JAN 14TH 2008
Its been nearly a year since I did a post. I thought I would make my pick for president on these pages. I will post my thoughts on the politics and ramble page.
March 19th 2007
On today the 4th year of the war in Iraq I reflected on the past as well as the present. I was doing field work in the hill country back in 1991. After a long day in the field I came back to Johnson City to the motel and was in the resterant eating when a special news alert came on and said we had started Gulf War One or Desert Storm as the action was called. I got a lump in my throat and a sick feeling in my belly. My son was twenty years old. Having served during war time myself I was not feeling good about my son going off to war. He joined the Navy which not only made me feel better but also made me proud. He was following in the old man's footsteps and without a doubt, sailors have a better chance of survival. This is not to say that sailors do not go in harms way which is evidenced by three major aircraft carrier fires during Viet Nam and two guided missile crusiers sustained heavy damage in the Persion Gulf. And the Navy provides blockade and air support that is critical to any war. In any event My reason for this ramble is that in some small way I feel a connection to today's military personnel and have the greatest respect for what they are doing. I can't imagine being a parent today with a child in the armed service. A combination of pride and fear. I wish them all well. Lets all hope and pray this war ends soon.
March 13th 2007
Its been a fast few months since the new year and I havn't taken the time to update the pages. Anyway I am back at it and have changed the format again. I will keep the rambings and rants on a seperate page. The main page will be devoted to past, present and future events. The photo's in the header section are from 38 years and 100 pounds ago. Life has gone by so fast. Through good times and bad I've shared those times with my best friend, my wife. She's up in the country visiting the kids and me and Rambo are home alone. She's been gone two days and we sure miss her.
Late last year I watched a movie starring Robbin Williams and Jeff Daniels. The movie was about going cross country in an RV. Anyway Jeff Daniels played guitar and sang in the movie. I bought me this new toy (an MP3 player) and have been putting new and old tunes on it. I got to thinking that maybe Jeff Daniels had some music for sale. Well I did a Google search and low and behold he does. I think the music is great and if anyone is interested just type jeffdaniels (one word) into the URL address line and hit ctrl/enter and it will bring his page up to sample the songs. I have downloaded Grandpa's Hat and love it. I will download another album soon. One of the songs deals with being alone. Its called "Across the Way". This song just blows me away. If you know someone that lives alone give them a call and just say hi. I'm making my calls tonight.
March 17th 2007
It's saturday and me and Rambo are home alone. I decieded to cook some beans using my secret receipt. As I was putting all the secret ingredients in the pot it reminded me of when I came up with this delicacy. I was walking across the base at Cam Rahn Bay when I heard someone hollar at me. It turns out the guy was in my boot camp company and I marched right behind him. As luck would have it he was a second class cook. (That's a paygrade for you land lubber's-not his cooking ability). Anyway after that I could get what ever I wanted to cook on the mid-watch. We had a two burner hot plate and late at night when traffic slowed we would cook. My receipt includes oinons, bacon and spices. Shortly after my discharge from the Navy Em's family had a reunion and I told Emma I would cook the dish. We arrived at the reunion and I put my delicacy on the table. Em's aunt Mae asked who cooked the beans and I said (with great pride) that I did. I don't remember the excat quote but, it was something along the lines of my beans sucked and let Emma do the cooking. I havn't cooked them this way in many years. Today is my day. Good thing I am alone because this receipt is very volitile.