DinosaurNotes

Summer Southern gardens, Gee-Gaws and the Queen

2011-06-05T20:11:00.010-04:00

We had a relatively mild Spring, and it has been hot the last couple of weeks.

Everything green is simply exploding, and we are in full bloom.

The Queen lives up to her name, which means "Greenbough" in Greek.

Gardening is her passion, and if I don't watch her, we'd have no lawn left at all, and palm trees would be growing in our driveway!

Here are some random images of her many projects, and The Queen Of The Manse herself, in all of her feminine glory.

Enjoy!

Not the best Saturday

2011-04-17T17:42:00.003-04:00

As all of you must know by now, yesterday (16 April) we were bombarded by the storm system that spawned tornados from Alabama to North Carolina.

Our local weather guys were admittedly speechless when the severity of the system became apparent.

It's not a comforting thought to see concern bordering on panic on the faces of professional TV sorts.

God blessed us. We were right in the middle of two severe Tornados, and came out virtually unscathed.

One went to the east of us over our county seat and caused severe damage before heading on it's destructive way towards Virginia. Another was further east, passing over Greensboro, and Seymour Johnston AFB before hitting Greenville and heading North.

And one went just to the west of us.

All we had was vertical rain. Not a branch came down at our place.

The Western one followed US 1 all the way through the middle of the State and into downtown Raleigh, leaving a trail of death and destruction in it's wake.

People lost everything they had in some cases.

And the poor and lower class suffered the most.

Many lived in mobile home parks, which looked like bombs wiped them out.

A lot of these folks had no insurance to replace their losses.

Saturday night, almost 200,000 had no power, including 19,000 here in Johnston County.

My heart went out in particular to one man about my age in the county.

He had lost a beautiful farm that I had viewed many times while driving up I40 not far from here.

Every one of his 11 Turkey buildings were destroyed, and the roof of his home was pretty much gone.

He had yet to even find his horses, as their barn was blown away.

Ditto his pigs and their enclosures.

Neighbors said "He's the hardest working man in Johnston County. He built that farm up from nothing over decades."

I saw the face of a broken man, whose soul had been crushed in the span of 10 minutes.

I put myself in his place, and my soul ached for him.

He and his wife were alive, and they were thankful.

As most Americans do, I know he will pick himself up, dust himself off, and like a true Southerner probably cuss a bit.

Then he will go back to work.

I also so a marked departure from some of the images I remember after Hurricane Katrina hit.

As they interviewed people who had suffered, their neighbors were in the background stretching covers over the holes in their roof.

They were going door to door making certain everyone was OK.

They were already clearing fallen trees off of driveways and roads.

Those that had power were asking in those that had none.

Supplies were on the way while the winds were still swirling.

Our pastor told us this morning that the North Carolina Baptist Men were already on the scene with tools and strong arms to help.

They were also the first in New Orleans from outside, and one of the first groups in Haiti and Japan.

This one was at home, and their appearance was immediate.

The absence of people screaming for FEMA and the Federal Government was noticeable.

Before the storm even hit, I got a call from FRG (Family Resource Group) from Ariel's unit, Delta Company of the Second Battalion.

They assured me that "Your soldier is OK. But there was an incident yesterday." A young Specialist, 25 was lost, and two more soldiers were severely wounded.

We knew that he was OK, but the call was still terrifying.

It's the kind of call every parent of a combat Soldier or Marine dreads.

Ariel was able to call us today, after they lifted the Comm block.

He was lifting weights after his duty day, and heard the firefight.

It was an ambush very close to the FOB on another platoon's patrol outside the wire.

One soldier is so seriously wounded he will be sent home. The other will probably be back at the FOB in a month or so to resume his duties.

He kind of knew the young man that we all lost, but in a company of almost 200 men you don't know everyone personally.

But they are truly a Band of Brothers, and each and every loss affects all of them.

If our politicians won't let them fight, then we all need to start a relentless fight to bring them home and out of Afghanistan.

We are in yet another Vietnam, with no political will to win, no distinct military objective, and no strategic reason to be there that affects our National Security or interests.

We also have no plan, and no exit strategy.

Ten years is enough!

Please pray for the young man's family that gave his all for his country and for those who bled for it.

And pray for the poor souls here in the Southeast who were devastated by the Tornado's of yesterday.

Who is steering the ship?

2011-03-18T14:15:00.003-04:00

I refer of course, to the ship of state.
Ours being the United States of America.
Emergencies and drastic situations are all in the job description of President of The United States, regardless of who he or she may be.

I remember now Secretary of State and former Senator and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton airing a particularly effective campaign ad when she ran in the Democrat primaries against then Senator Obama.
The gist of this was, when the phone rings at 3:00 AM, will my opponent be able to answer it?

Lately it seems that his response now that he is President is to let the answering machine catch the call. Or perhaps he tells Michelle "Ah, tell them I'm not here! I'm walking the dog!"

So far this year, we've had Egypt in turmoil, now with a military government that is somewhat friendly to the U.S.
According to CNN and other media outlets, President Obama learned of former Egyptian President/dictator for life Hosni Mubarak fleeing Egypt while he watched TV in the Oval Office.

During the same time period, Algeria, Yemen and Tunisia were both caught in uprisings of their own.
We had a chance, with some skillful and direct leadership from the top to insure that all of these aggrieved people were protected from violence.
We also needed to insure that Islamic militants like the Muslim Brotherhood or some Iranian front didn't turn these nations into a Sharia state.

Our response from the White House was to sit and wait, and let events unfold.
The results were the results, we had virtually no input to shepherd these people in the direction of peace and democracy on some level.

And now we have Libya. Her poor people have been terrorized for decades by one of the worst lunatic tyrants in modern history, "Colonel" Mohamar Quadafy.
A man who also has the blood of many Americans on his hands through his direct and overt terrorist activity over the last thirty years.
Ronald Reagan dealt with him rather harshly , but every other President has been content to keep him penned up, instead of dealing with his crazed treatment of his own people, and his continued threats to the rest of the world.

Had we a strong leader, he could have been "coaxed" into leaving the country and going into exile very early on in this crisis. A live idiot with several millions of his peoples oil money in France beats having him committing genocide on his subjects in revolt.
Chances are strong assurance from the U.S. that we would bring down the wrath of God on his miserable head (and that of his son) ala' Ronald Reagan if he did not vamoose would have accomplished his removal without bloodshed.

Instead, we waited.
Depending on the ineffective and perennially weak U.N. to finally act in the Security Council was a disaster.
After placating the tyrannical Chinese government for over two weeks, the council finally passed a resolution last night for a no fly zone. 10-4 for, 5 nations too spineless to vote that abstained.
Yes, the same Chinese government that locks up Nobel Prize winners, and places his family under house arrest rather than let them attend the award ceremony for fear of world humiliation.

No one will ever know how many innocent Libyans were slaughtered by this madman and his supporters because we dithered and did nothing.
And it is now likely that the insane Colonel will be in power until he dies.
Then, just as it will be in North Korea his spawn of Satan son will succeed him.
After the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein stayed in power in similar circumstances.
He slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own people, using Bio weapons against the Kurds.
George W. Bush finally had him removed, after 17 toothless U.N. resolutions over a 12 year period.

Word is leaking out that Secretary of State Clinton is furious with her boss for his inaction.
She saw the potential to get rid of this nut job with little risk.
It seems she was right about the phone call.

And now we have the natural disaster in Japan, with a Tsunami following a series of devastating earthquakes and nuclear meltdown potential.
Word from the White House "the fallout will have little potency if it hits the U.S. West Coast"
If, how much potency, who cares I don't have to go there etc etc.

Our Commander in Chiefs answer to all of this?
Raise money for his reelection campaign, play golf and fly to Rio for one of his patented political/luxury vacation trips abroad.
Were he to come back from Brazil with a new treaty agreement with them to buy their oil I would think it money well spent.
Their current number one trading partner is Communist China.
It should be us.
They have a booming economy, and are now ranked number seven in the world in that respect.

Heaven forbid, if we give this man four more years in the White House, they will surpass us.

We need someone else available to answer the Red Phone in January of 2013.

The Family Tree

2011-03-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

My sister sent me a link to a new website for the State of West Virginia.
"Thanks, now I won't get anything of real value done for the rest of the day!" I told her.
There was a wealth of historical information to be found there.

In just over an hour, I downloaded Marriage "Contracts" and licenses all the way back to my
ggg Grandfather and Grandmother, in 1808.
The listings by the county clerk in the registers for that year were also there.

I learned that in olden days, it was indeed a contract between the groom to be, and his father in law, or the eldest living brother. The contract was with the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the name of the current governor.
The price of said contract? $150.00, serious money in that day.
Instead of receiving a Dowry, as it was in the old country the young husband had to do this in order to show that he was financially stable enough to support the woman.
If he hadn't been working long enough to save the cash, he didn't walk the man's little girl down the aisle, so to speak.

The ages listed on the license normally reflected that.
My ggg grandfather Joshua Harvey was 23, Sarah Swope, the matriarch of my direct line was only sixteen.
Their son James S. Harvey (my fathers name sake) was 22, his bride Eliza Cummins was
only 17. It took a young man that long to save that amount of money in order to marry.

As time marched on, and the contract was now only a marriage license the age of the woman advanced.
In fact, my grandmother Ollie Pearl Garten was 23, and my Pa Pa was only 22!
My great grandmother Louisa Baumgardner Harvey was very young at marriage though.
She was only 30 when she died after a difficult child birth. The child did not survive either.
My great Aunt Liza was only twelve at the time, and she helped with my granddad, who was six, and with his little brother Hobart who was one until she herself married at the age of seventeen.
My great grandfather never remarried, which tells me a lot about his love for his young wife.
It was commonplace for a man to quickly remarry in that day, especially when he had young children.
He raised the boys with the help of his married daughter, and later served as Sheriff in Monroe County. He died just before my father was born in 1921, living to see most of his grandchildren.

Seeing the flowing, formal cursive handwriting on these documents, with the names, ages and witnesses from the family of people I've heard about, and in some cases known as elderly was awesome.
I know the exact dates now of all of their nuptials.
One can easily imagine them as hopeful, excited youngsters, eager to set out on their own, much as we all have done.

Sarah and Joshua had seventeen children who survived to adult hood.
There were several sets of twins.
Most of them lived through the Civil War. Indeed, the men fought in it.
They were both blessed with a long life, even by today's standards.

I once met an elderly gentleman when I was in High School in 1970.
His name was Richard Harvey, and he and my Grandfather were third cousins.
He was a veritable wealth of information, lucid, articulate and engaging.
He remembers as a child meeting James S. Harvey, he knew my ggrandfather John S. Harvey well, and also knew several of his great Aunts and Uncles as very elderly people.
Joshua and Sarah's children and grandchildren!
Some of them were still living early in the twentieth century.
My dad told me later that he was 99 years old when I talked to him!

I have since confirmed everything he told me in his oral family history.
These recent documents added to my paper trail of documentation too.

Ah, but I love family detective work!

Ft Knox two

2011-02-21T17:30:00.005-05:00

We'll see you soon, son.

2011-02-21T16:57:00.019-05:00

There are too many memories to elucidate here from our week in "E-Town" KY.
We went out to help our son prepare for deployment, and to see he and his fellow soldiers off.
They are now in Afghanistan, after a week long process of travel.

Pictures tell the story better than I can.

Mom sewing his scripture hanky before we left home.
Fun at Big Boy. We don't have them back home.
Packing 0ver 400# of gear and personals, in four rucks made for around 300.
Last drive in his car for awhile.
Oh, by the way soldier, you also carry your rifle and this 30# SatCom radio with you!
Loading the BM'r.
Stacking the gear for loading in the vans.
Drawing weapons, and wait wait wait!
Sad goodbyes from many families.
Attention to orders!
Let's get on with the mission.
Loading the bus.
A mom waits until the bus is out of sight.
What it's all about.

The Beach in December.

2010-12-07T11:27:00.016-05:00

Here are the promised pictures taken on Oak Island in October.
Guest Photographer, my sister.

Enough is Enough!

2010-11-15T12:35:00.002-05:00

Quietly, during the month of October over sixty of the new full body scanners were placed in operation at airports all over the United States.
Surprised air travelers who were pulled out of the security lines at random were given a choice.

Submit to a scanning device that virtually strips you naked and subjects you to a dose of radiation, or allow a total stranger to grope you in areas that only your spouse or doctor is normally allowed.
Needless to say, the reaction coming from law abiding citizens that have been subjected to a procedure normally used only to admit convicted felons to a Federal penitentiary has been one of outrage.
I do have a great deal of cynicism over hearsay incidents related in the media, both broadcast, print and internet.
But there are far too many reports coming back from all over this previously free nation of ours to discount them all.
Women being groped. Young children, even stroller babies being touched in areas their parents have told them to never let anyone touch them.
People being ejected from airports for protesting this outrageous violation of our Constitutional Rights.
"Well, it's to protect you from terrorists!" we are told.
In other words, bleat like the good sheep that you are and do as you're told.
It started when some fool walked on a airplane with a fuse stuck out of his shoe.
Now all of us have been standing in our stocking feet in line like lemmings since then.
Women, children, babies, the elderly, Catholic Sisters who have taken a vow of modesty and chastity. No one is being spared this public humiliation.
Even the pilots and flight crew have to undergo this ridiculous process.
People who fly for a living, for whom the increased exposure to radiation is a very real threat.

I don't recall any of the airliners hijacked on 9/11 being flown by women. Or children.
Or senior citizens. Or Nuns.
But we can't single people out for questioning. That's profiling!
They complain, and the politicians cave in.
But when We The People say we've had enough, we're told, and I quote Janet Nepolitano here in summary, "Scan or Hand!" Or don't fly.

Fine. We won't fly, if we have any other choice.
The airlines are already operating on a thin profit margin since 9/11.
They cannot survive by relying solely on business travelers who have no choice but to fly.

And as for Big Brother's claim that is is an inescapable necessity to safeguard our flights?

Total, complete and utter HOGWASH!

If any Nation is at risk for airborne terrorism, it is Israel.
Do they have any of these intrusive methods for making certain their El Al flights are safe?
None of them.
And they are the safest airline in the world with which to travel.

Get your act together, Secretary Nepolitano and the Federal Government in general.
Maybe if you were forced to fly coach, as you should anyway and were singled out every single time for your "Enhanced Pat-down" grope-fest you would change your tune.

The rest of us are starting to say NO! en masse.

Enough is enough!

It's a healthy thing.

2010-11-03T11:26:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, the Vox Populi was heard.
We didn't speak softly either, we roared!
And I want to caution the National Republican Party leadership.

This wasn't because of you, this was in spite of you!

Grass roots conservatives all across the fruited plain are frustrated, and yes angry at their increasingly out of touch, arrogant and power hungry Federal Government.
(A footnote here, most Americans are conservative when it comes to fiscal matters, National defense, and a reverence for the Constitution and our Heritage of freedom.)
They are mad at both parties, but since the Democrats have controlled Congress for four years, and held the White House for two they were held accountable yesterday.
Not only have they made little to no improvement in our National condition, things have gotten markedly worse since they took back the keys to the kingdom.
The Republicans shared a similar fate in both 2006 and 2008.

My earnest prayer is that our quick reaction to bad government at the polls is permanent.
If you don't listen to us, and enact legislation and National Policy that is in our best interests, we'll fire you all come election day!

I think the Republicans finally 'get it.'
The so-called Tea Party is simply grass roots voters holding the Republican party, and the Federal Government accountable.
There is no true 'party' in the political sense. No leadership at the national level, no layers upon layers of 'good ol' boy and girl' fat to wade through.

But, I think the RNC now understands that there could indeed have been a formal Tea Party.
Running their own candidates, and taking all of the true Reagan conservatives out of the G.O.P.
That would have given the Democrats another two years of control, and would have rendered the Republican party permanent third party status.
That's right, third in a three way race.

The political newcomers and outsiders were able to work with the RNC, to some degree.
In some case, like the CT, CA and probably Washington Senate races they fell short.
But the Tea Party movement is the reason the G.O.P. now controls the Peoples House by the widest margin of gain since 1932.
Here in our district, Renee Elmers, a political novice and a nurse by trade has beaten long time Congressman Bob "Who are you?" Etheridge.
And she did it with little money, and virtually no support from the RNC.
Etheridge has yet to concede, he probably can't believe we actually voted his sorry behind out of office.

And the Senate is virtually deadlocked, which I regard as a blessing.
Now those idiots on both sides of the aisle will have to work with each other.
And they had better listen to us, or another bucket load of them will be out on the street in two years.

I am ecstatic to see We The People once again make their wishes known.

The Vox Populi rules!

Too much happening in October.

2010-10-25T12:26:00.002-04:00

Starting with my Birthday (I'm not 'old' yet, but I can see it from here. Scary!)
and moving on to our time with Kendra and my sister, it's been a busy month.
I'll post some pix soon from Oak Island.
Two memories will stick forever, both involving the two crazy Wheeler sisters.
Tuesday night as I stood on the balcony observing my sister, and the two above mentioned nutty sisters allegedly enjoying the sunset over the ocean
(a footnote here, Oak Island is uniquely situated so that you can see the effects of the sunrise on the water, and also the sunset in the evening. Very unusual!)
I witnessed the Wheeler twins suddenly walk out into the surf.
Fully clothed.
And those of you who know them are correct, they kept right on going into the deep water.
I could hear their shrieking laughter even from a distance over the roar of the surf.
The next evening they went in wearing bathing suits.
Again I heard piercing screams and raucous laughter.
I found out the cause later.
The little tassles that hung from my beloved's bathing suit must have looked yummy to a rather large fish, apparently a Blue Fish.
It kept pulling and tugging on her suit.
When she noticed it she screamed, and then said fish swam right between Kendra's legs, invoking ear shattering screams from her as well.
A rapid discussion ensued "Should we get out of the water, or should we risk it and stay?"
Wheelers of course tread where Angels do not dare, and they stayed.
My sister calmly informed them "It was probably a bait fish. You know, the kind that attract Sharks and other predator fish. Dusk is their feeding time."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaa!" was their mutual reaction.

A great time was had by all.

Benning pix two

2010-09-14T17:04:00.011-04:00

One interesting part of the museum is the "Company Street" A recent Commanding General of the base rescued several series 700 buildings which were about to be demolished. Anyone who served in the U.S. Military since WWII has seen these buildings, and probably stayed in one.
Originally meant to be temporary kit buildings, made to be put up in 48 hours many are still in use decades later.
This particular group included both Gen Patton's H.Q. and his private sleeping quarters from his time on post in command of Third Army, between 1940 and 1942, when he left for Africa.
The significance of the lay out was explanied to us.
When parents and family sit in the grandstands across the parade ground used for Infantry Basic training ceremonies, they see the Chapel, and then the Stars and Stripes.
"God and Country" and in that order.
The new soldiers march up a ramp and through smoke into the view of their loved ones, whom they haven't seen in 12 weeks.
They march on hallowed ground as well. Soil from many major battlefields has been brought home and scattered randomly about the parade ground, with some also buried in a time capsule.
The Army does a wonderful job of teaching our heritage and history.

Pictures from Ft Benning.

2010-09-14T16:44:00.010-04:00

In sequence, the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, a beautiful new facility just outside the main gate.

When you first enter the museum, you see the well known "Follow Me" statue.
You then walk up a ramp and quite literally, through American and World History.
Disney quality dioramas start with Breeds Hill during the Revolution, go on to Antietam in the Civil War, The Spanish American War, World Wars One and Two, Korea, 'Nam and finally the current War on Terror.
There are separate sections in the gallery with extensive artifacts, recordings and information from each era.
At the end of the Cold War section, there is an actual piece of the Berlin Wall, with President Ronald Reagan's famous "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate, tear down this wall!" speech playing.
Goose bump time, to be sure.

Follows pictures from the graduation, including Ariel standing with his good friend Trottier.
They first met at Fort Lewis, WA when they did their LDAC course two years ago.
Many of these young men will cross paths throughout their careers.
Lifelong friendships were formed.
The Colonel said "Save your maps, your paperwork. It will mean a lot to both yourselves and your families someday when you are older." Wise advice from someone who has been there.

Sprinkled among the pix are a few of his proud parents, including the ever loveliest Army Mom, Queen Felicia, and of course our own young Lt, of whom we are very proud!
All of our love and prayers to out to him.

"I am the Infantry, Follow Me!

2010-09-14T16:17:00.004-04:00

We were privileged to travel to Fort Benning, GA to visit with our son, and to attend his graduation from IBOLC. (Infantry Officers Basic Leadership Course)
154 young men, eight of them from allied foreign armies, finished the sixteen week course.
Every newly commissioned 2LT, male and female attends a BOLC course that corresponds to their MOS. (Military Occupation Specialty)
The Infantry Officers Course is regarded as the toughest, both physically, mentally and spiritually. These young men truly earned the right to wear the coveted Blue Cord, signifying their ability to lead a platoon in combat.

They became experts in land navigation the old fashioned way, with a compass and charts, on both day and night courses. The Colonel told us it was the "Toughest Land/Nav course I have ever seen."
All U.S. small arms had to be mastered, and they all certified as marksmen, or better.
Our son qualified as expert, hitting 36 of 40 targets ranging from 10 to 300 meters.

Each day started with PT, including twice having to pass the far more strenuous Ranger PT test.
Virtually all of them qualified for the Army Physical Fitness Award, scoring 270 or higher out of 300. Push ups, pull ups, sit ups and running, both the two mile and the Ranger five mile in under forty minutes.

And as you can imagine, they marched, and marched, and marched!
In full combat gear, all of them carrying at least 70 pounds.
Since he was in the weapons squad, each man also had to take turns toting either the M240 machine gun (30#), an ammo can, tripod, or the SAW gun, which weighed over 15#.
No allowance was made for the soldiers size. Ariel's good friend Trottier, who cannot weigh more than 130# carried the same load as the rest of them.
They started with a 5 mile ruck march, and built up to the culmination of the course, the dreaded sixteen mile march. Their reward for finishing that was to immediately conduct a Company level exercise, a mock attack and settling of a Taliban village.
In between there was a lot of classroom time, learning communications, the Army paper trail, and legal issues.
Each soldier had to prepare two different platoon level OpOrders, complete with map overlays, and verbal presentations to the Officers Cadre.
They also took turns as Platoon Sargeant, and Platoon Commander.
His Company Commander gave him Superior ratings on everything, which made his old parents mighty proud!
During his graduation speech, the Colonel (The class C.O.) said "All of these young men are between the ages of 23 and 25 years old. There is no job in the world where someone so young has this much responsibility upon their shoulders."
And they all held their shoulders high, and their chests out!
They have earned our respect, and now go on to join their units as Platoon Commanders stationed all over the world.
Just as many young men have gone before them.
God Speed to them all!

I'll post pictures in the next blog.

Let 'em eat cake!

2010-08-06T12:08:00.004-04:00

While the First Lady and her youngest daughter vacation in Spain, along with 40 of her 'closest' friends, economic figures for May and June were revised.
Oops! We are actually 91,000 jobs down from what we previously reported. Sorry!

Everyone in such a high stress job as the First Lady's needs a little girl time.
How can we begrudge a half million dollars (conservative estimate) of the tax payers money?
Since it is a partially 'official' trip, the King and Queen of Spain will allow a courtesy visit, our tax dollars are well spent. Right?
Air Force Two is being well utilized to fly two people and their posse to Spain for two days, where it will sit on the ramp in wait.
Add to that the other aircraft needed to fly armored limos, Secret Service and support staff, and the like, and you have a very tidy 300,000 or so in expenses.
And no doubt, there are a couple of F15 Strike Eagles around to fly escort across the big pond.

60 rooms in one of the most expensive resorts in Europe, complete with five star restaurants.
Oh, but the Obama's are paying for all of that out of their own pockets.
Right!

And this is but one of eight 'vacations' the First Lady will enjoy this summer.
This trip is going to be so stressful, she will need another 10 days later this month with Potus.
Shopping and eating gourmet is so stressful!

Do y'all hear someone playing a fiddle somewhere?
I smell smoke!

Oh, Happy Day!

2010-08-02T10:08:00.002-04:00

Congress is in recess, which means those idiots can't spend any more of our money for a few weeks.
Maybe if they stayed out for most of the year like it was in olden times, we'd all be better off.

Note to the Democrats, Charlie Rangel is not going away while you are out.
You will still have to deal with him when you return.
I can't wait!

Sunday after church

2010-07-13T16:34:00.008-04:00

Things are growing like crazy here.
Since Queen Felicia wore her new knock-out dress, (she is the knock out, not the dress!) I thought I'd take some pictures of her and her gardens.

As follows, not necessarily in order.

The Queen and the Crepe Myrtle
Felicia doing her Vanna White pose and showing off her Maters' (bad pun intended)
In my butterfly garden.
Hooray for the Red White and Blue!
The Queen in her objet D' Art space, where someday another pond will appear.
Phyllis and the Giant Sunflowers

Celebrate, but remember.

2010-07-04T15:13:00.002-04:00

Remember what we as Americans have, and why we have it.
"We pledge our lives, our wealth, our sacred honor."
Many have given much, all too many have given their all.
Shake the hand of a Soldier, Marine, Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard member serving now.
And honor the veterans in all of our communities.

Go to the baseball game and fireworks, as we did last night.
Grill, picnic, and enjoy your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

But never forget where it came from, and what it costs to keep it.

Or you will surely lose it.

The Spies who came back into the cold.

2010-06-29T11:04:00.003-04:00

Just last week, the leader of the free world left the confines of the Oval Office and headed to his favorite burger joint in Alexandria.
His lunch companion was the 'President' of The Russian Republic.
In the last two years, the U.S. has agreed to cancel plans to put defensive anti-missle systems in Poland, our staunchest ally amongst the old Soviet Iron Curtain satellites.
And talks have revived plans of yet another strategic missle reduction treaty.
As I see it we give away much and receive nothing for our concessions.

And now today word leaks that the FBI and Justice department have busted a major deep cover Russian Spy ring in the Northeast.
Their intentions as yet are unknown, but cannot be noble in any way.

Remember how the press had a field day making fun of former President Bush for his friendship with Vladimir "Pootie Poot" Putin?
Especially when Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia?

So far I've heard no mirth coming from the mainstream press regarding this matter.
"So you want ketchup, chile and onions on the burger, Dymetri? And top secret U.S. intel?"

Just because they are no longer overtly communist, Russia is not our friend and true ally.
They do nothing in the free world's favor unless they get the ranch in return.
And then they sneak behind the scenes and play us like suckers.
Despite massive sanctions against Saddam's Iraq, we found Russian military equipment in great abundance when we toppled his regime.
And Putin revived patrols of his ballistic missle submarines off of our coastlines.
There is absolutely no threat to them from us any longer.
Why do they do that?

I suspect much of Iran's arsenal, especially in Missle and IED technology has the stamp of Mother Russia on it as well.

Those of you too young to remember the Cold War have no point of reference on how much danger we were truly in. Plots to counterfeit our currency were barely foiled, and many embarrassing failures in security led to untold damage and loss of lives with Soviet bloc spies within our own intelligence agencies.
Remember the infamous Walker family as one example.

Russia is a giant with a chip on it's shoulder.
They want to prove they are still a world player, and the paranoid attitude that seems to be ingrained in their national psyche is deep and strong.

The Cold War never really ended, it just sat on the shelf for a spell.

Where is Felix Leiter and James Bond when we need them?

pictures

2010-05-26T10:19:00.012-04:00

Mom, and her son. Ditto dad.
Dad chills and 'supervises'
Got to get that 52" TV into the BM'r!
His home for the past year.
"I'm going to get all of that in my BMW?
Before truck and after.
Cartman rides shotgun with Dad.
Adieu', Boone!

The joy of moving.

2010-05-26T09:53:00.002-04:00

We recently drove to Boone to help our young officer and gentleman move his things home for storage whilst he is at Ft Benning in training.
Five years worth of stuff, four as a student and one as a ROTC recruiter is a lot.
Somehow I got all of it into our garage, and was actually able to get both cars in as well.
My finest moment as a packer and organizer!
Leaving Boone was bittersweet for us all.
From his freshman dorm, with as much room as the average airplane lavatory, to three years at Highlands with three roomies, to the bachelor apartment in the clouds on top of the knob he shared with Ben and his dog Cujo it was quite a journey.
Cujo missed Ariel so much, she climbed up on the kitchen counter and ate the key he left for Ben to turn in. A woman scorned indeed!
We had one more lunch together at MacAdoo's, his Monday night out place with his roomies.
And Mom and I had breakfast at our favorite place on King Street at Melanie's, a fabulous morning on the outdoor patio.

All of the App football games at "The Rock" were part of the mosaic.
Being in Ann Arbor for "The Upset Of The Ages" watching App beat Michigan.
Three national championships, (two of which he attended in Chattanooga)
Watching Armante Edwards work his magic at quarterback for four years (he's now with the Carolina Panthers, and should have a great career as a pro. He not only graduated, he finished a semester early)
The buffet at the Broyhill, with that great view of the mountains.
The second floor dining area at the Wendy's, finally finding a great Chinese and TexMex place,
Backyard Burgers.
He'll never forget the O'Dark Hundred PT's.
Running the steps at "The Rock", running up Howards Knob in the dark, which is basically straight up. Endless sit ups and push ups, pumping iron at the SRC.
Monthly trips to Marion for his Reserve service.
Airborne School, LDAC at Fort Lewis.
The fantastic Cadre that trained him, and the overall comradeship with his fellow cadets.

The pride we felt when we pinned his Crossed Musket Infantry badge on him at Dining Out.
Family coming in for his commissioning, watching him take the oath, and pinning his 2LT bars on his dress uniform. The celebratory dinner at the wonderful place in Blowing Rock.
Proud moments for us all!

Thanks to Jonathan, his roomie since his freshman year, and Ted and Jai.
They will be friends for the rest of their lives, which is the best of what college should be.
Dr Browning, his favorite history prof, who made the effort to come to his commissioning.
The guy at Meineke car care, who on his last day there refused to take any money for fixing his brakes.
"Be safe, and have a great training. Thanks for serving for us all."

One chapter finished, the next opens at Ft Benning.

Easter, new gardens, and red doors.

2010-04-20T15:04:00.011-04:00

Our son the LT was able to come home for Easter weekend.
It was great to see him, and maybe the last Easter he will be able to come home for some years.
He continues to work out diligently, and carefully watches his diet.
Not the same kid who lived on pizza, microwaved junk, and soda and Gatorade!
He's basically able to bench press the house now.

The Queen and I looked like the Bobsy Twins, both of us dressed in the same shade of green.
She always looks infinitely better than myself.

You can tell we've been married a long time when she asks for dirt and mulch for her garden for Mother's Day and her birthday this year.
Not inexpensive by any means, but a gift that will produce much edible delight, and not this year only.

American Gothic revisited, with her hoeing, digging, and raking out our hard soil.
It's starting to shape up!
Hopefully I will too, when it comes time for my part in loading and hauling barrows full of stuff to the garden sites.

I recently had to replace the side door on the garage.
It had started to rot, and I found those devilish little termites under the sill.
Thankfully, they were confined to that area, the foundation of our house up to two feet is brick.
Even more thankfully, I was able to replace the door, frame and sill.
We decided to paint it Red, daring in our old age!
Then of course, I had to repaint the front door and shutters red to match.
Some of our neigbors in the HOA behind us might freak, but they'll get over it!

Now if there are any of you with a real tall ladder, and no fear of heights, I have these shutters on the second floor.......

Happy Easter, He is risen!

2010-04-04T12:44:00.002-04:00

Our church choir did a flawless rendition of Handel's "Hallelujah" from "Messiah"
Have a blessed Easter Sunday!
Enjoy, reflect, and steal some of your kid's and grandkids candy and get all sugared up!

Architecture

2010-03-02T13:17:00.013-05:00

I tried to major in it once upon a time.
I have a good eye for design and composition, and since my Dad was an engineer, a pretty good head for structural design.
But my complete and total lack of a natural bent for higher mathematics doomed me from the start.

I am constantly on the lookout for interesting design, unusual perspectives, and 'cool' looking structures.

Disney World is a great place to feed my Mojo in this area.
The following images were taken on our fun day at Epcot this January past.

Winter

2010-02-25T09:12:00.002-05:00

Well, Hidie-Ho campers!
It's snowing again!
Oh Joy, Oh Delight!

Not much of a snow really, but it will be very cold and extremely windy for the next two days.
They are predicting another week of well below normal temps.
Maybe then, spring will poke her shy little head around the corner and "Say Hey!"

Contrasts

2010-02-22T17:51:00.005-05:00

The Yin and the Yang,
Summer and Winter,
Male and Female,
Democrat vs Republican,
Dogs and Cats,
etc etc.
We had a glorious weekend, temps in the sixties dry and sunny.
Back to seasonal reality today, rainy and cold.

Our yard and the Queen's garden can either be regarded as forlorn and desolate,
or sleepy and hopeful.
The beautiful spray of flowers and the elegant vase are the young officer and gentleman's gift to his mother for Valentines Day.

Quite a contrast with the brown, gray day outside my downstairs window, in front of my favorite bird feeder.

Enjoy!

Christmas images 2009

2010-02-18T15:19:00.009-05:00

Almost as soon as it gets here, each Christmas becomes a "Ghost of Christmas Past"
Here are a few random remembrances of our most recent Yuletide.
note: Santa did not bring the pretty red BMW.
The young LT bought it for himself.
'Tis a fitting and proper ride for a young, single newly commissioned officer and gentleman!

pitures

2010-02-16T11:49:00.015-05:00

That's how we pronounced it when we were young, anyway.
The pictures have been stacking up of late.
These are of home town (Miami) teams on the road.
One loss (figures, the 'Canes) one win, Dolphins over Panthers in Charlotte.
More correctly, big #34 Ricky Williams over the Panthers.
He scored three touchdowns himself. Great times as a family!
Images by Queen Felicia her own self.

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T13:25:00.002-05:00

Hearts and kisses, chocolate and roses, hope yours was wonderful!
And guys, hope you remembered!
If not, then you and the dog have a nice day!
He will be your only companion.

Happy New Year and New Decade to You!

2010-01-05T14:57:00.002-05:00

I hope you got everything you needed from Old Saint Nick!
Note that I said needed, not wanted!
There are around 17 million of us who either asked for a job, or for our start up business to prosper in 2010.

If you have your family around you, and you are all reasonably healthy and provided for then you are indeed blessed!

Most of us in North America are suffering through the coldest winter in decades.
Here in the Old North State they are calling it the longest extended severe cold in a generation.
No editorial comment as to Global Warming is needed here, just put another log on the fire!

Our son the LT went back to 14 degree cold yesterday, and discovered that his roomie had cut the heat off before he left for the Holidays. (maybe for good, but that is a story for another time)
Of course, all of the pipes were frozen, including the toilet.
And his relatively new giant screen LCD TV would not work.
He called me and asked what to do.
The crystals are no doubt frozen, just let the set warm and it should be OK.
Also, do not try to rapidly warm the pipes, and find out where the water cut off valve is.
All part of being out on your own.
Several hours later he texted "Everything is OK"
No apparent leaks, the TV works and other than being single digit wind chill life is good.

He somehow made it down off the mountain and in to campus to work the freshman orientation, just in case there were students interested in ROTC.
His apartment is literally on top of a mountain, great view but a perilous drive in winter, with a steep winding driveway to boot. Makes for a thrilling ride in his new (2005) red BMW!

I am trying to do some planning and targeting for the year, and we are getting ready to go to Orlando on the 16th for the annual trade show/conference that we attend every January.
Hopefully I can pick up a line or two with some good base business.
We need to get our income stream coming sooner rather than later.

Stay in touch, we enjoyed hearing from everyone, especially the Artwork from the kids!

Christmas pictures forthcoming.

Veterans Day 2009

2009-11-11T11:53:00.006-05:00

Veterans Day always means a lot to me.
Originally meant to remember the end of World War One and called Armistice Day, it has changed to honor all Military Veterans in times of War and times of Peace.
The Armistice ending that horrible useless war took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Now it means even more with my son serving in Uniform as an officer of the United States Army.
He continues a tradition in my family of service, which skipped over me.
A sanguine personality and a lack of direction had a lot to do with that.
In retrospect, it would have done me good, as it has a lot of men throughout our history.

As far back as the American Revolution, Col Miles Harvey served with General Washington and the Continental Army.
My gggrandfather James S. Harvey, for whom my dad was named served in the famous Stonewall Brigade. He did wear the grey uniform on the opposite side, as most men in Virginia and what is now West Virginia did.
My mother also had two of my Grand Dad Cupps great Uncles who wore the grey.
My granddad himself served as a Sgt in an artillery company during WWI, but he never deployed overseas.

Pretty much everyone who was able served in WWII, the last so-called 'Just War'.
My dad was in the Army, seriously injured and discharged before deploying.
I would likely not have existed otherwise, many of the men he trained with did not make it back, serving with General Patton in N Africa, Sicily and France. Virtually all of the NCO's in his unit were KIA.
My Uncle Willard Mann Jr was a Sgt with the 77th Infantry Division, (Statue of Liberty) serving in the Pacific Theatre. That unit saw major action on Okinawa and in the Phillipines late in the War.
I didn't know until years after he died that he was seriously wounded, and that he was decorated with the Bronze Star with V for his service.
I have his combat infantry badge, and the ribbons for his medals.
I also have the patches from his duty uniform, which he no doubt wore in combat.
My mom's eldest brother Jack Cupp, and her younger brother Bill served in the Navy during that war.
I was privileged to talk to Bill when he was in Duke Medical Center, just before he passed away.
He was attached to a PT Squadron in the pacific, and was strafed and bombed more than once.
I did not know until then that he "re-upped" during the Korean War, and served on a cruiser off of the North Korean coast. He told me that my Aunt Libby was less than happy he did that!
When asked how it was he said "In some ways it was the best time of my life, young and full of vim, excepting that someone kept trying to kill me!" I still remember his laugh as he told me that.

Several of my cousins wore the blue Air Force uniform, my cousin Rob Hill retired after a 27 year career.

My nephew Don as I write this is with a field Artillery Unit in Kuwait, waiting to move over into Iraq.

By this time next year, our boy will be completing Ranger Training before joining his unit, wherever they are at the time.

Thank you, all of you who serve, and who have served!
We could not exist as a free people without you.

note on pictures, Ariel receiving his ceremonial "First Salute" from the Battalion Sgt Major, the entire clan, a very rare photo as most of us are smiling to some degree.
Ariel with his mentor and friend, Major Williams.
In Army terminology, he is a really 'Square' guy.
I like him a lot.

When did time go into Warp drive?

2009-10-26T10:24:00.004-04:00

As a school boy who grew up watching the original Star Trek series, the term 'Warp Drive' is one old timers like me are familiar with.

The 'Science' in the original show was hazy sometimes, but much of it has become a reality.
Hand held communicators are now iPhones and a reality, powerful personal computers, advanced medical diagnostics, and like devices were only a script writers dream then.
Now they are a part of life.

But the concept of faster than light travel is still just that, a concept and a sci-fi writers dream.
If you want to stretch your brain to the breaking point, ponder the realities of quantum physics, Einstein's theory of Relativity, and is time really linear?

Warp Drive was better explained in later movies as follows;
the universe is folded, and light travels in waves much like sound does.
By finding a way to skip from the top of one wave to the other, great distances can be overcome, allowing travel to distant stars and even to the edge of our galaxy.
Minor matters like momentum, equilibrium, a tiny bit of matter at that speed punching through a Star Ship like a nuclear bomb were never discussed.
Neither was Einstein's and others thoughts on what would happen to the elapse of time if we could exceed the speed of light. Would it speed up, would it reverse or slow?
If a crew left today for Alpha Centauri, when they came back would everyone here be dead?

Personally, one has to suspend logic and just sit back and enjoy shows like Star Trek or Star Wars.
I enjoyed the latest movie that revisits the origins of the crew of the Enterprise.
It was well cast and a real hoot to watch.

But back to my original scatter brained thought from the title of this missive,
just when did the time in my life hit Warp Factor Seven?
I am not now older than my father was when he passed, and older than any of my Uncles were when I was a young adult!
My son is not fixing to be older than I was when I started working full time, and the professional athletes that I watch are now sometimes younger than he is!

Mr Scott, slow this puppy down and put Phasers on stun!

More empty chairs at the table.

2009-10-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

Last week, I received and email from a woman who went to Hialeah High School when I did.
I never knew her then as we had almost 1,000 people in my class, with over 4,500 in the school.

She had placed a message on one of the networking sites I am listed on, to see if anyone had a yearbook from my sophomore year, 1968-69.
As it happened I did.

A man who was in my class had recently passed, and she was responsible for putting together a memorial service for him. It seems there weren't many pictures available.
When I scanned the page that had his picture, I remembered him.
We must have shared a couple of classes. Those years and those bright young faces have dimmed as time has elapsed. That Soph year is now 40 years in the past! Impossible!

I found out later when she emailed to thank me for sending the page that he passed away in a Nursing home. No idea as to what his malady was, but it was left unsaid that he had no family, and was pretty much alone.
She and her husband were kind, and stepped in to comfort and take care of him.
The fact that they raised six children of their own, and taught Special Ed told me the kind of people they were.

The occasion gave me pause to reflect, and a great deal of sadness as well.
I have known of several of my former classmates who have already passed on, some of them I knew well and called friends.
One knows there must be many more that I am not aware of.
As the years continue to fly by, more of us will cross the bridge as well.

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife, a son who has grown into manhood with honor and purpose, and a great extended family to support one another.
Most of us are similarly blessed, but not all.
It is true that we can't go 'home' again, but maybe looking up a schoolmate or childhood friend might shine the light on a need we can fulfill.

In the very least, it will give us pause to reflect, and to give thanks for what we have.

You are in a better place now, Mike and whatever trials and tribulations you had to undergo have now been taken care of by the Master.

Life is bubbling like vegetable soup.

2009-10-14T12:08:00.003-04:00

I started a pot of vegetable soup this morning.
That truly teaches you patience, resisting the temptation of dipping into it before it is done.
The Queen is at the store getting a couple of missing ingredients, and I am signing my first two contracts for the new business.
Eventually I hope to have six to eight companies represented, but these first two are milestones.

Our lives are bubbling away like home made soup!
We're not 'done' until He says we are, and I hope we are both a long way from that point!

I've heard of many famous people who did not hit their stride until later in life.
Grandma Moses and Colonel Harlan Sanders immediately come to mind.
She was, by the standards of her day already 'old' when she started painting.
Col Sanders was in his sixties when he started the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.
Both Dwight David Eisenhower and George S. Patton were in the Westpoint class "The Stars Fell On" Many of that class became Generals, and found fame in World War II.
No one outside of the Army had heard of General Eisenhower before the war, indeed he was still a Colonel when it began.
Patton had a flamboyance that gained him some fame, but he did not become famous until our entry into the War.

Late bloomers all, and one is never to old to learn, or to start over!

Old rivalries, and you never really grow up.

2009-10-13T12:01:00.003-04:00

Oh, but is was indeed sweet watching my old town Dolphins win a classic shootout with my most hated AFC East rival, the New Yawk Jets. Even though those Orange Jerseys looked more like the Miami Hurricanes than Dolphins.

After listening to the Sports media brag about the Jet defense all week, the Dolphin's physically took them apart. Their winning drive took five minutes, and left NY time for only one desperation play.
Second year QB Chad Henne came of age in only his second start.
As the term goes, he showed he can "go vertical", hitting Ginn for a 53 yard TD pass.
He also threw several perfect 'touch' passes in critical situations, and never turned the ball over.

Several questionable pass interference penalties went against the Dolphins.
They never let them get them down, and came back every time to retake the lead.

New York's coach Rex Ryan (His dad coached the great Bears defense in the eighties, and later was head coach of the Eagles) whined in the post game press conference.
Instead of giving credit where due, which made the win even better for old Dolfans like myself.

Back in the hunt after losing the first three games, football sure is a funny game sometimes!

legality, young adulthood and playoff baseball

2009-10-07T12:32:00.003-04:00

I heard back from the NC Secretary of State that my company name was cleared, and my application was accepted and filed for the LLC.
I also have my taxpayer ID number, have to pay Caesar!

We're now legal, I will sign the contracts for our first two represented lines next week.
It will be a long, hard struggle until we are profitable, but for the first time in my long working life I'm working for us!
Many people in my industry who lost their jobs in the current Obameconomy are also starting their own businesses.

In the long run, our economy and the Republic will be stronger than ever, as long as we keep our free spending career politicians in check.
We do that at the ballot box.
They must be held accountable, regardless of party.
Remember that next November in the 2010 mid term elections.

Item two, we called our son the LT at his office today.
It was a hoot hearing "2LT Harvey, may I help you?"
As Paul put it and I paraphrase "Leaving our childish ways behind us"
He has been impressing the daylights out of me of late with the maturity of his decisions.
The Army provides excellent counseling for their new officers, and between them and what I have been preaching he already has the framework in order for eventual financial independence.

Light years ahead of me, even now in the (early) Autumn of my working life!

Item three, the baseball playoffs are here!
Of all the team sports, none can be so dramatic as baseball.

Last night the Twins and the Detroit Tigers played a one game playoff for the division title and final post season playoff spot.
They finished dead even after playing 162 regular season games.
This is the second year in a row that Minnesota has done so, losing a similar game last year to the White Sox.

This game met and exceeded the hype.
Dramatic home runs, clutch catches and double plays, and two incredible plays at the plate sent the game into extra innings.

Finally in the bottom of the twelfth with one out, the Twins won on a clutch single.
Baseball although a team sport is in reality a man on man series of individual battles.
Batter against pitcher, fielder against base runner, and sometimes catcher against a charging bull of a runner.
With the game and the season on the line, each out is critical, and every play can signify disaster and heartbreak or jubilation.

I love post season baseball! Should be a great Division and League championship set, leading up to what should be a fantastic World Series.

Baseball is still our National Pastime, part of our culture from generation to generation.

Am I old or what!

2009-10-05T12:04:00.003-04:00

My sister certainly thinks so.
My silly comment on Fbook that I hide all the mirrors brought a rejoinder from her
"No, they broke of their own free will!"
What is a sister good for except being the occasional smart aleck?

When asked where I wanted to go for my bday dinner, I told the Queen "The back deck"
"Home made spaghetti and meatballs, not the stuff in a jar"
A nice bottle of Fetzer's cabernet (a great value and a really nice wine) and it was heaven.
Lit the Chimenea for the first time this fall, listened to the late NFL game through the open window, and it was a really nice time at home with my Queen.

Who is now Madam Vice President as well.
I filed the paperwork for the LLC for our new rep firm with the State this Thursday last.
I heard back today that the name passed the first clearance and appears to be available.
Carolina ITS Solutions, the ITS stands for Information Transport Systems, which people in my niche of Telecommunications will understand. It will identify what we are involved in.

I was a bit concerned when a name popped up that did not in my initial domain and net search,
Carolina IT Solutions, which stands for Information Technologies, kind of an all encompassing description of an entire segment of communications and network hardware.

It doesn't appear to be a problem, not even sure if they are still around, last entry was 2008.

We are in the process of jokingly defining my new VP's specific duties.

"Well, you go to funerals overseas for boring old toots that the president doesn't want to bother with.
You sit next to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader during joint sessions and pretend you can stand either one of them.
You hide when the president is around, and if you are the current VP you make occasional Bozo the Clown statements in public and embarrass the Pres"

She will add, "well I cleared the table, that's one of my duties. I walked the dog washed the clothes and looked darn good all day long! Fulfilled my obligations and made you look good!"

Right on, Madame VP!

The Lone Ranger rides again!

2009-10-01T11:01:00.003-04:00

I was right, my partner backed out yesterday.
A family situation involving a late in life divorce for his parents made it tough on him.
He felt he couldn't put 100% into this venture at this point.
I told him spending time with his mom while she is under such duress and heartbreak is more important.

Totally amicable, and completely understandable.

I am going solo, with the Lord's and the Queen's help.
Shoot, I always work alone anyhow in this business!
We will just keep all of the proceeds for six months to a year, and then decide whether to add an associate or two to better cover the territory and grow the business.

One manufacturer has already told me it doesn't matter.
I'm pretty sure it won't to the others either.

We should be up and running with two or three lines by Nov 1st.

Let's get this party started!

Fall is finally here, and working while sick

2009-09-30T11:49:00.002-04:00

Hooray, Fall is finally here in the Old North State!

Temps in the seventies, around fifty at night.

Soon the leaves will be turning. We are going to Boone in three weeks, they should be at their peak then.

I am meeting with my prospective partner this afternoon. I have been getting intimations that he is going to back out.
We'll find our for sure today.

I have had two companies get back to me that I met with in Vegas, asking me to represent them.
One is a German test equipment mfg, their web site is in German, although they do have a domestic sales office and warehouse here in the States.
That should be fun!

I already had one located here in Raleigh that I will firm up tomorrow, and another that I have previously spoken to before going to the conference.
That one is a low % line, but I will probably take them on anyway.

If I go solo, it will be a lot of windshield time and long hours for awhile.
But it will be ours!
I will eventually add associates, but not a partner if this is my path.
The Queen is my partner, and the Lord my backer!
Wow, but developing day to day faith is not for the faint at heart though!

Ariel has a raging case of the flu, and cannot stay home and sleep until he gets over it.
Their fall FTX (Field Training Exercise) starts tomorrow at Ft Jackson SC, and since he is part of the officers cadre now he can't miss it.

Such is the life of an adult! Y0u're sick and need to stay home, but your employer, be it the Army or a company won't allow it.
So you are miserable, work sick and make certain that everyone around you gets your affliction.

Is it my imagination, or do bosses somehow seem immune?
In my experience the rascals seem to never get sick.

Such is life fellow Pilgrims!

Rock on Lt Harvey, and feel better soon!

Freak Show!

2009-09-24T14:01:00.002-04:00

Las Vegas!
How can I even begin to describe it?
Suffice it to say that we two rubes from Mayberry NC felt like Salmon swimming the wrong way in the wrong stream when we first arrived late Saturday night!

The conference/expo we attended was in the MGM Grand complex, the newest and most ornate of the "New Vegas" Casinos.

We got in around 11:00 PM.
First off, the shuttle driver backed completely over the sidewalk at the airport, nearly running over a young man who was waiting as we were for his ride. His friends yelled and pulled him out of harms way in the nick of time.

When we pulled into the massive driveway at the Grand, we were caught in a traffic jam consisting mostly of stretch limos.
I had forgotten that there was a championship prize fight in the arena at the Grand that night.
The fight had just ended, welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather had come out of retirement to win back his title.

Our 'driver' and I use the term loosely dropped us off in the middle of that vortex of traffic and left us to pull our suitcases and run for our lives to the lobby!

We had a hard time even spotting the check in area, the mob of people was so massive.
I think every thug, ner'do' well, hooker and celebrity wanna be in North America was there.
The rest of the country was safe that night I think, all of the low life types were at the Grand!

We were exhausted and just wanted to get into our room and crash.
When I opened the door, I could see that the room had not been cleaned from it's previous occupant.
After calling the front desk I was told to wait there and a concierge would bring up keys to another room for us. He finally arrived, and said "You did want a smoking room, right?"
Absolutely not I replied.
He apologized profusely and said "Wait here, I'll be right back with the key to an appropriate room for you"
Due to all of the hassles, they upgraded us to a beautiful suite!
It was most certainly a room normally given to high rollers, by far the nicest hotel room I have stayed in during all of my travels.

The Lord does work in mysterious ways, and in the heart of Sin City to boot!

More on our journey to 'Oz later, with pictures that the Queen took.

Off to Vegas

2009-09-19T10:55:00.002-04:00

Finally at the age of almost 56 I will experience Las Vegas.
We are heading out to the fall BICSI conference, where I am meeting with one manufacturer and hope to get the interest of others in getting this business off the ground.
The aviation term is "rotate speed".
That is the speed at which you become airborne and slip the bonds of gravity and soar off into the deep blue sky.

I'm itching for this venture to hit rotate speed!

The Queen is looking forward to "Bright Light City" as Elvis put it.
I'm sure that we will see him.
Maybe he'll buy us a Caddy!

I'm just hoping that it is profitable business wise, and that maybe a few days in the dry desert air will improve both of our allergies.
They have been miserable the last few weeks here.

Oddly, I have not flown for three years, almost to the week.

Should be fun!

Vegas, Baby! The Queen will be in her element!

Missing Persons Report.

2009-09-17T11:01:00.002-04:00

Has anyone seen Code Pink, Grannies Against War, Veterans Against War, etc etc.?
Since George W. Bush left office and the Democrats assumed total power they have been absent without leave.
Press Conferences and Congressional Speeches have not been interrupted, camp ins in front of the White House or the Presidents vacation home have vanished, and (Believe me I am not complaining about this!) Cindy Sheahan has all but disappeared from view.

Are they all on Holiday together, dancing around the camp fire singing Kumba Ya?
Have Aliens abducted them?
Or is it true that they are only against the military when a Republican sits in the Oval Office?

I make it a point to read the names of all of our young men who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
I note their age, their home towns, their families.
Sadly there are lists almost daily now.
And it is not just our young men.
Their are combat aviators from Canada, the U.K. and our other true allies losing their sons all too frequently now.

The President has talked about increasing our troop levels by 35-40,000 men.
To what purpose?

Are we willing to ignore the Pakistani border and pursue the Taliban and Al Queda wherever they may flee? Just think of Laos, Cambodia and the Ho Chi Minh trail here, circa 1966-1973.
Are we willing to use any and all conventional weapons to destroy their mountain sanctuaries?
Are we willing to give them a deadline on their evil trade in Opium Poppies, and to utilize our incredible Agricultural knowledge to teach them how to grow cash crops to feed themselves and advance their economy?
Are we willing to tell them that further suppression of their women and the few non-muslim amongst their population will no longer be tolerated?
Do we have the political backbone to do all of these things and more?
As yet I have seen no evidence of that.

My son will be joining them in theatre all too soon.
I resent the fact that he will most probably be risking his life for nothing, just as too many of my friends and neighbors did during the Vietnam era.

Are we willing to do whatever it takes to secure Afghanistan?
Are we willing to ask the Obama Administration and the Democrat Congress the hard questions?
Is there a realistic chance that we can drag Afghanistan out of the Stone Age and create a viable, reasonably free nation?
Are we willing to militarily untie the hands of our soldiers and Marines to get the job done?
Are we willing?

If the answer to any of these questions is No, then we need to secure what towns there are, make Pakistan understand in no uncertain terms that we will tolerate no incursion from their side into Afghanistan, and get the heck out of there.

Now Mr. President!

We want answers!

Post script to the main stream media.
I've seen absolutely no critism from you or questioning on our deepening involvement here.

Cat Got Your Tongue?

Random bits and Pieces

2009-09-08T11:32:00.002-04:00

Great football game last night, and it restored the Miami/Fla State rivalry to its place amongst the best in college football.
After watching bits of several games this weekend past involving ranked teams that were sloppy and poorly played it was nice to see two teams who were ready.
A hard hitting but clean football game, even though there is normally no love lost between the two arch rivals.
I am going to miss Coach Bobby Bowden when he finally retires.
Or should I have said "Dadgummit, I'm gonna miss the old coach!"
He is one of the most naturally funny people in sports, and a fine old Southern Christian Gentleman to boot.
During a pre-game interview he said and repeated "Football is not my God. Probably not even third or fourth on my priority list"
I like that.
Our newly minted 2LT and his friend Nathan made the road trip of their lives and were at the game.
One text he sent on the way down "South GA is so Poor!" spoke volumes of his maturation.
I sent him on that route from Brunswick GA through Valdosta and Thomasville to Tallahassee because it seemed to be the most direct.
Old Dad also had the ulterior motive of showing him that not everyone is as fortunate as he has been.
There is still a lot of poverty and struggle for survival in this country.
The current ruling party in my opinion is making it far more likely more will join that group, but that is for another discussion in another venue.

I am not looking forward to my cell bill, the texts flew back and forth during the game.
"Was he in?" referring to my ability to watch replays during the several officially reviewed plays. All of them went Miami's way, not the usual outcome of our encounters with the officials.
Several times it seemed that both teams were making mistakes that would cost them the game, but then they came storming back to tie or take a slim lead.

With just over a minute and a half left, Miami took a four point lead.
One of the few poor coaching decisions gave the Noles the ball at mid-field after a squib (Short) kick off.
Oh no, I thought, they only have to go 50 yards to pull this one off!

And they pretty near did, after a 20 yard QB draw and a questionable interference call in the end zone gave them the ball at our two yard line.
Two tipped passes by Cane defensive backs who were several inches shorter than FSU receivers brought the game to one final play, double or nothing winner take all.

One last official review after their receiver apparently trapped the ball in the end zone had 81,000 people in Doak Campbell Stadium and millions watching on TV on pins and needles.
Would the call on the field stand and Canes win, or will it be reversed and Florida State reign supreme?
Hollywood could not have written a more suspenseful ending.

"The call on the field stands, the game is over!"
WOW, CANES WIN!

What a way to start the season!

Once again no one can dispute that Florida football is the most competitive in the nation.
Favored to win their third National Title in four years, the Gators have yet to play anyone good.
But Miami and FSU proved last night they can play and hold their own against anyone.

Look for all three schools to finish in the top ten and play in BCS bowls in January.

"Inch by inch, step by step...."

2009-08-22T11:46:00.002-04:00

No, not Niagara Falls, like in the Three Stooges. "Slowly I turned, " etc etc.

Walking by faith, taking each day as it comes, following the path, entering the open door, etc.
We've all heard these maxims before, and we may have thought we were living them at times.

Typically unless there is serious illness or loss, we are not in the position to actually do so.
While we are young our parents shield us from the bad things in life.
We should not have to worry about jobs, politics or the economy.

And even though we do spend too much time doing so as adults, for the most part we are in that amorphous state of doing our jobs, maintaining our families, and living from paycheck to paycheck.

We live to please our bosses, and to keep our jobs.
It was not until the industrial age was in full swing that people started to work for someone else.
Most Americans worked for themselves, a majority at least in part were involved in agriculture.
Since all of my ancestors were farmers first and craftsmen second, I know how much faith their lives contained.
There is no controlling the weather.
Everything depends on it.
Crops carefully planted and cultivated, livestock raised from infancy, water for drinking and cleaning could all be wiped out with a bad turn of the elements.
Imagine working from springtime throughout the summer to have a severe early fall snow destroy most of the food and feed crops you have toiled to produce.
It made for a sparse Winter.

Both of my grandfathers worked away from the farm to earn extra money.
One as a carpenter for the coal mines, one as a master mason and Ice Man.
The women ran the farm in their absence.

Well, we find ourselves in that situation now.
It became obvious to me soon after I was 'downsized' (quaint term!) that I did not want to go to work for yet another company.
I've worked for all sorts. Small family run businesses, large businesses that started humbly, and most recently I went the Fortune 500 route, working for one of the oldest companies in American industry for twelve years.
A common thread amongst them all is that when it was to their benefit to cast me adrift, they did so without much personal concern. I even had one man tell me "Well, it was my boat or you." The boat was more important than my young family.

So we are starting our own business. The doors started to open for me in that direction, and it continues to be obvious to us we are pursuing the right objective.
My business partner and I hope to have the legals done by labor day.
We have a strong prospect that we will meet with next week to become our first company represented. They are local, their HQ is in RTP right here in Raleigh.
We will be manufacturers representatives. Instead of working for a company directly we act as third party sales, receiving a commission on everything we sell.
No benefits, or salaries as such. But also no boss, no vacation time, and no depending on one companies whim for our financial existence.
We hope to have six to eight such companies by the first of the year, including one Flagship line to lead our efforts..

Each day is an act of faith, there are no regular paychecks, and monthly commissions can be estimated, but may also vary wildly from month to month.

The odd thing is, my stress has greatly ebbed since I left the corporate rat race.
Everyone has noticed it, and my health has actually improved!
The nagging arthritis is still there and probably always will be, but the frequency and severity has most definitely reduced.
I'm more or less my old crazy self again as well.

It will be a long and sometimes difficult road ahead, but it is much easier to see who is in charge again.

And that dear family and friends is indeed comforting!

2LT Ariel James Harvey, Hooah!

2009-08-12T12:57:00.025-04:00

After years of hard work, the big weekend finally came and went!
After graduating from Appalachian State University Magna Cum Laude, Ariel took the oath last Saturday and is now a Commissioned Officer.

We are honored that all in the family who could make it were in Boone to help us celebrate this milestone in his life!
You can see from the following pix that we all had a great time.

My sister hosted a fun picnic for him on Thursday night, we had a wonderful dinner at the beautiful Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock on Friday night, and lunch at the campus Broyhill Inn after the ceremony on Saturday.

In between of course, the women had plenty of opportunity to shop till they dropped.
Poor Grandma Irene was exhausted, the Queen, my sister Lily and my Aunt Kitty could and probably will shop until their last breath.

We guys just hung out.

The ceremony itself was brief, but very moving and inspirational.
The LT Col who delivered the address is an App grad himself, and he gave the young men and women some valuable advice on leadership.

His aunt and Uncle, Bev and Don Biesterfeld came, on the way to see our nephew Don at Ft Benning. Don also wears the uniform of the U.S. Army, we are proud of him!
My sister Lily, my mother's youngest sister Kitty (She and Irene are three months apart in age), Grandma Irene, Uncle Ken Wheeler all made it a special weekend!

The pictures are all over the map, but include the picnic, dinner and fun on the grounds afterwards, the ceremony itself, and the lunch after that.
I tried to include at least one picture of everyone in the family with Ariel, and a couple of happy group shots. The man who took the picture at Chetola was himself an Army vet, and his wife said "It's nice to see a family who enjoys each other!"

Ariel's ceremonial first salute was from the Battalion Sgt Major, a Green Beret with many years experience.
He told me " I was glad to see your son get infantry, he has a fine career in front of him and will be a great officer!"

Hooah, son, and Godspeed!

When the kids are quiet....

2009-08-04T11:22:00.002-04:00

it isn't necessarily a good thing!

My Super Niece Ellie must be on vacation. Kim hasn't written about any of her exploits for some time now.
Where does a particularly rambunctious 3 1/2 year old go to unwind?
My guess is Vegas. What happens there, etc etc.

Speaking of which, the Queen and I will be making our first trip there in September.
BICSI, the professional organization I belong to has their fall conference there.
Since my former masters were too cheap to send me to Orlando in Jan per normal, I need my CEU's.
Also, we will be scheduling meetings with prospective vendors to add to our lines of representation.

Things are moving along on that front, I continue to get affirmation that this is indeed our path.
Just yesterday I was researching some companies that looked like a good fit.
One in particular is HQ'd right here in RTP in our area.
I had a friend who worked there whom I had lost contact with.
Guess who called me that afternoon after hearing what had happened to me?
You got it, that same friend.
He reminded me (I had forgotten) that when he lost his contract at UNC and was looking for work, I helped him find that position.
"It's my time to scratch your back now!" he told me.
He will get me in touch with the higher ups there to help me land that line.

The I AM doesn't usually speak to us verbally, or make the Sun go backwards.
He just makes things happen to move us where he wants us.

This is family week, Grandma Irene is already here.
I say here figuratively, she and the Queen are constantly out looking for trouble and having fun.
My Aunt Kitty and Ken are coming in tomorrow.
We will drive to Boone Thurs AM, where my sister will meet us.
Bev and Don will be there for dinner Friday and the ceremony Sat am before heading to Ft Benning to see Don before he deploys to Iraq.

Busy week!

Weekend update.

2009-07-27T14:06:00.003-04:00

I enjoyed the Weekend Update spoof on the original SNL with Chevy Chase.
"Flea erections, I don't think we should be talking about the little buggers personal life!"
"Emily, that's Free Elections, not flea erections!"
"Oh, never mind!"

The late great Gilda Radner was Emily Latella, the perpetually confused old maid who always misunderstood everything Chevy reported.

Our update is that we have decided to be the Captain of our own ship, business wise.
Not like the Captain in Invictus, we are aware of who is really in charge.

I am simply not going to place my fate and that of my family in the hands of corporate bean counters, ever again!
I've also gotten constant affirmation from all of my former business contacts to go out on my own.
All of them told me the business they have done was because of me, not my former employers.
And a friend of mine who quit a similar position years ago to strike out on his own told me
"A.J., my average income since then has doubled over what I ever made working for someone else. And I never have to ask permission to take time off, or for anything else for that matter."

Up until the late nineteenth century, most people worked for themselves, whether they farmed, or were tradesmen, merchants, or professional types.

The scriptures tell us "To enjoy the fruits of our labors, and sit under our own vine and fig tree"
Why not enjoy them to our fullest, and keep most of those fruits?

I'll let you know how things progress.
I am meeting with a potential partner this week, and I have already gotten a couple of offers to perform some consulting work utilizing my RCDD credentials.

On that note, if you are not familiar with LinkedIn.com, please go there and register for a free networking profile of your own.

Think of it as Facebook for Adults, a true professional tool which will not only link you with people in your field that you don't know, it will also reestablish contact with people from your professional past who you may benefit from contacting.

I found it funny that my former boss was on the network, and he had never told any of us about it's existence!

Have a great week, Y'all!

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T12:04:00.003-04:00

Make sure you grill, drink some homemade lemonade, watch some baseball and go to a fireworks display today!

If you see anyone in uniform, or know of a neighbor who served our great country, shake their hand, or give them a hug.

They never get enough of the thanks and respect they deserve for risking their all for our own right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Read the Declaration of Indepdendence, the Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, out loud to your children and grandchildren.

If they don't know what they have and how it came about, how can they revere and preserve it when they are in charge?

Happy Birthday to the greatest country on Earth!

Weekend update, and all that Jazz!

2009-06-28T13:30:00.002-04:00

Most of you no doubt know, but I was RIF'd this week after 12 years with the company.
RIF stands for Reduction in Force, I've since come up with a better acronym that I will not share on my PG blog.
I have seen the inevitability of that happening for some time now.
The lousy Obam-economy most certainly was a driving factor, but not the sole reason.

My former boss, visibly upset and tortured by what he was told to do said to me "your position has been eliminated" I will not be replaced, nor will the others that have lost their jobs.
Two day later another bloodletting in the HQ in CT resulted in the woman who handled my territory in inside sales let go after 42 years with the company.
Basically the only job she had for her entire adult life.
The product engineering manager, who started the same month I did was also given the heave-ho, as well as the young man who started as an intern while at UConn and had risen to manage the quotes department.

Several other veteran, well respected and productive people nationwide were axed in this third so called RIF.

We appreciate all of the prayers and concern, we're alright for a few months whilst I decide which direction I want to lead us.
A lot of that depends on what is available, and in this miserable economy only the Good Lord knows.

I am not alone, two close friends of mine in the industry who recently experienced the same thing called to lend advice, and to offer support.
One just found work after three months, a much more lowly job than he had but work, nevertheless. The other is still looking after six months.

I have received nothing but good will and support from all of my business contacts, their initial reaction has all been "What the 'fill in the blank' were they thinking?"
One Christian brother who I dealt with at UNC told me "If we took the top 15 reps in the industry, regardless of product you were at the top of the list!"

That means more to me than money, everyone has also told me "We did business with your company because of you, not because of them"
Many also said good luck with them keeping our business.
Corporate bean counters do not understand where the business really comes from, it comes from people dealing with people that they trust, respect and like.
They will find out the hard way, well deserved and good riddance to them!

I plan on taking a few courses at JCC while I am exploring, and after this week when I wrap up the initial tasks like transferring my cell phone, having the fleet car picked up, COBRA, preparing a resume (It's been almost fifteen years since I last had to do that!) etc. I plan on taking a few days to unwind and vent a bit.

That primal scream you hear in the either will most likely be me!

Don't be afraid to call us, I'm over my initial snit and am moving on.

Ode to Dad's everywhere.

2009-06-21T13:08:00.005-04:00

Another Father's Day is upon us.
My own Dad left us over 33 years ago.
I am now almost a year older than he was when he slipped out of our lives and into the promised life to come.

Last year was a tough year for me, even though I swore to myself that I would not focus on that.
My 55th came and went anyway.
We all have our appointed time, and nothing we do will change that.
I also had to face the fact that I was no longer a young buck.
Nothing major, but in general I simply have not felt great for almost a year now.
Other than the Arthritis I am dealing with, everything else seems to be fine, including my cardiovascular health.

So I am fortunate. Simply getting older.
Adjusting to that fact is something all Dad's have to face up to.
I can't work in the yard all day like I used to without paying the price.
So I now spend money on something I vowed I would never do.
Someone else mows my yard and trims every two weeks.
I've also learned that I can live with it looking a bit shaggy every other weekend.
That would have driven me to break out the mower just a couple of years ago and waste most of my Saturday in the Southern summer heat.
Now I sit on the front porch and have a nice cold drink, or share a glass of wine with the Queen.
Perhaps I am getting a bit smarter after all!
To be a wise Grandpa someday, I have to develop some smarts!
Although when they are old enough I will insist my grandkids (girls too, I'm all for true feminism!) to get their heinies out there and mow the yard for their Dad without being fussed at. And to help Mom around the house.
Something that he never did, actually.
Most of our head butting contests revolved around him doing the little bit around the place we asked him to.
The same strength of character and drive that makes him the fine young man he is today, also made him a stubborn pain in the neck at times in his teen years.
He would purposely wait until almost dark before finally caving and doing the yard.
Many interesting mowing patterns resulted.
I think he would have had a great career in mowing ball parks, it would have been easy to adapt to mowing the team logos onto the field.

Of course, I had many memorable moments driving my own father to the brink of insanity.
One that still sticks in my mind is him 'teaching' me how to put a new brake master cylinder on my car, and then how to 'bleed' the air out of the brake system.
I was in the car, my only duty to pump the brake pedal when he told me to, while he was under the car with a wrench on the nipple, which bled excess air out of each wheel in turn.
Timing is critical on this, and given my propensity to daydream when I was bored, disaster was sure to happen.
I must have responded with less alacrity than he wanted, and when he screamed at me to "wake up, and pump the d*** pedal" I did so, vigorously.
The result was a face full of brake fluid for the old man, who had let the wrench slip off the nipple while yelling at me.
He came rolling out from under the car, temporarily blind, and regaling me with his impressive country boy/WWII vet command of profanity.
While thrashing around the carport, trying to find a rag to wipe the fluid from his face, he kicked the tray from the toolbox, scattering small fittings and tools all over the yard.

At this point, I was trying not to laugh. Not very successfully at that.
He finally got most of it wiped away, and after going inside to wash his face, returned, somewhat sheepishly.
"Don't just sit there like a knot on a log, come out here and help me find all of these Cotton'Pickin' tools!"

I know all of us who were fortunate enough to have Dad's who actually raised us have similar stories.
And all of us repeat phrases and actions to our own kids we swore we would never use.
The President has recently been talking a lot about Fatherhood.
Sadly, it is needed in this day and time.
Half of all homes are second marriages, and many women raise their children without the fathers. These 'men' care more about themselves than the children they help bring into the world.

But there is no substitute for being there, 24/7 for your own children.
It is a sacrifice for both parents.
That's what being a Father is.
Dependability. Not flash, not Cliff Huxtable or Pa Walton.
Just being there for them.
Sometimes you cannot be their friends when they need a good swift kick in the Gluteous.
But ultimately, you will be.

I now simply 'hang out' with my son.
We have conversations about just about everything. He listens to me again, without rolling his eyes with expressions of bewilderment.
I admire and respect him too.

It was worth all of the time, money and sometimes grief that being a Dad brings.

Thank you to my Dad, to his Dad, and to my nephews Luke, Martin and Brandon, who are fine fathers in their own right. They had good Dad's who were there for them.

And I know my own boy will also be a fine Father when his time comes.

Grill them a steak today, and then just leave them alone to watch golf, read that book they never have time to read, or better yet sit there and ask them about their father.

Happy Father's Day!

"We are SO non-biased!"

2009-06-16T20:05:00.004-04:00

Somtimes real events are far more bizarre than fiction.

Whether you call it "The Drive-by Media" "The State Run Media" (not original terms, credit Rush for both)
or "The Old Dead Media" (one I did come up with during the last two year election cycle)
their bias slip has been showing for many years now.

Their latest escapade will be tomorrow night.
The ABC Evening News will be broadcast from the Obama White House.
Not on the lawn outside, but from within the White House!

I half expect the President Of The United States (Or POTUS, in Secret Service parlance)
to wander by the anchor desk, wearing FDR's Cardigan sweater, holding a cup of Joe.
With his two adorable daughters and his new puppie in tow.
Perhaps we will be treated to the pup piddling on the carpet (one can only hope!), and the kids will pull the John-John trick and crawl under the desk, giggling.

His immaculately turned out wife will then come on the set to retrieve her young'uns and dog, dressed to the nines as usual.
"Why, this old thing! It's just something I threw on to knock around the house!
Later on we're going to build a campfire on the East Lawn, roast weenies and have Smores!"

The All American family to be sure.

The Anchor will feign surprise "Why, Mr President, we had no idea you were at home!"

Recipes will no doubt be shared, and we will all be assured in heart warming fashion that everything is AOK on the home front.

Unemployment at 10%, the national budget doubled, and the deficit approaching two trillion dollars already. In just five months.

Oh, and the NutBar sandwich who runs a now nuclear armed North Korea in a particularly feisty mood.
And black leather, helmeted storm troopers on motor cycles rampaging through the streets of Tehran, clubbing and sweeping away people protesting their recent "election".

They may get to those stories.

That depends on how many recipes The First Lady has to share with us.

I'm waiting for them to share the one for Humble Pie.

Summer Reading suggestions

2009-06-12T11:59:00.002-04:00

Revisit (for many it will be a first look) our founding documents.

The Declaration of Independence;

The Constitution Of The United States Of America;

The Federalist Papers

The Writings of Jefferson

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Then compare what you read against what our Government is now doing.

Your opinions may change. (hopefully!)

Update from Boone

2009-06-10T11:12:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, Ariel passed the last of three CLEP tests he needed to fulfill all graduation requirements.
He's now finished with the undergraduate phase of his academic life.

The Army will pay for grad school someday, several years down the road.
Full Time Active Duty status for two years while in grad school.
Not a bad deal!

Magna Cum Laude, quite an accomplishment!

He will commission on 7 August, and will start his active duty career on 14 November as a Gold Bar Recruiter at App.
Two more semesters in the college atmosphere without the rigors of classwork!
Great Duty, only one other newly commissioned 2LT will serve with him.
They will also share an apartment until next April when they report for their intensive training as a platoon leader/Infantry officer.
This will include Ranger School, one of the toughest training regimens in the U.S. Military.
Only Special Forces training, Seal or Air Force Para training is more demanding.

He now has a rare gift.
Several months to travel and see the world without the encumbrances of job and family!
He plans on seeing as much family as he can here in the States, and is just starting the planning for a potential trip to Europe in September with two of his cousins on my side of the family.
My cousin Rob has lived in Germany for many years, and has offered to squire the boys around.
Dave and Robert are his nephews, and as a retired Air Force Master Sgt he has keenly followed Ariel's training and military career.

Wow! His old man is jealous!

The Queen and I could threaten to tag along, but we don't want to cramp his style.

Some of the family will be able to attend his commissioning rites in August.
Rest assured there will be a lot of pictures posted for those who cannot.

6 June, 1944, D-Day remembered.

2009-06-08T10:15:00.002-04:00

65 years.
Until recently, that was the expected life span of the average male in this country.
One of my Grandfathers made it exactly, the other lived another 12 years past that mark.

When I was a school boy in the sixties, D-Day and the end of WWII was only twenty years past.
Now the 'end' of the Vietnam war is 34 years in my rear view mirror.

Most of the men who saw action on June 6th, 1944 are gone now.
Only a relative handful of the hundreds of thousands that were involved are still living, both Allied and German alike.
All of them are old men in their eighties and nineties.

By the time June 6th 2014 is upon us, virtually all of them will be gone.
My sister told me recently that the last of the "Bedford Boys" had passed away.
Bedford VA is still a small All-American town halfway between Roanoke and Lynchburg.
A disproportionately high number of their boys, who were Reservists by the way were killed and wounded on D Day.
That is why the National D-Day Memorial is located there.
Dedicated by President George W. Bush during his first term, it is a stirring and somber reminder to us of the sacrifice that millions of young men made during that awful war.

It pays homage to all of our allied troops as well, even though our American boys suffered the worst casualties simply by the luck of the draw on landing beaches.

Omaha Beach. The name still stirs vivid emotions for me.

Watch the opening sequence of "Saving Private Ryan" Not with young children under any circumstance.
Then watch the D-Day episode of the excellent series "Band of Brothers", which gives perspective to what our Airborne troops went through.
My son is now one of them.

Then lastly, watch the excellent epic "The Longest Day", and read the book by Cornelious Ryan on which it is based.

Then you may gain a small inkling of the sheer terror and horror those young guys went through on the day that literally saved civilization from a tyranny no one can imagine.

A footnote, my thanks and regards to the citizens of Normandy, France.
Even though most of them who were alive on D-Day have passed, their children and grand children carry on a wonderful tradition of thanks and respect for our lost sons.

Each local family adopted the grave of one of our boys in the American Cemetary at Normandy, almost 10,000 of them.

They lovingly care for it year round, often bringing flowers, and having picnics there, which is a great sign of respect and thanks in their culture.

This is perpetual, passing on through the generations.
When a veteran visits who was there, he is lauded by the local citizens.

We should all pause and thank them as well, if we did not notice the significance of this Saturday past.

Footnotes

2009-05-27T11:53:00.002-04:00

Some of the narrative was from first hand accounts I have read.

Others are from real life veterans I knew, or family history.

The "Doughboy" in the WWI remembrance is my Grand Dad Cupp.
He did not finish his training before Armistice Day and did not go to France,
but men from his family and my Grandmother's did, and saw action.

The account of WWII is my Uncle Bill Cupp, who did serve in both WWII and Korea.
My Aunt Katherine "Kitty" told Phyllis and I the story about the troop trains.
It is her personal memory.

The soldier in Korea was my HS Math teacher, Mr. Calvin Hall.
He was actually in Korea for two winters.
The story related is true, and he told us of many other combat encounters.

The 'Nam Vet is a composite of guys I knew.
The POW mentioned is the elder brother of one of my best friends from Hialeah.
He was the youngest F4 pilot in the Navy, only an Ensign flying from the U.S.S. Independence when a SAM missle shot him down over Hanoi in 1964.
He spent over eight years in captivity, never knowing until his release that his "Back Seat" EWO also survived the crash and made it home.
He is one of the most amazing men I have had the privilege of meeting, and a solid Christian Gentleman who did not let the appalling treatment he received make him bitter.

The present day Vet is a composite from young men I know, including my son.
Volunteers all.

Memorial Day, "I did what I had to do."

2009-05-26T14:01:00.003-04:00

"I was happy on my farm. I had a wife and four young'uns and crops to git in.
But when the call to arms came, I went.
Never heard of Gettysburg before. Never thought I'd never leave there either.
Neither did some of those ol' Johnny Rebs who we fought with.
They were pretty brave boys, most of them left farmin' too.
A lot of us are still there.
Walk the field between Seminary Ridge and Cemetary Ridge and you may hear us, rustlin up some firewood to boil coffee, or just carryin' on like young men always do.
President Lincoln gave a purty good speech later on that year.
People still remember him, don't forget us.
We did what we felt we had to do"

"Never much cared what went on over in the old countries.
Ol' Kaiser Bill was a raisin' Hell over there, didn't see how that meant a whole heap to us.
But in the Winter of '18 when I got drafted, I went.
Saw some pretty bad things with the old First Division, "The Big Red One"
Something called a Salient near a place called Meuse Argonne got a lot of us killed and hurt bad.
I was lucky, came home pretty much healthy.
Still can't look at a Poppie flower without thinkin' of some of my buddies who weren't so lucky.
We all did what we had to do."

"We saw Hitler and the Japanese start to get uppity as early as '33.
Had problems of our own then, millions out of work.
Ma used to feed the Hobos that came through the farm from the rail yards where Pa was lucky enough to have a job.
If we got food we are supposed to share it, she'd say.
In '42, my sister Kitty would stand next to the rail trestle for the N&W and watch the troop trains heading to Norfolk, loaded full of boys.
They'd wave and yell at her, full of themselves.
A lot of them are still in France, North Africa, and all over the Pacific.
I went to the Solomons with a P.T. boat squadron, later to Korea on a cruiser.
Never hurt, but was fearful homesick a lot.
We all did what we felt was our duty.
Didn't hate the Germans or the Japanese, but had to stop them for the folks back home."

"I haven't always taught Geometry to you knuckleheads.
Back when I was young in 1952, I spent the Winter in Korea.
Freezing, frostbitten toes, months without a hot meal or a bath or a decent place to sleep.
Once when I knelt by a stream full of melting mountain snow trying to shave in the springtime, a North Korean mortar round landed nearby.
We learned to ignore the first one. The second one got me to runnin'.
The third one landed right where I'd been kneeling!
We hated Korea, and still aren't real fond of communists or Red Chinese.
But we all did what we had to do."

"Nam? Where the Hell is Viet Nam? I sure didn't want to be there!
Just wanted to finish College and get a job.
But my "Uncle" sent me greetings and said Welcome to the Army, son!
So I went.
Bugs, heat that made Miami seem like a mountain resort, and little people in black outfits trying to kill us was my life for the next 13 months.
Some of my brothers were Marines, some in the Air Force and Navy, some never saw the bush.
One spent over eight years as a POW, courtesy of the North Vietnamese.
To this day he doesn't hate them, says "Hate just eats you up, doesn't change a thing"
He's a better man than I am, for certain.
Almost sixty thousand of us never got home, and almost three thousand more are MIA.
Walk next to our wall next time you're in D.C.
Remember us. You'll probably see several of we lucky ones who made it home there, leaning against a particular spot with a buddies name on it. Weeping like a baby.
Thank one of us when you get a chance.
We didn't run to Canada, we did what honor and love of country led us to do."

"We don't have to serve. No draft since dad was a young pup in '72.
But we feel it is important.
This country still stands for something in this lousy, selfish Me First World of 2009.
Less than two percent of we Americans do serve.
Seems like only our families care.
People don't hate us like they did my Uncles who went to The 'Nam.
Pretty much respected for the most part.
But no one gives us much thought on a given day.
The grunt from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Force on his third deployment has a wife at home. Probably appreciate it if someone mowed the yard for her while I'm gone.
The three Guardsman from North Carolina who hit the IED over the weekend won't be coming home.
Don 't forget them, and if you know their families, just go over and sit with them or bring some food.
We are always out there, sitting in the cold and desert heat, fighting bugs, boredom and people that hate us and our way of life. People who would kill all of us if I wasn't here, with thousands of my brothers and sisters who volunteer to lay it on the line.
We all do what we have to do."

Escapism

2009-05-15T11:20:00.002-04:00

As a young Junior high boy in the mid-sixties (that's 1960's, not 1860's!) I and my fellows watched the original "Star Trek" T.V. series.

Set in the 23rd Century, we liked it because of the characters, the 'Space Western' Plots, and the portrayal of a humanity that survived the Atomic Cold war era we were living in.

And perhaps the short skirt uniforms that the female crew members of the Enterprise and the Alien races wore had something to do with it.

The cheesey special effects, complete with plastic space ship models hanging by sometimes visable wires and the hammy over acting of Bill Shatner did not dull our devotion.

The movies which revived the franchise and subsequent sequel/prequel T.V. series never quite captured the original intent, movie two "The Wrath of Kahn" being the only exception.

All attempts in recent years of going back to the sixties, "Mission Impossible" "Bourne" "Wild Wild West" etc have been major failures for the most part.

Last weekend we saw the much anticipated "Star Trek" which takes the original crew back to their academy days and their first mission together on the brand spanking new NCC-1701 Starship Enterprise.

And Wow, what a great summer blockbuster ride at warp speed it is!

Even if one has no familiarity with the genre', this is a great Sci-Fi action adventure flick!

From the opening sequence where the Evil rogue Romulan Nero attacks and destroys the Starship Kelvin, briefly and heroically commanded by James T. Kirk's father George, to the final confrontation between Jim Kirk and the Enterprise and Nero, the pace never slackens.

The plot depends on a time travel basis, convoluted at best.
Many of the givens you old timers are familiar with are different, from Captain Christopher Pike's first command of the Enterprise to Kirk losing his father at birth.

Even one of the old cast reprises his role as a very old man who travels back in time to aid his old friends (and himself, according to Einstein an impossibility)

The special effects are quite spectacular, but what makes this movie so enjoyable are the characterizations of all too familiar figures.
Casting is superb, from Winona Ryder and Ben Cross's portrayal of Spock's parents, to Simon Pegg's hysterical Montgomery Scott, "Scotty", always my favorite character.

Chris Pine is perfectly cast as a young, bitter impetuous James Tiberious Kirk (the origin of that awful middle name is revealed in the first sequence) Zach Quinto is excellent as the young Spock, and Leonard "Bones" McCoy quickly became my favorite in this movie.

After delivering a diatribe about all of the horrible things that can happen to a person who travels through space (a recurrent theme for McCoy in the original) to Kirk, Kirk replies "But we're joining Star Fleet. They kind of operate in space!"
McCoy reveals a great deal about his cranky nature "My ex-wife took the whole D*** planet in the divorce. Space is as far from her as I can get!"

And we finally learn Uhura's first name. I won't spoil it here.

Nods are given to the old school Trekkers.
On a beautiful hi-tech bridge, the "throttle" for the Warp Drive looks like a stick shift from a 1968 Mustang.
The engineering section could be a boiler plant in present day Iowa, and the ship was built on Earth in a traditional looking ship yard.

Realism is more apparent, shuttle craft actually have visable chipped paint from heat, and ships must calculate and "pop out" of warp drive at a planned destination, flying blind for the most part in route.

This tries to address to some degree knowledge gained about Quantum Physics since the original.

But this is after all, Science Fiction, and escapist entertainment at it's best.

Spend the eight bucks and sit back and enjoy the ride!

"Maybe you have a Spectre looking over your shoulder."

2009-05-07T12:28:00.002-04:00

So said James Bond to the evil Emilio Largo in Thunderball.

Largo was the Eye-patched, sophisticated villain and number two for the criminal organization Spectre that Bond fought in all of the Sean Connery 007 flicks.

Now our own modern day Specter (Arlin, of course) has given me great amusement over the last week or so.

Always a Republican of convenience, he switched parties last week and 'joined' the Dems.
After promising as recently as April 16th that he was elected as a Republican, and would stay one.

In his rambling public pronouncement he first stated his reason for switching to be Republican Economic policy.
Then a few lines later, he admitted that he had little chance of winning the Republican primary next Spring.
It was a classic example of self serving politcal double speak.

Now this week he expressed surprise that he would be a Junior member in the Dem majority.
I guess he expected to take over Harry "Cryptkeeper" Reids job as Senate Majority Leader.

In an interview the other day he also stuck his foot in his mouth when he stated that he hoped Norm Coleman (R) would win out over Al "Stuart Smalley" Franken in the ongoing, stomach churning endless recount in Minn-E-Soda.

Forgetting that he is now a Dem.
"Oops, I guess for a moment I forgot what team I'm on!"

Just look in the mirror, Senator and you will remember.

For all of you voters in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, cradle of Liberty, a word of advice.

You can do better in the Democrat Primary next spring with virtually any other candidate.
Skippy the Wonderdog would be more loyal to you.

It would be nice to see this selfish old fossil shown the door, once and for all.

Dining Out

2009-04-28T12:39:00.008-04:00

We were privileged to attend Ariel's ROTC Dining Out Military Ball last Friday.
They used to be called Dress Mess.

As Battalion S3 (operations officer) this semester he planned the entire event.
They started working on it at the start of the semester.

The Army is big on tradition and history, and this evening was no exception.

There was a table in a prominent place set for one.
A single Red Rose and a Red Ribbon signifies remembrance of Fallen Comrades.
Felllow soldiers who have given their all in every war that America has fought.
App State has already lost two ROTC alumni in our current War on Terror.

Several proscribed toasts follow, starting with "We Toast the President of the United States" and ending with "We toast the Ladies!"
Then the Colonel started the dinner, while a slide show of each of the MS4 (Senior) Cadets played.
All of us submitted pictures, and it was interesting to see which ones Ariel chose.
It was funny, and very touching as well to see these young soldiers as cute little Young'uns.

Afterwards the Colonel made a few brief remarks, and introduced the guest speaker, a young Captain who graduated in '05.
He has already seen two combat tours in Iraq.
He gave very good advice about cultivating a relationship with your NCO's, (Go out and have a beer or two with them. The Army runs because of it's Senior NCO's) and looking after your young enlisted men.
"They will be looking up to you for guidance and discipline. Their Body Armor will most likely be too small, and their Kevlar (helmet) too big. Their ACU's seldom fit as well.
Take care of them"
He also advised them to learn to think on their feet, and to study the art of War Craft.
Keep your boys alive and bring them home!

We then took part in pinning his branch insignia on his uniform.
Ariel will be infantry, attached to the Big Red One, First ID based in Ft Knox KN

It was a proud moment pinning those crossed rifles on his Class A uniform.
He has diligently been working out for two years, and the uniform that hung rather loosely after BCT grad now fits like he is fixing to explode out of the tunic.
My son is a stud!

Proud Momma and Daddy to be sure!

The last picture shows that Queen Felica is adept at making friends wherever she goes.
We spent a glorious spring day in Blowing Rock, one of our favorite NC Towns.

There's Gold in them thar hills!

2009-04-20T15:15:00.003-04:00

Some of you know that we have been on pins and needles waiting for Ariel's orders to post.
He was the last senior in the Battalion to find out which unit he would be assigned to, and where his home garrison would be.

Well, the wait is over.
He will be part of the famous First Infantry Division, "The Big Red One" based at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Which unit within the First I.D. is not yet known.
The Combat Battalion is deployed overseas right now.

Their distinctive shoulder patch with the large 1 on a shield, all in bright Red has seen combat in every major war since World War One.

His mother's first comment was "Fort Knox, tell him to get me some gold!"

His commissioning ceremony will be on August 7th.

He then has several months before starting his active duty training next April at Fort Benning.

We're looking for a good job he can start in June through next February to fill in the gaps and keep his bank account full.

We are of course very proud of him in every way.

He will graduate with honors on time before starting his career as an officer.

Hooah! Son!

This Easter weekend, listen to the Pope!

2009-04-13T10:11:00.003-04:00

As all of you know, I am not Roman Catholic.

But sometimes it is patently obvious when The I Am speaks through someone else.

In his Easter Sunday address, the Pope warned those of us in Western Society that we are drifting into a "Desert of Godlessness".

Well said, and timely words.

We must heed them, if we have not been already doing so.

"Be still, and know that I am God." we are commanded.

Religion and Godliness has been virtually eliminated from public life in Europe.
That movement has gained speed in our own Republic over the last twenty years.

The Queen and I were discussing that very thing this Easter weekend past.

"When and how did it start?" she asked.

In my opinion it started when we were in early gradeschool, when one woman was able to remove prayer from our Public schools.
That's right, one woman whose name I will not dignify here filed suit and was eventually heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The common practice of reading The Lord's Prayer, giving students a moment to pray and posting The Ten Commandments in each classroom abruptly ceased forever.
I remember my Godly second grade teacher Mrs. Cayton reading from the scriptures every morning, and then praying for us.

And this was in Meadowlane Elementary School, Dade County Florida public schools.
I also well remember my 10th grade biology teacher stating his opinion on Darwinian Theory, saying
"I have to teach it, but I do not have to accept it!"
No one got up and walked out, and no parent objected and tried to have him fired.

Yes, this was in good old Hialeah High School, public schools of Dade County.
The year was 1969, exactly forty years ago. (Yes, I am old, thanks for reminding me!)

Easter is a time to reflect, and refocus on the importance of Christ in our lives.
We went to First Baptist Church in our home town yesterday.

It was a very traditional, formal Southern service.
The pastor's message from Luke 24:1-12 was simple and direct.
The service ended with a very stirring, excellent singing of G.F. Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus from "Messiah"

There indeed are many important things to be concerned about in our modern world.

I needed to be reminded who is really in charge of it all.

Thank You, and thank you for your Easter gift of life Eternal to us all!

Do Southerners and college kids need a reason?

2009-04-07T17:58:00.005-04:00

To celebrate?

Or as Three Dog Night and The Doors put it,
"Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the Music!" and "Light My Fire" as in Bonfire.

Last night our local Cagers, the UNC Chapel Hill Tarheels won their fifth National Men's Basketball Championship in convincing fashion.

This places them in rarified air with the UCLA Bruins, (11), the Kentucky Wildcats (5) and Indiana Hoosiers as the most storied programs in the last fifty years of the NCAA tourament.
Alumni Coach Roy Williams won his second in six years since coming 'home' from Kansas.

Our son, in his last semester at sister campus App State, themselves winners of three of the last four NCAA Division 1AA football championships watched with his roomies and ROTC buddies at a favorite sports hangout, MacAdoos on King Street.
I asked him how ROTC class and training meeting went today.
"Not too good. No one wanted to be there after last night"
"Good time?" I queried. "Oh, yeah Dad!"
No further elucidation was neceassary, I was young and in college once.

The game was never in doubt.
The Tarheels actually played poorly in the second half after scoring 55 in a flawless first half, and still easily won by 17 points.

Even though, being raised in Florida and having 'No dog in this hunt' as far as local ACC teams go, it was refreshing seeing a team with senior players who would normally have bolted for the NBA and big bucks come back to win one for their school.

Last years meltdown against William's former team the Kansas Jayhawks in the semi's left a bad taste in their mouths.

This year was a vindication and a mission of redemption from the first game on.

No Tournament game was closer than 12 points, and the Championship last night was a 17 point fanny kicking, with a coaching lesson given by Coach Williams to the very likable and talented C0ach Tom Izzo and his young Spartan team.

Their time will come, but facing a talented, experienced, well coached and driven group of boys in Tarheel Blue was just too much to ask this year.

Sometimes the best team does indeed triumph.

This is for my niece and nephew Heather and Luke and their kids, now in route to their new home in Sunny Seattle.

"TAR..............HEELS!"

GO BLUE, GO HEELS!

P.S. If you want a championship banner, or T-shirts let us know.

"Fired by the President"

2009-03-30T16:03:00.002-04:00

We learned over the weekend that the CEO of General Motors (A.K.A. Government Motors)
was 'fired' by the President of the United States.
I was somewhat confused, in my naivete' I thought only the board of directors or the shareholders could fire anyone.

I stand corrected.

The old saying "When you take the King's shilling....." comes to mind here.

Having no sympathy for an executive who runs a corporation that has been so inept and poorly run that it should by all rights be undergoing chapter 11 bankruptcy, I am still chilled to the bone by this further incursion of our Constitutional Rights.

All of us should re-read the Declaration of Independence, and the Preamble to the Constitution of The United States, and the Bill of Rights.

Otherwise you may pick up the phone and hear "This is the White House calling. I see you have missed your sales quota two months running now. You're Fired!"

It would no doubt create yet another "reality" T.V. show, "Fired by the President"

How far will this intrusion go?

Only as far as We the People let it.

Chilling, isn't it?

Spring Fever

2009-03-19T14:20:00.002-04:00

It is 70 here today.

Glorious!

We are due for one more (I hope!) cold snap through the weekend, with yet more rain.

Then we hope Spring will really be here!

Our plants are as eager to get out of my garage as I am for them to vamoose.

The winter rye grass in my yard has never looked thicker or more luxurious.
So much so that the Queen has convinced me of the wisdom of paying someone else to do the first mowing of the year.
We found a local lawn service last year that does good work for a fair price.

I'll then do our annual weed-n-feed spring maintenance, and she will start chopping, digging clearing and mulching prior to putting out seeds and young plants.

A fence for Csonk is in the plans around part of the back yard.
Maybe I'll get started on that patio down below the deck as well.

As long as my Fred G. Sanford Arthur-itis doesn't hit me too hard, I look forward to getting dirty.

I am sure that the Queen of the Manor will post some in progress pictures

Stop Yo'ing me and other random stuff.

2009-03-13T09:47:00.003-04:00

Yo as in Yo Yo, as in our weather of late.

Two weekends ago, we had lows in the mid-teens, and snow.
Last weekend while we were in Wilmington, it was sunny and around 80 all weekend.
Yesterday in VA I arose to a 33 degree morning, and our highs here are not going to be above 40 today.
Rain and temps in the forties are predicted through Monday at least.
The corny old saying "If you don't like the weather, wait thirty minutes!" holds true.

Random thought one;

I am amazed at how many older adults (older than myself, one almost has to be in the Yoda range to exceed that) are into Facebook.
Yesterday I received an email from a cousin inviting me to 'join' and be his friend.
He has obviously had my email for years, and phone and address.
This is the only communication I've had in at least 8 years.
On the same email it mentioned that another person has invited me to be her friend.
This is a neighbor friend of my wife's, in her mid sixties at least.
All of the ladies were commenting about how addicted this woman is to Facebook, spending hours each week devoted to it.
I won't be joining, and if I ever do it should become apparent to all who know me that I have probably slipped into some sort of dementia.

Call me, Dang it!

Random thought for the day two;

I in general loathe so called self help books.
While wondering through a book store the other night in Old Virginnie I chanced upon a cover that grabbed my attention.
"People Are Idiots, and I Can Prove It!"
The picture of the author, Larry Wingett also grabbed my attention.
Picture a bald, gooteed middle aged guy with earrings and a loud Western Shirt.

The first page I flipped to, he explained that when someone in Oklahoma where he was raised messed up, the expression was "He peed in his Chili!"

I have to read this guy, I thought.

What old boomers like me call common sense, mixed with a lot of humor and self deprecation
should make this workbook a good practical read.
That's right, each point he makes has a self evaluating work sheet.

You're never too old to learn, right?

Unless, that is you are a politician.

Bohemian Rapsody.

2009-03-02T17:13:00.011-05:00

Today children, the topic is dancing.

We will discuss the total lack of any discernable skill on the dance floor that I exhibit,
the innate talent that the Queen shares with our graceful niece the Mistress of Wazoo,
the apparent magical abilities of a certain purple hat endowing a certain professorial nephew with Travolta like happy feet, etc etc.

"Why, it's our Finnish Kirellian heritage!" my lovely wife intoned.
I might buy that, but I've seen most of the rest of the clan try to dance.
Only yours truly is more dance-ically disadvantaged.

Besides, though I often thought some of the Familia were from other worlds,
I suspected Alpha Centauri, not the Kirellian empire.

My people, being heavily invested in a German and English heritage are obviously Klingon.
We are a riot at parties if you don't mind breakage, and great in a fight.
That's about it for our graceful abilities.

Now for story time, kiddies!
Gather your Kool-aid and cookies and listen up!

Once upon a time, there was a mother, a daugther and an Auntie.
Lovely ladies all, and usually quite sane.
On this particular occassion whilst browsing in a thrift store the daughter had a muse.

"Why don't we all pick out something really, really hideous for one another, and then we will wear said outfits to supper when our Knights (pronounced, Kin-Igits) Gallant pick us up in their steel chariot."

"Huzzah! shouted the girls in unison"
And they proceeded to shop.
Several outfits too hideous for even their state of silliness were rejected.
Then, success, in a manner of speaking.
Not only did they purchase these monstrosities, they changed into them afterwards.
(See picture for exculpatory evidence)
The daughter is actually wearing sleep wear, the mother, impossible to identify the genre' of her frock, and the auntie a blouse made for Miss Fabersham right out of Great Expectations.

Upon re-viewing this picture, the Queen said
"It looks like we were on our way to interview for a job at a girlie-club!"

Imagine the surprise and wonder when Sir Meredith the brave, and Sir Arthur the stunned picked them up in front of the store.
Pole-axed might be a better description of our reaction.

The happy party then proceeded to Bahama Breeze, a Island themed eatery in yonder Raleigh towne.
Mojitos were imbibed by all but the chariot driver, (a sublime mixture of mint, sugar cane juice, and allegedly some Mount Gay Barbados Rum)
and wonderous looks were constantly given our way by our fellow diners.

Their looks said "No, we are not laughing with you, we ARE laughing at you!"

Afterwards, the ladies all took naps. What a fabulous day for them!

If you want to exercise your imagination, picture any men you know ever engaging in like shenanigans.

"No Vern, that yellow evening gown don't do you justice! You're a winter, Bro, remember?"
"Try the midnight blue ensemble'."

Ah, but Vive La Difference, ladies!

Spring, sprung, sproing!

2009-02-27T16:53:00.003-05:00

It reached 70 here today.

And tomorrow it is supposed to rain, and not get above 45.
Monday snow is predicted and the high will be 38!

I cannot ever remember being so tired of Winter as this year.
It has been cold, wet and in general unpleasant since mid-October.

Global Warming, my homesick behind!

I miss Florida right now!

The Queen just saw our first Robin of the year, so maybe this is the last blast of the Winter.

I sure hope so, spoiled Southern Brat that I am!

Another Depression?

2009-02-25T10:24:00.004-05:00

I don't think so.

I read a particularly good editorial in our local small town edition of the paper.
The writer is an older fellow who grew up during the Great Depression, as both of my parents did.

He described the lifestyle that most folks had in those days, regardless of whether they lived in a small town, or on a farm as my people did.
The Queen's mother (NaNa) was a farm girl also.
Her dad was a city boy who grew up in Detroit.

Almost three forths of America lived in rural areas in the twenties and thirties.
The great push into the cities did not start until WWII and afterwards, when the boys came home.

Virtually everyone in that era would be considered extremely poor by today's standards.

Few people had phones in their homes, they used the one at the local post office or neighborhood store.
Even tiny farm villages like Wikel where my dad grew up had a post office.
Snail mail was the means of staying in touch with family and friends, and the world at large.
The local paper, Life and The Saturday Evening Post and the Farmer's Almanac were eagerly awaited. Most farms had a battery radio, to listen to "The Grand Ol Opry" and the news.
Occasionally a radio serial like "The Lone Ranger", "Orphan Annie" or the "Shadow" was enjoyed.

Going "To" the doctor or hospital was almost unheard of.
Babies were born at home, and people died at home.
Indeed, most people were too far from a hospital to make them practical, and doctor's would come to you. They were often paid in unusual fashion, more of a barter arrangement.

If a family had a car, it was guaranteed to be old.
My grandfather was one of the first in the area to own a used tractor.
Farm implements were shared.
At harvest time neighbors helped one another bring in the crops, and shared machinery.
One man might own a combine, one a baler, etc.
Lunch was always fixed by the wives, and was enough food to kill a normal person today.

Everyone helped. My dad started working with the men by the time he was 10 years old.
Not much of a childhood.

Most rural homes did not even have electricity, or indoor plumbing.
Even in small towns and cities "out buildings" were common.
There was no electrification on the family farm until 1938, when my dad and granddad built the farmhouse that is still standing today.

One pair of shoes purchased in late fall had to suffice for the winter.
There was no money for more.
Clothes were all hand me down.
If you happened to be the 'down' and were a boy like my dad, with elder sisters, you did the best you could to adapt to their old clothing.

But, they had food, if the weather did not take a disastrous turn.
Both of my parents lived far off the beaten path, and did not see any transient workers (hobos) looking for work/food.
The Queen's Aunt Elaine recently related a story about such people regularly coming by their town farm in Painesville OH.
Her parents always had something for them, and would let them work if there was any.

Both of my grandfathers had to work full time jobs, and farm when they could.
My grandmothers raised the children and ran the farm in their absence.
My mother's father was a mason, and delivererd ice.
My grandad Harvey was a carpenter for the coal mines in addition to farming.

In short, life was tough.
Politicians did not solve the problems and end The Great Depression.
World War Two did.
As late as 1937 unemployment was still in the high double digits.

There are indeed desperately poor people today.
We are all supposed to help them if we are able,
especially if we call ourselves followers of The Christ.

But from what I've seen, little of the ever increasing spending bills (almost Two Trillion dollars to date either passed or proposed. That's two thousand billion dollars, folks!)
will actually benefit them.
We are paying for other peoples stupidity and criminal negligence.
From the Corporate CEO's who ran their companies into the ground, the borrower who paid no attention to what they could actually afford to borrow, the lender who greedily offered them whatever they wanted for a buck, and the base self serving politicians who urged them to do so.
Many of whom personally profited from these incestuous, nefarious deals.

As always, we who actually work for a living and follow the rules will pay the bills.
Our children, grand children and I fear great grand children will also pay and pay and pay.

It is a desperate situation out there in the real working world of free market capitalism.
The world most of us depend on for our daily bread.
Large, long term (1888) conservatively run corporations like mine are suffering, all the way down to the family owned contractors I deal with who are frantically trying to win projects and keep their people on board.

But dear friends and family, it ain't 1929!

We The People will pull through this, by the sweat of our brow coupled with our own innate ingenuity and work ethic.

Our politicians are not the answer, they are the problem as President Ronald Wilson Reagan said in his first inaguration speech.

He was right in trusting the American People, and not the Federal Government.

We need to listen to his wisdom again.

It is patently obvious to me that our current crew in D.C are not following his advice, for the most part.

"Fear not, for I am with you."

Follow The Author of these words and work hard, and we will all make it together.

Time keeps on 'tickin.....

2009-02-23T12:38:00.010-05:00

I recently treated myself (a rare occurance) to an XM radio for my company car.
With all of the White Line time I put in for my job, it has proven to be a blessing.

One station plays rare cuts and different versions of some of the songs of my youth.
I always liked the Steve Miller Band, a Texas native son.
His song "Fly Like an Eagle" is one of my favorites.
I heard a recent live update of that song over the weekend.

The lyrics came to mind this weekend as I put together some pictures for our son's graduation.
The University asked all of their upcoming grads to do so, it will play a slide show during the ceremonies. It seems like yesterday I did the same thing for his High School grad.

The following is in no set order and includes many of his sports pix over the years, from his first day of little league through HS Football.
His first day of school, Kindergarten grad, grade school and HS grad, and the typical cutsie pictures that will no doubt embarrass the heck out of him when he knows I posted them follow.

Happy Friday!

2009-02-20T16:49:00.002-05:00

Friday's are always pretty gleeful, but this one is especially welcome.

As Winston Churchill is reputed to have said;
"Nothing is quite so satisfying as being shot at, and missed!"

As I made my rounds in Richmond Tuesday afternoon, my boss called me and asked
"Have you heard of any of the rumors floating around?"
I had not, as I left early to drive up.
"Well, we had another RIF yesterday."
As I explained earlier, RIF means more good people lost their jobs due to this miserable politician and financial idiot induced economy.

I was blessed to have been passed over by the Grim Reaper, once again.
This makes by my count at least a half dozen times in my 12 year tenure with the company.
My best buddy with the company in Atlanta was due to retire in June.
He basically was asked to fall on his sword for the other two of us in the region.
After speaking to him last night, he confirmed what my boss told me that the company treated him well.
His severance package basically allowed him to retire three months early at full pay.
"I got up Tuesday and had a hard time dealing with it, after 30 years in this business and 20 with the company. But this morn when I got up and realized I really didn't have to do a damn thing if I didn't want to, I knew that I can live with this!" he related.

Others weren't so lucky. My friend in NJ who started with the firm when I did was a casualty, as were some of our support and engineering people.

Good people, with families.
People who all started working in their early teens, as I did, and who never stopped.
Folks who pay the Lion's share of the taxes in this country.
Families who never ask for anything from anyone, they simply want to work and provide for their own needs.

And we are not at the bottom of this mud slide yet, I fear.
Most likely every mid-quarter when the trend for that period becomes apparent, the powers that be in all companies will have to decide what they need to do if things are still depressed.
Cut people and stay open for a bit longer, or close the doors for everyone?
Not an easy choice for any decent human being.

Maybe if our government leaders offered to cut their pay and benefits, or better yet truly
"Work for the Public Good" as was originally intended I would believe they have all of our best interests at heart.

As if that will ever happen.

Rock on, fellow Pilgrims and have a wunnerful weekend!

The Stimulous Blues

2009-02-10T11:17:00.002-05:00

Sung to the tune of "That's All Right, Momma" by Elvis.

That's all right Obama, that's all right with me.
Say that's all right Congress,
go on that spending spree!

Yea, that's all right, that's all right,
it's our cash after all!

335 million for condoms,
4 billion for A.C.O.R.N,
and if we ask what else is there,
we're in for lasting scorn!

That's all right, yea that's all right,
go on that spending spree!

Dee, dee dee dee deet,
and Oink, oink oink oink!
Muscle in to the trough boys,
and grab your share of pork!

It's our money, yea it's our money!
The taxpayer pays after all!

Our great grand kids will thank us!
For all of this debt!
Long after we are dead and gone,
they will be paying it!

But, that's all right! Yea, that's all right!
It's their money after all!

Spring teaser

2009-02-09T10:50:00.004-05:00

After the coldest, wettest Winter since we have been in this house, we were treated to a spring-like weekend.
Yesterday the temp climbed to 75.
We spent the entire day outside, in bright warm cloudless sunlight.

It was glorious!

I am under no delusions (at least where the weather is concerned) that Winter is over.
We will no doubt have several more hard freezes, and it has snowed here as late as the last week of March since we have lived here.

But after over five decades on this mortal orb, you take the good gratefully.

Thank you for the great weekend!
Indeed, it is supposed to be mild at least through Friday.

Use this as an analogy for all of the troubling things that face us now.

The Republic has survived greedy self-centered politicians for 219 years now.
It will survive this crew as well.

"We the People" are the life blood of this country.

Not Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid or Arlen Spector.

We are the single mother who works two jobs to support her children, and saves so that they may have a better life than she.

The blue-collar "Redneck" (so called) that gets up before dawn every day, and works a job that he doesn't necessarily like, and might even hate.
But he puts his wife and his children's welfare before his own hopes and dreams.

The talented teacher who knows she could make more money in the private sector, but feels called to teach.

The Soldier and Marine and their fellow warriors who have the intelligence and focus that few of us have.
They also know they could make big bucks in the private sector.
But they also feel called to follow the self-sacrificing path they walk.
Men like our son, who will graduate with honors, but chose to serve as a commissioned officer rather than a corporate ladder climber as 95% of his fellow graduates will do this year.

This includes the cop on the beat, the firefighter and EMT that never know when they strap on their gear and leave for work if this will be the day that their life is literally on the line.

We are also millions strong who work jobs that chose us by life's circumstance.
Not ones that fulfill the dreams and goals of our youth, but ones that pay the bills and take care of our families earthly needs.
Deep satisfaction and soulful yearnings fulfilled?
Most of us never know what that is like as far as our vocations are concerned.

We do what we have to.
We work, pay our taxes and obey the law of the Lord and the laws of the land.

We are faceless, nameless and relatively unknown.

But it would behoove those to whom we have temporarily given power to remember one thing.

We are multiple millions strong, there are less than 600 of you.

We elected you to hold office, and we can remove you as well.

It's our money that you so carelessly throw around like Monopoly cash.

We don't want our great grandchildren paying for your stupidity.

Start listening to us now, or come next election day you will be on the outside looking in!

Peace

2009-02-04T11:26:00.004-05:00

We are promised peace by The Saviour, and admonished not to worry.

In the best of times it isn't easy.

This is not the best of times in many ways.

Our culture has slipped into an accepted state of depravity in my life time.
What was once intolerable in society is now not only accepted, in many cases it is applauded.
It seems most Americans care more about so called stars and noteworthies than they do morality and ethics.
How much of the news is taken up with their shameless exploits?
Put a clock to it sometimes. You will be appalled.

Abortion, greed, millions of women forced to raise their children without help from the fathers,
and the unstoppable trend towards total dependency on our government is cause for great grief and concern.

Instead of fixing our local schools, we bus children past a school in their own neighborhood to one miles away. They spend time sitting on a bus that could be spent at home.
Long days are the norm for most of our public school young ones.
Our local school guru's recently told concerned parents who were protesting reassignment,
and I paraphrase "Go jump in the Lake!"

A dedicated parent has only two other options, home school or private school at great expense.
We are still financially recoverning from taking the private school route for 12 years with our own son.
And I paid and I am still paying school property taxes.

The danger of depending on our government, no matter who is in charge was illustrated again this week.

President Obama was elected at least in part by his pledge to "clean up" our government, and demand ethics.
Two of his appointments had to withdraw yesterday because they failed to pay income tax.
Several others should have, but defiantly refused to and were confirmed anyway.
Including the man who will lead the Treasury Department.
That's right, the one which includes the I.R.S.
Try not paying your taxes and then offer a lame excuse when caught. Good luck with that!

When details of the so called Stimulous Bill started leaking, public approval started dropping.
335 Million for STD prevention (translated: condoms) that Speaker Pelosi placed in the bill.
4 Billion dollars for A.C.O.R.N., a political action group that solely supports the party in power.

Some financial experts estimate that only 12% of the 900 Billion dollar bill actually has the potential to create real jobs and stimulate the economy.
The rest is Pork and political payback.

And every penny of it is our money.
Your tax dollars and mine.

It doesn't really seem to matter who sits behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
It's still business as usual for the pigs at the public trough in Congress.

My own job is nowhere near secure.
The corporation overall is well behind plan already this year.
Everywhere my travels take me people are worried about their ability to take care of their families.
No one wants a government hand-out, we just want to work.

And it is just the tip of the iceburg I fear.
Things will get much worse before they get better, and it will last far longer than we have been told by the media and the government.

I've been there before, but this time it looks far worse than ever before in my lifetime.
It's a scary world out there in our economy.

Just now The President gave a brief talk announcing measures to limit executive compensation.
I can't muster up any sympathy for corporate honchos, especially those that took big salaries and bonuses while their companies nose dived, and good working rank and file employees lost their jobs.

But how will that create jobs and stimulate the economy?
Will it halt inflation, restore faith in the financial system and grow the stock market?
I think not.

It is mere window dressing to play upon the public's anger towards a very small sement of the economy.

I feel a bit sorry for President Obama.
He wanted the job, and now he knows why past Presidents seem to age far beyond the years they spent in office.

It's not an easy chair to sit in, especially given the usual crew of greedy stooges in Congress he is forced to work with.

Peace? It can only come from the I Am.

Try to take a mini-sabbatical from the news.
Take a walk instead, don't pick up a paper or read any news on the Net.
See a funny movie (maybe the Pink Panther II, it looks hysterical!)
Do something silly with your kids, or if you are ancient as I am, my lovely wife.

We plan on doing that this weekend.

"My peace I give to you."
I am claiming that promise, and will do my part to actually accept it day to day.

Little Sounds.

2009-02-03T10:01:00.002-05:00

We are surrounded by them, but our brains normally tune out familiar sounds.

My wife quietly talking to Bonnie as she puts on her leash for her morning walk.
The almost imperceptable ticking of the timer that controls the lamp in my office.
The refrigerator cycling on and off, my Uncle's Mantle clock's tick-tock.
Even the twice hourly chime escapes our notice unless we still ourselves and concentrate.
My Mac's very slight purr as the hard drive spins, and my crazy Labrador Csonk as he
amuses himself on the back deck by crashing into the house as he chases his favorite sqeaky ball.

Old houses are filled with them, some only in our memories.
When I am fortunate enough to go to the farmhouse on our ancestral place in WV I am almost overwhelmed with them.
Early in the morning I can still hear my grandfather Harvey slam the screen door as he shuffles onto the porch for a hand rolled cigarette.
A lifetime of rising well before dawn himself gave him little sympathy for those who "Slept all day" In his estimation that was sleeping until the sun was up.
The hardening of the arteries in his legs gave him a distinctive shuffling gait.
I can still hear it on the wood floors in the old house he and my father built by hand in 1938.

And I can still hear my father's forceful and purposeful stride, and his vain attempts to quiet his father. "Pap, they don't need to get up at 5:30, they're kids!"

I can hear my dear Aunt Bee clattering around in the kitchen, cooking up breakfast, or a pie made with apples grown right behind the house.
A pie just for my father, and for me. Her boys.
"Did you have enough to eat?" she was always asking. I can still hear her voice in the house.
She was personally affronted to see any man in her kitchen.
We weren't supposed to cook or clean up. It was her joy to do that for us.

And I can hear silly laughter in the house.
My sisters and I trying to see how much trouble we could get into.
And how far we could push our mother before she lost it and told us to go outside and play.
I hear her voice there also.

All sounds aren't necessarily good, but part of the saga that is our lives.

My Aunt Rosalie storming into the place on Saturday morning, fussing about everything.
"This place is a pig's sty, don't you ever clean up, Bernice!"
My saintly Uncle Willard, whom we called Uncle Junior quietly trying to get her to behave.
"Now shug, let's just have a cup of coffee and enjoy the kids."
A decorated and seriously wounded WWII U.S. Army vet, he had to exercise great patience to live with my Aunt for the Forty years they were married.
He was always kind and gentle, and happy to play a board game with us or go for a hike.
Just as quickly as it began, the whirlwind that was my Aunt would sweep into their car about four in the afternoon and head back to Oak Hill.

Even my Grandad breathed a sigh of relief.

"Be still, and know that I am God!" we are warned.

There is not enough stillness in the world today.

WInter, Blah! January please go away!

2009-01-26T11:30:00.002-05:00

We are sick of WInter! Enough, already!

I know some of you from the true winter weather states are laughing at this.

Just remember, I am a Florida boy. Winter to me is 55 degrees with a cloud or two.

It was a cold, damp wet fall here in NC, and the month of December was pretty much lousy too.

No snow, just grey, damp cold days. Not dry pleasant cold, but bone chlling make you sick cold.

I am just now feeling back to normal, after getting sick the Saturday after Christmas.

So is the Queen, who came down with it the next week.

Today is typical, high in the thirties, overcast and damp.

At least we had our first real snow last week in several years, 7 inches here and no ice.

But I couldn't fully enjoy it for having to clear the driveway several times.

We do not handle that kind of weather well here in the south, it doesn't occur often enough to warrant the expensive removal equipment. We simply wait for it to thaw and melt away.

Queen Felicia took a lot of gorgeous pictures of our Winter Wonderland, I'll post them soon.

Come on Spring time, it's time to warm up and garden!

Booga, Booga!

2009-01-13T12:10:00.002-05:00

And a Happy New Year to all!

How in the world can it be 2009?

Where did it come from, and what the heck happened to 1973?
That was the year my home town Dolphins won their first Super Bowl.
We all piled in my '68 Mustang convertible afterwards and drove all over Dade County celebrating.
With the top down, of course even though it was mid-January and the temps were in the thirties.
I'll never forget my best buddie Duane, all 6' 5" of him leaning over at a traffic light to "High Five" some fellow celebrants.
Forgetting that it was frigid. And that he was in a moving, albeit slowly car.
I still remember his scream, and the rest of us screaming wiht laughter and reminding him how brilliant he was.
He and his wife will celebrate their 34th anniversary in March.

Where oh where do the years go?

As the old saw goes, "If I'd known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!"

Perhaps less tackle football without pads, more sleep, and less time wasted on TV and other worthless pursuits.

And I would most certainly have invested in MicroSoft in, say 1980 or so.

Hind sight is 20/20, even though my eyes no longer are.

If we are honest with ourselves, we probably would not have changed much.
We are who we are, and even the brightest among us are young and stupid once.

Hopefully when I grow up I'll be a genius.

My Father In Law, Kenneth R. Wheeler, Sr.

2008-11-14T12:32:00.023-05:00

Monday evening, we lost a great Warrior of the Faith, and the Patriarch of our family.

Ken Wheeler Sr moved on to enjoy the fruits of his labors, and his reward for 87 years of faithful service to The I AM.

As my family puts it when one of our loved ones leaves us,
"They crossed over The River to the other side."
This is an allusion to Stonewall Jackson's last words,
"Let us cross over the river and sit under the tree on the other side."

I first met Ken just before Phyllis and I were engaged.
Her big end of college dinner and graduation celebration was at the Kapok Tree Inn, a beautiful garden complex in Miami.

She sprung the fact on me at the last minute that "Oh, my parents, and my sister and her family will also be there. Is that O.K.?"
Uh, yes, I guess so. was my muttered, terrified response.

The only man I have known with as deep a voice as Ken was my own father.
He took great delight in intimidating his future Son's In Law.
All three of us have similar stories.
I was seated next to Irma all throughout dinner, with Dad Wheeler sitting across from us.
Giving me the once, twice thrice over all througout the meal.

But my most vivid memory of our first meeting was the delight on his face as he took his two young grand daughters, at the time his only grandkids by the hand for a walk in the gardens afterwards.
Both Heather and Kimbie were adorable in their little party dresses and "Pippi Longstocking" pig tails.

I knew then he wasn't so forbidding!

The next time we met was in August at their homestead in Bartow.
We were engaged by then, and as my sister put it "attached at the hip"
While attempting to eat breakfast one morning without letting go of Phyllis hand,
without a word or a sidewise glance he reached over and steadied my toast for me so that I could butter it.

That's the first time that I saw that wicked gleam in his eye illustrating his Scot sense of humor.
There are many more stories that I will attempt to put in a letter for all of you.

Most of all, he loved his God, and he adored his family.
As my boss put it this morning,
"It's always family first with me, A.J. God Bless your father in law"

He was privileged to bounce most of his great grandchildren on his knees.

And we were privileged to know him.

A life well lived Ken, we will see you again.

A brief log of the pictures;

Ken, Irma Eloise and Elaine, circa mid 1940's

Dad as he looked when we first met, summer of 1981.

Dad and his love, Irene at Jessica's wedding last summer.
Dad, looking dapper in his red suspenders and red bow tie.
The man knew how to dress!

Various pictures from the wedding with Ken and some of his children and grandchildren.

Appalachian fall vistas, football fun!

2008-11-04T16:39:00.015-05:00

A rainy Election Day, Halloween Football

2008-11-04T10:37:00.007-05:00

I was supposed to attend a golf/cookout that some business friends of mine host each major election day.
The weather here is lousy, in the fifties with a steady rain.
The golf course asked that the event be postponed, so as it is I have some unexpected office time.

I will be careful to avoid any media/information source that gives 'exit polls' or predictions of any kind.

Around 11:00pm I will check and see if the election has been called, or if it will be another long night like the last two.

My only prediction is this; if it is apparent that Obama will win it will be called very early.
If there is any doubt and it looks like McCain may pull off the biggest upset since Truman beat Dewey in 1948, the media will refuse to call it until the wee hours, if indeed they call it at all.

We were able to spend the weekend in Boone with Ariel. Queen Felicia's pictures to follow.
A goodly abundance of leaves were still up, and it was glorious in the Appalachians.
I was in Blacksburg on business first, we had a nice time with my sister after hours.

Then Friday it was on to Boone!
App State had a rare nationally televised regular season game on Halloween night.
We were blessed with perfect football weather.
Woffard University was the opponent, and as it turned out the Halloween sacrifice.

Woffard was ranked third nationally in 1AA, right behind App, and second nationally in all of Division 1 in defense. It looked to be a tough, dead even game.

To start with it looked to be just that, with the score tied 14 all at the end of the first quarter.
Then App scored again, and after the kick-off the 'D' came up with it's first of five turnovers.
Before you could blink it was 28-14 and the rout was on.

Led by their remarkable Junior Quarterback Armante Edwards (who will not turn 21 until Dec)
the Mountaineers scored Touchdowns on their first six possessions.
It is almost criminal that he will not be considered for the Heisman trophy in December.
On one play he rolled to his right (he is a southpaw, making that a tough throw) spotted an open receiver down field, and threw a perfect pass 65 yards in the air, hitting Quick in the hands full stride for an easy touchdown.
Once he gets outside of the tackles, tackling him in the open field is like tackling smoke.
Ariel knows him casually, and said it doesn't seem like all of the acclaim has affected him.
He still seems balanced and 'normal'. Let's hope that continues!

The final score was 70-24!
The toughest part came after the game, when the Queen and I made our way up "The Rock"
(Elevation 3,400' +) to the Broyhill Inn, which sits on top of the Mount.
This trek includes a long flight of very narrow stone steps.
There seems to be about a thousand of them when you are trudging upwards.
But we made it with a little breath to spare.

Since it was Halloween, a large portion of the students were in costume.
Many were quite inventive, and some of them I could even describe here in my PG rated blog.
Several I could not, but they were funny!
The halftime show was memorable, the announcer affected a Vincent Price style voice, and the excellent ASU band (the music program is regarded as the best in the Carolina's) did a version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to close, the entire band doing the Zombie walk, then collapsing on the field. Really funny, and it reminded me of how much I miss seeing the halftime shows, now never shown on TV telecasts.

The highlight of the trip was seeing our boy though.
We mostly saw he and his old High School buddy Nathan at meal times.
Nathan had just built him a new, mega-powerful PC for about 800 dollars.
Were I to have bought one for him with comparable power and features I would have spent close to 3,000.00.

Needless to say I would not let Nathan pay for any of his meals!
It is remarkable what some of these tech-savvy kids can do these days.
All of the major components were purchased on-line, except for the case and power supply and the new Windows Vista operating system, which Nathan had a licensed copy of.
Ariel uses his HDLCD TV for his monitor.
The detail is almost like watching an HD movie with the newest video games.

We were able to go to Blowing Rock on Saturday, one of our favorite towns in NC
Lunch at the "Sixpence Pub" was a highlight, it is an authentic English style local.

The weather was so mild on Sunday morning that we were able to eat outside on the patio of our favorite breakfast joint in Boone.

A few purchases at the Mast General Store, some winter sweaters for the Queen, dress winter shirts for me, all marked down 50%, and my traditional Mast purchase, a new Cowboy hat for me!
This year I went with Black. Felicia said I looked very snappy, so I am happy.
An elderly woman told me "now you need to get yourself a pistol and your're all set!"

I might just do that Maam!

We already voted, so leave us alone!

2008-10-24T16:29:00.003-04:00

I am still being besieged by political calls, on every phone line we have.
All of them of course want donations.

Well, word to them! I am through with this political season, we have already voted and I have already sent in my check!
And the Queen has volunteered and worked the phone banks three times over the last week at the Johnston County Republican Headquarters.

So quit calling us already, we gave at the office!

Since Ariel was home for fall break last weekend, and will not be able to make it home on Election Day due to his class schedule, we all decided to take advantage of early voting.

It was his first Presidential Vote, missing in '04 by only 18 days.

It was an honor to be able to vote as a family.
My first vote was in 1972, and I remember how proud and grateful I was to be able to do so.

It was extremely easy, we all walked in the Govt Building in Smithfield, our County Seat and signed in and went right to a machine.

Never forget who secures our right to vote and hold open elections.

It is and always has been our men and women in uniform.
Many of them are overseas now, and will rely on absentee ballots and the like to cast their own votes.

He will join their ranks full time next year sometime, after graduation and commissioning.

Just yesterday, he found out what his branch assignment is to be.
This is a career shaping decision for Senior Cadets, and will have a maj0r impact on their future in the full time Army.

He had asked for Branch Transition, three years or so in Combat Arms, and then moving into Intelligence as soon as he is promoted to Captain.

He had chosen Armor as his first pick, followed by Artillery and then Infantry.

Infantry, or 11Bravo as it is known in the Army is the most sought after branch.

Well, imagine his surprise when he found out he indeed had his desire to move into M.I. fulfilled, but his Combat branch is to be 11Bravo!

It meant in short that the Army recognizes great potential in him, and chose him over many Cadets who had Infantry as their first choice.

In addition, the Colonel told him "You will be going to Ranger school, just get ready for it!"

For those who don't know, Rangers are the toughest and most capable soldiers in the Army, short of Green Beret and Delta Force. And all of them come from the Ranger ranks.

Having that tan Ranger tab on his uniform will also be a tremendous career enhancer.

There is no certainty that just because you are sent to that school you will make it through, many don't.

But I know the kind of grit our boy has. He will get it done!
As the Finnish relatives say, "He has Sissou!"

Way to go son, and congrats from your proud parents!

Hoohah!

It's fall in North Carolina!

2008-10-20T15:23:00.003-04:00

Finally we had a weekend with seasonal weather here.
Just last week we had a couple of days with temps in the low eighties.

The leaves are changing, it's blustery and I am wearing shorts!
Then two days later I'm freezing, and turn on the heat for the first time this season.
Welcome to NC!

Yesterday, I moved all of the Queen's plants that could survive into the garage.
Moving my old back out of kilter in the process. Ouch!

She will be doing a guest blog and posting some pictures soon.

F0r now, we have a lot of fresh flowers all around the house.
They would most likely not survive the week, temps at night will be in the mid-thirties.

Our boy was home for a four day fall break weekend.
It was great to see him, even though he slept a lot.
Trying to catch up from 5:15 AM early rising for ROTC PT is tough.

He went back to Boone last night, we will see him out there during Halloween weekend.

App is playing a nationally televised game on Halloween night (ESPN2) if you would like to see a real championship football team play.
They are going for four National 1AA championships in a row this year.
GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Time to ship all of the family Christmas stuff she has been collecting all year, make a big pot of soup, and watch the World Series.

Life is truly grand!

Stay tuned for that guest blog from the Queen.

The purity of baseball

2008-10-15T11:13:00.002-04:00

Odes to the pastoral nature of baseball are too numerous to list here.

In the closing innings of this bitter, rancorous overly personal presidential race,
it is nice to watch something that doesn't smack of polls, talking head idiots on the 'news' outlets, etc.

See the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball, and run like the wind!
Pretty basic stuff, whether you are coaching four year old T-ball or the Tampa Bay Rays.

I have always loved post season baseball, even though it falls in the middle of football season.

Each swing of the bat can not only change the entire outcome of a game, but of a series.

I will never forget Reggie Jackson's unmatched performance while wearing Yankee Pinstripes in his first World Series with that team.

Three first pitch swings of the bat, and three home runs!

No one before or since has come close to matching that perfomance.

There is nothing quite so tense in all of sports than a hot hitter facing a flame throwing relief pitcher in the late innings of a playoff game.

I still remember watching the 1960 World Series between the Yanks and the Pirates with my Dad, a confirmed Yankee's fan.

With one swing of the bat Bill Mazeroski won that series for the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth of the final game.

And you still see that faded old black and white video from the fifties of Bobby Thompson's ninth inning home run "Shot heard round the World" to win the NL pennant, and the radio announcers famous call-
"And the Giants win the Pennant! The Giants Win the Pennant!"

Who will be this years hero or heros?

My money is on the Rays.

The worst team in major league baseball last year, they won 97 games to win the AL East, the toughest division in Baseball this year.

Everyone loves an underdog, unless of course they are playing your hometown nine.

Last night they once again made hash of the defending champ Red Sox vaunted pitching staff, winning 13-4 to go up 3 games to one in the ALCS.

Their manager, as the announcer put it "Looks like an English Major!"
His style is quiet and motivating, believing that inspiring his players to sacrifice and play team ball beats cursing and screaming and throwing things in the dugout.

It sure seems to be working!

The Phillies need only to win tonight to lock up the NL slot in the Series, and the Rays only have to win one out of the last three games, two at home to go for their first time ever.

Nothing beats watching the World Series on a crisp fall night!

Pop some corn, brew some tea, maybe drink some brew(skies) and let's go Rays!

"And we liked it that way!"

2008-10-14T11:32:00.002-04:00

Comic Dana Carvey had a recurring character on Saturday Night Live back in the early nineties,
"The Cranky Old Man".

Dressed in a tacky cardigan, with a wild crazy man wig, he did hysterical rants on nonsensical memories of how tough things were when he was young, always capped with
"And we liked it that way! We loved it!"

Eating rock soup, walking so far to school that our feet bled, having such lousy light to do our homework by we are all blind now, etc.

It was always incredibly funny, and at the same time insightful.
Dana and I are within a year of the same age, and he would probably agree with me that it is difficult not to allow ourselves to turn into some semblance of that mad old man.

The longer we live, the more foolishness and base behavior we witness.
We have watched our popular culture degrade to the point of animal crudeness.
Just because a show is on during the so-called "family hour" (I wonder which family, the Manson Family?) doesn't mean you should let your kids anywhere near it.
Movies have become degenerate to the point that unless we know exactly what we will be seeing before we go, we just stay away from them.
So that automatically eliminates 99% of the garbage Hollywood churns out these days.
It does save money!

The generic term "The Media" may seem trite, but they are the obvious culprit.
But they only reflect the degradation of the human animal in general.

I had a wise old Uncle myself, he went on across the bridge several years ago to rest with our ancestors.
My Uncle, Bob Hill had a good conversation with me just before I married.
This was just after Jimmie Carter left office, before any of RWR's policys had the chance to effect any real changes.
Interest rates were so high that we despaired of ever owning our own home.
I made the comment "No wonder so many of us are angry young men. Looks like we will never be able to work and achieve what your generation has"

He was a big man, with a deep, pleasant laugh.
Putting his ever present pipe down, he laughed and told me
"You have to be my age to warrant really becoming angry! Just wait, someday you will be an angry old man!"

Boy, Uncle were you right on!

Now I understand why my Dad was so P'O'd most of the time.
In his youth, most of America still lived in small towns, or in poor rural areas.
He was born in a log house, built over 100 years before his birth.
With no indoor plumbing, and only two Franklin stoves and a fireplace for heat.
And it gets cold in West Virginia, especially at night.
One pair of shoes purchased in the late fall had to do you all winter.
It was 1938 when they moved into the current farm house before they had electricity.

Fast Forward to today, when even the poorest of our poor have electricity and plumbing.
Most also have TV, and other standards still considered unattainable in a great portion of the world.

Our communications, medical technology, and standard of living has increased far past what I ever invisioned when I was in college over 30 years ago.

But are we better off as a people than we were then?

You think that over and get back to me.

Bet you'll be pretty mad, though!

I used to love KoolAId, too.

2008-10-10T15:23:00.003-04:00

I am feeling sick to my stomach.
Not because of anything I ate as you may assume.
No, it's too much sugar in my diet.

I'm speaking of the multiple tons of sugar heaped in the direction of one of the major Presidential Candidates.
This has been going on since his national introduction at their convention way back in 2004 when he gave his first major speach.

It became obvious to me then that here was their candidate for the current 2008 election.
The mainstream media, in all of their "journalistic integrity" immediately jumped on his bandwagon.

Any legitimate critique is labeled as Divisive, Bullying or negative dirty politics.
Or, the most egregious nonsense of all, Racist.

In other words, do not dare to crititize the annointed one!

It is his destiny to rule us all, and to eliminate anything that we perceive to be bad.
Lately this seems to include Free Market Capitalism as well.

The economy, "Man made Global Warming", international diplomacy, free college, free health care, free housing, free free free!
I'll solve it all!
And of course at no cost to anyone.
Excepting the "wealthy".
And wealthy is whatever we say it is.

The annointed one will fix it! Trust us!

It is troubling to the point of dispair to the Queen and I how many people seem to have willingly "drank the KoolAid" of all of this empty rhetoric and bombast.

Facts? If they seem to contradict the annointed one's public statements, well then they cannot be true.
Please don't confuse us with the truth!

When he is caught in contradictions or outright lies, there is always an excuse.
And no shortage of media lapdogs to blast the public with blanket disapproval of his accusers.

As kids we were taught "You are known by the company that you keep"

It is also off-limits to bring that up in the case of "the annointed one"
Violent terrorists who advocated the overthrow of our government, who planted bombs that killed police officers and other innocent victims?
Why, that was then! He is a college professor now! I guess that makes everything AOK, huh?

Insanely racist, anti-american "Clergy" ranting and dancing to the tune of "everything about this country stinks"?
Why, I never heard of such a thing while I was sitting in his congregation.
For twenty years.

Imagine if it were a White separatist racist "pastor", who led a Republican candidate's congregation.
Well, I'm sure the media would have no problem with that!

The current financial mess, mostly due to idiotic loan policies in forcing banking institutions to grant big loans to people that did not qualify and most likely would not be able to fulfill their payment obligations started in 1999.

That's right, during the Clinton Administration.
Do your homework and follow the money back to that starting point.
There are many people sitting in Congress right now accusing the current President and the other party of sole responsibility for the disaster.
Look at their financials.
One Senator in particular who heads the powerful Finance Committee has benefitted greatly from sweetheart mortgage rates and other benefits.
And he doesn't have an "R" after his name either.

The entire situation stinks, and we the taxpayer are going to end up paying for it.
Don't let "the annointed one" use this to help sweep into the Oval Office.

And please, young people, you are too old to continue "drinking the KoolAid"

Use the brains the Good Lord gave you and think your way through this!

The old axiom "There ain't no free lunch!" still applies in 2008.

We're still here!

2008-09-23T11:29:00.013-04:00

It's been a weird, surreal summer here in The Old North State.
I have been reminded that I am flesh and blood after all, not the Energizer Bunny.

Fall is finally here!

The Queen is up in Ohio with Kendra visiting with GranPa, who perked up immensely with two of his girls there last night.
His prodigeous appetite was back, Felicia reported "He just kept eating and eating!"
For a little man he always amazed me at how much he could put away, and never get fat.
He also talked up a storm.

Today is his 87th birthday, and there will be at least two parties.

Happy 87th, Pop!

I'll post some pictures now from the annual visit of all of our dear nieces, nephews and Super Kids last month.

Top to bottom;
Ariel and Kenton sharing a yuck, Martin, with a perpetual look of total bewilderment which is completely understandable, given he lives with four females, the girls smiling for the dapper cameraman, Elspie, saying goodbye in her own unique fashion, App Daddy, "I'm just happy to be here!", proud and doting grandparents with the two newest adorable young'uns, Joshiah AKA Mowgli the Jungle Boy, Anna with her 1,000 watt smile, and Dad and Aunt Kendra welcome Ariel home down at Ft Bragg after his five week ordeal at LDAC in Ft Lewis.

Update from Fort Lewis

2008-07-21T12:18:00.002-04:00

Our Warrior left in the wee hours of the morning for the final phase of his Warrior Forge/LDAC training, the FTX.

They will spend the next 10 days and nine nights deployed in the field.
The purpose is to learn platoon and company level basic combat skills.
Even though most of them won't be in 11 Bravo, (Infantry) every soldier is a rifleman, in theory at least.
Remember what happened to the transportation unit that got lost and captured by the Iraqi Republican Guard unit early in the invasion.
Reports were that several of the soldiers never got a shot off, their training was so poor.

He is thriving so far, and making friends in his squad (10 males and two very tough and respected females).
Some of them will no doubt be friends throughout their careers.

Being an extemely intelligent lad, he has decided not to choose infantry as his MOS
"I'm not real fond of Ruck Marches, Dad" he told me a couple of days ago.

A Ruck march is marching and walking from point A to B, wearing a minimum of 80# of gear.
More if you are a heavy weapons, communications or medical unit member.

Sometimes that also includes wearing a MOP suit to protect against biological or chemical weapons.

We are thrilled, to say the least that he as changed his opinion!

Armor, Military Intelligence and Air Defense Artillery are now his top three choices.

If you are planning on dropping him a line, mail it no later than next Tuesday the 29th, or he probably won't get it before leaving for Platoon Leader training at Ft Bragg on 5 August.

July 3rd, O-Dark -Hundred

2008-07-05T15:39:00.013-04:00

Into the terminal, and off to the first experience of adulthood.

Our son the soldier left on Thursday the 3rd for Ft Lewis WA, for LDAC.
"Leadership Development Assesment Course" is the final evaluation of over 4,500 MS-3 (rising Senior) ROTC Cadets each summer.

The criteria includes GPA, PT scores, swimming, shooting, and a final 10 day FTX where all take turns as platoon leaders in the field.
The Cadre consists of ROTC officers and Senior NCO's from all over the country.
They are looking for leadership potential, particularly under stressful conditions.
And not only how the cadets act when it is their turn to lead, but how they support their fellow cadets when following their lead.

He has been preparing all year. Serious weight lifting, running in the NC heat in a weighted vest, and studying all of the material he will be responsible for at LDAC.

The upper echelon will have a choice of picking two out of three critical areas.
Branch of Service/M.O.S., location of post, or fully paid and salaried Grad School.

He will choose Branch and location at Ft Bragg, just an hour and a half from home.
Although Grad School is tempting, it can wait.

Few of us are as fortunate to have a definite demarc between our childhood and school years and full adulthood.

When his proud parents watched him walk into the terminal, we knew he was leaving his school boy years behind him.
He will fly straight to Ft Bragg after LDAC grad for three weeks training with an active unit, then straight to fall semester of his senior year.
His primary task will be to help prepare this years MS3 cadets for their LDAC next year.
After graduation and commissioning next Spring, he's off for his initial branch training and his full time Army career.

We will see him at Christmas and during semester breaks, but this summer was most likely the last long term time at home for him.

God Speed, soldier, our prayers go with you!

You've always made us proud, but neve more so than now.

One thing's for certain, he looks a lot better at 05:30 than his old man!

After several days of frantic activity and study, everything did fit into those two duffel bags!

04:30 and off to RDU Airport

Csonk surprises Dad with a smooch on top of his old gray head, much to Ariel's amusement.

How will all of this stuff fit into two duffels?

Baseball, Dads and sons 2008

2008-06-17T16:27:00.016-04:00

It was a good Fathers Day weekend here at Le Chateau Herve'.

Saturday my son took his Mother and I to a Carolina Mudcats baseball game.
We had great seats in the first row right next to home plate.
He reserved and paid for the tickets, proving that there are some advantages when your offspring get older, and you realize you must be too.

The game was played quickly, even with a twenty minute rain delay it was over in less than three hours.
We all enjoyed the bizarre characters that are a part of all minor league games.
We saw Gaby Sanchez, a Miami Hurricane Alumn drive in several runs.
The Cat's second baseman Marbery is certain to be playing for the big league Marlins very soon, as is Sanchez himself.

On Father's Day itself, we had a relaxing day at home.
The Queen grilled some fabulous steaks, and made a totally decadent Angel Food/pudding cake smothered with fresh Coconut, and several different kinds of fresh fruit and berries.
And since it was Fathers Day, I gained no extra calories!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I happily received not a single necktie. I only wear the miserable things when I have to.
They are not in evidence in my industry any more, thankfully!
I did receive a couple of new books that I have eagerly awaited.
Sportscaster Jim Nance's book about his own father, "Always By My Side" is also about the universal relationship between Fathers and Sons.

And the first new authentic James Bond novel since Ian Fleming passed,
"Devil May Care" was released on 28 May, his 100th birthday.
It was written by Sebastian Faulk writing as Ian Fleming and will be saved as a rare treat for my vacation read.
It is set in the original Cold War era, when our chief enemy had a face and a national identity.
Some of you young'uns were still in middle school when the Soviet Evil Empire died, after almost eighty years of terror and oppression.

My son and fellow historian also got me the just released DVD set of "John Adams"
Adapted from David McCullough's book of the same name, it is a wonderful recap of our second President and Founding Father's life.
His wife Abigail was an amazing woman.
Along with Martha Washington and the other wives, mothers and daughters of their era, she deserves the title Founding Mother.

Thank you, son!

You continue to make your Mother and I proud, and reaffirm that being your Dad is the most important thing I have accomplished in this short life.

(And of course spoiling your Mom rotten!)

Here's hoping all the rest of you Dad's had a great day with your family, and that you at least got to talk to your kids, as far flung and removed by adult life and distance as some of them are now.

And for the thirty second year since you left us, Dad, I still love and respect you more than anyone else I've ever known.
Thanks for all you did for us, at the expense of your own hopes and dreams, and sometimes your very sanity.

I still remember you looking over your glasses at me and saying,
"Boy, the first thing you know you ain't going to know nothin'!"
That memory still serves to keep me on the straight and narrow now.

Tell both my granddads we all turned out pretty good, and that their great grandson would make them proud.

Picture montage courtesy of the talented and lovely Queen Felicia, excepting the old family photos.
The black and white group picture not only includes my grandfather A.H. Harvey but also my GGrandfather John S. Harvey, in the chair with my Aunt Bee in his lap, bow and all.

There is also a picture of my Granddad L.J. Cupp, a kind and gentle man who left us far too soon.

Summertime, the beach, and Williamsburg revisited

2008-06-09T19:10:00.022-04:00

Once every summer (I know it is not official yet, but when the temp hits 100 it's summer!) Felicia gets to go with me on a business trip to review the territory.

We started in Richmond last Tuesday, and treated ourselves to dinner at an outdoor patio table at a really nice Mall. It is a true mall, all of the stores are open to the outside world, with lots of nice landscaping, fountains and the like.

Weds evening we moved on to VA Beach, and once again ate at an outdoor cafe right on the boardwalk overlooking the Atlantic.
We were also able to do so Thursday night, just before the heat came on with a vengeance on Friday.

After my last call, we spent the rest of the day and evening at Busch Gardens, probably our favorite theme park. We ended a fun day with dinner at one of my favorite Italian joints, a family run enterprise with cheap and fabulous food.

Saturday before heading home we went to the Colonial downtown district.
My "Greenbough" (which is the Greek original meaning of her name) was thrilled to find a stall with some rare fresh herb plants, including a Bay tree.
Now we just have to find the perfect place to plant it.

Pictures follow, in no particular order.

King Neptune greeting his subjects.

We stumbled upon the first free open air concert of the season.
I heard a very unique version of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" featuring an electric fiddle playing.
It was the group "A Flock of Seagulls", which was extremely well known and popular in the eighties. I'm sure my nephew Martin is familiar with them.
Last year we saw Percy Sledge (When a man loves a woman) at the same free venue.

Various shots of some wonderful animals at Busch, including a cool looking owl, gray wolf, an up close shot of yours truly and a delightfully vibrant bird, and the famous Clydesdales themselves, gamboling in their pasture.

Many shots of the lovely Queen Felicia, (Yes Kim, she is truly groovy!)

A flock of idiots getting ready to take a 10 story vertical drop on the "Gryphon", one of six terrifying Coasters that I would not be caught dead on.
Our only ride was the Choo Choo train that goes around the outside of the park.
Adventuresome we ain't!

Some wonderful landscape shots at Busch Gardens, a truly beautiful park.
This version of the park is Busch Europe, with sections made to look like the UK, Germany, Italia, France and Canada.

We started the day with a cold beer at Grogan's Pub in Ireland.
I was served by a young woman from the Auld Sod with a delightful Irish Brougue.

A great trip, I may cheat and board the mutts and take Felicia with me again later this summer!

Birthdays and Memorial Day....

2008-06-02T14:52:00.008-04:00

May is a great month for Queen Felicia.
But a tough month for yours Truly!

Her birthday falls at the heels of Mother's Day.
So May is just one long celebration, complete with presents.
Lots of them!

Her big B-Day surprise (besides folks asking me if she was 15 when we married, she still looks so much younger than this old Hillbilly!) was a Nintendo Wii from Ariel, and the new Wii Fit program from me.
Just released here in the States on her birthday, it proved to be quite the impressive piece of technology.

Some of you may know that I HATE video games in general.

They are far too complicated to play for the casual user, and I think them to be a time waster and an IQ drain in general.

This one is unique in that it has a hand held 'wand' with only two control buttons that reacts to the motion of your hands and arm.
You actually 'throw' the bowling ball and swing the golf club, etc.
That makes for a real workout, and is very addictive and fun as well.

But the new fitness platform is inducing adults (avowed adults anyway) like me to buy one.
Millions have already sold in Japan, and I had to reserve this one months ago for the Queen.

One stands on a balance board platform to utilize the program.
It not only weighs you each time and assigns your BMI, it keeps track of your progress, or lack of same as the months go by.

Very sensitive, it challenges you to do Yoga, strength training, and various games that improves your balance and tone.

You design your own Avatar (Doppleganger if you will, they are called Miis) which can be closely approximated to resemble you.

Then the animated trainer guides and chides you through your personal program.
And chide they do, in a very sophisticated and realistic way.

"You've missed a few sessions Felicia! And you seem to have gained back a couple of pounds since the last time too! Tsk Tsk!"

I enjoy listening to her fuss back at the 'trainer', although I must admit I haven't started the program yet.

The workouts and games are fun, and the Yoga portion will actually teach you real postions, and increases your ability to do the rest of the regimen.

She said her favorite gift was having her guys around all day to spoil her.
She also enjoyed hearing from the family on her birthday!

The beautiful picture of the Butterfly was taken by Felicia, with her pocket digital.
She now has a new hobby, and is even more enthused by digital photography than your old blog master, who has been a photo bug for almost forty years now.

Memorial Weekend was spent at home as it should be just chilling.
I took Friday off in addition to my Monday Holiday.
We saw the new Indiana Jones movie, which we both enjoyed a lot.

It is after all a movie, meant to be silly and escapist so ignore the reviews and have fun!

Last point, never forget what Memorial Day is really about.

Many have served and paid the ultimate price and continue to do so that we may grill, hang out with our families and enjoy our own "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"

God Bless them, and their families.

New Arrivals, Spring Flowers, and the Queen's Birthday!

2008-05-19T16:01:00.007-04:00

This Spring two new 'Super Nieces' joined the family!
Most recently our dear niece Heather brought Eliora Lin into the world.
Mother and daughter are both home and doing well, and we are thrilled!

Last month Beatrix Fern made her arrival in the Cockroft household as daughter number three!

Auntie Phyllis was privileged to see her, and we both can't wait to see both her and Eliora when everyone is here in the Old North State in August.
I took the liberty of 'borrowing' pictures from their web sites here.

And Weds marks the birthday of the Queen of mine and Ariels hearts and minds, the ever loverly Felicia!

She is already in party mode, I have a hard time keeping up with her anymore.
I must be getting old, she most certainly is not!

There will of course be pictures posted later this week of the festivities.

In no particular order, Beatrix, Eliora Lin, Queen Felicia and Crown Prince Ariel the Brave, and the Queen involved in her new hobby of Heavy Equipment Operating.
Also Felicia practicing for her week long (with Mother's Day month long) celebratory revelry.

Mothers and sons, and Spring busting out....

2008-05-12T17:14:00.026-04:00

The Queen herself relaxing on her front porch on a delightful Mother's Day 2008.

Queen Felicia is our guest photograper for Mother's Day.
Her early present was a new CoolPix Nikon Digital camera.
Many of you were victimized by it during her recent trip to Ohio and Pennslyvania.

Bonnie, chilling on the porch.

This spring is certainly lush and green. No remnants of our severe drought remain.

Ariel shares a yuck with Csonk the Wonder Dog.
A proud mother and her son at lunch on her M.V.M. (Most Valuable Mom) day out.

"The Secret Society of the Hot Flashers"

2008-05-08T15:13:00.002-04:00

Recently, a new group of miscreants has appeared in our neighborhood.
They call themselves
"The Secret Society of the Hot Flashers."
Their membership consists of half crazed menopausal women.
Just think of the "Hell's Grannies" sketch from the old Monty Python's Flying Circus program, and you will get the picture.

The expressed purpose of their group (gang!) is to read uplifting books and comment on same.
Their actual agenda is far more sinister, however.
Copious amounts of wine, chocolate and talk coupled with the group didactic more often than not leads to a reversion to school girl summer camp hijinks.

No one will admit who starts the silliness, of course.
One is as guilty as the other in actuality.
They have a secret handshake, and code names for one another.
"Sister Mary Felicia" is but one example.
I have no idea as to her actual identity, but I suspect she is one of the instigators of mischief.
Other alias include "Sister Mary Jill", "Sister Mary Pamela", "Sister Mary Diana", "Sister Mary Arlena", and the ever mysterious and mynxlike above mentioned Sister Mary Felicia.

The combined great detective minds of we neighborhood men most likely could discover their true identities.
But, being that we are reasonably intelligent, we have decided that we reallly don't want to know.
What we don't know ain't going to hurt us.
We just try to stay out of their way for the most part.

Recent escapades included knocking down a huge political sign from our recent Gubernatiorial Primary race, and taking cheeky photos of one another.

"Well, everyone will just blame it on the neighborhood teenaged boys!" was heard from one of the suspects.

Teenaged boys act like, well teenaged boys.
Mature women, shed of the responsibilities of child rearing and struggling through the tough years of life also act like, well teenaged boys!

As I see it, they are less likely to drive us into further middle aged man madness when they have each other to cavort with.

Viva 'La Crazy, ladies!

Spring FTX

2008-04-07T15:55:00.010-04:00

This past weekend, our student warrior and his battalion went back to good ol' Ft Jackson for Spring Field Training Exercises.

Friday night and early Saturday morning brought severe storm and tornado warnings to the SC/NC area.
This somewhat cramped their style, but they soldiered on.

He was acting platoon leader for Bravo Platoon, and as such had to brief his troops on the mission ops, and then implement them.
Their Cadre threw him a curve with a mid-course operational change.
They were to attack and capture a bunker.
"I didn't screw it up too bad Dad. Some of the other guys got yelled at by the Cadre. (their officers and NCO instructors)

The weather curtailed a lot of the planned activities.
The battalion was heartbroken to be moved indoors on Saturday night, instead of making camp and sleeping outside all night.

They were forced to eat pizza, and watch the Final Four semifinal games instead, inside a nice warm dry gym.
When the going gets tough......

Hard to believe he will only have two more FTX before graduation and commissioning next Spring.

As you can see, these young men have formed some lifelong friendships over the last three years.
They will all attend a month long evalution and training process along with all of the other rising Senior ROTC cadets in the U.S. this summer at Ft Lewis Washington.
Their performance, coupled with their G.P.A and PT fitness scores will determine whether they get the job they want when they enter the full time Army.

The Battalion at ASU is highly regarded within the ROTC program.
This is always apparent at FTX, where there are several other programs involved.
The Cadre always includes several Special Forces veterans, and service at App is regarded as a good slot to fulfill your training obligation.

Time is slipping by us, all too rapidly.

Much ado about nothing....

2008-04-02T11:08:00.002-04:00

My apologies to the Bard.

It is not for us to question whether or not anything of consequence has happened of late!
Verily and forsooth, your scribe has just been busy earning his daily bread!
And alas, feeling somewhat old and tired.
Heavy sigh!

After having escaped (pronounce S-Cape-ED) any bad cold or Flu for these many years anon,
I seemed to have been smitten by one of the little blighters.

First our Man at Arms came home for the Easter Festival with it.
Then the Queen of the Manse, the Lovely Felicia appropriated it.
Now the part time King of the Castle has been moping about with it for some days now.

Tis a nasty Beastie, stealing away with your energy, and leaving you unfulfilled.
Somewhat akin to the Thane of Cawdor's late father's sprite.
"I ain't got no body!" can still be heard, in a lamentable minor key.

Time is passing us by as well, dear kinsmen.
It is now officially spring, and most of our fruite trees hath bloomed.
The weekly ritual of the mowing of the lawn hath started.
My first quarter of merchantile activities is past, and I am still gainfully employed.

Two young bairn are still waiting to arrive on the scene.
(Act III, scene one the next generation)

We eagerly await their coming!

Our drought is in actuality over, even though our scurrilous and self serving Lord's and Ladies
of the Fiefdom are telling us we cannot wash our cars or dogs, water our yards, and the like.
Fie on them!
All of the local lakes and stock ponds are at normal levels, and rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

As a latter day poet might put it "We don't need you to tell us which way the wind blows!"

Just don't let them tax the wind. I would not put it past them.

Husbands, wives and shopping.

2008-03-20T17:28:00.002-04:00

I was privileged to spend the afternoon with my Queen Felicia today.
We had a nice lunch at a Bistro in town, and then went to her favorite Mall.
Coffee and some bargain priced books at B&N, where I found the latest Mc Murtry for five bucks.
"Telegraph Days", is set in the latter part of the Wild West shoot-out era through the early silent Western flicks era in Hollywood.
I also found a nice novel set in Nueva York during the Great Depression for the Queen.
It centers on a few neighborhood families, and should prove to be a nice read.

Then came the shopping, which is the third Ordinance right after Baptism and Communion for her.
We have found that if you look carefully at the mark down racks in Macy's, you occasionally find a real quality garment for low cost.
After trying on several nice spring dresses, she found one that we both like a lot.
I won't wear it, I mean I like the way it looks on her, of course.

By the time we were done with that, and a trip through a collectable and knick-knack store, Vickis's Secret and her favorite kitchen gadget place, this old horse was about shopped out.
"Rode hard and put away wet" just about described my condition.

I remembered I had no Easter Candy for her, so we stopped in at Rocky Mountain Chocolates.
I asked the manager if he had any dark chocolate baskets or collections, and we both attempted to find a mixture that she liked. "No, I don't like fruit creams, nope, that one isn't my favorite, etc etc"
He noticed the glazed look that all husbands occasionally get and offered "I have a really nice box right there behind you that is all dark chocolates"
SOLD, and Bless you my brother!
She was happy, and I told her I would catch up with her.
"You must be married!" I asked him.
"Oh, yes, and my wife drives me crazy with her shopping! I work here in the Mall all day, and she can't understand why I am not excited about shopping with her after 10 hours here."
After commiserating about womens religious fervor for shoes "I can't find a pair of shoes! Honey, there are 40 stores here in the Mall that sell shoes! But not the ones I want!"
We parted company, new found brothers in shopaholic mysery.

This is a cross cultural phenomena, this fellow is from India originally.
Motherly concern for their children, love for their husbands and families, and shopping are all in the DNA helix for our gals, I think.

Have a Blessed Easter weekend, remember it's true meaning, but do not under any circumstance forget to buy the women in your lives chocolate!
That is also a helix hidden in their inner soul.

"Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening...

2008-03-13T16:59:00.006-04:00

...with guns, protecting a convoy.

Our soldier spent Saturday evening in the SW Virginia Mountains near his reserve unit.

He was 'observing' the other soldiers training for convoy protection.

Serving as Platoon Leader since he is a Cadet 2LT, he has already realized that officers watch and lead, and the enlisted men do the grunt work.

A wise man uses his intellect!

The temperature was in the teens, and the snow was blowing.
He likened it to "Band of Brothers" in France and Belgium, circa December 1944.
These pictures were shot with his camera phone, amazing quality for that device.

We'll keep you posted on his progress during his last 12 months as a student and ROTC cadet.

By next summer, he will be a commissioned 2LT and will be undergoing his first advanced training as an active duty officer in the 'real Army'.

Global Warming Update

2008-03-07T10:40:00.005-05:00

Sydney, Australia is reporting their coolest Summer in 50 years.
This is their summertime, f0lks, south of the equator and all.
As a result, their tourism industry is suffering mightily.

Here in the states, many of you that live North of the Mason-Dixon line can attest to the coldest and snowiest winter in many years.

My brother-in-laws Ken and Raymond are 'enjoying' the armpit deep snow in the Boston area.

And in Texas, where we lived for fourteen years they are experiencing heavy snow and severe Winter weather as I write this missive.
We never had any ice storms after Valentines Day during our entire soujourn there.

The average worldwide temperature rise during the recent warming trend was .6 degree, according to experts. That's not 6 degrees, but six/tenths of one degree.

And now Sun Spot activity seems to be returning to normal, and many weather experts are admitting that we are entering another cooling trend.

No need to be alarmed, this is all perfectly normal cyclical temperature and weather patterns.

I remember a cover story in a major news magazine in 1975 warning of a coming ice age.
"Skating on the Hudson river, blizzards in Miami and Buenos Aires, blah blah blah!"

One thing that Uncle Dinosaur has learned in his 50 some odd years of life is to ignore the Prophets of Doom. Life has enough to provoke legitimate concern to waste time worrying about something that we cannot change, ie' the weather.

I learned this week that the founder and President of the Weather Channel is suing a former Senator and V.P. who has made a second career (and a heap of money in the process) in spreading the Global Warming gospel.
The gospel that is increasingly being 'weighed in the balance and found wanting'

Of course, said ex-politico turned weather expert needs to fly all over the world in his private fuel sucking jet to do so, when not living in various Mc Mansions and driving his fleet of SUV's.
But he has initiated a series of carbon footprint offsets, so everything is Hunky-Dory.
Word is he planted a tree.

Our Presidential Election process

2008-02-20T14:33:00.005-05:00

Before I start bloviating on this years Presidential race, this new piece of information just hit the wire services.

"Next Monday, 25 February 2008 is the official start for the election cycle for the 2012 Presidential Election. Please mark your calendars for this Sunday evening's broadcast of "The race for the White House, 2012."

Sadly, the above bit of foolishness is not far removed from reality.
It seems like this years race started the day after President Bush won re-election to his second term. "Lame Duck in the White House, the race for '08" aired that weekend.

Trying to find a viable candidate this year is akin to going into "Greasy Mac's fast food Emporium" to order healthy sustenance. It ain't happenin', brothers and sisters!

If you are a political conservative as I am, the prospects for November 4th are indeed stomach churning.
I am told to hold my nose and vote for a classic Beltway Country Club quasi-Republican.

"Please be quiet, we know what's best for the Party, just do as you are told!"
"Never mind that I tried to destroy the First Amendment, voted against tax cuts, and sided with the other party more than I did my own.
I am a conservative, dadgummit! Just look at this picture of me with Ron Reagan!"
Well, to steal a quote Senator, "We knew Ronald Wilson Reagan, and sir you are no Gipper!"
Nor is anyone else, for that matter.

If I don't vote at all, or if I vote for a third party candidate I will help put a left leaning Democrat in the Oval Office, and remove any chance of having a check on placing another liberal justice (or two or three) on the Supreme Court.
One party would then control all three branches of the Federal Government, and that party has in the past proved they will ram their ideology down our throats.
No pretense of shared power or balance should be assumed!

Our friends and family who lean slightly to port are less than thrilled with their choice as well.
You either put the Clintons back in power, and yes they are a matched set, or you vote for someone who as of today has given potential supporters no screaming idea what he really stands for on any issue.

"A vote for me is a vote for Hope, and everyone knows that Hope is great!
Change is good, change is wonderful, and we are going to change!
We're moving into the new century, moving from point A to point B, we are going to dialogue, we are going to have mint tea and cakes, and everyone will be hopeful!"
Hoorah!

Huh? Who is his speech writer, Dr. Suess?

This will be my tenth Presidential Election, and by far the most obfuscated and weak slate of candidates yet.

Truly the only happy person in the D.C. fishbowl is President George W. Bush.
He is probably as eager to leave that rats nest behind him as a kid anticipating Christmas.
Whomever 'wins' the office in November will have a honeymoon lasting, oh maybe 48 hours.
Then the piranha will start circling, the media that has loved him or her will turn on them like a rabid junk yard dog, and we will start the entire viscious, incestuous cycle of terror all over again.

Straw polls, May poles, Barber Poles, caucuses (isn't that a region in Siberia? Maybe we should send all of the politcal pundits there!), primaries, secondaries, incendiaries, etc ad naseum!

If I hear one more Beltway Political insider tell me how I think and who I will vote for this fall, I'll go back out into traffic and chase cars again! I almost caught that Porshe Turbo I've always wanted last week!

Maybe just for grins we should all do a write in vote for the following ticket;
Rambo and Mary Poppins!
He could handle all foreign affairs, the War against Terror would be over by Christmas.
And she would help us to take our medicine with a spoon full of sugar.
For certain she is a lot better looking than Hillary.

Ya gotta show up and play the game!

2008-02-04T10:02:00.001-05:00

Yesterday evening, the heart of this old (figuratively speaking) Miami Dolphins fan was warmed to it's core by the upstart New York Football Giants.
All season long we have had to endure talk of the undefeated New England Patriots finishing 19-0 and being crowned "Greatest Team of all time." It is a done thing, just accept it!
And we were subjected to endless shots of their coach wearing that ratty looking grey hoodie on the sidelines, and being spoken of as the Merlin the Magician of coaching.

As it is, they aren't even the greatest team of the year 2007 and Super Bowl XLII season.

The Giants front four dumped Tom Brady, A.K.A. "Pretty Boy" on his backside repeatedly, their secondary harassed his receivers and took away the deep throw, and their 'D' held them to their lowest point output of the season.

And Peyton Manning's 'little' brother Eli played like Johnny 'U' himself.
He remained cool and collected, his only INT the fault of his receiver's failure to hold on to the ball, rather than an errant throw.

When Brady marched the Pat's down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with just over two and a half minutes left, everyone in the stadium figured the Fat Lady had indeed sung, and the coronation was soon to commence.

Someone forgot to tell the Giants that they were beaten, however.

Manning converted twice on fourth down, and once on third and eleven.
The key play of the game saw him escape the grasp of a fierce pass rush when it appeared that he would be sacked.

He then delivered a perfect high throw to Tyree, who was in tight double coverage.
One of the greatest catches I have ever seen in over forty years of watching football, it would have been a magnificent catch in any circumstance.
But with the championship on the line, it was truly the Catch for the Ages.

Soon afterwards, Manning hit a wide open Plaxico Burress for the game and championship winning touchdown.

The Giants made history in a number of ways.
They were the first fifth seed team to win the Super Bowl, the first six loss team to win it, and the first team to beat an undefeated team in a Championship game in NFL history.

A wise person once said "Half the battle sometimes is just showing up"

Don't read the press clippings, don't listen to 'polls', and as General George S. Patton Junior is credited with saying, "Never give council to your fears, and never suffer fools!"

I rate this as the greatest upset I've seen in football, even trumping Joe Namath's guarantee that his Jet's would win Super Bowl III and then delivering on his boast.

It reminded me why I have always loved football, and why Sports can sometimes be a great analogy for life in general.

Keep your head up, your attitude up, support your teamates, and just play the game!

P.S., the 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only team in the Super Bowl era to finish the season undefeated and untied Super Bowl chamipions.

They lost Bob Griese (their starting Pro Bowl Quarterback) in game five, he did not return until the Conference Championship game in week 16. They then had to play that AFC Championship game on the road in Pittsburgh, (the home field advantage for the top seeded team was not in place at that time like it is now), and still went into Super Bowl VII two point underdogs to a Washington team with three losses.

They won that Super Bowl in dominating fashion, and came back the next season to win another in a two loss season.
And yet whenever talk of the great teams in history came up, they were seldom mentioned with the great Steeler, Forty Niner, Cowboy, Bear and Patriot teams that followed them.

If they, and their fans seem a bit 'prickly', there is a reason for it.

Thanks to the Giants, what they accomplished is once again being recognized for what it is, the greatest single season team in NFL history.

I must close now, need to go out and find a number 10 Eli Manning Giant's Jersey.