Fort Richardson After Action Report

About as cool as anything there were the ladies in period dress.

I'll always have  soft spot in my heart for the old T-Patch.

Funny, there wan't a nickels worth of difference between the the Jeep I drove in the Army and the WWII version.

My dad was on a half track during WWII. This one seemed surprisingly nimble and quiet.

One of these guys day is about to get real bad.

• So, I saw a dude get shot today (02/07/2015) anything interesting happen in your part of the world?
• It happened during the WWII reenactment at Fort Richardson. The weird thing about that is it wasn't the first time it has happened. An old friend was a a reenactor during the late 80s and early 90s. During an engagement a guy got shot in the thigh. His unit bought him an original Wehrmacht Wound Badge to commemorate the event. 
  
  
  

  

  There was one Russian and one Japanese soldier there (that I saw anyway). No word on if they recreated the Russo Japanese War.

• I thought about the possibility of a live fire incident in a, Wouldn't it be crazy...? kind of way before I left the house then dismissed it as soon as I recalled the aforementioned event. I assumed those guys would be shook down for live ammo and even guessed they might have to buy their blanks at the event.
• When the guy got hit a woman stepped out of the crowd and used the military hand gesture for cease fire.
  
  
  

  

  I don't know if it was part of the play but this smoke grenade was thrown after the shot.

  
  
  
  
  
  
• The guy playing the German officer was directly in the the line of fire but when he perceived what was happening he turned and walked to the source of the fire calling for a ceasefire. That was really brave.

  

  This is him after the fact.

• There were at least 2 live rounds fired and I could be convinced there were 3. I saw one impact the ground in front and slightly to my left, then when I was turning right to identify the source I heard another live round pass from my right to left. When I turned left to see where it may have impacted I think I heard a third coming from right to left again but it may have been an effect caused by sound bouncing off the guardhouse from 2 or 3 blanks which were fired basically simultaneously.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It is hard enough to believe what is real anymore without seeing somebody get gutshot in the middle of a bunch of guys playing war for an audience.

Thursday's Thoughts

The cops will never notice, besides- don't they a grace period for expired tags...?

Can Hear Every Valve Rod Or Lifter Every Time

Three on the tree.

The gizmo to the right of the gas pedal is the starter switch.

• This day (12/31/2014) started with these cool kids serenading me, a cup of black coffee and 2 huge pieces of sour cream pound cake followed by a hot bath and another cup.
• Life is too short to not start some days this way.
• Yes, I'm writing from the tub- nude, naked if you prefer. Nekkid if you're from Wise County. 
• I'm listening to this now.
• If I told you my favorite type of movie you would subconsciously but physically take a step back and never look at me the same again. No, it doesn't start with a p and end with an n and rhyme with corn.
• I have mentioned before that among hospice nurses we made it known who was to definitely care for us if we were dying and who was to not get anywhere near us. Oddly, if able I'll ask an acquaintance to be present for me if I'm dying and make an allowance for her in my will if she is good humored enough to acquiesce. Why? I do not know- I sense it would be good for both of us.






• Clark Gable got hugely fat before he died.
• It is crazy the number of those old timey actors who died of cigarette related diseases.
• Last night at work I saw 2 patients- in 3 hours. It was insanity inducing. Yes, I got caught up on my rat killin' but holy smokes. When I was commiserating with a nursing buddy (who is normally a rock of quiet dutifulness) she said, Omigawd- I know. It is tooo quiet. All I can hear is that stupid clock ticking!
• " Rat killin' " Work that is accomplished after all normal daily duties. It connotes something that needs to be done but in a routine sense can wait until things that have to get done in an immediate sense are accomplished. It further connotes something that can be put off but if done so for too long will overwhelm you. It is a rural American expression. When everything was done- hogs butchered and crops were in etc. everybody went to the barn, stirred up the rats and killed them as they fled. It was a rat killin'- you didn't have to do it every day but to neglect to do it ever invited ruin.
• Victim impact statements in trials are at best odd.

Wednesday's Digressions

• For whatever reason I feel the need to for lack of a better term, take care of a very young female friendly acquaintance by buying her lunch, teaching her life lessons and being generally supportive of her- in short, be a friend. Others have serious-kidded me about setting her up to take her down sexually. That isn't true and I can't even exactly explain why- I just think it is what I'm supposed to do for her. My motives may not be entirely pure as I myself don't know exactly what they are but they aren't creepy either. She is literally beautiful but I feel I would treat her the same if she were dog-ugly.
• A connected thinking out loud thought: maybe my motives are basically 100% pure- that is why I treat her so well. I am subconsciously rewarding her for being that one person I am interested in the well being of without thought for material or fleshly reward and that makes me feel good- it makes me feel like a better person.
• Maybe its evolution.
  
  
  

  

  Found at Mineral Wells State Park. Thank you Jesus.

• For the most part my aging arc has followed what we know from human experience and personal observation- my knees are toast, my hair left long ago, my ex wife followed sometime after, I'm tired all the time, I'm more chill about a lot of things and get worked up more about some others... An interesting thing I've taken note of though; I can't get away with wearing a lot of the clothes I like any more as they're too young looking and I would look ridiculous.
• Recently (today is 11/28/2014) as I was cleaning the tub I used the great toe of my right foot to dig into the tile and brace myself as I cleaned. The toe is now swollen and sore. I can guess I have a small bone spur there and the extra pressure finally made it cause a problem. It burns like fire and hurts so bad to walk on it I have altered my gait and now my knee, hip and back are killing me. I'm falling apart!
• Anyway, youth is wasted on young people
• I am still determined to be a cool looking old guy.

  

  Pies I made for Thanksgiving at work.

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• People joke about how dour and depressed looking people from Russia can look in pictures, When you engage in that you're only showing how ignorant you are of another culture. There, smiling excessively is viewed as something a dishonest person does as part of an attempt to manipulate others. They can smile and laugh as readily as anybody- they just don't think you should go around grinning like an idiot all day.
  
  
  
  

  

  A drive by shooting: Great burritos and  terrible lunch plates can be found there.

  
  

  

  My kids being oddly sweet to each other. They're probably setting each other up for a shank to the ribs.

  
  

  

  Coon poop after it ate prickly pear fruits.

  
  

  

  Another drive by: Great Vietnamese and Chinese food to be had there.

  

  I know what it means and I know why it means what it means and where the motto originated and I can guess at what this guys means by displaying the motto but I can't disassociate the murder of Abraham Lincoln from the phrase. 

Monday's Missives

• Tilt shift  photography intrigues me but the novelty might wear off quickly.
  
• I cannot recall the last time I've sharpened a knife and assume my skills are long gone.
• Which is a bummer because as you know, babes pretty much want guys with good skills like numchuk skills or bowstaff skills...
• My dad's knives were always literally razor sharp and he would have to retire them after some years because the blade would be worn away.

  

  Good grief

  
  
  
  

  

  Why you ask? It makes it go faster.

  
  

  

  A sea of carmanity

  
  

  

  Yes, yes- I did simultaneously shake my head and face palm at this sight.

  
  

  

  Nobody cares about your stupid stick figure family

  
  

  

  Marginally cooler

  
  

  

  I want to believe

  
  

  

  Good grief

• Two people where I work play off each other and set each other up for the homeless people to bug them about inane details and/or things each know the other tires of talking about. Yeah- just ask _______ about that when he gets here. The more questions the better. He just loves questions- pretty funny.
• People often assume FG is my children's mother. We don't even bother to argue or explain- she is a better parent to them than me anyway and why bother? The funny, odd interesting- scary thing? The kids don't correct outsiders either.
• Interesting almost always comes out intersting. Well, except for that time but you know what I mean.
  
  
  

  

  I like this pic- it seems candid although he was well aware his pic was being taken. He is content. Which shot is better- and why? The first appeals to me- the color is more correct and the sly grin makes me wonder what he is thinking.

  
  

  

  Could have been a great shot with a slightly tighter composition.

• At work there used to be a ban on the programs that would allow a radio program to run on some of the computers although we could run Youtube for training videos. When I asked if  the radio block could be lifted from mine when some other work was done the response was, No, no one is supposed to have radio. If everybody had it it might slow the system down. Good thing nobody ever thought to run Youtube for the music in the background all day...
• Sports don't really hold much interest for me but Freddie Couples is my favorite golfer.
  
• PaHaQue tents are supposed to great but I would never buy one- I don't trust products that are intentionally hard to pronounce or would make me sound weird to try and pronounce.
• Nursing pro tip: if an adult person is anywhere 100 pounds followup on that every chance you get with weights, questions about diet and fluid intake and new meds. They are prone to immune problems, sensitivity to meds and other issues also, they may or may not have an eating disorder.

  

  My office window

  
  

  

  Wonder what scored big on a delicious duck egg?

  
  

  

  My new Vans are awesome.