Blog Title: Shot in the Dark

Wednesday Hero - Airman Melissa Pyle

Airman Melissa Pyle


Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Melissa Pyle mans a jet blast deflector station on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Gulf Of Oman. Theodore Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Wednesday Hero - 2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon
22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
October 17, 2006


2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.

CSI? Here??

I think something seriously wrong happened in the complex today.

Merry Christmas

To the Men and Women of the United States military, and all the armed forces around the world, thank you for everything that you do. And to those who are laying their heads down tonight in a foreign land, away from your loved ones, thank you so very much. Stay safe, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Merry Christmas.

Home for Christmas

Obviously out of my freaking mind!

Global Warming Hits Las Vegas?

Thanks Al.... dumbass



Click the photo for some unique footage of The Strip.

Wednesday Hero - Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Melinda

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys
28 years old from Fallon, Nevada
6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49
November 15, 2008


A funny, nice guy who loved to fly. That's how Christian P. Humphreys is remembered by his friends. "He was a great guy, always happy and had a joke," said Sean Whitney, a flight medic. "We used to play with our paintball guns in the cornfields behind his house."

Humphreys flew with the Fallon Naval Air Station Search and Rescue Longhorns from June 6, 2004, to May 5, 2006. He left the Navy and joined the Army as part of the "Blue to Green" program to become a helicopter pilot.

Humphreys, along with Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark, 37 years old from Tennessee, was killed when their OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed while on a mission over Mosul, Iraq. As a rescue crew chief, Humphreys was in charge of the operation behind the pilots. He made the decisions when to deploy rescue crews out of the helicopter to assist injured people, and he also took care of the equipment.

"He was a funny guy, a nice guy, a lot of character," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Schmidt. "The guy was always entertaining, always had something to say, but like everyone here, he displayed the professionalism in saving lives."

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys leaves behind a wife and parents.

Gas and Taxes

I had to fuel up today, for the long drive tomorrow and was startled to see this small sticker on the gas pump, itemizing the state and federal taxes charged on a gallon of gas.

1/2 Man, 1/2 Boy

The average age of the military man is 19 years.

He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity.

He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years!

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood..

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .

A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq , Afghanistan and all foreign countries.

Wednesday Hero - Spc. Jonnie L. Stiles

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Spc. Jonnie L Stiles
38 years old from Highlands Ranch, Colorado
769th Engineer Battalion, Louisiana Army National Guard
November 13, 2008


Louisiana National Guard spokesman Maj. Michael Kazmierzak said Spc. Jonnie L. Stiles had been serving as a gunner on a Humvee doing route clearance when and IED detonated near his vehicle in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He said the job typically involves checking roads for bombs and insurgents.

Stiles' wife, Launa, said that he was nearly killed last month when a suicide bomber blew up a military vehicle in front of his. She said he was still able to rescue three other soldiers and returned to duty before his 30-day recovery period was finished.

"He was strong and really cared for his men," she said.

Stiles was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and graduated from Littleton High School in Colorado. He served in the military for 17 years, first joining the Marines and then switching to the Army in 1999. He served three years at Fort Carson, left the Army and then returned as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard in the Summer of 2007.

Thank You, Dell

Fastest service ever, and yes it fit just fine in my car.

Ever Wondered Why Your Printer Doesn't Work

Mystery solved. Thanks Laura :)

67 Years Ago Today

You are not forgotton


If you haven't seen the Memorial and get the chance, you should go. Its a beautiful, peaceful tribute to such a tragic event.

Buy Dell - Now!!!!

My monitor died today... again. I have a beautiful Dell 24" Flat Panel monitor, I bought it online about a year and a half ago at Dell.com. I know there are bigger monitors out there, but until I can finagle a bigger work space this is the biggest monitor I can handle.

I didn't have any problems with it until about two month's ago. Amazing how quickly failure set in. One day it's absolutely wonderful. The next day I turn it on and nothing happens. The on/off button malfunctioned. Since it was more than 1 year old, I took it to a shop to get it fixed. $150 later, and all was well, until today. The button - not a switch, just a wee black button, recessed all the way down and ceased to function. Bummer. No power. No pretty picture. Just black screen. Again!!! Wah!

A very special friend of mine just happened to logon to Yahoo IM when I was surfing around for new monitors. Wow, 30" flat panels? These look awfully pretty. $1,123.99??!! Yikes!!!!

This special friend just happens to work for Dell, lucky girl - works from home, I am sooooo jealous. I told her what happened and she immediately jumped into "Dell Account Manager" mode.

"What's your technical support number?" Uhhhh. I don't have one. I have a serial numer, and oh yeah an order number (I found the packing list, I saved it, yay). Does that help? She types and types and Voila! she finds me. There I am. Ohhhh, but that was March 2007. A long time ago. "It shows here you rejected the extended warranty." Way to go, Julie...

"Let me look somewhere else," she says. A few seconds later and she mentions something about a few extra lines under the item on the original order. You should try calling the warranty department. Here's the 800 number.

I'm game. I call. What do I have to lose, just another several hundred dollars on a new flat panel monitor?

What's that? After reviewing your order Dell will process a replacement, your package will include authorizarion for return shipment, check your email for full details. Holy cow, they will replace my monitor and not charge me for shipping the old one back? Why the heck did I pay Nation's First Office Repair $150 to fix this? Who cares? I am getting a new monitor! Hip, Hip, Hooray!!

Thank You, Vonn.

Now.... if you want a PC, go buy a Dell. Now! :)

DILLIGAF

More funny stuff, courtesy of YouTube:

Lillet

I finally made it to the theater to see the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. It was another action extravaganza, and I really enjoyed it. It seems the new Bond is focused more on kicking butt, than shagging everything that walks. I am not being critical, in fact its a nice change. Whereas, I truly believe that Sean Connery was the quintessential Bond, I am definitely a fan of the new Bond - I think the new dimension add somethings to the whole series and makes it a little more interesting.

If you saw Casino Royale (or read the book), you may recall Bond requesting something other than the typical shaken, not stirred, martini. The drink is as follows: "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel."

I am not a gin drinker, I can't get past the taste of evergreen needles, but I have been wanting to try this drink, dubbed The Vesper Martini. I went and got some Gordon's but had a heck of a time tracking down the Kina Lillet.

Kina Lillet was created at the end of the 19th century in France, where wine-based tonics flavoured with quinine were popular. Over time the recipe for Lillet has been modified. Currently, there are two varieties of Lillet: less-sweet (blanc) and sweet (rouge) varieties. I also found that if a cocktail recipe specifies "Lillet" without also specifying "rouge" or "sweet" it always intends Lillet Blanc. Mystery solved.

After driving around and searching five different wine/liquor stores I finally found a bottle and decided to try out this drink. It sure does pack a wallop. I can't imagine drinking more than one of these in an evening. Perhaps its the gin, it takes a little getting used to.

Not wanting the alcohol to go to waste, nothing worse than alcohol abuse :), I looked for another recipe with this liquor and found the following:

Fino's Lillet Cocktail
1 1/2 ounce Boodles gin
1/2 ounce Cointreau
3/4 ounce Lillet Blanc
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass, garnish with an orange twist.

It would seem when you mix Lillet with Cointreau and gin, it brings out the orange and spice. The spice in the Lillet offsets the juniper-taste, so much so that you might be fooled into thinking the drink was vodka-based. Almost. The Cointreau, yet another 19th-century French liqueur made from orange peels, brings out a sense of sweetness.

Survey says: try it. Its very tasty, even if you're not a gin-fan.

Wednesday Hero - Spc. Matthew T. Morris

Spc. Matthew T. Morris
23 years old from Cedar Park, Texas
2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
April 06, 2008


"He was a very creative kid, and when he wasn't in a challenging environment, he tried to make life interesting," Glenn Morris, father of Spc. Morris, said. "He excelled in a military school structure and in a team environment."

Before enlisting in the Army in 2005, Morris attended the Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia where he met a history teacher who inspired him to want to become an educator. "After his service, he wanted to go back to school and get a four-year degree to become a teacher," said his mother, Lisa. "He wanted to make a difference and give back to the community."

Spc. Morris was killed when his vehicle encountered an IED in Balad, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Cpt. Ulises Burgos-Cruz.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you and your families have a peaceful, blessed and love filled holiday.

Wednesday Hero - Lance Cpl. Samuel Joyce

Lance Cpl. Samuel Joyce, from Boston, accepts a bagfull of toys during the Toys For Tots 5k Run at Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Runners donated new toys to the local Marine's Toys for Tots program.

Oh Boy

Welcome to O'Hare - another holiday back home. I think I'm ready. :)

Puget Sound

Visiting the Flying Heritage Collection in Washington, I happened upon Mark and a few other fellow Mini owners.

Wednesday Hero - Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody
55 years old from Fort Belvoir, Virginia


Call it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, ascended Friday to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.

At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform, said it was a credit to the Army—and a great surprise to her—that she would make history in a male-dominated military.

"Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding," she told a standing-room-only auditorium. "Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family.

"It was clear to me that my Army experience was just going to be a two-year detour en route to my fitness profession," she added. "So when asked, `Ann, did you ever think you were going to be a general officer, to say nothing about a four-star?' I say, `Not in my wildest dreams.'

"There is no one more surprised than I—except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, `Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.'"

You can read the rest of Gen. Dunwoody's story here.

Happy Birthday

OK... It's a day early. The not so big day is actually tomorrow. When I got to work today, this was waiting for me. How sweet! Literally. I see a chocolate mini muffin in there :). That was sooo nice of them.

One of Life's Perks

Stopped for a quick cup in Apple Valley. Used to come by here a lot about six years ago. Nice that some things don't change. Good coffee.

Its that time again

I'm sorry the SCMC is headed to Lake Havasu next weekend and you can't go with them. Its my birthday, not yours. I made other plans. Surely, you can understand that there are times when I just can't take you with me.

Its not like you sit in this garage day in and day out getting ignored.

We go out every day, you know. And on the weekends. You are not even four months old and you have more than 4900 miles on that odometer of yours.

Are you just going to sit there and sulk?



OK, OK... quit pouting. How about we go on a road trip this weekend. Just you and me. Will that make you happy?

Geesh - barely four months old and I have already spoiled him.