Photo manipulated with Corel PhotoPaint.
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Duke Gardens Rose
Duke Gardens, on the campus of Duke University. Fifty acres of beauty, a must see. Best to see it in April through June.
Voters Care Less
A Waste of Money and Time
Yesterday, here In North Carolina, we had a run-off election, democrats only, for Commissioner of Labor. Less than two percent of our state's democrats voted. In one precinct there were no votes cast. Poll workers were there from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM all for nothing. Estimates are that the run-off cost the state four million dollars. I don't know about the rest of North Carolina, but Cumberland County's 69 precincts had less than 800 votes cast. It would have been far better to offer to pay each candidate $1,000,000.00 to go away.
Remember this was not the actual election, that's in November.
Maybe people just didn't know; the media certainly failed. No,they didn't care.
Four more months of this endless campaign.
Yesterday, here In North Carolina, we had a run-off election, democrats only, for Commissioner of Labor. Less than two percent of our state's democrats voted. In one precinct there were no votes cast. Poll workers were there from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM all for nothing. Estimates are that the run-off cost the state four million dollars. I don't know about the rest of North Carolina, but Cumberland County's 69 precincts had less than 800 votes cast. It would have been far better to offer to pay each candidate $1,000,000.00 to go away.
Remember this was not the actual election, that's in November.
Maybe people just didn't know; the media certainly failed. No,they didn't care.
Four more months of this endless campaign.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Paying in Pain
As young men we all think that we will live forever and are invincible, but as all old soldiers know there is a price to be paid for all those "fun" things we did in those foolish years.
My back is all smooshed together, compression fractures took me from five feet ten inches to five feet seven. So today, my back and kidneys are rocking and rolling, two oxycod 325s and I'm still getting complaints from my backside. Hope for some sleep my best refuge from the pain. Enough whining, I'm sounding like a puling sickbay ranger.
Baked a Tex-Mex Sheet cake for my dear wife, Bonnie, to carry to a party tomorrow. A true labor of love.
Drugs are kicking in and I'm going to sleep and tomorrow is another day.
Fayetteville, North Carolina got to 104 degrees, a new record high temperature. As long at the air conditioner keeps working life is good.
My back is all smooshed together, compression fractures took me from five feet ten inches to five feet seven. So today, my back and kidneys are rocking and rolling, two oxycod 325s and I'm still getting complaints from my backside. Hope for some sleep my best refuge from the pain. Enough whining, I'm sounding like a puling sickbay ranger.
Baked a Tex-Mex Sheet cake for my dear wife, Bonnie, to carry to a party tomorrow. A true labor of love.
Drugs are kicking in and I'm going to sleep and tomorrow is another day.
Fayetteville, North Carolina got to 104 degrees, a new record high temperature. As long at the air conditioner keeps working life is good.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Welcome to the Carolina Oakie's First Blog
After years of lurking, watching and admiring those bloggers who revel in the way of things and people and life, bloggers not concerned with the dictates or constraints of political correctness. Bloggers of excellence, bloggers to emulated and as I at last issue forth with my first blog and hoping that some of their excellence rubs off on me.
Some years ago, an old friend DJ, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, an old friend who served in the United States Marine Corps in the same period as I did, 1958-1962 was visiting. We were talking about our many years in Special Forces and the "Old Guys" that were around when we first joined a Special Forces Group. DJ said "What are you talking about, the old guys?” Emphatically he added, "we are the old guys.” That was quite a revelation; I had never thought that I was getting old. That was about the time the Chinese Communists squashed their student protestors in Thiamin Square. Here I am, 67 in May, and I think I am getting to be an old guy. Interesting that I do not see my inner image as 67, more like 27.
I retired from the US Army on July 4 1989, over 30 year’s military service.
United States Marine Corps, 1958 to 1962.
United States Army, 1963 to 1989.
United States Army Special Forces 1963 to 1979.
United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division 1979-1987 infantry.
United States Army, 18th Airborne Corps Support Command 1987-1989.
Decorations include Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V for Valor.
Served in Viet Nam, with the 5th Special Forces Group 1964 to 1969.
Served in the 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups
Over 22 years on jump status and all but the last 18 months served in combat arms units. I was not a very good paratrooper, had problems when I hit the ground and not bouncing very well and breaking things, seven times, but who is counting. I was not a very smart paratrooper, for I continued to jump, and should have quit jumping after the first injury, well maybe the second time, for sure the third time.
After retiring from the Army, I decided that I wanted a new career completely different from my military service, something where I did not have to get shot at, be outside in the wilds or extreme weather, walk long distances carrying heavy loads or weapons of any kind. Therefore, I decided that I would go into computers, an inside job with air-conditioning, and pay for sitting around looking smart. I went to Campbell University and graduated with a major in Computer Information Systems (CIS), Magna Cum Laude. I was one of those serious "senior" students that the normal undergraduate students called "bell-busters.” We bell-busters had no time for the great distractions of the young college male, beer, and girls.
After college, I worked for the Department of Defense at Fort Bragg's Womack Army Medical Center. My education as a CIS paid off with a job in the Information Technology Department as a computer specialist and instructor. I retired from my civil service job in 2003 when I turned 62, and now I do whatever I want and I love my freedom.
I am married to Elizabeth (Bonnie), in July it will be for 38 years -- how time gets away. We have one daughter Kathryn, living in Trento, Italy with her husband, pursuing advanced degrees. Our oldest daughter, Elizabeth died of stomach cancer in 2003, leaving one daughter also named Elizabeth just over one year of age. She is our only granddaughter, and yes, we work hard at spoiling her. She just turned six on May 30, and she and her father, Tom, live in a wonderful house in the woods of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Fayetteville, NC has been our home since 1979; looks as if we are staying.
Some years ago, an old friend DJ, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, an old friend who served in the United States Marine Corps in the same period as I did, 1958-1962 was visiting. We were talking about our many years in Special Forces and the "Old Guys" that were around when we first joined a Special Forces Group. DJ said "What are you talking about, the old guys?” Emphatically he added, "we are the old guys.” That was quite a revelation; I had never thought that I was getting old. That was about the time the Chinese Communists squashed their student protestors in Thiamin Square. Here I am, 67 in May, and I think I am getting to be an old guy. Interesting that I do not see my inner image as 67, more like 27.
I retired from the US Army on July 4 1989, over 30 year’s military service.
United States Marine Corps, 1958 to 1962.
United States Army, 1963 to 1989.
United States Army Special Forces 1963 to 1979.
United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division 1979-1987 infantry.
United States Army, 18th Airborne Corps Support Command 1987-1989.
Decorations include Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V for Valor.
Served in Viet Nam, with the 5th Special Forces Group 1964 to 1969.
Served in the 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups
Over 22 years on jump status and all but the last 18 months served in combat arms units. I was not a very good paratrooper, had problems when I hit the ground and not bouncing very well and breaking things, seven times, but who is counting. I was not a very smart paratrooper, for I continued to jump, and should have quit jumping after the first injury, well maybe the second time, for sure the third time.
After retiring from the Army, I decided that I wanted a new career completely different from my military service, something where I did not have to get shot at, be outside in the wilds or extreme weather, walk long distances carrying heavy loads or weapons of any kind. Therefore, I decided that I would go into computers, an inside job with air-conditioning, and pay for sitting around looking smart. I went to Campbell University and graduated with a major in Computer Information Systems (CIS), Magna Cum Laude. I was one of those serious "senior" students that the normal undergraduate students called "bell-busters.” We bell-busters had no time for the great distractions of the young college male, beer, and girls.
After college, I worked for the Department of Defense at Fort Bragg's Womack Army Medical Center. My education as a CIS paid off with a job in the Information Technology Department as a computer specialist and instructor. I retired from my civil service job in 2003 when I turned 62, and now I do whatever I want and I love my freedom.
I am married to Elizabeth (Bonnie), in July it will be for 38 years -- how time gets away. We have one daughter Kathryn, living in Trento, Italy with her husband, pursuing advanced degrees. Our oldest daughter, Elizabeth died of stomach cancer in 2003, leaving one daughter also named Elizabeth just over one year of age. She is our only granddaughter, and yes, we work hard at spoiling her. She just turned six on May 30, and she and her father, Tom, live in a wonderful house in the woods of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Fayetteville, NC has been our home since 1979; looks as if we are staying.
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