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wrbones 03-04-2003 11:32 PM

Morning Coffee!
 
'Mornin' folks! How the hell are ya! Hope yer doin' good this mornin'! Coffee's on! Ya better grab a cup and get some! Find a seat and sit a spell!

I been thinkin'. I promised some folks we'd visit over somethin' I noticed years ago: Ya never know who yer sittin' beside! Fer example ya go into a bar and get yer drink and find a seat somewhere. Just fer example. We ain't chasin' wimmin in this situation. Just havin' a drink is all! LOL. Anyway, after a bit things get busy and ya gotta share yer space and folks start sittin' by ya and interactin' and talkin' and braggin' and all. Next thing ya know, ya look up and it's some celebrity sittin' there. If the light hadn't hit 'em just so, or they held their head just right or somethin' and ya finally recognized them. Maybe the next day ya saw another face on TV that was sittin' across from ya at that table. He's got handcuffs on, btw, and a buncha cops escortin' him, and the anchor person is tellin' in gory detail all that he's guilty of. Those things happened to me. Thing is, sittin' and havin' a drink with them, they were just folks. Nothin' abnormal about it at the time...'til I found out who they 'really were'.

I've sat by rock stars, celebrities, politicians, multi-millionaires, and in one case, at a business where I was a department manager, had a multi-billionaire walk in. He sure as shit didn't look like one when I met him! LOL. Didn't find out til much later the pull he had. C.I.A. contacts and all. Guy owned his own small airport and those C-130's that were bein' used fer Iran-Contra. I got lucky, though. I was in a good mood that day and didn't piss him off! LMAO.

Some folks around ya, where ever yer at, might be someone worth gettin' to know. One feller I met was decently dressed at a small party at a friend's house years ago. The friend was a bigwig regional sales manager fer a major food name brand. Anyway, he had a guest one night who was one of the most profound People I've ever met. Everything he said was worth listening to. Well spoken and well educated. Found out later he was homeless. Thing was, he didn't seem to mind much and almost acted as if he preferred his state in life. Learned a hard lesson that night. Thought I was over judgin' folks by their station in life, but I wasn't. Still workin' on it as a matter of fact, but at least I ain't foolin' myself over it no more.

I've met thousands of folks all over the Western United States since I left the Corps. I like to think that I learned something from all of them...but I hope that I've learned to be as un-judgemental as possible....for you never know who yer sittin' beside. I've met lots of folks in situations that seem un-likely, but I learned from all of them I hope.

Didn't get that said the way I wanted too, but it'll work.

Warm up yer coffee, folks! It's a new day! a new opportunity to get it right. A new opportunity to learn somethin', maybe. Might even get a chance to do it all better this go 'round!

thedrifter 03-05-2003 06:15 AM

Goodmorning

Weather is warm now 44...and rainy going to 55....Cold front is coming through later....which will turn the rain into snow.....Doesn't this sound familar.....LOL....

I had some motivation this morning.......Watch Goodmorning America.....I can say Lieutenant Gen. Earl B. Hailston is a Marine's Marine......I included an article I found....

Good Morning...America

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Shannon Arledge

MANAMA, Bahrain (March 5, 2003) -- The Marines of Marine Forces Central Command, Bahrain, welcomed a special guest today. Charles Gibson, co-anchor, ABC News Good Morning America and Prime Time took the opportunity to sit down with Lieutenant Gen. Earl B. Hailston, commanding general of Marine Forces Central Command. During a 30-minute interview, Gibson and Hailston talked about past military conflicts, the general's 35-year Marine Corps career, and the future of military forces in the Persian Gulf. Hailston said his forces are ready for any conflict--in the Persian Gulf or anywhere his Marines are called. Hailston wouldn't speculate on any upcoming battles, but would say today's Marines are prepared. The general added that if the United States and coalition forces are called on by the President, "We will win." Following the interview Gibson was treated to a tour of the Command Operations Center and shook hands with Marines anxious to meet him. The broadcast aired this morning at 7 a.m., EST, with live shots from Bahrain.

Sempers,

Roger

wrbones 03-05-2003 11:35 PM

'Morning folks! How ya doin' this fine Marine Corps mornin'! LOL. Good to see ya! Coffee's on and it's hot if it ain't good! Oughta open yer eyes anyway! LOL. Grab a cup and get some! Paper'll be along directly!

I had somethin' cross my mind when I was lookin' at somethin' else earlier today. Haven't thought about it much, but I thought I'd throw it out there and see what ya thought about it. What is it? Well, damn! give me a minute! LOL. I gotta figure how to start it.

Something about symbols.....

It seems to me that many of the symbols that we have in our society presently mean little or nothing to many folks. We all recognize some. The flag. The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence. Fer example I posted copies, in full, on leatherneck awhile back and they didn't get looked at much. Makes me wonder how much we know about what we all claim so vehemently to believe in. Maybe there's just a boatload of Constitutional scholars on the site and it's all old hat to them. Don't know. Just thinkin' out loud.

Other things, not so obvious, are the responsibilities that go along with being a business owner or manager. I touched on that awhile back in another thread, but I wanted to address it here. It fits. Folks in those positions today seem to make a lot out of gaining the symbols of material well-being, having all of the toys in the driveway, the three story, 4000 square foot house, the trips to Europe and the Bahamas and such. Dinners at the best places, the civic memberships and such like. Ya see that behavior in the smallest communities, too. That type of thing has always been around but has become more pervasive I believe. Meanwhile, their employees suffer at subsistence jobs or less in some cases, with no real chance to improve themselves because of finances.

When the symbols become more than the ideals, something has been lost. Yet, without the symbols of our supposed responsibility, we are lost already in many cases.

When the flag is no more, it will remain in my heart. When the Lord lets me win that lottery, I will not forget those who have less than I do.

The symbols represent what is in our heart, whether the extravagant display of our individual wealth,or of our patriotism, our hearts are fully revealed in how we treat or reveal our beliefs in the symbols we hold most holy.

Just a start on that subject, I think, but plenty enough for us to think about for the time being.

Warm up yer coffee, folks! Daylight's a wastin! Get yer head wrapped around yer day before ya head out!

It's a new opportunity, folks! Go out there and take advantage of it!

thedrifter 03-06-2003 02:07 PM

Goodafternoon

I know I'm late.....been a little busy this morning.......

Weather....is crazy.....sleeting now and the snow is coming.....What a mess......LOL.....Like we need more problems......

Well I would join again....but the enemy would here my body coming a mile away....LOL.....
My heart is in the right place.......

Well back to work.....Play time is over for me......

All have a good day......and Be Safe........

Sempers,

Roger

wrbones 03-07-2003 12:31 AM

Morning Cofee!
 
'Mornin' folks! How ya doin' this mornin'! Coffee's on! Grab a cup and get some! Paper'll be here directly!

I ain't gonna visit over anything big or deep this mornin'. Maybe. LOL. I was just thinkin' of the outdoors again today. We've had a strange few weeks here. It'll be nice fer a few days, then we'll get some snow and it'll be blustery and cold fer a few days. Kinda nice after last summer up here. Hot and smoky! Forest fires everywhere in the Black Hills last year. I like fall weather more than any other, I think. Winter is cool. Ya getta play in the snow...drivin' and shovelin' and folks skiin' up by deadwood and snowmobiles and they even have dog sled races over to Hill City! There's the pro rodeo circuit comes to Rapid City plus the stock show. There's a lot goin' on here, but it'd take way too long to list here! I ain't shittin' ya.

But I like fall.

The nastier weeds have died off, the bugs have, too. A person can go fer a long walk in the hills and not run across too many people if he knows where to go. Hell, ya can't get lost, just start walkin' down hill! There'll be a house or a road or somethin' along the way! I like the wind in those pines, too. Winter has it's beauty, but fall is the one I like. Ya see deer and if yer lucky, you'll see some elk, at least hear them! That's a noise you'll never forget the first time you hear it. There'll be prairie dogs , they have towns in the hills, too! We've got a few wolves and a healthy mountain lion population runnin' around as well. Shhh. Don't tell anybody. It might scare the tourists. You might see some antelope or a few bald eagles. Got a couple smaller birds that'll steal yer camp site blind if ya ain't careful. It's a rarity, and the Park Service denies it, but there's been reports of black bears, too. Seen their tracks, but I ain't seen them. Park Service doesn't believe anyone unless ya got a degree and are workin' fer them. Some places, they're not too well thought of.

Fall, you can go up to Crazy Horse on their Volksmarch nad get right up under the face of that mountain they're carvin'. I still can't believe that one. 600 feet tall. Hell, you can make out details of the face from the highway. Two miles from the mountain itself! It'll be fifty years til they're done with it, I think.

Spring, I like watchin' my flowers and the grass grow. That's about it, there. Summer gets kinda exciting with all of the tourists and all. All the attractions open and the tourists traps as well. Lots to see and do if you're a mind to. I figure a person could spend two weeks just drivin' by everything there is to see and do in the summer and not drive by everything. They got a dinosaur museum...remember, we're just a hop, skip and a jump from some fo the best dino hunting grounds in the world! Got a few museums worth seein', The Journey is the biggest, but they put it in the wrong place and then mis-managed it. I don't think it'll last long myself.

I've lived in a lot of different places over the last two decades and every place I've been, there's stuff like that to go, see and do. I've appreciated the beauty of each of those places, too.

Sometimes ya just gotta take a minute and look around ya. You might be surprised at what ya see.

Well, warm up yer coffee, folks! Life is! Coffee's on and we got another chance to have a cup and get it all sorted out! It's a new day. A new chance. Go out and take advantage of it!

wrbones 03-07-2003 11:03 PM

Morning Coffee!
 
'Mornin' folks! How the hell are ya! It's Saturday and the coffee's on! Grab a cup and get comfortable! Paper'll be here directly! It's the weekend! Ya got time to screw around maybe!

I remember....yeah, yeah. Just thinkin' out loud is all. Actually I'm kinda betwixt and between. I got two things I'm thinkin' about this mornin'. Saturday and screwin' around, or the nature of violence. Oh, hell. Let's screw around today!

I was thinkin' about some years ago, shortly after I got out of the Corps. I had a go at construction. Don't know what I was thinkin' really. If my knees couldn't take the Corps they weren't gonna abide by workin' construction! LOL. I lasted almost a year! LOL. Good experience workin' construction. Everyone oughta have a go at it once.

Anyway, some of the crew and our friends would get together nearly every Saturday and go fishin'. Sometimes we'd go early, long before the sun was up and other times we'd start a nit later....like about noon, depending on how hard we'd partied on payday! Thing is on those days, I somehow ended up fixin' breakfast fer everybody I knew those folks wouldn't have had much to eat between Friday night and Saturday morning. Hell, we spent nearly every waking hour together! Hard workin' bunch. Had a couple Veterans in the bunch besides me. Navy and two Army guys. Whatever we did, we seemed to go full bore. Did some good work, too.

I had a one bedroom apartment and on many a Saturday it'd be wall to wall people fer an hour or two. kids, moms, dad's and even a grandad or two. Had a re-tired gunsmith stop by a few times. I never did figure out how he got tied up with us....

I'd start with gettin' a buncha taters peeled and sliced....well, let me just give you an idea of the 'menu' on those particular Saturday mornings. Fried taters, eggs, toast, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, bacon and sausage, french toast, even fry up a few fish from the weekend before. Might have a few breakfast steaks, even. time to time there'd be a pie or some leftover cake as well. There was often more on that menu, but that was the basics. People eating and talkin' and visitin', drinkin' coffee and now and then a few would start on their drinkin' fer the day not long after breakfast. Remember, those Saturdays we wouldn't get rollin' til sometime after lunchtime! LOL.

Now some folks figure me fer not bein' much on havin' company over. I don't mind company. I'm just kinda picky about who I break bread with. Those people were simple folk. They were who they were. No pretensions. No social games. They were real. and they took care of each other. If they were mad, they were mad and let ya know it. If they were concerned about ya, they'd do somethin' about it. When it was yer birthday, they put together a party for ya, even if, from necessity, they skimped on the gifts, there'd be gifts.

Just thinkin' out loud this mornin' and rememberin' some friends I lost touch with a long time ago....

Warm up yer coffee, folks. It's Saturday. We'll get things sorted out one of these days! Hell, we got another chance to do it today! Enjoy yerself...and don't ferget to fix yerself a decent breakfast this mornin'.....even if ya don't get around to it til lunchtime!

wrbones 03-08-2003 11:47 PM

Morning Coffee!
 
'Mornin' folks! How ya doin' today! Coffee's on! Grab a cup and get settled! It's Sunday! Ya got all day to wake up and get yer eyes open! Paper'll be along directly! I got dibs on the funny pages!

OK. I was sayin' yesterday that I had somethin' on the nature of violence. Kinda uppity way of sayin' I was thinkin' about different types of violence ain't it! LOL. One thing, though. I never figured out how to get started on it. That's called a prologue or lead in sentence or some shit I think. Damned if I know. I'll let them college kids worry about stuff like that. People like Jerry fer instance! :D

Naw. I was just wonderin' about things is all. Just thinkin' about the way violence manifests itself. We see it in words. We see it in the way we treat people. Body language is what I was thinkin' about, too. You know, turn yer back on 'em, act like they're not there. That sort of thing. Other types of violence we're all too well aware of. Most of us have the ability to go bonzo on folks if it came down to it. We're pretty creative about that sort of thing.

It goes back to dominance and submission games in many respects. In any armed force, those things are absolutely necessary if we're to work together. But it's dominance with a difference. That difference is what makes us what we are. Beneath all the bullshit. Beneath all of the bluster, the arrogance, the strength, the force of will that we can bring to bear on anything....we care. Deeply and irrevocably. We care. That's why we'll visit violence on those who don't know, or don't listen... or those who bring violence to us.

We use violent words, strong and true, in our training. We use violent words, strong and true, in our humor. There are many who cannot understand this in us. It is a manifestation of our willingness and ability to bring down the wrath of God on those who violently oppose the depth and breadth of the goodness that we have in us. The reason we chose to enter a violent profession to begin with.

A soft answer turneth away wrath. A proverb that is true and good. There are times when 'wrath' is the only answer. Most times, such violence is not neccesary or needed. Soft words will go much farther than hard ones. Soft words are easier to eat when ya messed up, too!

I'm not saying that we should be either harsh nor soft at all times with our words and deeds, but that we should learn to know when one is more apt for any situation than another.

Humility is knowing your strengths and your weaknesses and freely acknowledging them to yerself if to no other. Humility is knowing what actions or words are needed for any given time or place. Strength is doin' what is right and good when necessary.

Violence is not pretty. We can also visit it on others thru arrogance or pride ( the bad kind ).We can visit it on folks when we lie, cheat or steal. By not keeping our word. Lots of different ways that violence comes among us. Violence is not a good thing. Sometimes it is necessary.


I'm gettin' bogged down in another of those topics that'd take a shelf full of books to explain and understand. I better quit while I'm still behind! LOL. Just somethin' I was wonderin' about yesterday is all.

Warm up yer coffee, folks! It's a good day! Take advantage of it!

wrbones 03-09-2003 11:00 PM

Morning Coffee!
 
'Mornin' folks! How ya doin' this mornin'! Coffee's on! Ya better grab a cup and find a place to park it somewhere! Come on! It's time to get yer eyes open and get yer head wrapped around yer day! Paper'll be inna bit ! I get the funny pages!

I was thinkin' yesterday. This is kinda hard fer me. Some folks might want to skip this one. I still get that feeling, ya know. After twenty years, I still get that feeling. I know some of ya have gotten past all of that, and from time to time I think I am, but sometimes in the middle of the night or even at noon, I still get that feeling. Sometimes it wakes me up at night. Sometimes I ferget what's goin' on around me. Other times I get a little short with folks around me. That feeling.....

Did I remember everything? Did I do it right? Are my people ready? What else can I do? I get that feeling that I'm never gonna get out of that situation. That it's gonna go on and on and on, with no end in sight. No rest. No peace. No other way to do it. Just to go through it.

Thank God it doesn't go on and on and on, but there are times.....

Now we've got folks in another situation that will seem to go on and on and on with no end in sight. Every day there're getting ready and gettin ready and getting ready. Fixin' what's broke. Cleanin' what ain't. spendin' more and more time with their fellow Marines than they have a hope in hell of spendin' with anyone else. You know what I'm sayin'.

When they come back...I hope that we can do something for them. Just be there. Listen. Sit and not say a damn thing if that's what they need. But just be there. Let them know that' it's over. Let them know that they aren't alone. Let them know that someone does care for them...no matter what. No-fucking-matter- what.

Kinda heavy way to start the day, but it's been on my mind and I hadda dump a little. Hadda let ya know that I think we oughta be there somehow, somewa...for our brothers.

You have any ideas, let me know. I'm fresh out.

It's a new day, people. We can do it. We can handle any damn thing if we wanta! It's a new opportunity. Let's go take advantage of it!

nang 03-10-2003 08:49 AM

I seriously believe that this here internet thing has to got to be a big help to alot of guys. It's always there- except if there's a power outage of course. You can keep some sort of annoymity(sp)if you wish. There is probably always goin to be someone around sooner or later that has been through the same thing before if not worse. And Lord knows- it always seems to be easier to sit and hunt and peck then actually talking sometimes,anyway. I appreciate the way you all can really open up about things. Let's all say this together -"I am not alone" say it again "I am not alone"
Oh well, that's my 2 cents anyways. Have a good day
Welcome Home
and
Thank you again :ab:

DMZ-LT 03-10-2003 09:03 AM

Thanks Nang, that is sooooo true. It's when you feel like the Lone Ranger that trouble is just around the corner. I am not alone , please tell your son thanks and that he is not alone either.


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