Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME????

Okay, my blood is boiling and I am pissed off. So the Houston Rockets owner tweets out support for the protesters in Hong Kong and the NBA FREAKS out. Banning players and everyone from talking about Hong Kong or anything that might displease the Communist Chinese. And the graphic of China on ESPN that shows Taiwan and the "9 dash line) in the South China Sea as their territory? So, they are alright with outright disrespect to this country on our own soil but god help them if they call out the Chinese on the bullshit they are doing. Ever heard of the over 1 million ethnic Uighur people being held in "re-education" camps under armed guard? Or that the Chinese government "forces" family members to come home and then interns them? Or the "Confucius Institutes" on major college campuses to keep track of their students and to ensure the colleges do not espouse anti-china rhetoric? When the hell is this country going to wake up and realize that China, not Russia, is a MAJOR issue and will soon be a peer which will challenge us in ways that they can then choose.

Wow.....has it been that long?

Well.....I decided I wanted to start a blog....and forgot i already had one! Been a few years since I last published anything. Still do not know if anyone reads this (and pretty much do not care)...this is for me. I left the shipyard life finally. Good money but there is more to life than stressing out and regretting hearing a phone ring. I am working in a cubicle now, a far cry from the vast shipyard I left. I am writing technical specs for the US Navy for ship repairs. Not exciting by any stretch but it pays the bills. I did start the EMT course here in Virginia Beach. I have been wanting to do that for a very long time and could never find the time. Well, I have discovered that if you wait for the time to become available, it never will so I made the time. I have been in class since June and will graduate in December. But, then it is massive study time to take the National Registry test. Damn difficult but nothing in life worthwhile comes easy as I have found. Been on two student runs thus far, my third is this Saturday, and it has been good. Was tepid on the first couple of calls but soon worked out of that....these people need help or they would not have called and I am that help. Saddle up cowboy, lives need saving! I have spent the last few years really trying to find myself after my retirement from the US Marine Corps. They took me in when no one else wanted to give me a chance and gave me a blank slate to do well or screw up as I saw fit. I "belonged" there. Now, I must find me again. EMT is really the first step in that. For my next thing I am thinking some sort of martial arts. Was always a fan of Tai Chi, even took a class in it back before I joined the Corps and loved it. But, that will take place after I pass my National Registry test!! Well, I hope to actually keep this thing rolling this time. Forgive me if I digress and do not post often. This was a couple of years ago but here is proud Dad with son at his family day prior to graduation from Fort Benning. Coffee, by the way, still kicks ass!!

Lets start the tale of two vessels...the CF20 and the John F Kennedy Staten Island Ferry. The CF20 is an Army powered causeway ferry. It is used in a JLOTS operations and is very good at what it does. However....working on this little piece of c#$p is painful. It is very small, it is like painting 9 boats vice 1, the engine rooms are filled with hidden corners are very difficult to reach areas to attempt painting. And due to the difficulty in painting this little POS, I am 5 weeks behind on the project. So much for making a spectacular entrance into my new position! The second vessel is the John F Kennedy, one of the storied Staten Island Ferries. When I had my interview to get this position, I told them I thought it was really cool they were working on these ferries. It was "commissioned" in 1965 and I swear, EVERYTHING is hazardous on this beast! It has lead in the paint, asbestos throughout, I was joking the other day that all it needs is PCB's to make it perfect! However, we have a great paint contractor working this vessel, and it seems, for the time being, I have a good working relationship with the NYCDOT folks. So far so good. After 5 1/2 years working for the "other" shipyard on the same class vessel that I retired from, it is nice to be working on such varied vessels.

Well, I have been with my new company for three months now. Hit the ground running! I came in for orientation and after it was over went to the back to see where I would be reporting into. My boss handed me a binder and told me my first vessel arrived on Thursday, three days later! Talk about hitting the ground running. It has been a blessing in disguise. It forced me to learn, quickly, the policies and procedures here on the fly. I have learned who to talk to for what, all the key players in the trades, and feel I have ingrained myself well into the fabric of this company. This shipyard is family owned for over 150 years and you really have to get along and become "part of the family" to make it here. So far, so good! My next job is coming on Monday....I am working the Staten Island Ferry, the John F Kennedy! I am really quite excited about working on this iconic vessel. Kinda cool.

Unemployed! And loving it!

Well, I ended my tenure with BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair last Friday. I am sad to leave the people that I worked with behind but it is time for something new and different. If you count the my time as a Combat Cargo Officer, I have either served on or repaired LHD US Navy ships for over 10 years! It shocked me when I suddenly realized that fact. Have no fear though. I do have another job. I will be working as a ship repair superintendent once again starting in March but with a new company. No more Navy ships however. Nope, going to be working on cmmercial vessels now. Much faster pace, no more 9 month monster repair periods....."Alright ya got a week, get it done!" Fast and furious work. It will be a welcome change of pace. A lot has happened in the time that has passed between now and my last post (I am the worlds worst blogger!). My son joined the US Army. He is training now in satellite communications. He wants to go to Airborne School so he can have some "chest candy" like his Grandfather (Marine Corps Pilot) or his old man (me) (Airborne and SCUBA qualified Recon Marine). i told him when he gets some stuff on his chest we will get a formal picture taken like me and my Dad did. My daughter is a athletic animal and a giant brain on top! Lettered in three sports so far in high school and she is a Sophmore! Plus she is in the Virginia Beach High Schools STEM Academy studying robotics! After my past and the hell I put my parents through, I do not deserve such kids. It's their Moms doing. She has been the rock of the household and she keeps them, and me, on the straight and narrow! Life is good so far!

Election year crap

Well it is official....I am completely burned out on politics. The really bad part about that is, and I am sure you are all aware, that it is really just beginning. The conventions haven't even been held yet! I can tell you this, the Republican convention can go one of two ways.....either the man with the most delegates gets the nod for the run, or the Republican Party will cease to exist. Like him or not, it looks as though Donald Trump will be the man with the most delegate but not the magic number needed to seal the deal. If the "establishment" robs him of the nomination, the Republican Party will cease to exist at that moment and we shall pretty much see an end to this great country. How in gods name a self avowed socialist and a straight up bald faced liar actually stand a chance to become president of this country......I am truly shocked and I am sure our founding fathers are rolling in their grave. I chalk it up to the current president and the way he has divided this country along so many seams. Color, race, income, sex, you name the way, he has ripped it apart. I really worry about this country and what we are leaving for our children to inherit. Did our parents have the same thoughts as they watched the politics of the day unfold?

Still working

Well, i survived the first round of the lay-offs. But, the big round is coming. Yhe WARN notice said 650 personnel would get the axe. So far, 185 laid off and another 50 or so through attrition. So the math states that close to 400 will get the axe on 11 Dec with the final day being 18 Dec. we shall see. For the world in general. I am so unsure of what is going on in the world today. It feels as though I am living in the world of "1984". If you haven't read the book, do and tell me I am dreaming. Particularly about who we are mad at and who we are friends with.......Seriously, I want a mountain cabin off the grid so I can clear my mind of this nonsense. One of these days, that cabin will be a reality. A two room structure, with An outhouse, water, solar panels, and a wind generator. Think that would cover it. my own place where I can be a free man. Dreams like these keep me sane most days. I have been designing this cabin in my head for years, how it will be laid out, how I will construct it, what kind of land I want. I have read that POW's that were "guests" of the North Vietnamese would do the same thing. Is that telling me something?