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?

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.

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

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.

Army vacates final building at Fort Missoula

Army vacates final building at Fort Missoula: http://www.krtv.com/news/army-vacates-final-building-at-fort-missoula

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.

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.

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?


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.

New Plane Pr0n-New-look BAe 146 firefighter makes debut flight

Interesting. Another use for the BAE-146/Avro RJ.


http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dsei-new-look-bae-146-firefighter-makes-debut-flight-390420/

Roll another one over

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

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!

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.

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!

Willie Nelson, Toby Keith & Merle Haggard - "Pancho and Lefty"

Lefty, he can't sing the blues................................................out if kindness, I suppose.