Memorial Day done right: 2010

Started the day right. Flag raising and blew colors at 0800.

Headed down later in the morning for local remembrance at the Veteran's Memorial at City Center with the local American Legion.


Small group but a nice remembrance with some thoughtful readings, prayer and singing together the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Post 303 Officers... Need some salt for those eggs? Plenty in this bunch.


Later on patio, pool and Brat's on the BBQ at our place with folks from our church home fellowship group (and our boarder and her daughter).


We'll finish right by retiring Colors at sunset in just a few minutes now...

2nd Amendment Saturday: Entropy

I'd like a bumpersticker that says "Resist Entropy!"

Natural tendency is for a monopoly on power to be sought by the government. Like 2nd law of thermodynamics it must be recogized and dealt with moment by moment.

That's what drives gun control. It's about control. Not so much guns.

An armed citizenry really cramps statist's and tyrant's style.

"It is true, the yeomanry of the country possess the lands, the weight of property, possess arms, and are too strong a body of men to be openly offended --- and therefore, it is urged, they will take care of themselves, that men who shall govern will not dare pay any disrespect to their opinions. "

Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee)

California's Kobayashi Maru Scenario

Seriously, I can not see how this CA governor's race has any good outcome.

Trying to figure out how to vote causes so much cognitive and moral dissonance in my mind I'm as crazy as a cat with masking tape on it's paws.

Meg Whitman:
The female Il Duce' candidate.
Maybe she isn't the Sith Lord some suspect she is but she is definitely an enemy of freedom. However, she presents the best expectation of successfully tackling California's budget problems, cutting costs, and making the trains run on time.

Steve Poizner:
Whiney, destined to be ineffective executive and eaten alive in the media. No need to go any further and provide commentary on his mealy mouthed brand of me too (RINO) conservatism.

Jerry Brown:
Uhh, hello? Moonbeam? How do you think we got here? Who lead the start of the slide that's resulted in CA current state of affairs?

sigh...

wonder if I can get in some range time...

Ah, but the One, one of them is a Warrior

"In War of every One-Hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there,
eighty are nothing but targets, nine are real fighters...we are lucky to have them...they make the battle.
Ah, but the One, one of them is a Warrior...and He will bring the others back."

Heraclitus (circa 500 BC)

Medal of Honor: Arthur J. Jackson
by Mike Piccione

05/25/2010


JACKSON, ARTHUR J.

Mr. Jackson is 85 years old. When he was a young Marine on the Island of Peleliu he single-handedly took out 12 enemy pillboxes and killed 50 Japanese soldiers. In addition to his MOH Captain Jackson also earned a Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster. His military service spanned from 1942 - 1984. Please take a moment to read the citation of a hero.

RTWT
h/t Human Events

Prom Night Pre-Prom Pix Follies

It was quite the show this evening as we were at the “pre-Prom” party with daughter #2(The Divine Miss M)...


...and went from there with her and the Son&Heir’s best girl (he being absent in P’cola) for dinner.

They being Hotstuff, but ASB officers, had to hasten to the venue for last minute setup responsibilities, sans escorts.

Quite the scene — young lovelies in their finest and young lads uncertain about corsages..., and the wearing of ties and 3 button jackets.


Quite the setting — backyard on Shelter Island opening right onto the water and the marina.

Some might say I was outclassed by Yachty dads in oxford shirts.
Self delusion or not, I like to think I set the standard with my “Periodic Table of Ammunition” T-shirt.


Old White Hat, recovering sailor from East County. Yeah, I know style.

2nd Amendment Saturday

Individuals, families, community.

Nehemiah 4
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day." 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

Inter-service rivalry

Having some fun on Facebook watching a bit of smack talk between Marine Son&Heir and Zoomie nephew.

Of course this Navy rep had to chime in with a Zoomie dig or two. Something about country club membership dues. Need to be sure the youngun's learn the classics...

Then finally had to offer this concilatory bit of wishful thinking. Ya know, this being the era of joint service cooperation and all...

To be fair if this story came true the AF would be our salvation:

Air Force General: Mr. President, we've just invented an invisibility cloak for Air Force One.
Obama: No kidding?
General: That's right, sir. Will you be going along on its maiden flight?
Obama: Wouldn't miss it for the world.
General: Have a good trip, sir.

Turn Back Oh Man...

(her Daddy's got a gun). Oops, that's not the lyric. Keeps running through my head for some reason though. Maybe if I gave that one fella in the blue shirt a bib...

Here's the opening number after intermission in the high school production of Godspell.

Last Friday night with the Divine Miss M (aka Daughter #2):

That's my munchkin. She moves like a woman now.

Terrifying... but I have multiple shotguns. Loaded.

Back to the grind

Brake grind that is...

Rear rotor made it over 188K miles. That's the good news.
Rear rotor rusted on after 8 yrs and 188K miles. That's the bad news.

30 minutes, 3 hammers, an 1 1/2" cheater pipe and half a can of penetrating fluid later (not to mention broken skin on back of hand and a welt halfway up a forearm)...

It came off in the nick tim...e. Right before
a) the cussin' was about to start,
b) the 4 lb Hammer of Thor was to get applied and
c) before lighting it up with MAPP gas.

Leatherneck. Leather hands.

It's been about 2 years for this blog. I've crashed as a blogger lately and not posted anything the past few weeks. I'm now re-evaluating this blog's purpose and my use of time.

This blog as it has evolve has not served the (somewhat self-centered) purpose I originally intended. I thought I'd journal much more and write more in depth than I have. It turns out that much of what I "need" to write I can't share publicly. I could only write "the good stuff" if I was completely anonymous on this blog.

However, I'm known to family and friends and much of what I deal with in "Eldering/Pastoring" a local church can't be shared in the the open without being anonymous. Ergo, most the things I need to work out through writing and arguably the most interesting things I have to write about can't see the light of day. At least not on this blog.

To mess up a quote of my namesake "Oh bother. What to do? What to do?"

Other than that, been busy physically and emotionally watching the Son&Heir launch himself as a US Marine. That's made for a bit of excitement and melancholy that has limited my writing.

Today he graduated from Marine Combat Training and is enroute to LAX to fly to his A-school as I write this. He's on his own now. Manhood is upon him -- and he's got the hands to prove it.
Leatherneck. Leatherhands.