Starting the Countdown

Today (kind of) marks a milestone for me.  According to the state (of Mississippi) personnel center I will be eligible to retire 3 years from today (May 31, 2015). So I'm gonna start a countdown clock, cause when I can leave - I'm gone. (At this moment 1094 Days, 16 hours, etc.) 
MSU's Baseball team had a GREAT run in the SEC tournament last week.  Beginniung last Tuesday as the 7 seed (out of 10), they won six games in six days.  Captured the SEC Tournament title and an automatic bid to the field of 64 in the NCAA tournament.  They will be going to the Tallahassee Regional - with host (& #3 national seed) Florida State, UAB, and Samford.  GO DAWGS!!
I hope to have more next time. (I'll make some reminder notes - 'cause my memory sucks!)
Everyone have a great Day!

Wassup!!!

Well, its been a couple of weeks since I last posted - so I thought I'd catch-up a bit. Because the two Deans I (indirectly) work for want the CVM Branch Library open longer hours and the fact that there is a shortage of qualified student workers during May thru the summer term, I will occasionally be working flex-time.  In other words, working odd hours.  Duriing the months of June and July, My work week will run Sunday thru Thursday.  Its not as bad as it sounds.Sundays I will go in at 2 PM and work an 8 hour day.  Mon-Thu will (for the most part) be normal work hours.  My weekend will then be Friday and Saturday.  I WILL go back to a normal Mon-Fri work week before football season starts.  (That was non-negotiable on my part).

I got a little taste of it when I worked Sunday May 6th, then had a 3 day weekend (11-13). 

It was pretty nice.  Got a lot of things I wanted to do done around the house and had a nice cookout on Mother's Day for my Mama and DKW's Mama.  I did invite my first wife's Mama - but she declined.  She has one child still living and wanted to spend time with him.  I don't blame her one bit.  DKW and I have told her many times that she is always welcome to visit.    Even though we are (technically) not related - she will forever be my children's grandmother and as such a part of the family.

Everyone have a great day!

memoriesTHREE

Couldn't find an actual unit pic from the 70's but here is the patch for Group LMR.  I was here until 1979 when I (& my wife and 2 children) were transferred to the Fifth Coast Guard District in Norfolk, VA.

Spent three years in Virginia and then in 1982 I was transferred (with wife & 3 children now) to what was (to me) my favorite unit during my Coast Guard career.  The Gulf Strike Team.  First at the NASA Test Site in Bay St. Louis, MS then (in 1984) the unit (and I &wife & 4 children) relocated to the Aviation Training center in Mobile, Al.  Seen below from the air in the foreground.

Then in 1988 I was transferred (with wife & 5 children) to what would be my final unit before I retired in 1992.  The Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, LA.

That (in a nutshell) was my Coast Guard Life.  Part of my past, but it will always be a part of me.  SEMPER PARATUS!

Everyone have a great day!

Continuing Memories

In April, 1975, I left for Yeoman "A" School (located just outside Petaluma, CA).  The Training Center (during World War II) was formerly the U.S. Army Two Rock Ranch Station.   Because I was already a Petty Officer (BM3) when I went to Yeoman school I was automatically made class leader since I outranked all the other student.  It was a little more work (being responsible for getting 40 folks where they had to be on-time), but there were a few perks too - such as a semi-private room and being the supervisor on work details (not actually doing the physical labor).

I went from YN "A" School to the Ninth Coast Guard District Office in the Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio.  This was many years before the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I enjoyed going to NFL and MLB games but after one winter there this southern boy mutualed (traded duty stations) with a yeoman in Memphis, TN, aboard the ....

Coast Guard Cutter Kanawha.  A 75 foot barge-pushing river tender.  I really enjoyed working the Mississippi River.  It was while stationed here that I advanced to YN2, married my first wife,  and our first child was born.  Because of my advancement I was considered overqualified for the position I held on the boat and was transferred - approximately 100 yards up the hill to CG Group Memphis.  I'll post a pic and give more of my CG story next time.
Every one have a great day!

"Mem - rieees"

OK.  When I started Jr. High (middle 60s) this store and did a pretty good business - despite the fact that students were told that crossing the busy road to make a purchase would result  in a paddling.

This is a picture of the Coast Guard Cutter Salvia - my very first unit (in Mobile, AL) when I joined the "World's Largest Coast Guard" (to quote my Master Chief) in 1972.

My second unit - Coast Guard Station Pascagoula (MS).  I was there until I went to Yeoman School in April 1975, just a couple of months after I had made rate as a Boatswains Mate Third Class (BM3).

I'll revist my  my Coast Guard career in my next entry (hopefully).  Every one have a great day!

Doctor Whooooooo! Doctor Who!

Another week has passed and today, quite by accident, I was back in the 80's, when that BBC import "Doctor Who" first made its appearance on Public Televsion. If you are one of those unfortunate enough not to be familiar with the show (SHAME ON YOU!) I suggest you read the Wikipedia listing for it. The transportation to the past was courtesy of a Youtube video of "Every Jelly Belly Scene Ever Made" during the Doctor Who run. Granted the lion's share of the scenes were with Tom Baker, but I was surprised at how many of the doctor's other incarnations appeared. Its no surprise to anyone that knows me that I have been a fan since that first episode I saw - which featured the 4th Doctor in the episode "Robot" starring Tom Baker. I became involved with the Doctor Who Fan Club and for a couple of years was president of the club for the state of Alabama. Over the years I have been fortunate to be able to see every DW episode available. The only ones I haven't are the very small number of lost episodes, but I am not alone in that. I have 5 children, all grown now, who even invented "The Doctor Who Dance" which they would joyously jump to their feet and do every time it came on. Until, of course, they got older and were "too cool" to do it - but they have never forgotten it. Next year the Doctor will celebrate his 50th anniversary on televsion and the BBC has hinted about having "big plans". I can't wait to see what that entails. Over the years we have lost William Hartnell (DW #1), Patrick Troughton (#2) and Jon Pertwee (#3). So it will be interesting to see if they bring back any of the Doctor's incarnations. They could do like they did in "The Five Doctors" and bring in other actors to recreate them as they did with Richard Hurdnall recreating William Hartnell's doc. Oh man! I could go on for days about this show. Without a doubt my all-time favorite. I know a lot of folks who don't like it though and there is rarely middle-ground. Most of the time - you either love it or hate it. Everyone have a great day!

BEST Birthday - EVER!

Well- maybe not ever - but I did have a really good time. On the evening of my birthday (April 3rd), DKW and I drove down to the Choctaw Indian Casino in Philadelphia, Mississippi. I had comps that they had sent me for a free hotel stay, a little gambling money, and meals. It was a nice stay and I even won a little money (not a lot - but coming away on the plus side is great). Then I had the rest of a week off to do what I wanted when I wanted. I told my sweetie that if this was a preview of what retirement was going to be like - I couldn't wait. It was really nice. At worst, I can retire around May/June, 2015, unless MSU offers early retirement. Which I've heard rumors that they may do this again in 2013 (they last did it in 2010). If they do - I'm there! Lots of positives about being the master of your own town. Plus - if funds do get tight - I could always take a part-time job. There are plenty out there. Anyway - just wanted to let everyone know I had a fun time.
Everyone have a great Day!