ton of bricks!
The Missus and I did get some cute little wood work name things of the grand daughters and a funnel cake. Gotta have a funnel cake!
We have a large number of "disadvantaged minorities" here in Cal City. They were moved out of the LA area to help fill emtpy apartments,  duplexes and such due to the violence in the LA area. Some folks have told me that there are meth labs and such here. I can't confirm that. I do know that people without jobs drive much nicer outfits than I do.

Arrogant, Anti-American Bastard

The above was in a post at Confederate Yankee. It was about the..........at some point, you have made enough money.
The worthless piece of shit that said that? Barack Shitstain Obama. And that cocksucker make five million bucks last year. Five Million Dollars! And he thinks others should not. It is obvious that this cretin needs to be sent packing in 2012.
Including a fair number of my own relatives, those of you who voted for this and actually believed a protege' of alinsky, marx and engels are getting what you deserve. Me, I intend to be the "loyal opposition." Well as far as one can be loyal to a communist, self aggrandizing  pieced of shit that is now the cinc.

Habs Lose, Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!

The Penguins put on an offensive show..........The final being 6-3. Halak was not on his game at all. And the Pens were really, really good. It is a best of seven, though.