070406-N-5961C-011 SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 6, 2007) - Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class David Rankin stands by to direct the SH-60 helicopter assigned to the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 4 to the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Rankin, a native of Warrinton, Ore., was flying during an weapons off load between Reagan and the Military Sealift Command (MSC) ammunition ship USNS Flint (T-AE 32). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is currently underway in the South China Sea on a surge deployment in support of U.S. military operations. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call (RELEASED)
070417-N-3659B-310 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 17, 2007) - Chief Electronics Technician Andrew Belanger, a member of the Damage Control Training Team aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), teaches shipboard fire fighting techniques to a group of "Tigers" during tiger general quarters held in the hangar bay of Ronald Reagan. Nearly 500 family members and friends joined Sailors assigned to Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group for a Tiger Cruise to see their loved ones at work. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac (RELEASED)
070420-N-2959L-071 CORONADO, Calif. (April 20, 2007) - Assistant Navigator Lt. Joseph Levy looks out the bridge windows of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) while his watch team works to ensure a safe pull in to homeport. Ronald Reagan Strike Group returned to homeport following a surge deployment in support of operations in the western Pacific. During the three-month deployment, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier took part in naval exercises with the Republic of Korea and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Sailors also enjoyed port visits in Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong; Buson, Republic of Korea; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique M. Lasco (RELEASED)
070420-N-0555B-186 CORONADO, Calif. (April 20, 2007) - Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Brandon Yahr is welcomed home with a kiss after returning from a three-month deployment aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group returned to homeport following a surge deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific. During the three-month deployment, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier took part in naval exercises with the Republic of Korea and Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces. The crew also enjoyed port visits in Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong; Busan, Republic of Korea and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher D. Blachly (RELEASED)
What was that woman's name from L.A. that "I liked a lot"? Allison? I remember she told me her mother was from China. She came over to my desk one day at Microsoft and picked up the Ironman Utah finisher's medal that was on my desk. She put around her neck and I told her it looked cute on her. I wonderf if my wife did something like that. I have been thinking that I have won the Ironman triathlon some time in the past. It could have been one of my Olympic gold medals my wife was wearing, but I'm not sure if I told her about all that. I was probably still racing in Ironman triathlons when we were dating though. I don't know why I would not have told her about the Olympics. I can almost explain it but I can't quite get to that part of my mind yet.
From 3/3/1959 to 2/11/1989 is: 359 months, 8 days
From 3/3/1959 to 2/11/1989 is: 359 months, 1 week, 1 day
From 3/4/1959 to 2/11/1989 is: 359 months, 1 week
Commissioned: 11 February 1989
USS Princeton (CG-59) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser guided-missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. She is armed with missiles and cannons capable of defeating threats in the air, on the sea, ashore, and underneath the sea. She is named for the Revolutionary War victories over the British by George Washington in and around the town of Princeton, New Jersey.
USS Princeton was the Navy's first Ticonderoga-class cruiser equipped with the AN/SPY-1B radar system.
She was first commanded by Captain Ted Hontz during her commissioning on February 11, 1989 in the Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula Mississippi. After transiting through the Panama Canal, she was stationed at Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
On the morning of February 18, 1991, while patrolling her operating area 28 NM off Failaka Island, Princeton was damaged by the explosion of two bottom moored influence mines (MANTA) in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. One mine went off just under the port rudder and the other went off just forward the starboard bow (most likely sympathetic detonation caused by the first explosion). The ship sustained a cracked superstructure, three buckled lines in the hull, a jammed port rudder, flooded #3 switchboard room (due to chillwater pipe cracks) and a damaged starboard shaft. In addition, two crew members sustained serious injuries, and one minor. Despite severe damage to her stern, her forward weapon systems and AEGIS combat system were back online within fifteen minutes. HMCS Athabaskan (DDH-282) risking great peril, was ordered north through the minefield in order to deliver damage control supplies to the severely damaged Princeton. Princeton remained on station for 30 hours until relieved. USS Adroit (MSO-509), a mine sweeper, guided the then crippled Princeton with a locked starboard shaft and locked port rudder, out of a large mine field which was on the west side of the tactically "fake" Marine and Invasion forces afloat. Temporary repairs were conducted in Bahrain, port of Jebel Ali near Dubai (performed by the Destroyer Tender on duty: The USS Acadia (AD-42)), and finally in drydock Dubai UAE, all of which took eight weeks, after which she returned to the United States under her own power for additional repairs. Princeton and crew were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 14, 2006
I have a memory of Micheal and Denzil doing the same thing when I was home on leave early after joining the Navy. I was annoyed because Denzil waited to buy a riding lawn mower after I moved away and I had used a push mower all that time before.
Commissioned: 11 February 1989
USS Princeton (CG-59) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser guided-missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. She is armed with missiles and cannons capable of defeating threats in the air, on the sea, ashore, and underneath the sea. She is named for the Revolutionary War victories over the British by George Washington in and around the town of Princeton, New Jersey.
USS Princeton was the Navy's first Ticonderoga-class cruiser equipped with the AN/SPY-1B radar system.
She was first commanded by Captain Ted Hontz during her commissioning on February 11, 1989 in the Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula Mississippi. After transiting through the Panama Canal, she was stationed at Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
On the morning of February 18, 1991, while patrolling her operating area 28 NM off Failaka Island, Princeton was damaged by the explosion of two bottom moored influence mines (MANTA) in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. One mine went off just under the port rudder and the other went off just forward the starboard bow (most likely sympathetic detonation caused by the first explosion). The ship sustained a cracked superstructure, three buckled lines in the hull, a jammed port rudder, flooded #3 switchboard room (due to chillwater pipe cracks) and a damaged starboard shaft. In addition, two crew members sustained serious injuries, and one minor. Despite severe damage to her stern, her forward weapon systems and AEGIS combat system were back online within fifteen minutes. HMCS Athabaskan (DDH-282) risking great peril, was ordered north through the minefield in order to deliver damage control supplies to the severely damaged Princeton. Princeton remained on station for 30 hours until relieved. USS Adroit (MSO-509), a mine sweeper, guided the then crippled Princeton with a locked starboard shaft and locked port rudder, out of a large mine field which was on the west side of the tactically "fake" Marine and Invasion forces afloat. Temporary repairs were conducted in Bahrain, port of Jebel Ali near Dubai (performed by the Destroyer Tender on duty: The USS Acadia (AD-42)), and finally in drydock Dubai UAE, all of which took eight weeks, after which she returned to the United States under her own power for additional repairs. Princeton and crew were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 14, 2006
I have a memory of Micheal and Denzil doing the same thing when I was home on leave early after joining the Navy. I was annoyed because Denzil waited to buy a riding lawn mower after I moved away and I had used a push mower all that time before.
I'm getting a better sense of a 4th. I remember that girl that waited on me at that Starbucks I walk to, that one that is farthest away from here, is it 4th street? Anyway, I don't think I know her but I would sure like to. And also, I'm wondering about all that Augment subject in Star Trek, lately of Enterprise. I don't think they called them Augments until Enterprise, but they started out with the so-called "supermen" of Khan.
There is actually Dr. Bishar from DS9, which I would identify closer to. If, that is, I indeed have been genectically enhanced. Don't even know if that is possible.
There is actually Dr. Bishar from DS9, which I would identify closer to. If, that is, I indeed have been genectically enhanced. Don't even know if that is possible.
Also, left a message to document the extent of the oppression and thievery I am being subjected to.
I guess these morons around here think this is all a game, that they are those cackling people in the final people of TNG, heckling Picard. Keep it up motherfuckers, you're just going to get a broken nose.
But, as with everything, that is what they want me to do. They want to provoke and agitate me as much as possible. I am wondering if they see me as some kind of "Rambo" character. That may explain something someone said to me as I was quitting Microsoft, something about me leaving and "drifting" across the country.
I was thinking earlier about this woman I remember staying with after returning from the Persian Gulf in 1988. I had a watch that had some storage memory in it and I put her telephone number in it and I abbreviated her name to "JeBo" from Jeannine Bowman. She liked the nickname a lot and started using it in letters she sent to me.
I was thinking earlier about this woman I remember staying with after returning from the Persian Gulf in 1988. I had a watch that had some storage memory in it and I put her telephone number in it and I abbreviated her name to "JeBo" from Jeannine Bowman. She liked the nickname a lot and started using it in letters she sent to me.
Last night, after watching Jack Black on Leno, I remembered a time when someone told me I had a nice belt. It was from a newspaper article when they showed a group of us from my TARGETS class meeting with a state congressman at the Ashdown city hall. Looking at a photo on USNA.edu, I was reminded of that dome structure on the Ashdown city hall.
How these people can lay around here and not watch the news on tv is goddamn beyond me.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 14, 2006, Supplemental
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 14, 2006, Supplemental
I need to go check out that Museum of Flight, that might jog some memories. Yesterday, I remembered something weird I said several years ago that seems especially relevant now. I was at dinner with Jon Langdon and his super-cute wife. For some reason that now seems really odd, for lack of a better word, I made a joke to the waitress about Langdon. I told her something about him being my youngest son from my third wife. Hell, he probably could pass for my son. I can't remember how old he is, probably too old, or maybe not. Don't know. But that is probably why he was there.
Sarajevo ! ?? What is it about Sarajevo??? That struck me as I saw something about it on the news today. I can remember thinking about Sarajevo back at Microsoft because I think Sharon was from Yugoslavia, or maybe not Yugoslavia, but somewhere nearby I think. It was somewhere that made me think of Sarajevo. I don't think she was from Sarajevo, but I don't know. I didn't really talk to her about it because my memory told me that I almost went to Sarajevo. When I left the Wainwright in Monaco, Dubrovnik was their next stop. Mogge told me later that it had been a nice place to visit but I was better off leaving the ship to head back to the States for my new job. As soon as I heard them mention Sarajevo, I'm not sure how to describe it. It feels like my mind got heavier, heavier with forgotten memories.
I was thinking today about the anagram: RR KEY
Why am I still here? Does someone think I need to develop more cynicism in my character?
I've been thinking for a while now about how my half-brother, Kevin, was married to a woman named Sara. It was in the early 90's when I was talking to him those times.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 15, 2006
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 15, 2006
IF I was in Sarajevo back in the early 90's, I hope I was a counter-sniper sniper, trying to stop those bastards that were shooting at civilians. Maybe that experience is the basis for something I was writing about a couple years ago. I was writing in my journal about sitting in the back room where we stored the trash in that house where we lived in De Queen.
I can't remember the details of a dream I had this morning. But it seemed that someone was trying to talk to my real self. I still don't actually remember my real life.
A few days ago I was wondering if I had been shot in the chest while wearing a bullet proof vest. That would explain a lot.
I wrote in my notes yesterday about a memory I have from the Wainwright. George Campbell, a search radar FC, was goofily imitating that opening credits sequence to that ancient tv series My Three Sons.
I was thinking last night too, after they closed up this day care center computer room, about the school I went to at Dam Neck. As with the Bashir character, I finished 2nd in that final school. I had first pick of orders, but my class standing was second place. There is also some kind of drama in my memory about my score, something about me not getting a scholastic award the instructor told me I had qualified for. But there is also something about my score, as in I should have had a higher score.
When I was preparing to enter boot camp, my mom told me I could not have picked a more hilly terrain to jog on.
I was thinking yesterday about a time when I started taking off my helmet when I was riding my bicycle. After I went face first into the sidewalk on 2/1/02, I remember telling a friend at work that I had been wearing my helmet because I had actually been getting into the habit of not wearing it. My face actually made contact with the concrete, but only a fraction of a second after the edge of my helmet hit. I can remember the back of the helmet feeling like it was digging into the back of my head. I would probably have been seriously injured if I had not been wearing my helmet that day. I suspect someone was somehow hypnotizing, or whatever this thing is that is happening to me, to stop wearing my helmet and then they caused those bike crashes in late '01 and early '02.
I'm thinking of that time on the Taylor. We were preparing to go out to sea the first time. We were drilling on the protocols for helm operations. The conning officer was describing what we should do. It was kind of intimidating, thinking of being in control of his huge ship. But for some reason, I remember something almost like throwing caution to the wind and stepping up to be the first one to take the helm. I'm now unsure whether I was the first one, but I'm certain I was one of the first.
I'm thinking of this kid in school named Rhodes, I think that was the spelling. There was this time when I told him that Rhode Island was stupid, or something like that, and he told me that Burgess was a stupid battery, as it seems he had some batteries of that brand name. Not sure what started it, but seems important. Rhodes is also, I believe, the maiden name of that woman I was married to, Tracie Crooks.
There was that time when my Navy recruiter was prep'ing some of us for boot camp, teaching us marching, formations, etc. He made me some kind of group lead, I called everyone to let them know when we were meeting and other stuff. The recruiter, I think he was a Boiler Technician First Class Petty Officer, was teaching me how to use Navy forms. I remember listing my rank as ET/SN, while the proper format would have been ETSN, although technically, I would not have been actually rated as an ET until I completed ET "A" school, for which I had originally signed up but then changed to FC, after which my rank would be ET3. Until I finished "A," school, my rank would have just been SN. As it turned out though, since I went out to the fleet as a non-rated SN, I was promoted in the field to FC3 and then went to FC "A" school having already earned the rank that all my classmates would receive after we graduated. I've starting thinking of that today in terms of TNG where Wesley Crusher was an Acting Ensign before he went to the Academy. It's not precisely the same, but it's close in concept. If I'm not mistaken, the Royal Navy using that "acting" concept in their ranks. The U.S. Navy doesn't use that, as far as I know, but we do have something I think may be similar, which is "frocking." That is where you get to wear the rank before you actually get promoted to the corresponding paygrade. So you have the authority associated with the rank, but you may not get paid for it for a while.
I was also thinking more about that guy in boot camp. Rumor was that he had been an Officer Candidate but dropped out and went into the enlisted ranks. The rumor was also that, while he was a Seaman Recruit as the rest of us, he was getting paid as a Chief.
I have this memory today, it seems like I have had it for 20 years, but I'm not sure about that. It was 1986 and we were at Micheal's funeral. His father, Denzil, my step-father, was grief-stricken over the death of his son. I was still in shock at that time. He told me that I was the only son he had left and that he was the only father I had left. My father had died the previous year. I remembered how Micheal told me at the funeral that he was sorry about my father dying.
I look at this one photo of a person who may have been my friend in my real life....I see a similarity to a woman I worked with at Microsoft. I like her. She was from Canada I think, of Egyptian descent. People talked about her being a lawyer before working at Microsoft as a TAM, but from what she told me, she had dropped out of law school. She and I were dancing at the Christmas party one time. She drove me home. I quipped at one point, for some reason, about how I had spent so much time in the North Atlantic, my offspring would be eskimo. I wanted to invite her up to my apartment when she dropped me off, but decided against it.
ah, damn......that princess with the pink car.....wish I could find the photo.....
I haven't seen the movie, but lately some previews for Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai have been playing on tv. There is something about that woman, where she reminds me of someone I was with. I have this unexplained sadness when I see her in those previews. And it feels like something is missing, I have this feeling that something is missing, can't explain it.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: Re: Journal June 15, 2006, Supplemental
...
And Suzanne Morgan at Microsoft is certainly no coincidence either. There was that day at that combined group meeting where Neil Leslie was preaching about doing bold, unexpected stuff. I was telling Suzanne something about how I would never have an affair with anyone I wasn't married to and she was telling me that I should. She may have not known anything about all this though. But I don't think it was a coincidence she was there. She was there, as with a lot of other people, to remind me of people I used to know.
