Saturday, December 22, 2007
Christmas Shopping
Anyway, so that means I started Christmas shopping last night. I was true to my procrastinating, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants nature. I popped up to Fedele's to get my mother's favorite chocolate covered cherries. They are hand-dipped cherries with the stems. I hit 2 stores over the next hour, then got gas and tea. It wasn't too crazy, but I didn't go near any malls. Then right round 9, I was headed to the gym. I pulled in and got the best parking spot next to the door and there were very few cars there. Have I mentioned how much I love this gym? LOL Anyway, I had just shut off the car and was stuffing my sneakers in my gym bag when Jen called. I thought she was shopping, but it turns out her "pit stop" at home turned into some thing longer. She wanted me to dump the gym and go do more shopping and dinner. So, back in the car I got.........lol
We popped into Ulta, where I have the hardest time not buying things for myself.....but we have that austerity program going on. So I picked up a few more things for my goddaughter who I am so proud of. Deb called earlier today to tell me that she just got the results of her second of five teaching exams. She passed on the first try, just as she did on the first exam. I guess some people don't and she thinks this will help her with getting into the master's program. So, congrats to Deb.
After Ulta we went across to the Olive Garden for a so-so dinner. But I didn't have to cook it and I didn't have to clean up afterwards, so I was happy. Jen had me in stitches over her work's Yankee Swap. Jen hates them and she was ranting about this years. I've actually never participated in one. After dinner, Jen and I agreed to meet in the morning for more shopping and breakfast. I told her my plan was to be at Borders when they opened at 7 am.
She called me at 9:15 am and asked how it was going. "Failure to launch. I am still in my bathrobe cleaning the kitchen." She laughed and told me to get a move on, she wanted breakfast. So off we went. I called her on her cell during the ride to the pancake place. WTKK was talking about the Yankee Swap/lottery lawsuit. Jen said it proved her point. Nothing good comes of a Yankee Swap.
We finally arrived at the mall just before noon. There were some crowds, but nothing crazy. There were some deals. Two hours later we were done. We wanted to cap it off with manicures, but all our usual haunts were booked.
All thats left now is one last trip to Walmart for stocking stuffers and wrapping.
I'd plan on working tomorrow, but my brother Frank moved his birthday party. It's always around dinner time the Sunday before Christmas, but the Pat's are playing at 4:15, so the party has been moved to 1 pm.
So when I leave Walmart tonight, sometime after midnight (I'm at work and I'll go to the gym after work), I will have completed my shopping in about 29 hours.
Ready to Lead
OK - This is just between you and me......no need to let Jen or SB know about this....right? Mums the word.
Two favs - McCain and the Dropkick Murphys.
My Bad Boyfriend Is Never Far From My Thoughts
3. Rudi - I could live with it.
2. Duncan Hunter - Too bad he hasn't got a Chinaman's chance.
and
1. John McCain (don't tell SouthieBoy or Jen)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Dapper O'Neil
Lot's of comments online are very unkind about Dapper and I guess there's a whole article at the Phoenix that isn't very complimentary. But isn't that the way these things go? Dapper was very narrow. He had his ideas of who he represented and that's who he represented. Period. And he didn't care who knew.
A lot of politicians come to the table with an agenda and for most that agenda is masked or hidden or worse......compromised. Dapper was never compromised. If he was helping you, he was grand. If he was on the other side of your issue.......well, he was your enemy. Anyone who is talking smack about Dapper, well that's just sour grapes.
The Herald
The Globe
Universal Hub
Boston Magazine
WCVB
The Bostonist
40,000 Hits
I'm edging up there. I thought it would happen sometime over the weekend, but my little avalanche of from the USS Reagan story will send me over the top much sooner.
Watch the sitemeter and if it's you.............drop me a line.........please.
Right now, at 1828 here in Boston, sitemeter reads 39,947.
Time's Person of the Year
The choice is supposed to recognize
this statement "TIME's Person of the Year is a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world—for better or for worse the person who had the greatest impact on the world" Again, Gore? I blame the stupid Nobel people for this!
Putin = great, if malevolent impact. He is definitely shaping the world.
Petraeus - positive and profound impact
Gore = irritation - not impact. If Al Gore is impacting your life....you aren't reading Time....you're reading some supermarket tabloid. If you think he is impacting the world what you're feeling is not impact, it's irritation.....I'm sure if you call your doctor he has a pill for that or at least some cream to rub on the chafed parts.
I'm In Trouble With Jen......
A couple of Saturday nights ago, I went to a blogger party and met some lovely people. Part of our conversation was about movies and Neo told us she saw "Enchanted". Neo said it was surprising and no trailer could do it justice. If I recall correctly, she said something about "getting through the first 15 or 20 minutes".
So Jen & I are trying to decide on a movie. Jen's qualifier was that it had to start late, because she is a workaholic. I wanted "I Am Legend". She was lukewarm. I read off the others....."No Country For Old Men" is out because we'd need subtitles. I head bad things about "The Golden Compass".
So............"Enchanted". Jen keeps looking over. I am covering my face. She throws popcorn. Then she tells me I'm on probabtion. I laugh.
But you know what? I liked it. It wasn't great...........but come on! Not every movie is "The Searchers" or "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" or "Casablanca" or "Gone Baby Gone".
But hey, I love movies.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
And Now, A Few Words From......
"It's a great example of the type of things we are called upon to do, and it's neat we were able to execute it as well as we did," said Capt. Terry B. Kraft, Ronald Reagan's commanding officer.
"I was most impressed with the teamwork on board the ship. Everybody rallied together," added Kraft. "It was a great coordinated effort between our helicopter squadron, HS-4, our medical folks and the Sailors here on the ship that enabled us to head down there very quickly. I'm also very proud of our ship's surgeon, who completed a successful operation."
The rest of this article here.
The story covered on Reagan's own website.
More pics and story here and here.
Welcome Sim-Outhouse Readers
071215-N-3659B-234 PACIFIC (Dec. 15, 2007) U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac (Released)
071215-N-3659B-180 PACIFIC (Dec. 15, 2007) U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac (Released)
Bravo Zulu USS Ronald Reagan!
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Dec 18, 2007 18:46:48 EST
The girl, who was vacationing with her family aboard Princess Cruise Lines’ 77,000-ton Dawn Princess, complained Friday of abdominal pain, the Navy said, as the ship sailed off the southern coast of Baja, Calif. Doctors realized they couldn’t treat her with the ship’s onboard medical facilities, so the Dawn Princess’ crew issued a distress call. The closest ship that could help was the Reagan, on a training mission some 550 miles away.
Two HH-60H Seahawk helicopters of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 took off from the Reagan early Saturday morning, the Navy said, and rendezvoused with the Dawn Princess. Because the ship doesn’t have a flight deck, air crews hovered over the deck and lowered a rescue swimmer in a basket, who brought up the girl into the helicopter. The helicopters returned to the Reagan, where Navy surgeons removed the girl’s appendix.
“She’s getting the best care and her prognosis for a full recovery is good,” said Cmdr. Theron Toole, the ship’s senior medical officer.
The Dawn Princess docked in San Diego on Sunday, and the Navy flew the girl’s mother out to the Reagan later that day aboard a C-2 Greyhound carrier onboard delivery flight, said Cmdr. Dora Lockwood, a spokeswoman for 3rd Fleet in San Diego.
The Reagan is due back in San Diego on Tuesday, so the sick girl and her mother will be able to move to a civilian hospital, Lockwood said.
SB Who?
This morning I did all the laundry and the dishes.
I went above and beyond for something for work (I am the Dirty Harry of this office).
Now I am sitting at my desk enjoying a Delaviuda Bombone.......mmmmmmmm

No messages from the SandBox.
Whatever.
I'll have another Bombone.
SB who?
Monday, December 17, 2007
I Am Cranky
The Ogre!!! is being a smartass in email......
Nic & Pat have a project going in the warehouse, so I am getting interrupted more than usual..........
After 72 hours of no communication, SB pops out looking for me and I am out front and miss him........
The message SB leaves has two parts.......first he tells me he's not pleased with something I did and then he tells me about the DL for his unit........
Where's that brownie?
Someone Who's Getting A Smack......
"J" is someone I have met only once. I guess you'd call her a business associate of Jen's. Jen's company bought "J"'s company. There was some low level hostility. We wondered if "J" was malicious or stupid or conniving or what. Jen was pretty steamed with her. I found her innocuous and was leaning towards stupid when I met her a couple of months ago.
Fast forward to Jen's business trip to Van Nuys. Jen's coworker, Meghan wanted to see the Pacific. The subject came up at the end of one of their meetings and there was discussion. One of the people Jen was meeting with suggested a loop that would take them 17 miles south and west to Santa Monica
View Larger Map and around to Malibu and then back to their hotel. Jen had an overall idea of where these places were and that sounded like a good idea. Then, when the others left the room and it's just Jen, Meghan and "J"........"J" suggests they drive to Watts.
Yeah, that's right. Watts.
Watts, which would be 30 miles south and *east* away from the ocean - the point of the trip.
View Larger Map
Jen is telling me this story and I interupt to say "Watts? Like in 'Watts Riots'?" Jen laughs and says "Yeah, they had riots in the 70's. " I say "No, 1965. But whatever. What the eff is she sending you to Watts for?" And I must have that look on my face like I smell something bad (you know what a great poker face I have) because Jen laughs and says she had the same look and when "J" saw it, she said to Jen "Oh, you know about the riots in the 70's." I tell Jen I can't decide what's worse.....that "J" is malicious or stupid because the riots were in '65. Jen goes to check on Google. Why? I don't know. Why does anyone question when I know some stupid obscure fact? (Like my boss asking why I knew what a barista was when I don't drink coffee....I don't know, but I do). Anyway, Jen calls out from the computer that I'm right about 1965.....duh. Jen thought it must have happened in the 70s because she thought she remembered seeing it on TV. I told her she saw it in an episode of "Quantum Leap", lol. That was one of Tommy's favorite TV shows and if you were in my house you had to watch it. Also, our mother had all the Joseph Wambaugh books.
Can we get back to this bitch telling two (she thinks) unsuspecting Bostonians to get in their rental car and drive through to see some *tower* that some guy built. Jen asks her if it's a tower of trash and "J" says it's *recycled glass*. Whatever.
Then Jen says "Yeah, I was thinking how close "J" came to dying........if we had just gone and something happened to Meghan and I......you would have come to Van Nuys and found out about "J" sending us to Watts......Grace would have to be pulling you off of "J"!" I just started laughing, "Are you kidding? Grace wouldn't have been pulling me off! She might have shoved my down trying to get to "J" first, but she wouldn't be pulling me off!" People always think Grace is the nice one, the reasonable one.....even her own sister. Not me, I never underestimate Grace.
Bottom line, this person will be getting a smack if I ever see her again. If I can get to her before Grace.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Great White Fleet
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 16, 2007 9:59:14 EST
NORFOLK, Va. — One hundred years ago on Dec. 16, an armada of 16 American battleships pushed away from Hampton Roads on a 14-month circumnavigation of the globe to show the world what the U.S. Navy could do.The Great White Fleet, as it was known because of its bright paintjob, was dispatched by President Theodore Roosevelt, a larger than life American leader who had been in his career, among other things, Navy secretary.
To mark the anniversary, current Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter hosted some 500 guests aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt — “America’s Big Stick” — pierside in its Norfolk homeport.
In a speech held in a hangar bay decorated with images and quotes of Roosevelt, Winter told the audience that “a maritime nation with maritime interests” needs a potent naval force always able to span the globe.
“The Navy today is providing a presence and a capability around the world that is unmatched by any other resource our nation has,” Winter said in remarks to reporters after his address. He said naval power remains crucial because 70 percent of the world is covered in water, 80 percent of its population lives near a coast and 90 percent of the world’s commerce moves by sea. “All of those show the critical aspects of what our Navy has to be now and in the future.”
Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, added that it’s important to focus on all the elements that make up a navy, not only ships and aircraft but also recruiting and retention.
“Our Navy today is the guarantor of that free flow of commerce that moves in and of our country. And it’s kind of like air,” he said. “You take it for granted until you don’t have it.”
****UPDATE******THE PHIBIAN HAD THIS LINK AND YOU SHOULD SEE IT!****
December 16, 1944 - Army Stuff
The Battle of the Bulge
Last Year was good too.


Today In Music History
December 16, 1893 Antonin Dvorak premiered his "New World SYmphony" at New York's Carnegie Hall. It was his tribute to America.
I love Dvorak and the 2nd moveemnt is my favorite part of this symphony. There is no YouTube of it's premiere in New York, so I chose this version by the Dublin Philharmonic.
I find the 2nd movement very haunting. It reminds me of the ocean during a storm, much like today.
Boston Tea Party
It's Boston. It's history. It's fun. I want to go.
But the snow.
Don't get me wrong, I am a New Englander. The cold, the snow. Hey, baby, that's the deal. But I hate to drive in it.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
December 15, 1791
The Answer Is Here
But here is the real BEST PRESENT EVER!
Local Girls Get Early Christmas Present.
Two students at North Todd Elementary received a big Christmas present a little early .
And it was an experience they'll never forget.
Mariah and Destiny Wilder weren't sure what they were about to open in front of the entire school early Dec. 13.
Their dad, Sergeant Matthew Wilder, was recently deployed to Iraq.
He sent a letter to the school saying how sorry he was that he had to miss their birthdays.
But to make up for it, the letter said he had sent them a present to open.
Mariah's mom says all Mariah wanted for Christmas was her daddy in a box.
So when Desire' Wilder found out her husband was coming home on Dec. 12, she decided to make Mariah's dream come true.
The school helped arrange the surprise.
Sergeant Wilder will be home for the holidays before heading to aviation school.
If you follow this link, there is a short video. It will touch the hardest heart. The younger daughter gets a stranglehold on her Dad that you couldn't break with dynamite.
Even Frankie said this was awesome.
Then "Good Morning America" featured their story. Sgt. Wilder said he enjoyed the chance to be on national television mainly so he could show the country a different side of military families in wartime. "Military families aren't always down all the time. You know we're supported 100% and I think that's really great." This was Sgt. Wilder's 4th deployment.
AWTM Asks............
Interesting post......some really touching comments......and then my nonsense!
Tammi - I love your story. Thanks for sharing.
My Dad grew up with lots of nothing, so Christmas for us was a huge deal for him. There were always a ridiculous amount of toys. I remember a vanity with a mirror (I was self obsessed even then), another year I got a ridiculous kitchen set that they (my parents and uncles) had to re-assemble a few days after Christmas because they were tanked on Christmas Eve when they put it together.
The funniest one was the year I got a nightgown in a box from "Santa" and a matching robe in a box from "Mummy & Daddy". I was 16, but my sister Jen was only 7. I teased my Dad about them matching and he looked at Jen and then me "Santa uses my Sears card. We're friends." Jen went wild to think Daddy knew Santa and did him favors.
This year the favorite Naval Consort is playing in the Gulf, XXXXXXXXXX(redacted for OPSEC)
SB reads me when time allows and I can't have him seeing this! So if you want to know, you have to read AWTM's comments.
Hehehe!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
It's Been Snowing Since Noon
So, I am going to hang and listen to Howie Carr and keep an eye on the "French Toast Alert System" over at Universal Hub.
I Gotta Hustle.....
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I Like Number Four
Not that I carry a gun, or own a gun. The pic in the sidebar is the only time I've even held a gun. But the sentiment just made me laugh.
Check out the rest here.
Hotel Tango to Sherri who sends me funny stuff everyday.
This was also fun(again from Sherri). The link takes you to a cute little site that lets you type what you want for Christmas into the box. So, I typed in my Christmas wish and waited. Santa got a stern look on his face and said "Naughty, naughty! Only good little boys and girls get presents for Christmas!"
Yeah, yeah......I know. This was the last time I was on the nice list.
Wallow
I lied.
First, there was.......
with chips.Then there was........
While I sat on my rump for four episodes of......
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Mist
After the gym last night, I took myself to the movies. I tried to pick something Jen wouldn't want to see. It was a toss up between "No Country For Old Men" and "The Mist". Stephen King won out. I remembered the novella and was really in the mood for it. Confident that I had been good enough at the gym to let go and have the popcorn, I settled in for a good scare.
They changed the ending and I didn't like it....but I'm not one to spoil these things, so go see for yourself.
How scary was it? Well, I know I beef about those stinky boys in my house.....but last night I was glad I didn't live alone!
Monday, December 10, 2007
December 10, 1936
In 1936, Britain's King Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson. His brother succeeded to the throne as King George VI. This is the day he signed the abdication instrument. The next day he gave his famous farewell speech. You can listen to a snippet of his speech here.
At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.
You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.
*sigh*
The rest of the speech is here.
Now, here's the funny part. If SB took one moment away from Duty to give to me......if he even once put me before his men......LOL, I would not want him! He would not be SB, he would not be worth the effort. I wonder what Wallis thought? Honor. Duty. That's everything.
My Saturday
Which bring me to my next point. I had decided to be *bad*. I know what you're thinking...."When aren't you bad, Maggie?" Yeah, yeah. I mean on Atkins. I had two parties to go to and I decided.....Why Fight?
Of course, I as late to the first one.....my mother's family Christmas party. Mama Kelley had 5 children and 16 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and there are oodles of the next level. So every year we rent a hall or something. Each of the five Fossil (my mother and her brothers) takes a year and their children run the party. So, as I mentioned, I was late and there was literally no food left! LOL Well, you can't be bad on Atkins when there is nothing to stuff in your gullett, can you? I still had a great time. We all took our traditional group pics.....Fossils.....Outlaws (my Dad and his sisters-in-law......Reapers (my generation) and so on. Then Santa comes. Would you be surprised to know who is in charge of Santa? Who Santa's friend is..........lol. That's right, Santa appears every year, decked out in full regalia at the behest of Maggie.............beat that!
So after that, I head for my next shindig, praying they will feed me, lol. I almost popped over to my sister Grace's to blackmail her into ordering pizza, but then I would have been late again.
The next party was a local blogger gathering at Jill's place. She has a lovely, warm, inviting home that she graciously opened to several of us. And yes...there was food! She made an appetizer that I was too busy eating to ask too many questions, and it kept me from falling over. Then there was lasagna and green beans....strangely one of my favorite combos, green beans and any Italian food. Later there was chocolate.....brownies.....cupcakes.....I brought an assortment of Hersheys...........
Oh, who was there? Sorry, I got lost for a minute.
In addition to Jill, there was Teresa of Technicalities who I really like. She brought along the husband who at one point I noticed was in the living room with the distaff side of three of the bloggers......the "other half" room, I guess. She is fun to talk to and we have met a couple of times before. Art of New Wineskins, who could only stay a short time as we were a pitstop to his night out with his daughter who was very pleasant and didn't look too horrified by her father's imaginary friends.....that's how my sister Jen refers to all my blogger connections. They popped off to see "Enchanted" and I hope they had a great time. Another blogger I have met before and I'm always happy to see was Miss Kelly. Miss Kelly and her spouse had hosted the last get together in May and it was fun to see them again.
On the new side of things, besides Art, there was Neo of Neo-Neocon who proved to be quite the cinephile....I love that! I love movies, I love talking about movies. She was interesting on other levels, but knowing movies is always a plus with me!
Next up was Sippican Cottage........a funny guy....didn't matter what you threw at him......he tossed it back with an understated, quick delivery. I enjoyed the give and take around that table quite a bit. Although, there was a little malarkey about some alledged accent.........I don't know what they were talking about. Athough Sisu's husband Tuck was quite charming about harrassing me.
There was a suggestion that I podcast...................lol, I can't even put up a stinking blogroll!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Iranian Students Study General John Stark
Iran students break campus gate in protestIranian students staged a new demonstration at Tehran University on Sunday, damaging the main gate to allow outsiders into the campus and denouncing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, news agencies reported.
The protesters chanted slogans against the president and carried banners calling for the release of three fellow students who have been held since May in a high-profile case, the Fars news agency and state-run IRNA reported.
More pictures here.
"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils."
Friday, December 07, 2007
Line of The Day
Was it SB?
The Ogre! sent me a text message full of technical stuff to taunt me. So I asked SB to translate. I explained "Thank you, you know how important it is for me to look smart. He is typing in this lingo just to taunt me. You know how childish and competative I am." SB answers "I do". I ask "How do you put up with me?" His response? "I get deployed."
Humph!
Or was it SB's BFF (aka my own flesh and blood, my sister, Jen) who has two entries?
First there is a news story about a pharmacutical company being sued. She is saying it's wrong to sue, sue, sue because then people who need those medications don't get them. She mentions a particular medication specific to her own diagnosis that never made it out of FDA testing. I look at her and say "But that one killed people!" Jen's reply? "Only a couple!"
What! I'm laughing too hard to respond.
And, finally -
When I was telling her the Orge!/SB story and I read her the crazy text message full of acronyms and technical lingo, she looked at me and said "Dacus dacum da fulla da cacook!".
Then we both crack up. I never knew Mama Kelley's mother. She died before I was born. But she was often cited for certain pearls of wisdom. This was one of them. My mother and Mama Kelley would trot this gem out once in a while. It's Latin, it's pig latin, it's nonsense, but the supposed translation is "You're full of coke". It's a nice way of saying "You're full of shit.", which apparently was a word that would never cross my great-grandmother's lips. I know Mama Kelley never said it and it would be a rare occasion for my own mother to swear. They would say it to poke teasing fun and disbelief at someone or something. It would pop out of their mouths at top speed and then they would laugh. Then we would all laugh. Of all the nonsensical things that I can spout on cue, I can't ever get that one straight, but Jen & Grace can.
December 7th

071204-N-9758L-028 PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Dec. 4, 2007) Pearl Harbor survivor Chief Cook Edward Gaulrapp (Ret.) views the USS Arizona Memorial during a visit to historic Ford Island. Assigned to the Pearl Harbor-based Perch-class submarine USS Pompano (SS 181), Gaulrapp was in his barracks when the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor began. He and several other Pearl Harbor survivors are currently in the Pearl Harbor area to observe the 66th anniversary of the attack. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael A. Lantron (Released)
071204-N-9758L-047 PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Dec. 4, 2007) Pearl Harbor survivor Chief Cook Edward Gaulrapp (Ret.) uses an aerial floor photo of Pearl Harbor, located at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, to pinpoint his location during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Assigned to the Pearl Harbor-based Perch-class submarine USS Pompano (SS 181), Gaulrapp was in his barracks when the attacks began. He and several other Pearl Harbor survivors are in the Pearl Harbor area to observe the 66th anniversary of the attack. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael A. Lantron (Released)
071127-N-7974M-002 PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Nov. 27, 2007) Sailors aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) man the rails as they depart Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Crommelin will transit the Panama Canal en route to the Caribbean to conduct counter narcotic mission. Crommelin is a multi-mission warship designed to execute a variety of war-fighting tasks. U.S. Navy photo by Blair Martin (RELEASED)
071203-N-0879R-008 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 3, 2007) The names of all 429 Sailors killed aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB 37) during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor are represented at the newly built USS Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist David Rush (Released) Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Good God!!
Disclaimer - I don't watch "The View". I don't read "HuffPo". But sometimes that's where the fun is. I was over at the super secret site and this post at HuffPo was up for discussion.
Sherri Shepherd Doesn't Get That Whole BC Thing, Insists "Jesus Came First"
For whatever reason, the ladies on "The View" were discussing ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus this morning. Naturally, talk soon migrated to the topic of religion, and Sherri "I don't know if the world is flat"Shepherd came out to play. More specifically, to spew ignorance and a complete lack of understanding of basic world history! Discussing whether Christians were around during Epicurus' time (Epicurus lived from 341-270 B.C.), Sherri chimed in, "[The Greeks] had Christians 'cause they threw them to the lions."
Painful, just painful. If you follow the link, there's video. It's just as bad as the HuffPo people make it out to be. Not that the brain surgeons at HuffPo come out all that well.......one of their first commenters comes out with - "What scares me is that there are lots of people who are just as confused as she is about the most basic events in history, such as there was a period of time "Before Christ" and a continuing period of time that is "After (the) Death" of Christ."
LOL, someone corrects him pretty quickly.
December 5, 1933
Last year's post still covers it.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Vice Admiral James B Stockdale Leadership Award

What's Jen Best At?
If you read the post below you know that I made a request for something and a certain someone answered promptly.
I sent an email thanking him and asked "So, how should such service be rewarded?"
His reply? "Let me build up sufficient credit so I can cash in, in a big way!"
So, I am recounting this for Jen as we settle in to watch "Combat Zone - The Battle of Hue" and Jen says (in that incredibly sarcastic voice of hers) "Credit? Like skee ball tickets? If he gets 10,000 can he turn them in for a flourescent super ball?"
So I just kill myself laughing and wait for her to fire up the DVR.........I have no defense.
Monday, December 03, 2007
So What Happens.........

Sunday, December 02, 2007
Some People Are Getting A Jump.....
Go Navy - Beat Army Shout-Out
From Task Force 134 Baghdad, Iraq.
And Forward Operating Base Camp Bucca Iraq.
With Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion 3.
For 364 days of the year Task Force 134 and the US Navy stand shoulder to should with our brothers and sisters in the US Army.
But not today!
Go NAVY! Beat Army!
Army Navy Game Spots
But, don't forget who had the best prank eva!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Final Navy 38 Army 3
Navy Makes It 6 Straight Over ArmyBy DAVID GINSBURG – 2 hours ago
BALTIMORE (AP) — A milestone afternoon for Navy ended with the sweetest accomplishment of all: an unprecedented sixth straight win over Army.
Reggie Campbell had a school-record 98-yard kickoff return, and Navy defeated mistake-prone Army 38-3 Saturday to put a lopsided slant on college football's biggest rivalry.
The Midshipmen improved to 52-49-7 against Army, their biggest lead in a series that began in 1890. No team had ever won six in a row, though the Black Knights once registered eight successive wins around a pair of ties.
Navy (8-4), which earlier this year ended a 44-game losing streak to Notre Dame, capped a memorable regular season with another blowout against Army (3-9). The Midshipmen have outscored the Black Knights by 169 points during their six-game streak.
Campbell accounted for 227 yards, including 73 on punt returns, and scored two touchdowns. His 12-yard run made it 31-3 with 10:18 left.
Although Navy's potent offense was limited to a 294 yards, the Midshipmen set a school record for points in a season (479), breaking the mark of 442 set in 1917.
Campbell's kickoff return gave the Midshipmen a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. It was 21-3 when he took a punt 46 yards to set up a 51-yard field goal by Joey Bullen on the last play of the half, giving Navy a 21-point cushion.
That was more than enough to beat an Army team that dropped several passes, fumbled three times, missed a short field goal and had a punt blocked.
The Black Knights had a chance to cut into a 21-point deficit in the third quarter, but Mike Viti lost a fumble on the Navy 1.
Army junior Tony Dace set career marks with 28 carries for 104 yards. But the run-oriented Knights couldn't rally behind sophomore Carson Williams, who went 12-for-21 for 117 yards before being replaced midway through the fourth quarter.
It was the fewest points scored by Army in the series since 1991.
Dace and Williams will have another chance to beat Navy, but Army's seniors will graduate without ever having experienced the feeling.
Army took the opening kickoff and launched an impressive drive that included a successful fourth-and-1 gamble at the Navy 11. But on third down Corey Anderson dropped a pass in the end zone, and Owen Tolson missed a 28-yard field goal try.
Another misplay by the Army special teams set up the game's first score. A 23-yard punt into the wind gave Navy the ball near midfield, and four plays later Zerbin Singleton took off around end on a 38-yard touchdown run.
Tolson got Army to 7-3 with a 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but Campbell took the ensuing kickoff the distance. Campbell, who also returned a kickoff for a touchdown against North Texas, became the first Navy player to score twice on kickoff returns in a single season.
On the next play from scrimmage, Wesley McMahand lost a fumble at the Army 6. On third down, Shun White scored from the 1 to make it 21-3.
10:18 Left in the Game
Navy 31
Army 3
They are talking about "special teams". Hehehe! No one understands "special teams" like you guys, huh, Southie?
Now It's My Friend Gary!
Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of Naval Operations, conducts a radio interview with Bob Socci of the Navy Radio Network at half time of the 108th Army-Navy football game in the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 1, 2007.Defense Dept. photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
071129-N-8273J-019 WASHINGTON (Nov. 29, 2007) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead gives a thumbs up to U.S. Naval Academy cheerleaders and band performing during a pep rally in the Pentagon prior to the upcoming Army-Navy game. The Midshipmen take on the Black Knights in the 108th Army-Navy game Saturday in Baltimore. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones (RELEASED)
Half Time Navy 24 Army 3
071201-N-1134L-116 BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 1, 2007) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen poses with the Naval Academy mascots during the 108th annual Army-Navy game at the M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md. Navy's historic sixth straight win over Army after a 38-3 victory puts the Midshipmen 52-49-7 against the Black Knights. The Naval Academy's defeat of Air Force earlier in the season guarantees Navy's ownership of Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Navy heads into their fifth straight bowl game 8-4, including a stunning victory over Notre Dame. The Midshipmen take on the University of Utah Utes on Dec. 20 at the third annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Lussier (Released)In a little bit they will be honoring 16 year old Brittany Bergquist and her 15 year old brother Robbie from Norwell MA. The Bergquist siblings run Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Bravo Zulu Brittany and Robbie!
Reggie Campbell!!!!
And then in the blink of an eye Navy scored again!
Navy 21
Army 3
5:49 left in the first half

071201-N-0696M-405 BALTIMORE, Md. M&T Bank Stadium (Dec. 1, 2007) U.S. Naval Academy senior slotback Reggie Campbell (7) completes a first down during the Midshipmen's 38-3 victory at the 108th playing of the Army-Navy football game. Later, Campbell had a school-record 98-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, one of two touchdowns on the day. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley (Released)
Friday, November 30, 2007
A Shoe Puts "Good Shepherd" into Perspective
Tired Army prank can't rival great Navy heist
Rick Maese
November 30, 2007
In the early morning hours on Nov. 17, a band of cadets from the U.S. Military Academy sneaked onto an 875-acre organic dairy farm, located about 15 miles outside Annapolis, and stole three goats. They raced back to West Point, N.Y., slapped together some photos and created a YouTube video that detailed "Operation Good Shepherd" -- the theft of the Naval Academy's unguarded and defenseless mascots.
Yawn.
This still passes as a legitimate prank in this rivalry? C'mon, cadets. Log off the computers and crack open a dusty copy of the Army-Navy Prankster History Book."When I was there, every year it seemed Army would come in and take the goat," said Lt. Cmdr. David Rudko, Naval Academy class of 1992. "You basically drive to the farm and cut a lock. It's pretty easy to do.
"But no one had ever gone up there and taken the mules before."
In fact, as far as historians can tell, just once in the storied 117-year history of Army-Navy have the midshipmen ever infiltrated the U.S. Military Academy campus and successfully mule-napped the Army mascot. It was a plan that started with a wild hair in plebe year from Rudko and his roommate, Chris Middleton, and ended four years later after plenty of elaborate scheming, careful surveillance and an ornate car chase that started in New York and ended at Gate 8 of the academy campus.
The plan was hatched by the class of 1991 and passed along to the next year's seniors. A group of 17 midshipmen spent the better part of fall semester refining the mission. They made several reconnaissance missions to New York, posing as tourists to map out the area, snapping photos and shooting video. One of the mids was an electrical engineering major, and he visited West Point to study the alarm systems.
Stealing mules isn't easy. Unlike the Navy's goats, the Army's mules are housed on school grounds in a veterinary compound with guards stationed at the gate and the barn. An initial raid attempt failed when the midshipmen showed up the day after Thanksgiving and found that feeding times had been changed. The group resigned itself that another class would have to execute the plan. But as Army-Navy week approached, the excitement got the best of them, and they just had to give it another shot.
"Looking back, I don't think any of us thought it would really work," says Rudko, who is now based in Virginia with the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. "It was so involved and the security there was so tight."
The midshipmen dressed as soldiers and military police, entering school grounds in cars bearing New York plates and bumper stickers that read "Beat Navy!" They distracted a staff sergeant, told him they were delivering feed for the mules and quickly subdued the remaining guards. Using molasses-sweetened feed to gain the mules' trust, the mascots were easily loaded into a horse trailer. As the raiders left, one of the imprisoned guards broke free, and word quickly spread that thieves were fleeing with mules in tow.
There was a brief high-speed chase at the gate, but guards relented after securing the midshipmen's tag numbers. Helicopters began searching from above, and state police were alerted on the ground. Authorities were stationed at toll booths along the New Jersey Turnpike, and others waited at the Naval Academy's gates. But the midshipmen broke into two camps, and those with the mules took a secret path back to Maryland, heading north to Albany, N.Y., before turning south and cutting through Pennsylvania.
After a snack break at nearby farm, night had fallen by the time the mules reached the Naval Academy. Inside the gates, the pep rally was about to begin, but outside, federal marshals and Defense Department police sprang from the darkness and temporarily foiled the heist. Quickly, word reached Lt. Angela Smith, the command duty officer, who informed the agents that they were on Navy property and she was in charge. She ordered the mules be escorted immediately to the pep rally."
It still boggles my mind that we were able to pull it off," Rudko says.
Two days later, a Navy team with an embarrassing 0-10 record hanging around its neck demolished Army, 24-3, in the 92nd edition of Army-Navy.
Though there has been a Memorandum of Agreement prohibiting mascot-napping ever since, that didn't stop cadets from stealing Navy's goats this year.
You're forgiven if you're not giggling as you continually refresh your Web browser. No doubt Army's thievery is perfect for YouTube.
But when the midshipmen get in the prank game, it's a big-budget action-adventure that has fans' behinds on the edges of their seats and Army's asses in the back of a trailer.
USS Thach
This is something I spotted at the super-secret site where I am allowed to lurk.
It is the USS Thach when it was deployed with USS Constellation Strike Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 . The Thach is named after Admiral John S. "Jimmie" Thach of Thach Weave fame.
The music is from the movie "Backdraft"....good call. The QMs did a good job on this and thanks to Derek for posting it on YouTube.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
This Day In History
Yeah, baby! And you will see that happen again this coming Saturday.......Admiral Keating says so.
In 1963, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson appointed the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of U.S. President John Kennedy.
What a farce that was. This subject was recently discussed on another blog and a statistic was cited that claimed 2/3 of Americans didn't believe the Warren Commission got it right. The blog in question riduculed that 2/3s......what? I don't know a single rationale person who believes the conclusions reached by those gentleman. Seriously. Not one person I respect believes that Oswald acted alone. It was an odd exchange. There I was wanting to know who made up the other 1/3....they were the ones whose intelligence I was questioning!
Operation Good Shepherd
Thanks! I found this by way of the Flight Deck over at Neptunus Lex.
You have to watch both videos.
Go Navy! Beat Army!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Admiral Keating 27 NOV 2007
My favorite parts are where some asshat asks if ADM Keating thinks China will apologize about the Kitty Hawk incident. ROTFLMAO!
But this was great too:
The Admiral was asked if he had any final comment (about 38 minutes in).
"I do have one and it's a very serious topic. And one that certainly I need to bring to the attention of the Washington Press Corp. This is my seventh joint assignment and I am a very much a disciple of the Goldwater-Nichols bill and the dramatic improvements it has made in our military's ability to fight and win. However, this Saturday it all goes into a cocked hat when Navy will run roughshod over Army in Baltimore Maryland. Goldwater-Nichols doesn't count this coming Saturday. And I'm sure you will all be on Navy's side (this is when the serious face started to slip and a little half-smirk emerged) in this important engagement."
(At this point he outright grins and sits back in his chair - he looked like my Dad when he's very self satisfied)
Then the Army guy at the podium at the Pentagon cuts off his "Go Navy! Beat Army!"
The outrage!
So I will help you out sir.
Go NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
Cocoanut Grove


I like this pic better, he looks mean, but my mother says he wasn't. She was only four and half when he died, but she has always been a good judge of character. My grandfather's brothers made sure we all knew the circumstance of his death. He and a date were there with another couple. Once Jim had his party out safely he went back inside. The friend came to my grandfather and told him that.
Then there was something about a hat on a bed, and my mother hiding in a closet when they came to tell my grandfather. I suppose I should ask my mother to explain that story.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Other Offer Sounds More Appetizing

FatBoy To Pen Memoirs
By Susan Milligan
Globe Staff / November 27, 2007
WASHINGTON - Senator Edward M. Kennedy has agreed to a multimillion dollar deal with Hachette Book Group USA to pen his memoirs, giving the veteran Massachusetts lawmaker a forum for his own perspective on a life and career that has been examined by others in countless books and articles, negotiators of the deal confirmed yesterday.
The rest of this drivel is here.
I asked SB if I should pick him up a copy..........he replied "No. I have enough toilet paper."
OK, just so you know, I'm always thinking of you, baby!
Monday, November 26, 2007
More On China Cutting Their Nose.......
It started here.
Caught up? Good.
Now go here and read what the birthday boy has to say. Very interesting. I took off my glasses and leaned closer to the screen for this one.....put on my thinking cap.
Full spectrum........haha. You slay me, baby! Happy Birthday, and Happy Anniversary, Galrahn.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
On The Run
I have to dress and go to Dunkin' Donuts.
However, I leave you this.
Here For A Minute
First up "Zodiac"..........then "Ocean's 13" then, despite lobbying by SB we did not watch "In Harm's Way" I explained the whole premise to the girls.....John Wayne, dress whites, Maggie.....Jennifer laughed and said no. I looked over and raised an eyebrow and said "Well....he's your BFF."
I called to wake him and he answered the phone his laugh rumbled across the line from eight time zones away and went right through me from the balls of my feet to send tingles along my scalp.
We finished up the night with "Knocked Up". OMG, if Grace ever finds out we let her daughters watch that film.......we are DEAD! For the love of GOD, don't tell her. If you ever cared about me, don't ever let her know.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Did I Get It All?




