A tear or two.

I watched the Deadliest Catch tonight that had Captain Phil Harris' stroke. When the other boats skippers were notified, the emotion was amazing. A tear was shed by most of them and yours truly. It is a seafaring thing. Most will not understand.
The After the Catch show has an empty chair at the table. It is for Phil Harris.
And I think it reminds us of our own mortality. Anytime, it can happen to any of us.

Summer. Here. Now.

If you scroll down to the bottom of ORPO to my weather thingie, you will notice that it is a balmy, pleasant 103 degrees! Tomorrow it is forecast to hit 105. The flight line should be interesting to say the least. Concrete. Reflecting. Got a large water bottle. We have two flyers for sure. One of them is mine. I would prefer the early one but my jet is on the schedule and it is a later go.
Hot. Desert Wind. Hot.

Joe "dumb ass/idiot/head up and locked"

Saw it on the web.
If I had been in charge of that shop, I would have thrown that useless piece of east coast shit out the fucking door. And then I would have taken a steel toed boot to his privates and then his rig cage.
I do not count joe biden as a worthwhile human being. He is a maggot ridden, flea bitten, worthless shit stain. No redeeming qualities at all. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Get the idea? Good.
Done

From the past, with Ian Anderson

When I was young and they packed me off to school
and taught me how not to play the game,
I didn't mind if they groomed me for success,
or if they said that I was a fool.
So I left there in the morning
with their God tucked underneath my arm --
their half-assed smiles and the book of rules.
So I asked this God a question
and by way of firm reply,
He said -- I'm not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.
So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares):
before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers --
I don't believe you:
you had the whole damn thing all wrong --
He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.
Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school
and have all the bishops harmonize these lines --
how do you dare tell me that I'm my Father's son
when that was just an accident of Birth.
I'd rather look around me -- compose a better song
`cos that's the honest measure of my worth.
In your pomp and all your glory you're a poorer man than me,
as you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
I don't believe you:
you had the whole damn thing all wrong --
He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.

Just cause I like it!

Swiped, with permission from a Face Book friend. She stole it from someone else. But she is a nice lady and I had to ask.
I feel like this on occasion. More frequently with the current state of affairs inside the beltway!

Remember why this was started?

It began as a way of dealing with the cancer.
This week, one of my co workers at Falcon started Chemo and Radiation. Mary has a tremendous support network from those of us in the 912AMXS. But I have no shame in asking for any prayers and positive waves for her again.
Kind of been down the same road.

No laughing OK?

May of 1972. I was 17 years old. Give me a break. I was the baby of the Havre High Class of 1972. Still am at 55!

Beer Day! 15 March 1987. Aboard USS Kitty Hawk CV63 at the Fleet Anchorage, Al Masira, Oman.

AE2 Kerr, Me, AMH3 Orozco behind me, Don't remember, AMH2 Rector and for the life of me, I don't remember him either. This was my night shift in the Hydraulic/Pneumatic Component Repair Shop at AIMD NAS Lemoore, CA sometime in 1987-1988.

Falcon Maintenance Goodbye to a Friend

My buddy, Rod. He starts a new job at Northrop Grumman in Palmdale on Monday. We gave him a send off at a little establishment in Rosamond.
The cake was made by The Missus Old Retired Petty Officer just for the event. It blew him away!

A really nice going away memento for Rod. 

Rod and Tony, The Boss at Falcon Maintenance.

The Falcon Maintainers. We are a really fun bunch.

See what I mean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rod cutting the cake!
It was a good time had by all. The Missus got lots of compliments on the cake. And as I said Rod was blown away by it!

Out of the past

This was our Wedding Day. The 11th of June, 1983. Reference a couple of posts ago. Last Friday was number 27.
I thought everyone would like a look.
L-R. My Dad, My Mom, Me, Sharon, Sharon's Mom, Sharon's Step Dad.

From the past, Darkly? Again?

A long time ago, in a place not so far away.
The day I got my Air Warfare Wings with some of my squadron mates and the CO.  That is the gentleman with the shoulder boards and aviator wings. Jim Oliver. Righteous guy, one each.
Behind yours truly is Tim Lobretto, AMS2, outstanding airframes guy, period. Next to him, right as viewed, is AQC Ed Zwick, Flight Deck Coordinator Extraordinaire. We were Argonauts of Attack Squadron One Four Seven. Things changed in 1989 with the arrival of the F/A-18 hornette. No longer the same.