No word at all from Janet, last I knew she was willing to give it a shot.  My friends however, told me that she was living with a man.  I was just lost.  I understood that I was gone and she needed someone there.  I needed someone to be there too.… Read full post »

Barcelona is gone.  We passed the Rock of Gibraltar and circled in the nether world between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as we waited for our relief to arrive so we could begin the transit home.  Well, maybe I just mean Pier 12 at the Norfolk Naval Base.

Six t… Read full post »

so twisted

time travel bind the gut like bad cheese

quickening with anticipation

yet rolling on the floor

not that

sickened by fate  

torn like last years underpants

social networking throws a curve ball

slide into home

go on

dope burning my mind

like seashells on a beach cracking… Read full post »

I've been reprimanded for exposing my personal struggles in public.  The health stuff in particular.  I am going to make an assumption though that it is possible that one or two people may have noticed that my postings and my general presence has dried up to nearly nothing.  … Read full post »

I started to write here some two years ago.  I've seen a bit of success too.  Regardless of the chosen few myth I've been on big Salon, the cover, and received what I am sure many will consider too many Editors picks.  That being said, I am and have been most of my… Read full post »

Dropping like flies aren't they?  The icons and news makers of the 70's and 80's.  George Steinbrenner, colorful owner of the New York Yankees died suddenly this morning of a massive heart attack.  The Yankees are getting hit hard this week, with the passing of Bob Sheppard and now Ste… Read full post »

Resident beat and surrealist Jesse Mitchell are at an undisclosed location awaiting the arrival of their fifth child.  The last few years have been tough on them.  Maybe you folks could send a little congratulation to them.  I will update as things progress.  

I'm sorry … Read full post »

The question is, are there drugs that are currently illegal that I feel should be made legal again.  Fairly straight forward at the first glance but very difficult when all aspects are considered.  In a word, yes, there are drugs that legalization would would provide more control… Read full post »

I got pretty fond of the Spanish coast.  The people, the sights, the food.  Barcelona was one of the most memorable ports of call for me.  For one thing we spent almost two weeks there.  I know, that doesn't sound like much but for us transients it was as long as… Read full post »

This marks the beginning of a new series, a column if you would forgive the archaic terminology.  These may range from dead serious to humorous.  I hope that at least a couple of people will come to like them.  If you don't, well I understand.  Opinions are like assholes, everyone… Read full post »

It took me a while to pick one brush with death out of a few that were noteworthy.  I spent a few years in Uncle Sam's canoe club.  I was technically an avionics man, as any Navy vet knows this doesn't mean a lot at times since everyone gets assigned temporary… Read full post »

I guess that you could call me a regular guy.  I have a wife, kids, grandkids.  I have a house and a yard and a lawn mower.  I have a car and a small shed full of assorted tools and gardening implements.  I live in a very small village in Southern Illinois.  My… Read full post »

I imagine that many of you have noticed that I am not my old self these days.  Very few posts and even fewer comments.  In April, my old insurance was cancelled.  I was lucky, I was eligible to receive care through the Veterans Administration.  One unfortunate consequence has… Read full post »

Malaga was done for us.  We went back to sea and for a couple of weeks we did Op For exercises with the new arrival.  The whole crew was beginning to show the wear and tear of the intense and unending flight ops too.  More accidents, more injuries and on a… Read full post »

I was going to let the passing of singer /sausage maker/entrepreneur, Jimmy Dean go by without a word.  I write too many of these things and am always at risk of being accused of some kind of plagiarism since the facts of a person of notes life are hashed and rehashed.  As the… Read full post »

In it's first outing this post got 1 rate and 1 comment.  

Here I sit in my funky little writing room.  I am surrounded by the trappings of my life.  It's a lot like me I guess.  The walls are still uncovered soft pine tongue and groove planks save… Read full post »

Sailing off from Naples we were given an itinerary that had us stopping in Genoa.  Home of that Columbus guy.  You remember him, the guy who thought Hispaniola was India.  We got the talks and the off limits lists and the day before we were to pull in we were told that we… Read full post »

So Robin, I find this one to be beyond funny and a bit of cosmic truth too.  Enjoy!

Okay, I write a lot of these bits of obituary for celebrities.  This one is a little different since this is the first one that has been a relative of mine.  We didn't know each other.  I have no fond recollections to pass on of family gatherings.  She was a membe… Read full post »

How can this be foul?

Do they really come in threes?  Dennis Hopper, director/writer/actor, lost his battle with cancer today.  Hopper was an incredible actor having been in many films.  Some ground breaking, like Easy Rider which got him an Academy Award nomination (along with his co-writers) for… Read full post »

When the century changes the world reels.  The passage of one way of life to another with the longing for the peace and stability of the past.  This was the way we felt in 1922 when the Ford dealership arrived.  We had been clinging to the past long enough the old… Read full post »

Gary Coleman has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage yesterday.  Coleman was a part of the troubled cast of Diff'rent Strokes.  Cast mate Dana Plato died of an accidental drug overdose in 1995 and Todd Bridges who played the fabled Willis has had several run ins with… Read full post »

Another night under the pinball machine, fortunately there was not as much traffic there that night.  I knew it was pretty bad when going back to that ship was looking good.  Hot food and at least I had a three inch mattress on my rack.  All we got at the U.S.O.… Read full post »

It was the roughest weather anyone I talked to could remember in the bay, 10 and 12 foot swells rolled along side the Kennedy.   Since we were unable to go to the docks and tie up the liberty for us was controlled by the liberty boats.  They could only operate in fairly… Read full post »