Carry a Message to Garcia

“By the Eternal! There is a man whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed in every college in the land. It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this or that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies; do the thing — "Carry a message to Garcia.”

http://www.roycrofter.com/garcia.htm

It's my work ethic. I believe it, I practice it. I learned it from my Dad when it didn't have a name. I'm pretty confident that my Dad never heard of the phrase "Carry a message to Garcia". Dad lead by example, and this says how my Dad lives his life.

Working, or not

So here I float at 80 FSW (Feet Salt Water), where the air temperature is about 90 degrees and the water temperature is about 85 degrees. My dive buddy is simultaneously taking a still photo of me as I take a video with him in it. What a great trip. 17 dives (two at night), over 15 hours of bottom time, magnificant coral reefs, lots of fish, and several hundred miles of boating. http://http://www.blackbeard-cruises.com/

Definitely one of the best trips I've had. The weather cooperated, we didn't have the mal-de-mar issues that happen with waves because we didn't have waves, hardly. Standing on deck at night, or day, the views were incredible. It has been many years since I've stared at the night sky and been able to identify so many constellations and see shooting stars almost hourly. Then to be standing on the deck with coffee in hand, waiting on the sun is always a great event. I need to do this more.

Apology Airways

Yes, they should change their name to Apology Airways. I can't even chance a count at the number of times the flight attendants, the captain, the flight deck, etc apologized. Not to mention the personnel at the ticket counters. We're sorry your flight has been delayed, we're sorry your flight has been cancelled. We're sorry that we don't have an answer. We're sorry we don't know where to find your bags. We're sorry that there are no other flights. We're sorry that the APU isn't working so the A/C doesn't work on the ground. We're sorry about the confusion in seating, were sorry this flight is full. We're sorry but we've overbooked this flight. We're sorry we don't have enough ground crew to get your bags in time for you to catch your next flight. We're sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm not sorry, but I'll avoid Bahamas Air on any future travel. Supposedly there are fewer people flying, caused by the poor economy. You'd think the airlines would be trying harder to make the passengers happy. Instead they charge $2 for all drinks (yes that includes Cokes), $6 for a blanket rental, $3 for a pillow rental, $2 for earphones, etc. etc. They are sorry.

Movies my Dad liked and would watch multiple times

A long long time ago there was a drive-in theater in Beloit, the Fiesta Drive-In (I wonder if the Main Street Theater is still there/open). Once in a while Mom and Dad would take the herd to see a movie. I remember playing on the playground beneath the screen, laying on a blanket in front of the car parking space, and eating popcorn that we had popped that afternoon. I can't remember any of the movies that we watched.

A long time ago (1984), my parents were visiting my wife, son and I. To give my wife a break, I decided to take my parents to see a movie - just released "Ghostbusters". I was proud about the fact I could: 1) afford to take my parents, 2) caring enough to give my wife a break(here I'm taking way more credit than I deserve - more than likely we were chased out), 3) smart enough to find a movie I believed my parents would like. On the ride home my mom said it was okay (she didn't like it) and my Dad said he hated Bill Murray (I extrapolated that to mean he didn't like the movie).

Years later, during a discussion with my dad, I found out his favorite movie. I figured out it was his favorite because when I got him on the phone he said he was in the middle of watching his favorite movie. So your mission is to figure out his favorite movie. It was released in 1964. It starred Michael Caine, James Booth and Nigel Greene. Nigel Greene does an outstanding performance as Colour Sgt. Frank Bourne. I have this movie, I like it, but not enough to go on my list.

My Dad doesn't have a dog. There is a dog. Probably, maybe, belongs to some member of his family such as a son, grandson, daughter-in-law, etc. He doesn't know. It isn't important to him either. He doesn't know the dog's name (Angel) and can't remember the dog's name. It isn't important in his relationship with the dog. The dog visits him several times every day (the dog lives in his house) and when the dog visits, he takes the dog outside. The dog "does his business"(don't know if it is a him or her but the name indicates a her - Dad doesn't care what he is-it isn't important.). Then they look around the yard and then come back in the house. This past week the dog brought Dad a gift, a kitten. Dad said the dog just walked up and had a kitten in its mouth. Dad took the kitten out of the dog's mouth. He said he looked and the kitten was none the worse for wear, but the kitten was covered in slobber. Dad put the kitten back where it belonged and then told the dog he best leave those things alone. Dad likes the dog. Dad likes the cats.  My Dad doesn't have a cat.

U-352 off the coast of Morehead, NC. Actually a mosaic.

At the Quarry, water temp about 55 degrees, as long as you don't go any deeper than 30 feet.

With a boom boom in my eye

My taste in music runs the gamut of types. Morris Massey explains my music evolution as, "What your are is where you were when" http://www.rctm.com/Products/change/5712.htm

I like Eddy Arnold, probably because the John Deere tractor radio only picked up KFRM, Big 550, which was known as K-Farm radio, on the AM. http://www.kfrm.com At the time they had a play list of about 30 songs with Eddy Arnold probably having 5 of those 30 songs.

As I entered the military it was Harry Nilsson (Moon Beam and Without You), Grand Funk etc. They still exist on my IPOD. Anyway, the movie American Beauty had a song on it I liked, I found that song last year and loaded it on my IPOD - "Woke Up This Morning" from Alabama 3. I started listening and never understood the hook line. "Woke up this morning with a boom boom in my eye". Today I looked up the lyrics - now I feel real stupid. The full length version of the original song is better than this youtube link, but you'll hear the hook. On my IPOD it has a great beat, great for the cool down part of my jog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgoyXJiZqLk

p.s. I know the definition of a Blue Moon.