Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[alaskaleftybass]

Airline transport operations in Sitka before the bridge was built. Passengers would ride a passenger ferry across the channel, and luggage would go across on a surplus DUKW ("Duck") vehicle. (You see these nowadays being used as "ride-the-duck" rides in cities like Seattle and San Diego, but at that time they were not certified to carry passengers.) Here is "Donald Duck", being loaded with baggage alongside 727 N798AS at Sitka Airport.

 

[Al Kraft]

Try this link for a cool S-43 story: Invalid Link Removed

 

[GonePlaid]

Try this link for a cool S-43 story: Invalid Link Removed

I get out by there every so often. Ya never know what he's gonna be stooging around in. Last time it was a Bucker Jungmeister.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

While growing up in Alaska, we traveled from town to town on Grumman Goose and the WWII PBY's. We especially loved flying in the PBY's with the "bubbles" in the back, Ellis Airlines added two seats to those windows, and brother Tom and I would ride in the windows, pretending to be WWII pilots. Fun times.

Afterthought. It's hard to believe that this year my kid brother Tom has been gone for 10 years. It doesn't feel like that long. Seems like the years fly by faster as you get older..

 

[BadExample]

There were a couple of hulls of these things in Miami on a side street into the early 60s. No idea what happened to them. One day they weren't there any more.

Scrap prices went up

 

[BadExample]

While growing up in Alaska, we traveled from town to town on Grumman Goose and the WWII PBY's. We especially loved flying in the PBY's with the "bubbles" in the back, Ellis Airlines added two seats to those windows, and brother Tom and I would ride in the windows, pretending to be WWII pilots. Fun times.

Afterthought. It's hard to believe that this year my kid brother Tom has been gone for 10 years. It doesn't feel like that long. Seems like the years fly by faster as you get older..

Very sad about Tom. Too young to go.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Very sad about Tom. Too young to go.

Thank you Bad. Nowadays I'm not so much hurt and grieving, more angry, because Tom was somewhat of a futurist, like myself. He bought me my first Motorola cell phone that was data capable when most people didn't even think of cell phones. I remember him playing a news show on his phone to me and was amazed. He would have loved all the technology we take for granted today.

Wife Carey and I were talking about-- what would our parents think of the world if they came back for a day? Not politically, socially. About the technology. Even watching shows and movies from the 80's is starting to look old fashioned even to me. Imagine that LOL. But yeah, Tom missed out on a lot and did die too young. When one of my friends loses a loved one, I always say, "don't worry, Tom will be at The Gates saying, 'welcome. Come along with me. I know Elvis and Hendrix. They're cool."

 

[alaskaleftybass]

A lot of Alaska Airline's growth included operations outside of Alaska, including military contract charters to SE Asia. Most of the cargo trips were with L-1649 or L-382 aircraft. Here, L-382 N9263R is unloading at Tuy Hoa, Viet Nam.

 

[BadExample]

That's you on the fork truck?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

That's you on the fork truck?

Them's Vietnamese, Bad!

 

[beans-on-toast]

He bought me my first Motorola cell phone that was data capable when most people didn't even think of cell phones.

That reminds me of my first cell phone. I used it for work.

It was a Motorola DynaTAC 8000x. It came with two antennas, a long one like in the image, and a stubby one. The power supply was the size of the phone and slid onto the back. There were two, a regular NiCad one and a larger more bulky one that held a charge longer. There was a red display for the number you were calling. The buttons would light up. It truly was a wonder.

Not knowing what the sound was when a call came in, people would tell me that my brief case was ringing.

The thing that strikes me the most about this phone is that the audio quality was as good as a land line. No phone that I’ve had since, except for the more recent iPhone, has even come close to matching it.

 

[GonePlaid]

That reminds me of my first cell phone. I used it for work.

It was a Motorola DynaTAC 8000x. It came with two antennas, a long one like in the image, and a stubby one. The power supply was the size of the phone and slid onto the back. There were two, a regular NiCad one and a larger more bulky one that held a charge longer. There was a red display for the number you were calling. The buttons would light up. It truly was a wonder.

Not knowing what the sound was when a call came in, people would tell me that my brief case was ringing.

The thing that strikes me the most about this phone is that the audio quality was as good as a land line. No phone that I’ve had since, except for the more recent iPhone, has even come close to matching it.





View attachment 3098330

Hard to "butt-dial" with that.

 

[Bflat]

Hey GOF's
anyone have a remedy for arthritis in the fingers as it is starting to effect my playing........not fun!!
thanks

 

[BadExample]

I thought I was doing ok. Started playing again. Played White Wedding. Whole arm went numb and set me back a month. So don't play White Wedding!

 

[BadExample]

Hard to "butt-dial" with that.

Does that take a big butt or a pointy GOF frog butt?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Hey GOF's
anyone have a remedy for arthritis in the fingers as it is starting to effect my playing........not fun!!
thanks

Wife and I have done a lot of study on this and of course... allergies, sounds odd, but ask your doctor what kind of foods you're eating could contribute to arthritis. Wife gives me two glucosamin/condroiton tablets daily. We ran out a while back for a week and I sure felt a bit more sore until taking another regimen of the pills for a week. Believe me, it makes a difference! Kirkland Signature at Costco or Amazon, your choice.

 

[SoulReflection]

My wife and I were at our home-away-from-home RV this weekend when we got the mandatory evacuation notice from the fires in Lake County, CA. We were out in 20 minutes. Fortunately, our home is only an hour or so away and far enough from those infernos. My heart goes out to those not as fortunate to have the same choices. I also have a better appreciation for the fire fighters and emergency responders who put their lives on the line to save us and our property.

 

[GonePlaid]

My wife and I were at our home-away-from-home RV this weekend when we got the mandatory evacuation notice from the fires in Lake County, CA. We were out in 20 minutes. Fortunately, our home is only an hour or so away and far enough from those infernos. My heart goes out to those not as fortunate to have the same choices. I also have a better appreciation for the fire fighters and emergency responders who put their lives on the line to save us and our property.

AMEN to that, SR.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

My wife and I were at our home-away-from-home RV this weekend when we got the mandatory evacuation notice from the fires in Lake County, CA. We were out in 20 minutes. Fortunately, our home is only an hour or so away and far enough from those infernos. My heart goes out to those not as fortunate to have the same choices. I also have a better appreciation for the fire fighters and emergency responders who put their lives on the line to save us and our property.

We pray for all the people who lost their homes. I hope they come out ok.

This brings up a good subject for me. Talking about pills earlier, wife and I (as you probably are familiar with LOL) have to take certain medications every day. We get one or two tsunami warnings in Sitka a year. There's been a lot of discussion about how to stock up and how to have a trunk sized kit ready for emergencies. Something that would hold extra clothes, extra cleaning supplies, and of course, all the medicines and vitamins you take in a week or ten days.

I'm going to look for a kit that will allow us to store away 10 days worth of pills for both wife Carey and me. I think that's important. Also, I want to buy a good quality First Aid kit. Not a toy white plastic thing. A metal box about the size of a manual typewriter with ointments, band aids, etc. in it. We also always have 2.5 gallon bottles handy but empty them during freezing periods.

Any thoughts on this, GOF's?

 

[beans-on-toast]

Consider a Pilican case. They are water tight and strong. I have several and they stand up well.

They have a military line, Hardigg. You can find surplus ones at more affordable prices at military surplus stores and ebay.

Cases, Flashlights, Coolers, and Travel gear | Pelican

Medication is susceptable to high temperatures. It can affect potency and shelf life.