Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[agedhorse]

I completely missed the Mendocino fire! That's what I get for working 80 hour weeks on the road.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Well, probably not old enough to hang with you guys. I am only 64.

That’s enough so ask for your number.

Besides 64 is the new 50!

 

[Al Kraft]

Besides 64 is the new 50!

...best news I've heard all week!

 

[BadExample]

I completely missed the Mendocino fire! That's what I get for working 80 hour weeks on the road.

I don't miss 80 hr weeks. I haven't combined that with travel since my NAVAIR days. Not many 80 hrs at work for maybe 10 years now, but I did a few last year and worked a Sunday at 9 AM to Monday 3 AM.

 

[Al Kraft]

I don't miss 80 hr weeks. I haven't combined that with travel since my NAVAIR days. Not many 80 hrs at work for maybe 10 years now, but I did a few last year and worked a Sunday at 9 AM to Monday 3 AM.

I hear you on the NAVAIR days. Of course when you're supporting RDT&E across the country and internationally, FMS customers worldwide, and an operational Fleet that operates around the clock, many jobs don't have much of an opportunity for downtime. Add to that the fact that we have been at some level of a wartime OPTEMPO since the early 90's and there just aren't a lot of 9 to 5 positions.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I hope you didn't read anything negative towards you in my answer. "Putting out fires" is a common Washington DC expression regarding dealing with the aftermath of political gaffs/mistakes and distracting non-issues...I was using it in that context.

LOL That's exactly what I meant Al! I come from a long line of low level political enthusiasts-- my mom lost the State House by 3 votes in Wrangell when I was little. Political humor is a natural outlet for me--oops but not here... LOL...

 

[BadExample]

I hear you on the NAVAIR days. Of course when you're supporting RDT&E across the country and internationally, FMS customers worldwide, and an operational Fleet that operates around the clock, many jobs don't have much of an opportunity for downtime. Add to that the fact that we have been at some level of a wartime OPTEMPO since the early 90's and there just aren't a lot of 9 to 5 positions.

I don't ever remember two shifts on deployment. Detachments to Thailand always had night ops and usually weekend day flights as a minimum. The night life and all it's vices are pretty irresistible for those young enough to be turning wrenches. The result, usually a good 16 hour day, party at night. We had old aircraft, "O" level maintenance and flew twice as much as our competition on one of these trips. They had twice the aircraft, much newer, three or four times the ground crew, three levels of maintenance. They tried to make us a hydraulic tube and failed, so we had to wait for one from Cubi. We made over 95% of the sorties, they barely made over 50%. The take home is if you are good, you don't need sobriety or sleep on your side

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Good morning GOF's. Roll call! Report in all fingers toes-- thumbs accounted for.. what say ye GOF's-- what do you have planned this weekend?

Yesterday at work was exciting. We had five F 18's land at our local airport! Again Will was off to the airport to track down the pilots but alas they were in the Coast Guard secured area having coffee. Had they been in the Aero Petro area I could have gotten pics with them and said hi.

We live about five miles from the airport, and Carey was at home vacuuming, getting ready for our weekend. When the F-18's took off she thought either something bad happened or something really big was taking off. She called me at work. I was back in my building but got a chance to see them take off from the fire escape. Man! Talk about powerful sounding! I told Carey about the F-18's. My friend called me and said, "no wonder the enemy scurries like rats when our NAVY PLANES come in!" Edit: he actually said, no wonder they soil themselves, if you get my drift....

We are all wondering-- why are more and more military aircraft stopping in Sitka? There are no good theories. But these five birds were from the USS Theodore Roosevelt...

 

[BadExample]

Aye, Sir! All digits present and accounted for.

Port watch forward. Starboard watch stand fast.

Fingers and toes at parade rest since yesterday afternoon, awaiting roll call. And the little soldier gets restless!

Do you know what squadron the birds were in? I wouldn't worry too much about their presence until they start doing flight ops out of your back yard and come back with ordinance on the wing stations gone

I'd guess they're doing operations elsewhere and Sitka is a nice place to stop for fuel, maybe even rest overnight (RON). They've got a good secure area to get a cup of Joe without being mobbed like Elvis. If the big boat is nearby, this visit might just be a good excuse to get their feet on some terra firma. FLY NAVY!

 

[G-Dog]

Present! Accounting for my enhanced grumpiness by blaming this danged sciatica, with profuse apologies to Mrs. Dog. Talking to a neurosurgeon Thursday about surgery to repair herniated discs. Prayers welcomed.

 

[BadExample]

Prayers welcomed.

You got it babe.

 

[BadExample]

Tumeric Circumin 500 mg/day, cheap at Sam's club etc., takes 6 weeks to work. Better than any OTC or prescription NSAID, I've tried. It's a spice, for the most part.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Prayers go out to you @G-Dog . A hint to all GOF's. When you shop at Amazon, we select smile.amazon.com and choose the Wounded Warrior project. You wouldn't believe how quickly the dollars build up. Being on an island in Alaska, we do much shopping on Amazon.

The young whippersnappers running the City Assembly in all their wisdom decided to eliminate the Senior Tax Exemption. An old troll who works in Finance, actually runs it, was behind the campaign. He went to the high school and said if we keep the Senior Tax Exemption, we have to take away school funding for the high school. As a result, when the discussion came up at a City meeting, the room filled with students who took turns speaking out against the Senior Exemption. I was so burned. The troll needs to be retired. So, moral of story-- a lot of Sitkans shop on Amazon now and neither the City or the local stores know why!

Anyway, hoping for best results for you, @G-Dog .

 

[agedhorse]

All fingers & toes accounted for, putting away the last of the PA gear from this summer's season. Means cleaning and testing 30 speaker cabinets, 7 racks full of gear, wireless, etc. One more day and it will all be back on the shelves.

 

[GonePlaid]

Good morning GOF's. Roll call! Report in all fingers toes-- thumbs accounted for.. what say ye GOF's-- what do you have planned this weekend?

Yesterday at work was exciting. We had five F 18's land at our local airport! Again Will was off to the airport to track down the pilots but alas they were in the Coast Guard secured area having coffee. Had they been in the Aero Petro area I could have gotten pics with them and said hi.

We live about five miles from the airport, and Carey was at home vacuuming, getting ready for our weekend. When the F-18's took off she thought either something bad happened or something really big was taking off. She called me at work. I was back in my building but got a chance to see them take off from the fire escape. Man! Talk about powerful sounding! I told Carey about the F-18's. My friend called me and said, "no wonder the enemy scurries like rats when our NAVY PLANES come in!" Edit: he actually said, no wonder they soil themselves, if you get my drift....

We are all wondering-- why are more and more military aircraft stopping in Sitka? There are no good theories. But these five birds were from the USS Theodore Roosevelt...

Better coffee? When I was stationed at North Island, anytime things went awry we'd just say"breaks of Naval Air". I kinda wonder if that expression is still used(that was '66-67).

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Better coffee? When I was stationed at North Island, anytime things went awry we'd just say"breaks of Naval Air". I kinda wonder if that expression is still used(that was '66-67).

LOL on coffee.

Here's a pic someone posted a video on FB from Sitka. I wish they would have posted on YouTube, I could have shared the video....

Landing, guiding in, and parking in formation by the CG base...

 

[BassmanPaul]

Present! Accounting for my enhanced grumpiness by blaming this danged sciatica, with profuse apologies to Mrs. Dog. Talking to a neurosurgeon Thursday about surgery to repair herniated discs. Prayers welcomed.

As aways good thoughts emanate from here in East Toronto.

I went to see a neurosurgeon once but he couldn’t find anything! Kinda explains a lot!

 

[GonePlaid]

As aways good thoughts emanate from here in East Toronto.

I went to see a neurosurgeon once but he couldn’t find anything! Kinda explains a lot!

My visits to the brain surgeon and the urologist produced similar diagnoses.

 

[Al Kraft]

Better coffee? When I was stationed at North Island, anytime things went awry we'd just say"breaks of Naval Air". I kinda wonder if that expression is still used(that was '66-67).

It still is!

 

[GonePlaid]

It still is!

Good to know. I still use it and get very quizzical looks.