I hope everyone had a nice Christmas yesterday

Good morning, I hope everyone had a nice Christmas yesterday. My wife and I didn't do anything special. We are going to celebrate Christmas tomorrow evening after our son John A. comes. I am picking up John A. from the airport in Kansas City tomorrow morning. John A. spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with my parents in Port Orange Florida and then they took him back to Naval Station Mayport. He will work on the ship, the USS Doyle today and tonight and then go to the airport in Jacksonville Florida in the morning to catch a plane to come here for a week.

John A. in yellow shirt with my cousin John M right.

Mom, John A. and Dad

John A.

John A. giving my grandfather ( also named John ) a present.

John A.

John A., Dad, and Mom

John A.

John A. opening a present

John A. and Mom

Merry Christmas Everyone

Here’s a holiday video from 1950 depicting Christmas celebrations around the world: in the United States, England, Holland, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, Canada, and Mexico.

Christmas in Florida

My son John stationed at Mayport Naval Station and serving on the USS Doyle went to my parents today for Christmas. They will be having Christmas dinner at my aunt and uncles house Christmas day. They have the table set up for 20 family and friends. Above is a picture of John with my Dad. John will be going back to base Christmas night and then work on the 26. He will be catching a plane on the 27th to come visit us and stay here until the 3rd.

Christmas Dinner Table all set up at my Aunt Kathleen's house

NORAD Tracks Santa 2007

ICBM’s aren’t the only thing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will be tracking this Christmas, and Google ( which is everywhere, and knows everything ) is giving them a hand. The annual NORAD Tracks Santa page is back, and this year it comes with some extra Google goodies.

This year you can also Track Santa in 3D with Google Earth. Go here to Download the Santa Tracker.

http://www.noradsanta.org/

The Good Old Days

Just looking through some vintage ads and came across these two just in time for Christmas.

Have things gone too Far?

Click on Image for full size version.

This is from the City of Chicago. You can find it on the City of Chicago's website here. If terrorists do their dirty work by spreading, well, terror, what should we call public servants who aggressively promote fear and unhinged suspicions by telling the public to report note takers, binoculars users, camera and video enthusiasts, map owners, and motorists who time traffic lights?

Link to Original Document

We support our troops. Send them your love with an eCarePackage.

Whether or not you are for or against the war, there is one thing we all have in common. We support our troops. Send them your love with an eCarePackage. You can choose a troop you already know, through their registration code, or pick one who has been waiting the longest for some love. Most of them ask for simple items like cards with words of encouragement, candy, cookies or games. You can buy a basic gift package for $7 (men)/$8 (women).

http://www.ecarepackage.org/

It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending "Video"

S.N.L It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending

Our First Snow

We had our first snow for the season yesterday. We didn't get much, about 4 inches but it was nice. I took some pictures from our front porch so you could see.







If you have been doing your Christmas shopping you might want to head on over to wikiHow and read "How to Wrap a Present" it's all illustrated for you...

Still have a brace on my left arm

I have not been posting much because I still have a brace on my left arm from the surgery that I had over a week ago. It's really hard to type this way. The surgeon told me yesterday that I will have to keep the brace on another week. I will start posting more after I get this thing off....

My left arm in the brace

My wrist under the brace when I took it off to wash my arm today.

ALS sufferer needs views to help him win $25000 to remodel.

John Bork of Buffalo, NY is a general contractor who has been recently diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He has spent his life remodeling the homes of his clients, friends and family. The family home is now in need of repair to help him perform daily tasks that you or I may take for granted. Tasks like using the bathroom, taking a shower, eating dinner with his family or simply leaving the house. This is his family's Christmas wish list...



Contest info here: http://www.homedepot.com/youtube


For those who don't know about it.

Decorated the house for Christmas

I haven't been posting much since my left arm and hand are still in a brace from surgery that I had last week. It makes it really hard to type like this. In the mean time my wife Vicki has started to decorate the house for Christmas. Our son John stationed at Naval Station Mayport is coming home on the 27th of Dec for a week and we wanted the house to look nice for him. Our daughter Cindy is still at Naval Station Great Lakes and will be spending Christmas with her boyfriend Doug's family in Indiana this year and then move to her new assignment in San Diego, Ca the 3rd of January.

National Pearl Harbor Day

Governor directs flags to half-staff for National Pearl Harbor Day

A statement from Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius:

“On December 7th, 1941, war found its way to our shores.

“The attack on Pearl Harbor inspired a generation of Americans to defend the liberty of our country abroad and this era is galvanized in our collective memory as one of bravery, sacrifice and national unity.

“I have directed flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, December 7th throughout State of Kansas facilities and buildings. I urge all Kansans to do the same at their homes and businesses to show their respect for the memory of those men and woman who lost their lives on that day.”

President George W. Bush issued a proclamation requesting all federal institutions lower their flags on National Pearl Harbor Day and asked states to follow suit.

Heavy Snow in the forecast

Our front porch decorated for Christmas

Click on image for full size version

It looks like we might just get our first real taste of winter this weekend here in South East Kansas with Heavy Snow in the forecast. I'm kinda looking forward to it, at least I will have a good excuse not to have to shovel with my hand all bandaged up. ; ) By the way, I finally got to sleep and I feel rested.

Can't Sleep

I's almost 3:30am and I can't sleep. I had surgery to remove a large cyst that was deep in the joint of my left my wrist yesterday and the pain is killing me. We'll not killing me but it just hurts too bad to sleep. The Dr gave me vicodin for the pain but it's not really helping that much. Hopefully this will get better within the next few days...

Cindy still at Navy Station Great Lakes

I had a call from my daughter Cindy ( FC-CIWS ) today. She is still at Navy Station Great Lakes. She will be there until the 20th of Dec and then spend Christmas with her boyfriend Doug and his family. Doug is also in the Navy as an ET3. Cindy will report to San Diego Ca. for her FC-C School to learn the MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System on Jan 2, 2008. Cindy was doing well and sounded happy, she was promoted to an E-3 this month and expects to get E-4 by next June.

More Pictures from Great Lakes Navy

My son John now on the USS Doyle stationed in Mayport Florida took these pictures while he was still at Naval Station Great Lakes after he finished his OS-A School there. As always to see the images full size just click on them.

Picture of John after winning a digital camera

This is a picture of my son John A after he won a digital camera on Thanksgiving day in a Trivia contest on base from the Great Lakes USO. The camera is a Sony Cybershot DSCW55 7.2 mp . He is currently in Mayport Florida.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC - W55 7.2 mp

Sony Cybershot DSCW55 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) at amazon.com

Advice for Navy Boot Camp

My son John posted this on his Blog in October 2007 and it is good advice for anyone going into boot camp. I get so many questions from parents, wives, husbands, family and so on I thought I would re-post it here for you to read.

This is what my son had to say about Navy Boot Camp.

I finished Navy boot camp back on August 10th, it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, I think the hardest part was establishing teamwork in the division. There are so many different people from all over the U.S. and the world, not everyone is going to get along with each other. We had people yelling at each other and never getting along. We didn't really even start to come together as a team until about week 6.

One thing I really had a hard time getting use to was being bossed around and getting yelled at. I didn't take any of the yelling personally, because I know it is the job of the recruit division commanders to turn us from normal people into sailors, but still, being woken up each morning by yelling and having it continue throughout the day becomes stressful.

With that said I would like to give some good hints on how to deal with Navy boot camp. ( although some of these will apply to Army, Air Force, and Marines ).

1. Don't be sensitive
Don't take things that are said to you personally while in boot camp, even if it's by another recruit. All that does is cause you more stress. If a recruit division commander (RDC) yells at you for something just respond with "aye aye petty officer/chief" or "yes petty officer/chief". If another recruit yells at you just ignore them. If they are trying to correct you just listen to them and correct yourself.

2. Teamwork
Learn to work as part of a team. In order for a team to form everyone has to be able to have an active roll. Don't separate yourself from the others and don't let others become isolated from the group. If you see someone that isn't quite part of the team then have them help you with whatever the current task is. Another part of this is never leaving a shipmate behind. If someone is having a hard time with folding or running or push up, or anything else, then help them! I had this guy next to me at boot camp that really sucked at folding his shirts and pants. Every night I would help him with folding and make sure everything in his rack locker was organized correctly.

I believe the most common things people struggle with are swimming, running, folding, and making racks.

3. Never give up
If you give up you will never get anywhere. Just keep trying and seek help from your division (teamwork!). When you're doing the 20 minute run and you feel like you can't go anymore just keep trying. That only lasts for a little bit then you get more energy. Just slow your breathing down, and keep your current speed.

4. Take advantage of Holiday Routine (Sunday)
Every Sunday you get about 5 hours of free time. Take advantage of that. Take a break; write letters, go to church, get to know other people in your division. Letters were very important to me in boot camp. They are what kept me going. I made my dad write to me every day and I was able to respond every Sunday.

5. Attention to details
Pay attention to what you're doing. Do exactly what you're told, don't assume the RDCs mean for what they say to be interpreted a different way. This happened a lot in my division.

6. Sleep when allowed
When you're allowed to sleep actually take advantage of it, don't stay up talking to other people, you can talk at other times, use your sleeping time to regain your energy and rest. This will help A LOT.

7. Eat healthy
The galley's at boot camp offer a large variety of foods, make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. (The galley will have a salad bar in it too.) Balance you meals out make sure you have a little of everything. Here is what I did in boot camp.
1 - meat
1 - cup of milk (not before running or PT)
2 - fruits (usually a peach and a banana)
2 - vegetables (whatever they had as the main vegetables and a salad)
2 - grains Usually a roll and one of the things in the main line.

General knowledge to know before joining the navy

Before you join the navy, or before you go to boot camp, it is a good idea to know some information so you will have a bit of a head start. This information is covered in the delayed entry program, but most people (including me) never bother in learning the stuff until forced to in boot camp.

11 General Orders of a Sentry

You will be required to quote all of these at random times throughout boot camp. You are expected to know this after the processing days (p days)

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

RTC Maxim

I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those among us who do.

Sailors Creed

I am a United States Sailor.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.

Firefox update 2.0.0.11

The Mozilla Firefox team has released Firefox 2.0.0.10 just two days ago but a bug discovered after the release prompted them to take immediate action. The bug is affecting an important HTML element interface which makes some extensions and websites unusable with that version of Firefox.

You can download the Firefox update 2.0.0.11 by clicking on Help / then Check for Updates on Firefox's menu.