Cluster Maps


It has been pretty cool watching the dots pop up all over the world. I have spots from the Philippines (close to Mindoro maybe), India (around Sanchi I guess), (Santiago) Chile, Afghanistan, and numerous places in the USA.

So welcome to all of you and welcome to those that are yet to visit. I hope you comment and let me know what city you are from. I really want to know what the current events are in your part of the world.

When you visit this blog comment and tell me about your family and what life is like where you are from. This goes for everyone all ready here as well. You can't tell me things I already know. Tell me about the area and the culture. What worries you; what do you think about?

We have had a visit from a nice person in India. Look at a map and read the names you see. Do you wonder what kind of people live there and what life is like for them?

It could a lot of fun.

PS. On Tuesday I had 86 hits to the blog. Im not sure if someone was just giving me a boost or I actually had that much legit traffic. Either way I thought it was cool.

When I left the Navy I was being paid as an E-4 and had just tacked on E-5. So when I joined the Army they made me an E-4 (Specialist).

This is the Specialist Creed: Enjoy

The Creed of the Specialist

No one gets away with more than I. I am a non Non-Commissioned Officer, a beast of burden. As a junior enlisted soldier I realize that I am a member of an under appreciated and much chastised group of soldiers known as the ribcage, or perhaps pancreas, of the Army.

I am proud of myself and my fellow Specialists who continue to bitch, whine, and sham until the absolute last second regardless of the mission at hand. I will use my grade and position to avoid responsibility, accountability, and any sense of presence of mind.

Ignorance is my watchword. My two best excuses will always be on the tip of my tongue : “I didn’t know!” And “It wasn’t me!” I will strive to maintain invisible and unavailable for details. Never ever volunteer for anything is my rallying cry. I am aware of my role as a SPC or SPC(P) and if you need me for anything, I’ll be on appointment. I know the other soldiers, and I will always refer to them by their first name or in some cases a derogatory nickname. On weekends or days off I will consistently drink myself into oblivion and I will never answer my phone. I understand for a person in hierarchical position rewards are going to be few and far between, and punishment will always be swift and severe.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties because I will be accomplishing them for them. I will kiss up to their faces and badmouth them behind their backs just like everyone else. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve. Provided that there is something in it for me. I am the last bastion of common sense that stand as a wall between me and the Army philosophy of “Work harder, not smarter!” My voice is a tool and my complaints are a weapon that I wield with unmatched skill and finesse. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget, Specialist is the greatest rank in the Army. And rank has it’s privileges.

Do you remember this commercial?

HOLY COW


I have had this blog for 1 year and 10 days. So happy anniversary to me. YAY!!

Oh So Weary!


Now that I am back from the Wendover part of Guard annual training I find myself very exhausted at the end of the day. I get up at 5:30am everyday and drive home starting at 4pm. The drive isn't especially long; the work isn't overly strenuous. I don't mind getting up early or coming home late either. While working at McGrath's I worked about 55 hours a week. Those were long, hard, days yet I still didn't feel this tired at the end of the day. I have to force myself not to hit the sack early so that I sleep through the night. The only reason I am writing about this is because the level of exhaustion is not commensurate with the boring day I had.

I usually hit the gym 3 0r 4 times a week. I have been so tired this week that it just doesn't seem possible to drag myself there for now.

I mentioned this phenomena to a couple friends that drill with me; they related similar tales of butt dragging.

Thats all I had really. I hope you liked the Wendover pics. I thought the salt ponds turned out pretty good.

Mr Wizard, the original "Science Guy" died Tuesday I believe. Here's to good television, cool science, great teaching, and many talents (He flew bombing missions in WWII ya know)...come back!!

And Im Back!!!



I returned today (Saturday) from Wendover Utah. This place has some pretty interesting history behind it. The now dilapidated and massive facility is home to one FBO and the cargo plane from the movie ConAir. The entire south side of the airport has been turned into a "watch me fall apart" museum. Many of the WWII era buildings are still standing including barracks, chow halls, and massive hangars.

This was the base where the crew of the Enola Gay trained for their bombing mission of Hiroshima. The town of Wendover was established by a guy named Bill Smith. He owned a small gas station on a small 2 lane road now called I-80. He had a tall pole put up with a single light bulb that drivers could see for miles. This was back in 1920. The military still uses Wendover for a variety of purposes. As no units are assigned there the Army and Air force use it as a checkpoint on bombing routes and practice the VOR approach on the field. There is also a bombing and gunnery range on the airport that the Air force uses for war games.


The trip in the convoy took 3 hours and 20 minuets. Now it only should have taken 3 hours but the convoy commander got lost in town and couldn't find the road to the airport. Its just funny that we have this "phenomenal cosmic power!!" and we don't even use MapQuest to avoid getting lost.

While setting up our operations area, some of us from S-3 were setting up a large antenna with guy wires and the works. After we used the guy wires to carefully pull the antenna into place and staked it down, Barry, a fellow S-3 guy, noticed that we had a few extra parts. He and I shared a glance and be decided that "well....as long as we don't tell anyone it will be ok....maybe." The parts we found were the skinny end pieces to this antenna so no big deal. Right? As we continued on with that someone else noted that we forgot to tape the cord from its perch on top of the antenna to the pole itself. Strike 2! Dang....so now the antenna comes down and we work to tape the cord and put on the the end pieces where they go. Warrick, another buddy from S-3 gave us a little tutorial on the importants of having the antenna the exact length it should be because the frequency is tuned to that length or something like that.

Later on we were setting up our tent that was to be used for pilot mission briefs. All I will say is that watching a bunch of Guard folks set up a tent is hysterical.

Army Chow: The eggs were literally the consistency of old, tough play dough. I did have a steak towards the end of the week that was pretty good actually. I think its official; Navy food is better than Army food.

A Day in the Life: I usually woke up at the crack of 10 or 11 am. I would walk next door to the latrine and shave and brush then get dressed. Now I know what you are thinking. But the fact is that I worked the night shift while I was out there. So I would go on shift at 5pm or so and work until midnight then shower and head to bed. On the first full day we had classes scheduled for the afternoon. So Barry and I figured; sleep a little then head to classes. No sweat. The next day we woke up at our normal time and the classes had apparently been held at 8am. So no luck there. The next day we were told classes were canceled due to the masive wind storm we were having only to find out they were not. On a couple of days I even ate my lunch MRE in bed. Needless to say...that either from lack of communication and or lack of motivation ...it was a lazy morning around our bunk house for a few of us. I love the Guard!

I have been very impressed with the people I have met so far in the 211th. They seem to be professional and kind. There's not a nazi in the bunch and they keep me laughing quite a bit.

One day we took a couple of humvees and did a driving navigation course. We made th course up as we went and it turned into an excuse to drive really fast over bumpy and windy roads and up steep hills. It was fantastic fun. We got out and took some pictures from the top of a mountain and had a great time. The rocks we saw were amazing. One showed one rock being covered by what was once molten rock which has been eroded to expose the tougher rock below. Pretty cool stuff. It was cool to see the rock that was once "marbled" and the softer rock that provided that marbling has since been eroded away by wind and rain to leave the bed rock looking sliced and diced.

I took a group pic and forgot to put the front of my freakin hat down after looking through the camera. GOSH!! IDIOT!!

I was lucky enough to take a flight near the end of our training and had a fantastic time. The lower and faster we flew the bigger my grin grew. It was great.

We lived in what we called the "Hooch" or "Hotel Ocho" It had a cement pad and a swamp cooler. So not too bad.

Now all of these pics I took while out there. This is the first time I have thought that the Salt Lake looked good.


Here's to S-3 and a couple S-2 people as well. May all cooks rot in ...um...cook land!

Gone For a Week.



I will be out doing the Guard thing this weekend. On Sunday morning I leave for our summer training in exotic Wendover!! I will take my camera and capture the excitement of it all.

See you then.


For now though, let me fill you in on the happenings around here. First, Corbin had his bi-annual dental visit. $500 dollars later and with one less molar he walked out and was none too happy. Now he is on pain killers and anti-biotics. The last time we spent 300 on his visit. So now we are going to try a different toothpaste and see how that works. Corbin is the only dog that does NOT like chew toys. These toys would really help his teeth. But he is happy and active and so am I.