Purpose

Posted on 28/12/2013 by Bobo

Everything we do in life has a “purpose.”  Not necessarily a “reason,” but certainly a “purpose.”  Otherwise we wouldn’t do it.

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“You Can Buy One for a Dollar…”

Posted on 27/12/2013 by Bobo

I found these cute dinosaurs this year and decided to get a couple for the boys, Noah (5) and Evan (3.)

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They really are cool.  So after Christmas dinner I pulled them out from behind the Christmas tree,

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…and set them on the dining room table.  Then I asked Noah if he would like one.

“Yes,” Grampa he replied.

“Well,” I said, “they are only a dollar.”  And he looked at me as if I had lost my mind.   I had to laugh though, at his reaction.

A while later a friend stopped by and was admiring the planters.  Noah saddled up next to him and asked if he wanted one.  He then went on to tell him, “That are only a dollar!”

I think he was willing to seek MY dinosaur planter for a buck!  Cute little fella…

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What Are the ‘Treasures’ You Would Take to the Lord?

Posted on 27/12/2013 by Bobo

Last year at Christmas, I gave each of the kids, my kids and grand kids, a small wooden box.  I was inspired by the song, “The Littlest Angel,” by Bing Crosby – my favorite Christmas carol.  Each little box was unique, with wood chosen specifically for the person I built it for.  And as I made the individual boxes, I was “with that person;” wondering what ‘treasures’ they would take to the Lord…

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To get the kids started with their ‘treasures,’ I included one of mine with each box – again, specifically selected for that special kid.  Nothing of any “great value,” but treasures of mine just the same.  The broken set of wings I was awarded upon graduation from pilot training, my university class ring, an old flight glove (worn on my last flight in the USAF), and so forth.  Things that held value to me, for I wouldn’t have kept them all these years… And I was happy to part with these ‘treasures,’ for these kids are special to me.

I think the carol touches me because when I hear it I feel a sense of deep ‘humility.’  I feel love.  Some years it was tough for me to listen to it as I didn’t “feel worthy;” but not here of late…

This year I had the occasion to build another box for a dear friend.  I built if of “barn siding.”  I like the way it came out so much I decided to build one for myself.  As I was building mine, I wondered what “treasures” I would put in it.  I thought I had given all of mine all away.

This is the box I made for myself:

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In it is a set of USAF Senior Pilot wings (representing my time as a T-38 IP), a Hamilton watch given to me in 1958 by my grandfather, another old flying glove, the ‘Gold Key’ from my parachute (this is the “zero-delay lanyard” attachment to the parachute), a few pictures and some old unit patches.  These things all represent significant people and events in my life that I will “give back to the Lord” someday… for I am so grateful He gave me the opportunity to experience them.

So, if I make a small box for you, what treasures would you take to the Lord?

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The “Official White Christmas”

Posted on 26/12/2013 by Bobo

Heard on the news here of late, that it isn’t an “official” White Christmas unless there is a minimum of 1 inch of snow covering the ground.  YGBSM!  Who came up with this shit?  A minimum of 1″ of snow on the ground?

This is what it looks like outside my front window this morning (26 Dec. 2013):

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And it’s kinda like what it looked like yesterday.  Okay, so I went out and measured it this morning – there is 7/8″ of snow out there.  And it kinda looks ‘white’ to me…

And so I wonder, who came up with this shit?  This “official” definition of a White Christmas?  Who was on the committee?  What interests were served?  And most important, why would “they” think I would care anyway?

Look outside – it’s WHITE!  And, it’s Christmas!  That’s all I need, or ever have needed!

One inch of snow to qualify to be an “official” White Christmas!  Kiss my ass!  (I think it’s white!  LOL….)

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There is Always One…

Posted on 26/12/2013 by Bobo

There is a rule in woodworking, and I suspect in other genres of creation – the rule of: “There is Always One.”  I think it an ancient rule.  Simply what this means is, if you are engaged in a project of some kind or another, wherein you need to make multiples of something, there is always one that will not fit.  There will always be one that will come out “not quite right.”  Like it was made by itself, in Korea – the Land of “Not Quite Right.”  Whether it be 2 of something, or 30 of something – there is always one that won’t fit.  I know this from years of woodworking myself.

If you are baking cookies, there will always be one sheet that will just not be “quite right.”  Just the way it is.  I used to get real pissed off at crap like this, but today it is “resignation.”  When I come across it these days, I recognize it for what is is, and keep going.  I have even been able to laugh at it upon occasion.

So, if you’re fixin’ to do something here, and you need to make 50 “what-nots,” just know, one will not fit.  And that’s okay – i’s just the Rule of “There is Always One” kicking your ass!

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My Favorite Christmas Joke…

Posted on 25/12/2013 by Bobo

One year Santa is forced to have an official from the FAA check his sleigh, to make sure it’s airworthy.  The official checks out the sleigh on the ground then settles in beside Santa for a test flight.  Suddenly Santa notices the official has a shotgun with him.  “What’s that for?” he asks,  “You’re not a hijacker are you?”

“No,” replies the official.  “We just have to see how you handle this craft when you lose an engine on take-off.”

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obamacare

Posted on 24/12/2013 by Bobo

Dec. 24, 2013:  The latest “last day” to sign up for obamacare.

obamacare – the concept, planning, program implementation and operation for the first 3 months has been  nightmare!  And this is Dear Leader’s “signature legislation.”  And he can not be found anywhere near it!

While on active duty I was continually given “projects” of varying magnitudes.  Some were short term projects, others ran for a couple years.  In any event, I had to “stay on top” of them to ensure they were “on track,” that the program objectives were being met and that it would come in on time, and on (or under) budget.  I had to become, and stay engaged.

When they “threw the switch” on obamacare, it went down the shitter.  It failed, and it failed miserably!  And Dear Leader was no where near it.  Come to find out, he has held hardly any, if any, meetings or discussions about it – or its implementation since it became law in 2010.

I would venture that he does not know the “square root of ‘foxtrot alpha’ (the square root of ‘fuck all’) about obamacare.  (He is now referring to it as “The Affordable Care Act” since it has fallen on its ass… LOL!)

I think this whole thing – like the man himself – is just a sham.  No authenticity.  And it will fail…

 

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Heathen

Posted on 16/12/2013 by Bobo

After I got to Nellis AFB, NV in Jan. ’69, I was assigned to the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) (F-111A) as a Weapons Load Officer.  One of my enlisted supervisors was TSgt. Leon Jones.  Lee was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian, and very proud of it.

One morning we had a ‘Mobility Exercise.’  This is an exercise where we had to show up at the squadron with all required our deployment materials.  Our deployment bags (with 2 weeks of clothes), shot records, dog tags, and so forth.  They had a long table set in in our hanger where we ‘processed.’  I was in line right behind Leon.

When Lee got to the dog tag guy he discovered his tags were out of date – for whatever reason.  No worries, they had the dog tag stamping machine right there.  When they asked for his religious preference he replied “Heathen.”  At first they didn’t realize he was a Cherokee Indian.  But they went ahead and made it for him anyway.

I thought this was pretty cool, so I claimed I lost mine.  (2nd Lts. can get away with damn-near anything – “they” think we are all dumb-shits!)  So, when I was asked my religious preference, why not?  “Heathen.”  Thinking that was “cool” lasted only until I got to the Chaplain’s station!  Ever had your ass chewed by a Chaplain?  Not fun!

And so now, in 2013, I have had replica dog tags made with “Heathen” on them as my religious preference…. but for a totally difference reason.

I was raised in the Lutheran church, and still consider that my “religion.”  But my “spirituality” is more aligned with the Native American, or Indian spirituality I have embraced since sobriety.  Nature based, non-biased, not a great deal of “dogma,” – it just speaks to me so much more than the Lutheran church does these days.  And I am so comfortable with it… and I am at Peace.

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Force Protection

Posted on 14/12/2013 by Bobo

This is a headline I recently saw:

“U.S. forces in Guam issue safety alert after Marines attacked by local gang”

Apparently some off-duty Marines and sailors were assaulted while on ‘shore leave’ downtown.  Ok… these kids have enough to deal with, without having to worry about heir safety while off duty.  Here we have young kids, serving our nation, coming under attack from citizens they are sworn to protect.  And now a few of these slime balls have been caught and are now wrapped up in the legal system.  More bullshit!

I think there is merit in cases like this to employ “force protection” measures.  We take an oath in the military to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign or domestic.  I consider “gang activities” as threats to our Constitution – to our American “way of life.”

So, I would have no problem deploying Seal snipers to target “gang members” in known “high threat” areas.  No need to make a big deal out of any of this – just drop a few of these pukes.  Force protection – nothing more, nothing less.  I don’t think it would be long before our sailers, soldiers or airmen would feel safe anywhere…

 

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Christmas 1963 – II

Posted on 13/12/2013 by Bobo

Wiesbaden, West Germany.  Christmas 1963.

That year my folks decided to host Christmas dinner for a few folks with ‘no place to go.’  I think Ann and Mary, friends of Mom’s, might have been there that year.

Mom really put a lot of work into that dinner.  Then she began to work on the egg nog.  She had heard that Southern Comfort made “a nice addition.”  However, she didn’t have any idea how much to add – so she decided to add a bit, then taste it.  Then add more egg nog, and taste is.  More Southern Comfort, then sample it.  You get the idea… By the time she had the egg nog “just right,” she was “toast!”  Mom looked like she had been run over by a reindeer!

Don’t remember much about the dinner that year, but Mom was a riot!   It was, a Merry Christmas!

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