100 things about me Pt 2

See my earlier post for 1-25.

26. My earliest memory is watching Neil and Buzz on the moon. I was 25 months old.

27. When I was a kid, John Wayne was my hero. I still think he was a hell of a guy.

28. I weigh about 100 lbs more than I want to weigh.

29. Politically I am conservative but do not blindly follow the Republicans. I have issues with them as well. Usually involving them caving in to the liberals

30. I can tie a bow tie. I can tie a regular tie and I never wear clip ons.

31. Musically and concerning pop culture, I always seem to be behind the curve.

32. I am an Eagle Scout but not active with the BSA. Too many issues with current policies.

33. Dr. Pepper is my soft drink of choice and I will not dine where it is not sold. And NO Mr. Pibb is not the same thing.

34. Don’t have any tattoos, don’t plan on getting any. But I think they are hot on other guys.

35. I prefer thin crust pizzas with damn near anything on it. Until I had a tomato pie, the ultimate thin crust pizza.

36. If given 10,000 acres I would stock it with wolves and bison. Let em fight it out.

37. They would both have to watch out for me in one of my many vintage armored vehicles.

38. At 41 I still have all my hair, but my eyes are starting to give out.

39. Never watched an episode of Seinfeld when it was on. But now I have all of it on DVD. One of the funniest shows ever.

40. I have an uncanny knack of running into famous people on commercial airline flights. About half the time I sit across the aisle from someone famous or semi famous.

41. Despite being close friends with El Capitan, I have not eaten squid.

42. I prefer my pistols traditional with blue steel and wood grips

43. I like dogs, not cats. And I do prefer hounds and currently have a very adorable but spoiled Beagle.(Update: Sweetpea has since dug a hole under the fence of mortality and headed for the great beyond.)

44. I have the unique ability to guess the expiration date of dairy products by smell alone.

45. I believe that Humphrey Bogart is the greatest actor ever. Period.

46. If I won over $100 million in the Mega Millions Lottery, I would be in the news at least weekly and my poll numbers would be lower than Congress’.

47. If I could live in another period of time. I would have been born about 1600 and been a pirate, or I would like to be born in 2467 and be a pirate.

48. I nearly died from pneumonia Memorial Day 2008.

49. Though I have never dipped snuff, watched more than 5 minutes of a NASCAR race,

or owned a 4 wheel drive truck; most people would consider me a redneck.

50. Too bad the midget sports craze did not spread beyond wrestling. I would love to see Midget Golf, Midget Football, Midget Bowling. I could go on for pages.

100 Things about me Pt. 1

Well after much procrastination I have finally this 2 yr project. I thought that since I appear to actually have a readership now I will go ahead and re post this meme in its entirety.

Got this idea from El Capitan. Sounded like fun so here are the first 25.


100 Things About Me


1. I have brown hair, but it used to be blonde.

2. I can play most any brass or woodwind instrument, but the guitar and piano still elude me.

3. I was once stabbed by an improvised spear thrown by a friend of mine.

4. I never ate at McDonalds until I was 13.

5. I have NEVER consumed any coffee or dishes with coffee in them and I never will.

6. Some say “I bat for the other team”, others would say I “putt from the rough” I prefer to say “I like em flat chested.”

7. I am definitely a Reagan/Goldwater conservative.

8. I have no extra fingers or toes.

9. While I have been on many dates and the love bug has only bitten seriously once.

10. El Capitan and I have been good friends for so long that we always will be. We know where the other has the bodies buried.

11. I can back any trailer anywhere.(as long as it will fit.)

12. I am the best rifle shot I know.

13. I read at least one book a week and have a massive library.

14. While I do believe the Christian view on the supernatural. I detest organized religion.

15. While I am not too New York for Texas, I am definitely too Texas for L.A.

16. Other than LBJ I have met every other President that has served since I have been alive. Yes even Carter and Clinton. I did refuse to shake Bill’s hand. (I was just not sure where it had been.)

17. I speak enough Spanish.(I thought I did anyway)

18. While I did graduate third in my class, I did not graduate in the top 10%.

19. I love my job.

20. Boxers

21. My favorite class in grade school was reading, in high school it was math and in college it was history.

22. I am over 6 ft tall but only have a 28 inch inseam. Or “inside leg” as Mr. Granger would say.

23. I don’t fight fair and prefer to avoid rather than look for trouble.

24. I should write more.

25. I was severely injured by a thrown rock within minutes of Hinckley’s assassination attempt on President Reagan.

Name this Place

Hints.
In the Western Hemisphere.
Not in Texas
Taken in late Spring

Emergency? I report, you decide.

Another tale of misspent youth.

Way back in the last century El Capitan and I worked at a boy scout camp. We worked long hard hours to ensure that the scouts that visited that camp had fun and had lots of stories to tell their buddies. And maybe a few of those friends joined their troop and went the next summer just to see what all the fun was about.

We played hard also. Sometimes the long hours we put in were a threat to our playtime. But we always seemed to make the best of it. An average day would see us busy from 6am to 7pm or later. At least 3 nights a week we were busy until 9 or 10pm. Due to the fact that we are not good at planning ahead and liquor stores in Texas close at 9pm, we had a couple of close calls concerning our nocturnal outings.

All of the roads in this camp were narrow and unpaved. In many places there was only room for one vehicle to pass at a time. Because of this a pecking order of sorts was established for who had the right of way. Bottom of the list was staff members in personal cars,and going upward then official camp vehicles. (the two white trucks, the Sub-Urban and the phantom wagon)., then scoutmasters in their personal cars and lastly the camp ranger not so affectionately called “The Green Lizard”. Of course if it was an emergency you could turn on your headlights and flashers and you had right of way over everyone.

It was somebody’s birthday and we had had to work late. El Capitan and I were sitting at the picnic table in the staff area talking about our party plans when we suddenly realize that it is 830pm and 35mins to the closest liquor store. Legal scholars are still debating whether this constitutes enough of an emergency for what actions follow next.

Lights on flashers going, we tear out of the parking lot at more than 3 times the suggested speed limit on these back roads. As we weave and bob and dodge potholes, roadrunners and the Great Oil Pan Killing Rock. We encounter no traffic and finally we are only one more intersection from the main gate and the highway. But that intersection leads to the Lair of the Green Lizard. We round a corner and see him heading towards us in his truck. But we have our lights on and flashers going., BUT HE IS THE GREEN LIZARD!!!! Who will flinch in this game of chicken? The Green Lizard heads for the ditch on the side of the road in such a way he must of thought we had a boy scout on board who had got crossways with an axe. We zoom past him and make the liquor with 5 minutes to spare.

Trunk full of libations we return at a leisurely pace to the parking lot. There is a low hum about the staff area. Whispers of “The Green Lizard was run off the road” and I wonder what the emergency was? One has to understand that the Green Lizard is more myth than man. No one dare cross him, He was immune to all the rules and regulations. On occasion we would run across one of his many hunting blinds he used to keep the white tail population under control. He went everywhere armed and was known for his prowess at killing snakes with his “twenny tu” And someone had run him off the road. Who would have the nerve? Even ambulances and fire trucks yield to the Green Lizard. It would take a huge set of huevos and a lot of what the British call cheek to even think about such a caper. Yet it had been done. And the Lizard was on the warpath.

Luckily for us when he rounded the corner he only saw the headlights and the flashers and was not able to identify the make and model of the car. He got the color right but I had been asleep in my tent at the time of the crime. Well that was my story and I was sticking to it. Like any good caper 2 and 2 were finally put together and the answer they got was 3.9. they knew it was us, but they couldn’t prove it.

As for the Cap and me? Well we were heroes, held in almost as high esteem as “The Guy that Keeps Adjusting the Hot Water Heater.” But his or her identity still remains a mystery.

Photos of American Troops Torturing Iraqi Civilians

American soldier caught using Bush Administration approved tickle torture on Iraqi children.

Local children forced to preform labor against their will.

"Talk or I will toss you into the air until you can't giggle any more."

American soldier tries to eat a baby.

CIA approved "hang by the finger" torture.

Iraqi child bites soldier in self defense as he is being forcibly
removed from his father's arms.

"You're not coming down until we know the truth!

A Hometown Hero.

This was my original post for Memorial Day. But I decided to hold it until I had a day I was so busy I could not post.

While my pedigree in Texas goes back to the original Austin's 300, I did spend most of my yoot in a small town in western Oklahoma. And I do mean small. Population less than 500 and then no other towns for 15 miles in any direction. The closest McDonalds was and still is 45 miles away. If I were guessing I would say that between 1927 and 2007 there were maybe 1750 graduates of my high school. And that estimate is high.

What are the chances of a grad from my HS earning the Congressional Medal of Honor ? Regardless of the odds it did happen. Donald J. Gott who probably graduated from AHS in 1941 or maybe 1942 was that hero. On Nov 9, 1944 First Lt. Donald J. Gott USA Air Corps and about 7 months from his 22nd birthday distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

Here is the official citation:

On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken a B-17 aircraft piloted by 1st. Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft, and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st. Lt. Gott had the copilot personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st. Lt. Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine, and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again and then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 1st. Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest.

Sad part is....... I never knew about him until I found this on the web about 3 months ago. Now there is a memorial in the Ellis County Courthouse. Hopefully he get mentioned in the schools. After all not only was he the only graduate of Arnett Schools to receive the CMOH, he was the first from Oklahoma to receive it in WW2.

Cinco de Mayo???

I went to San Jose today with a buddy and he said he knew a place that had good Mexican food and free refills(a phenomenon as rare here as all 9 oops I mean 8 planets lining up). OK I said, after all it is his town and he is buying. The next thing I know we are standing in front of Taco Bell. Good Mexican food? Taco Bell is one of those places that everyone eats at but no one will ever plead guilty to the fact. Well by now it is too late to argue so in we go.

I order combo numero cinco. Which I ala grande'd it and got a bigger drink and.......Fries!!!! Fries with chili, cheese, onions, maters and sour cream. Basically nachos with fries instead of chips. Of course you can put the above ingredients on darn near anything and render it edible. The taco was really good. Had REAL grated cheddar cheese on it and lots of onions. Just like I like em.

Now to the chicken quesodilla. Me and Mayonnaise have had a running feud going on now for about 35 years. I thought we had reached a truce. Details follow:

I will tolerate you in my egg, tuna, and tater salad. You are permitted in my deviled eggs, but if you are to appear in anything else I eat, you are required to give notice.

This armistice has worked well for me and for Mayo. Until today. In a sneak attack that would make a Cylon envious there was Mayo on my quesodilla de pollo . Good thing the fries and the taco were tasty. My buddy Armond the Tico asked me, "Something wrong with your quesodilla?" His English is much better than my Spanish.

I say , "Yeah there is Mayo on my quesodilla."

He says, " Of course there is." in a tone that suggested I had stated an observation as universally accepted as the sky being blue.

I proceed to explain to him that only 60% of the people on death row in Texas are there for murder. 30% are there for making mild chili with beans and 10% are there for 1st Degree serving of a Tex/Mex --Mexican food product containing Mayo.

"IF you don't want it, I'll eat it." he says and proceeds to consume this abomination with gusto.

Next time, I pick the restaurant.

That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." Gen George S Patton Jr.

Today in American History.

Without googling the following names do you recognize any of them?

John W Bucher
Eugene C. Moore
Harry L McGinnis
J.W. Harryman
Holt Coffey
Joe Crowson
H.D Murphy
Edward Bryan Wheeler
William Campbell
Howard Hall
Doyle Johnson
Malcolm Davis

Unless they were your grandfather's brother or cousin, or another distant relative you probably do not recognize any of them. All were regular people who lived as best they could and tried to do right by their families. So what do they all have in common?

All were murdered by Bonnie and Clyde and their gang. We all know who they are. Yet none of us know the victims. In all honesty, I only knew two of the names on the list before researching this article. DPS Troopers Edward B Wheeler and William Campbell. They had the misfortune of stopping on Dove Rd in SouthLake TX to assist in what they thought was a "motorist in distress" situation on Easter Sunday 1934. But instead they had rolled up on the Barrow gang. They were murdered and their bodies left in the road. This happened about 15 miles from my home in Saginaw TX. I have seen the memorial stone that marks the spot.

Today marks the anniversary of Bonnie and Clyde finally getting what they had coming. Four Texas law officers and 2 Louisiana cops riddled their car with over 100 bullets and thus ensured that the above list would grow no larger.

Maybe if our society remembered the victims more and the victimizers less there would be a bit less motivation for mass murders and spree killings?

Bonnie and Clyde: marking 75 years of burning in Hell today.

Ever wonder why.......

Democrat women seem so angry. Why they are always hating on the Republican women? If you are Republican and a woman you have no first amendment right to voice your views. Just ask Miss California. After her comments on gay marriage the Liberal Taliban(thanks Ann Coulter) issued a Fatwa against her. Maybe this pic will help us understand more why women on the left hate women on the right so much. I think it is starting to make sense.

Mall San Pedro

The Mall in San Pedro is a lot like the malls in the states with a few differences. Instead of sprawling out it goes up. I think there are 5 floors of shops and offices but I am not sure as there are no maps to show you where you are. I did discover the 5th floor by accident. If there is a sixth or a sub basement I have not found it yet.

The food court is at one end and one 2 separate floors instead of just on one floor. Most of the stores that you would find in a mall in the states are here. Plus there are tons of shoe stores here. The number of shoe stores per km sq is about the same as Starbucks in the States. One company has a different store on every floor of the mall. Even with all these shoe stores, shoes are freaking expensive. Lots of Kiosk type stores selling everything from cell phones to cheap watches to bootleg DVD's. San Pedro mall also has three full service banks and a 10 screen movie theatre. And a ticket to the movies here will only set you back about $3 or$4.

I dont buy much there. The prices are still a bit high at all the stores and there are places where you can buy most everything you need at much lower prices.

Stuff

Networking is starting to pay off. After emailing my resume around for a week and asking some newly made friends/coworkers to walk it in to their full time places of employment, I have two interviews next week with higher paying firms. I am making enough now to pay the bills and a bit more. But of course you can never make too much money. (After all I am the Banana Republican not the Banana Socialist) Both of these jobs require a further commute but not that much farther. I think I can get to both places with only one bus switch. Right now the bus that stops on the corner drops me off at work.

I bought some eggs out of a van that drives down the street every morning at 6am with its loud speaker blaring "Huevos!!". Oddly eggs are not sold here by the dozen or "by the each" they are sold by weight. I paid about half what I would in the states. Brown shells and nice dark yellow yolks. These eggs did not come from fat yellow chickens. These chickens are free range, half wild and have lived the good life. You can taste it in the eggs.

Don't ask someone on the street for directions. If they don't know they will tell you something just to prevent being embarrassed by the fact that they do not know. And if they do know, the directions are most likely wrong. The best bet is to stop in one of the many little "quik marts" that seem to be on every street. Buy a bottle of water or something and 90% of the time the directions are correct.

The cops down here seem to get their side arms from "The Central American Museum of Firearms." Lots of Colt Police Positives, Old Hi-Powers with tangent sights, I did see one cop with what looked like a Python but not sure. In the mall the other day were two Federal Police one carrying an Uzi with the wood stock and the other carrying a possible FAMAE SAF. I did not get a good look at it. And yesterday I saw another cop in San Jose carrying what might of been a P-38 but was most likely a P-1.(see bottom of P-38 Wikipedia page).

Traditional Costa Rican Lunch

It is called a Casado. It is usually served with rice, black beans, fried plantains, a salad and a meat usually either pork, fish, chicken or beef. The best place to find this rather filling, delicious and best of all cheap meal is in one of your neighborhood "Sodas" These Sodas are very small restaurants some no more than permanently parked roach coaches with a tin awning and some tables. A casado for lunch with drink will set you back about 1500-2000 colones or about $2.50 to $3.00 depending on where you buy it. At my favorite place Soda San Bosco, you are looking at 1500 colones for a darn good lunch.

Monday Movie Stuff.

Found this chart somewhere. I mean I find a funny jpg and I download it and then forget where I got it. Well since it's Monday I am gonna post something movie related. Movies are so full of the same basic plot elements. Ever notice how in every cop movie it is essential to the plot to visit a strip club? And how about the required "outrun the explosion" scene?
Well Things That Happen in Underground Parking Garages in the Movies is another good example.
Can you name 10 movies with a fight in a parking garage?

Mi Hogar

Here is a picture of the house where I am staying. The high fence with gate and bars on windows is standard fare here. This leads to a comment amongst Gringos when walking through a neighborhood. "Don't Feed the Ticans!" Every building and school has these tall fences with gates and sometimes razor wire as well.

Ticans as they call themselves are a very security conscious lot. Most houses also have big dogs. And it seems if you have a firearms permit you can own damn near anything you want. I have seen MP5's and G3's for sale. Crime is a bit high here. I have had no problems but then again I try not to flash a lot of cash or easily liquidated items. Nor do I walk the streets much after dark. A little common sense goes a long way.

Dodging Earthquakes

I moved from one of the most seismically quiet parts of the Western Hemisphere to one of the busiest. So what happens 10 days after I move? EARTHQUAKE in Ft Worth!!!! Go figure. I have not even felt so much as a wiggle down here, except for the gravel trucks hauling arse down the street at 2am. No such thing as a no truck zone down here. If your vehicle will fit on the road then drive down it, if not use one of both sidewalks as needed.

Another thing I cant seem to get used to yet. THE FREAKING SUN COMES UP AT 5AM. What is up with that? Then again it goes down about 5pm and rumor has it with little or no seasonal variability. Well that is life at 9 degrees north of the Equator.

On the food front I have found Dr. Pepper so all is well. Those of you that know me know that that is my crack and I was starting to get the shakes. But my habit of one bottle a week has been satisfied and I have a reserve stock on hand.

All for now.

A New Location

I was Rockhauler but alas I haul rocks no more. I have moved to Costa Rica. Been here a week and I like it a lot. Nice to be in a country with a white guy in charge again. No opinion one way or another. But I did see an MP5 for sale in a tienda de arma next door to my favorite resturant. Also hanging there beside it was a very nice G3 with a rather short barrel. So a guy that will let guns like that hang in the window to be sold cant be all that bad.