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

Monday, September 30, 2013

Life Milestone

One was yesterday...... 40 years ago I took the oath of enlistment at AFEES Butte, Montana. Then it was on the plane to Sandy Eggo.......and embarked on a career in the Sea Service.
Today is the 20th Anniversary of my retirement from the Navy. Where has the time gone?

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Guinness is Good for You


The Floor Is Now Open


This was too good to pass up! Guinness for Strength--------------Lex

Saturday just because post. Something from The Daily Mail

Interesting piece that some friends had up at Facebook. You may or may not find it interesting. I did find it very interesting. Saturday and not doing much of anything.
Melting pot: This map shows the ethnic heritage of Americans
Head to the link for a larger version of the picture.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2408591/American-ethnicity-map-shows-melting-pot-ethnicities-make-USA-today.html

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Character Building

This one is good. It has been on the net for a few days I guess but I came across it today. I am all for the coaches at Union High School. The day of the untouchable athlete at all levels of education needs to come to an end in my own opinion. We know what opinions are like, right?
http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/09/26/coach-suspends-entire-football-team-to-teach-lesson-about-character-84135
Does make one have hope.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Not good news: Navy helicopter with 5 aboard crashes in Red Sea

"The MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 — nicknamed the HSC Indians — went down in the Central Red Sea at about noon local time, according to an official with the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet."

Navy helicopter with 5 aboard crashes in Red Sea

Prayers for our shipmates. I have served aboard Nimitz.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Plane Pr0n for a Saturday

http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2013/09/osprey-aircraft-lands-illustrious/



Five more good pics at the link above.

Four year milestone

Four years ago today, I underwent a Nephrectomy. That is a fancy word for having a kidney removed.
Arrived at Via Christi Saint Francis obscenely early-------------------0530 for registration and preparation.
The surgery began at 0800 and was done at 0945..........I came out of recovery at about 1300 or so.
Two IVs and a Catheter.............................The cute little nurse said "we need you to get up and take a walk." My reply was colorful to say the least! The Missus did the pat of my shoulder and said that the young lady was simply doing her job...............................................
I had a huge bandage on my stomach covering an incision with 12 staples in it. The three laproscopic cuts only had two staples each with band aids................................
On day four, doc came in and checked everything and said I could go home. His parting comment was that the pathology came back and the mass was cancer.......................................Digest that one.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Wondering what happened to all fuel tanks jettisoned by U.S. fighter jets over Southeast Asia during Vietnam War?

Wondering what happened to all fuel tanks jettisoned by U.S. fighter jets over Southeast Asia during Vietnam War?
Fuel tank 2

They were recycled. I would like a 600 gallon F-4 centerline to do this with myself. Excellent little article at The Aviationist about this.

Found elsewhere this morning. I like it.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles roll
ed into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—-the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first—-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Roll another one over

59 today.
After the events about the time I turned 55, it is a notable event, methinks.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Good News from The Department of Veterans Affairs

In the Snail Mail Box on Friday was a big envelope with the green stripes on the edges from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Huntington WV.............Got outsourced ya know!
I am now officially rated at 60% Service Connected. I have been at 30% since November of 1997. Long haul it was.
$1120 per month with Missus ORPO so it is nice. I am also going to get this and my retirement concurrently. I got past the 50% level so that is going to happen. Gotta wait and see.............................
Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale is now being enjoyed!

Monday, September 02, 2013

Plane Pr0n: 23/24 coolest Military Birds in Flight Right Now

From Business Insider.
The link said 23 and the title said 24...................oh well.
Plane Pr0n!
For starters I give you this!
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-23-coolest-military-birds-in-flight-right-now-2013-8?op=1
The rest are quite good as well.

The Cobra is every grunt's dream. Fast, armed to the teeth, and deadly accurate.
The Cobra is every grunt's dream. Fast, armed to the teeth, and deadly accurate.


Good Stuff from the Kitchen

Cranberry-Jalapeno-Habenero Jelly!
It is so awesome!
Missus ORPO has discovered that some of the guys I work with love it after I took some to work the other evening! Five jars are sold for sure at three bucks a pop.
That is a possible supplemental income!

Sunday, September 01, 2013

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)