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

Friday, August 31, 2012

More Beer Blogging

Again, I leave the descriptive and narratives to Blog Bud MSGT Buck.
I made a stop at Stater Brothers in Mojave. Good selection in a grocery store, Amazing ain't it? But it is Southern California after all.

Flavour. It is all about Flavour!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Bad news with a ton of bricks............

We at the 416 AMU got bad news today. One of our coworkers had been in the hospital in Palmdale for about a week or so. He had been feeling poorly and not looking good either, for a while.
One of the guys was able to pay him a visit last night. The tests said cancer. Ton of bricks on all of us.
Ed Cunningham AO1, US Navy Retired. Shipmate.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Beer Blogging.........Chapter whatever

Mojave Red. From Indian Wells Brewing Company. This is local from north of where I live, say about 45 minutes, perhaps.
Hit one of the little bottle shops here in Cal City to get the Missus some Shock Top Raspberry Wheat. Found this in the cooler as well. I had seen it at Albertson's in Ridgecrest one day and the being  local intrigued me.................
I like it. I can't go into the neat descriptives that Blog Bud Buck at EIP does but for me, I like it is good enough.
They have some other flavours that I am going to try as well.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

RIP Neil Armstrong

From NASA.gov.
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, has died. He was 82.

His family has released the following statement:

“We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
 Neil Armstrong: 1930-2012

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

 Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 Commander, inside the Lunar Module as it rests on the lunar surface after completion of his historic moonwalk.


Neil Armstrong standing in front of  X-15 on lakebed

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Dempsey ‘disappointed’ by anti-Obama campaign by ex-military members

Linked from my other place, Among The Joshua Trees.
Interesting piece here by Blog Bud and Shipmate, Bill "Instapinch" Paisley and the link is also provided for you.
Our good friend and fellow Lexican, Bill Paisley had this outstanding post at The Neptunus Lex Page on Facebook.
It is worth the copy, paste and link to the article itself. Bill does a really bang up job with it. He is a true Shipmate and a Blog Bud of the Highest Order.
".......Thoughts about Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey comments that even retired military should, to paraphrase his comments, keep their mouths shut with regards to political commentary. I know he doesn't use those words, but when he says he is "disappointed" in the group of former CIA agents, Navy SEALs and other military members and their long-form political ad that takes the President to task for the killing of Obama and leaks in the WH, there really isn't any any question what he means........." More at the links below.

This Old Retired Petty Officer does take issue with General Dempsey as well. The initial reaction on my part was somewhat salty of speech.
Having been Retired from the US Navy for almost nineteen years now, I can categorically let the Chairman, JCS to kindly shut his pie hole and leave me the hell alone!

New Arrival!

Blog Bud, Parrothead Jeff and his lady, Cindy are now the proud parents of Ember Celee. She arrived in this world this morning at 0814 Mountain Time in Sandy, Utah.
Stats: 9 pounds, 11 and 1/2 ounces at 21 inches.

Baby, Mom and Dad are doing fine.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Get painted-up for Norway’s NATO Tiger meet: The Brigade

http://thebrigade.thechive.com/2012/06/03/get-painted-up-for-norways-nato-tiger-meet-57-hq-photos/
Found this one at The Brigade. I like Tiger Meet jets. A lot of really cool paint jobs.
Not to mention I used to be the ACC on 80-3666 of The Royal Norwegian Air Force here at Eddie's Airplane Patch in the Mojave Desert.

 Tiger-paint-920-33

Tiger-paint-920-39

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Navy Helicopters Team with CALFIRE to Fight Wildfires

This is from Commander Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs via Navy.Mil.
Bravo Zulu to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 3 and 21.
 http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=52261

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=69057

Things that folks may not know about their Navy....................


Official U.S. Navy file photo.



Amy is Back!

After a hiatus, one of my favorite bloggers is back at it!
Amy B. Proctor has brought back Bottom Line Up Front.
It is over there on the right in ORPO's Blogroll, etc.....................

Sunday, August 12, 2012

A little bit o' weather

We got teased when it comes to getting some rain...................
The wind blew my trash and recycling containers over and out in the yard. A lot of dust kicked up.
I think I felt two or three drops of rain.







Afghanistan Deployment I by Amy Proctor

For those who do not remember, Amy Proctor was the proprietor of Bottom Line, Up Front. I loved that blog. As a result of the blogging thing we do, Amy is also a Facebook Friend.
She has graciously allowed me to put up her photo essay for her husband's deployment to Afghanistan. Master Sergeant Johnny Proctor will be in our prayers for the next year.
I will give you the link to the post at Among The Joshua Trees and a couple of pics here. It is also re-blogged to The Place for Us All......................
Afghanistan Deployment I by Amy Proctor



 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Plane Pr0n: From the past

Argonaut A-7E launching off the waist from USS Ranger CV 61 in the Tonkin Gulf. Them little SLUFs could haul a load! Say what you will about the Multi Role craze of current times, sometimes you need a lot of ordnance on target. That Vulcan gun in the lower left nose was an effective weapon against troop formations.

Friday, August 10, 2012

19 years

Strange to think of this on an odd numbered year.
Nineteen years ago today, I checked out of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One Four Zero aboard Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. Retirement Leave and three days of transit to the family home.
I guess it is a milestone of sorts. I don't know. It sort of came to me.
Buck and others will know what I mean.
We remember things and dates most folks find rather odd.
There are things I mention now from before the Current Missus ORPO and I were married that cause her to raise an eyebrow. It is what it is. Very few of the recollections are of life with the First Missus ORPO. Good thing, eh?
Nineteen years...........................................
The things that have occurred in that time.....................................
It all started in a Hyundai four door headed back to Havre, Montana..........................on to Wichita, Kansas and California City, California...............................
Changing Oil, Chasing Trains, Building Airplanes, Chasing Trains, Building Airplanes..........Crew Chief......................

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Derailment in SE Montana

From my BNSF Railway buddy, Shane.
"This is the derailment at Plevna. At least 7 cars on fire and 3 of which that exploded. The last picture is incredible. No cause at this time."
Plevna is on US 12 between Miles City and Baker in Southeastern Montana. I unloaded my ballast train on this former Milwaukee Road line in the summer of 2007.







Bad day on the Big New Santa Fe for sure.

Monday, August 06, 2012

Outstanding post from America's Sergeant Major



As if he ever has bad ones......................
................I've heard dialogue is difficult to write. I imagine that's true considering remarks made in real life are just too good to be made up. Another installment of comments heard in the clear......................
 http://castrapraetoria1.blogspot.com/2012/08/heard-in-clear.html

"We're looking for a duck in dress blues."
That is a land mark if I ever heard one.

 


Saturday, August 04, 2012

SCRUBEX

This is a Flight Deck SCRUBEX aboard USS George Washington CVN-73 while underway somewhere on the other side of The World.
Been There. Done That.
Twenty Years ago this next month, I went to sea on GW on it's shakedown cruise with the Air Wing embarked. I was in the Prowler Squadron, VAQ-140. It was the last time I ever went to sea......................
The cleaning agent is AFFF, Aqueous Film Forming Solution. It is basically a detergent. Not only does it put out fires but helps keep the deck clean! 
George Washington is forward deployed to Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan with CVW-5 based at NAF Atsugi.
This is the point of the sword and a look at the not so glamorous stuff that is the norm for life aboard a Nimitz Class Carrier.



Friday, August 03, 2012

Beer Blogging for a Friday Evening.

Arrogant Bastard Ale.'You're Not Worthy!"
A full flavoured, smack you upside the head ale.
Rich and dark with a after bite! I like it!
Did the tour and lunch at the Stone Brewing Company in Escondido last August. It was the Birthday Gift from our eldest son and his bride. If any of you ever get the chance, go. It will be most enjoyable!
 Big Bottle of pure 7.2 % enjoyment!



Leadership Lessons from Dwight D. Eisenhower #4: Always Ready

I found this at The Art of Manliness. From time to time I check it out to see what they may have that is of interest. Since there are many readers of this here humble little blog who are old Grunts, Crew Dogs, Devil Dogs, Swabbies and Coasties, I thought this one might be of interest.
The picture is one that can tell a story with that line on it.

artofmanliness.com/2012/07/27/leadership-lessons-from-dwight-d-eisenhower-4-always-ready/

Head on over and have a read. I am going to attempt to dig out more of these on occasion as it is good stuff.








Thursday, August 02, 2012

The Planes on Poles at NAS Lemoore

Took a spin over the mountains to the Central Valley today. Got me a pair of boots for work. I get reimbursed for them by the Air Force. Picked up a little swag and shot these pics.








The A model Hornet that is mounted is next to the intersection right inside the main gate with lousy access. Perhaps next time.

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Castra Praetoria: More on veteran employment


Today we have a guest post by Anna Brown of AmeriQuest Transportation Services. They are big supporters of the Hire Our Heroes initiative. After reading my post in June on the subject, they asked if I'd follow up with something by one of their writers. So here you go:


Addressing the Myths that Prevent Veteran Employment

The rest is at the link below as it is a fairly lengthy guest post on The Most Excellent Blog Of America's Sergeant Major.

Castra Praetoria: More on veteran employment
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)