A home made bow, and Fathers Day etc......

Back during the fall I got these books for the boys, I think I did a blog post about them, but for some reason I can't find it. But that is irrelevant.

Our two reads them all the time, and have learned lots of useful information, so if you are the parent of boys I suggest you get them a copy

NW being the brilliant child he is, decided to follow the guidelines in the big red book and make a bow.While it is not very big, It is pretty useful and launched the little arrow he fashioned over 30 feet. I am proud of both of my boys for thinking of things that would be useful in a survival situation.

Fathers day was this past Sunday, and we got Senior a new T-Shirt. All of our Navy Friends love it...

My cousin in another part of the state is getting married tomorrow ( again). We were invited but because we have been back and forth to FLA so much, opted out and not attending. I bought a frame, and put together a single page scrapbook layout for her. 

I racked my brain trying to think of what wording I wanted to use. ND being the outspoken child he is, chimed in and said " Well given her track record I wouldn't put anything that says ever after, or together forever...you don't want to jinx her".

So I went with "live, laugh, love"......    For literally being thrown together in about 6 hours, I don't think it came out too bad:   

Never watch ...

A naval themed movie with your retired Navy Senior Chief husband. I thought I learned my lesson with "Crimson Tide"..but NOOOOOOOO !!!!! 

Yesterday prior to the Superbowl there was nothing on. So, I flipped over to the SyFy channel. It was a  monster/disaster movie marathon. Movies that are so corny, poorly written, and poorly acted that they could never stand the chance of winning and Oscar.

One title caught my attention and I thought it would be fun to watch.."Mega Shark vs Mecha Shark"

 It begins with a large iceberg being towed into Egypt, the iceberg shatters unleashing a prehistoric Megalodon shark. It goes on a rampage terrorizing the worlds oceans, it takes out fishing boats, an oil rig, a Navy ship and submarine, an air craft carrier, and even flies up to 30,000 feet to attempt to down a 747.  However, never fear the government with help from the Navy creates a robotic copy:  "Mecha Shark" to seek out megalodon and battle to the death. Piloted by a female operator( if you watch "stalker" Wed. on CBS- she plays the blond DA)  Mecha Shark, is all computerized and voiced by "KITT" From "Night Rider" .

Well, I was half way through it when Senior came walking into the living room and sat next to me, After he asked "What in the heck are you watching" His critique of this fine cinematic production began.

First, it was the Admiral wearing SWO pins on his collar, then the crew of the aircraft carrier wearing the navy emblem on their ball caps. Then there was all the other countless uniform discrepancies, and inconsistencies on board the various navy ships.
 Towards the end of the movie, Senior was going nuts sitting on the edge of the couch and I was in tears laughing so hard my sides were hurting.. He made for a most entertaining afternoon.

I included the official trailer for your viewing pleasure:

A Navy Flashback for Friday..

 

Definantly a cool pic of back in the day when "Ships Were Wood and Men Were Steel". Old Salts hanging out during the "Square-Rigger Navy" USS Mohican circa 1888

Something Cool

This is something cool that an ole retired Navy Master Chief friend had on his facebook. My buddy OLD NFO likes to do a weekly post of different military posters. So I know this one would be right up his alley.

My dad and  uncle were a couple of guys like this. Dad was in during Korea, and had a saying : " I was in the Navy when Ships were wood and Men were Steel"

My Uncle was in the Navy during Nam and talks about his days along the Mekong Delta with lots of excitement. I guess despite all the politics surrounding the Vietnam War, he and his buddy's had fun and he has some good memories of camaraderie.

Senior's first 10 years in  the Navy was still fun but then during the second 10 years the PC crowd began to take over, and the good times like Chiefs Initiations and Shellback ceremonies  slowly began to fade and have become a shell of what they used to be. Soon I guess, they will be a thing of the past..... so sad  *Sigh*.

-JUGM

Big Baby and U.S. Citizenship

One of my friends and neighbor is from Sicily, she moved here about 8 years ago after marrying her husband who was stationed in the navy at NAS Sigonella, Sicily. 
5 months ago they had their first child, a robust bouncing baby boy, who has more spare tires then the Michelin Man.  Therefore when talking about him on this blog he will be forever known as "Big Baby" .

I got asked to baby sit him today for a couple of hours so she could go to the immigration office to do her interview and test to become a citizen.  Not sure what they would ask she went over everything from the pilgrims all the way to current events.
Her husband had the day off originally, but was told he had to work, So I sent her out the door this morning with the big bundle of joy in my arms. She was very nervous but excited at the prospect of finally becoming a U.S Citizen.

Big Baby was a joy. All he wanted to do was be held,and I obliged. It has been seven years since I had a baby, so of course I was rusty on certain things-like some of these new advanced bottles they have out.   Senior called a few times to check on how I was doing but told me in no way was I to bring Big Baby home....   : (  

After about two hours, his mom called happy and excited that she had passed and was on her way to being a citizen, she brought back lunch and as we ate, she told me about the test taking :

FYI To become a citizen of the USA, a person gets asked one written question..hers was: " What month do we celebrate Presidents Day"?

Then, a person is asked 10 out of 100 possible verbal questions. They have to answer six correctly. Ones that she was asked today are these:

 "When is the 4th of July"?  ( no kidding)
" Who is the current President" ?
"Who is the current Vice President"?
"Where is the White House"?
"What ocean is on the east side of the United States"?
"What country is to the north of the United States"?

If you answer the first six questions correctly they do not ask the other four.

I  sat there, eating with Cheshire cat kind of grin on my face, her sarcasm expressed my thoughts. So much for all the studying..next she is to wait for a piece of mail to tell her when the ceremony is.
After lunch, and getting the inner knowledge of becoming a Citizen, I collected my things, gave the mom a hug, and squeezed Big Baby's overly chubby cheeks..he in turn said his "goodbye" with slobber.

-JUGM

Will He or Won't He?

the DRUDGE head line is "Brief and Limited"  Well see...  

Either way, this does make for a cool pic.. 

Remember This Day... May 17th 1987

 Many people out there do not know the significance of this day in our countries naval history for it was on this day in 1987 when USS Stark (FFG-31) was struck by two Iraqi Exocet Missiles in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, she sailed to Bahrain and was later repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi. Following subsequent tours in the Middle East area, Stark was decommissioned in 1999 and later scrapped in 2006.

The USS Stark's story is something I posted about back in November: Veterans Day-Pt. 3: The USS Stark
Senior and I are both from the home town where she was home ported, and I remember well the constant news coverage. I remember seeing the families and feeling their pain of knowing their special sailor wouldnt be returning home to them.

Senior and I were fortunate throughout most of his career to be stationed at the same home port. I can remember seeing the USS Stark pier side, and thinking about how that day must have been, and how agonizing it was for the surviving crew to work tirelessly to keep her afloat.

The Navy commissioned a memorial park in her honor and in the honor of those who were lost. We passed it many times a day while on base, and later Senior would hold a re-enlistment ceremony there.

Senior Got a New T-Shirt....

I love buying these shirts for him... But In this age of having to be so PC, I do get amazed that the Navy Base sells them....