It is NOT fun attempting to TRY to figure it out. My Darling is 66, I am 62, still working, have health benefits I can keep after retirement. Trying to compute with the SS department is ridiculous... They sure get their $164.00 a month though...
D-League
- Thread starter Wildcat Droppings
- Start date
It is NOT fun attempting to TRY to figure it out. My Darling is 66, I am 62, still working, have health benefits I can keep after retirement. Trying to compute with the SS department is ridiculous... They sure get their $164.00 a month though...
Hello, we have a couples bible study every other Tuesday night now. I am the only one still working. A couple retired Colonel's, both also retired civil servants as well, a retired E-9, a medically retired soldier, and me plus our wives. Actually enjoyable. Been playing the guitar again for the music. Just got back. Had a statement made to me that if I heard it before I do not remember it but one Colonel was talking about a three star he worked for and the aid he picked that the GO decided he didn't want to be traveling with a fine looking woman all the time as it would give a bad appearance.
The GO stated he needed a woman that was "cosmetically acceptable" he could travel with. I just about lost it. Listening to these Ole boys "war" stories has been good. I have my own but not in that arena. Ate some decent food too. (They all enjoy coming to our home though as they have all had My Darlings cooking. We are hosting the 3rd of October it seems. I told them I was going to buy a few Costco pizza's. Thought I'd have to do push-ups.
Have a peaceful sleep and God Bless you of the D-League, one and all...
The GO stated he needed a woman that was "cosmetically acceptable" he could travel with. I just about lost it. Listening to these Ole boys "war" stories has been good. I have my own but not in that arena. Ate some decent food too. (They all enjoy coming to our home though as they have all had My Darlings cooking. We are hosting the 3rd of October it seems. I told them I was going to buy a few Costco pizza's. Thought I'd have to do push-ups.
Have a peaceful sleep and God Bless you of the D-League, one and all...
Last edited:
Good morning from ATX. Currently 78°F and partly cloudy. We received some beautiful, precious rain yesterday. Today's high may hit 101°F.
Welcome back, @starchief5 . Good seeing you again.
Wife may come home from hospital tomorrow if she's feeling better.
I visited Oncologist yesterday afternoon. Blood clot disappeared in legs.
Happy Hump Day.
Welcome back, @starchief5 . Good seeing you again.
Wife may come home from hospital tomorrow if she's feeling better.
I visited Oncologist yesterday afternoon. Blood clot disappeared in legs.
Happy Hump Day.
Morning Legionnaires!
79° this morning with a high in the triple digits expected.
I have a dentist appointment this morning at 0800 to make impressions for the teeth that will go on the abutments for three missing teeth on the upper right side. Once completed will start again for two on the other side.
Mike, Mike, Mike! Well, you know...
Be careful out there folks and God Bless.
Good morning all,
Working from home today. Supposed to have people (The builder) come over to "fix" my heat and A/C duct returns. (Almost all of them.). We shall see...
Working from home today. Supposed to have people (The builder) come over to "fix" my heat and A/C duct returns. (Almost all of them.). We shall see...
Good morning everyone.
Spent the day yesterday on the hunting property (first time since mid April). We had to do a lot of tree/brush cutting to get to the end. Autumn Olive trees are horrible. I'm a little sore this morning and wish I had been keeping up the workouts. Usually in the summer I just hike/walk and let my work be the workouts.
Car shopping again (wife's) and studying on whether to move some money around. I'm a little younger than most here (be 59 next month) but look forward to getting your all's input/experiences with SS and Medicare.
Wildlife Wednesday....These (11 pt and 7 pt) were just above the house where my wife sometimes hunts. Got the trail cams up on the lease yesterday so hopefully will have some interesting pictures in a few weeks.
Spent the day yesterday on the hunting property (first time since mid April). We had to do a lot of tree/brush cutting to get to the end. Autumn Olive trees are horrible. I'm a little sore this morning and wish I had been keeping up the workouts. Usually in the summer I just hike/walk and let my work be the workouts.
Car shopping again (wife's) and studying on whether to move some money around. I'm a little younger than most here (be 59 next month) but look forward to getting your all's input/experiences with SS and Medicare.
Wildlife Wednesday....These (11 pt and 7 pt) were just above the house where my wife sometimes hunts. Got the trail cams up on the lease yesterday so hopefully will have some interesting pictures in a few weeks.
Good morning folks. Hope everyone is doing well.
I’m finally starting to feel more like myself after that infection/fever hit me hard. Antibiotics are kicking in.
Had an odd thing happen while I was in Kentucky and my wife in NYC this weekend -a package stolen from my mailbox. Or so USPS says when I asked them to look for it. I still believe it was mis—delivered. I’ve lived in that neighborhood 23 years and never heard of any theft or vandalism. But it’s gone.
BBUK - Maybe that 3-star was wise. Petraeus certainly ruined his reputation with that affair with the woman he was traveling with -- she was supposed to be writing his book "All In." He was All In alright. I wasn't sorry to see that. I was around his HQ in Mosul in April, 2003, reporting on the 101st Airborne, but also on his efforts to control that space. I saw him daily for awhile. I just got the vibe he was phony -- a politician. I later found out he had someone put him in for the Bronze Star with a V for Valor and the combat action badge because he landed his helicopter in an area where there had been some very light enemy fire -- a mortar round -- certainly not direct fire at him. That was distasteful.
Hope everyone has a good day.
I’m finally starting to feel more like myself after that infection/fever hit me hard. Antibiotics are kicking in.
Had an odd thing happen while I was in Kentucky and my wife in NYC this weekend -a package stolen from my mailbox. Or so USPS says when I asked them to look for it. I still believe it was mis—delivered. I’ve lived in that neighborhood 23 years and never heard of any theft or vandalism. But it’s gone.
BBUK - Maybe that 3-star was wise. Petraeus certainly ruined his reputation with that affair with the woman he was traveling with -- she was supposed to be writing his book "All In." He was All In alright. I wasn't sorry to see that. I was around his HQ in Mosul in April, 2003, reporting on the 101st Airborne, but also on his efforts to control that space. I saw him daily for awhile. I just got the vibe he was phony -- a politician. I later found out he had someone put him in for the Bronze Star with a V for Valor and the combat action badge because he landed his helicopter in an area where there had been some very light enemy fire -- a mortar round -- certainly not direct fire at him. That was distasteful.
Hope everyone has a good day.
Last edited:
Had five deer in back yard earlier this a.m. Not all that uncommon.
Thinking about Petraeus (see above) sent me down a rabbit hole about that Bronze Star with a V for Valor he was awarded. The citation, which you can find on line, makes it sound like he was under sustained enemy gunfire and yet cooly kept directing actions against the enemy.
BUT -- There were reporters with him every second of those days -- he made sure of it. Pulitzer Prize winner David Atkinson who wrote that terrific three-volume set of the US Army in Europe in WW2 was with him every day and wrote a day-by-day account. Steve Komorow, who was a good friend of mine, was with him for USA Today. They both wrote exactly the same thing: There was never any enemy fire around Petraeus, he was well away from any of that. Except, one day he flew to a meeting with the Corps Commander, and while they were looking at a map, a random mortar round fell about 50-60 yards away. Nobody reacted, and the meeting continued. Certainly none of the dozens of other junior officers or the Corps Commander put in for an award for valor based on that.
Okay. Obsessive moment has passed. But the 'Stolen Valor' thing has always irritated me.
BUT -- There were reporters with him every second of those days -- he made sure of it. Pulitzer Prize winner David Atkinson who wrote that terrific three-volume set of the US Army in Europe in WW2 was with him every day and wrote a day-by-day account. Steve Komorow, who was a good friend of mine, was with him for USA Today. They both wrote exactly the same thing: There was never any enemy fire around Petraeus, he was well away from any of that. Except, one day he flew to a meeting with the Corps Commander, and while they were looking at a map, a random mortar round fell about 50-60 yards away. Nobody reacted, and the meeting continued. Certainly none of the dozens of other junior officers or the Corps Commander put in for an award for valor based on that.
Okay. Obsessive moment has passed. But the 'Stolen Valor' thing has always irritated me.
I am different because I worked under the "old" railroad retirement. I get Palmetto instead of Medicare; however, it was seamless when I went to their coverage. The railroad gives me a set amount of money a year to help pay the supplemental insurances and when I turned 65 they gave me the plan that would be best for me. I have not changed it because it works.
l think that if anything Medicare is too good and cost us too much.
Last edited:
Thanks,
I enjoy your insight(s). In my instances it was banter from this Colonel well after the fact but my initial perception of this person was not correct. (That is not normal for me., I watch people.) This person (About your age MdW.) was a ranger training operations officer (Not using the correct terminology.) I'd have "assumed" he was administrative in nature but he is and was far from it. Da brudder was Airborne, a Ranger, a training officer for other assault forces. I'd have never saw that in him but listening to him, he is as true blue (Army Green.) as true blue can get. He was at the Pentagon during 9/11.
BB -- I was at the Pentagon that day too. I'm sure he has harrowing memories, as I do. For anyone who might be interested, here's a link to the story I was able to dictate over the phone in real time to get into "special editions" the afternoon of the attack. There is also a piece down below I wrote on the fifth anniversary by going back and re-interviewing people I met that day. The second piece is actually a bit more vivid I think.
Anyway, it was a long time ago and the "remembrances" may be exhausted by now. But just in case anyone is intersted.
Anyway, it was a long time ago and the "remembrances" may be exhausted by now. But just in case anyone is intersted.
Last edited:
The link doesn't work. I wish it did.
"
Sorry! This document is not publicly available.
The owner has set this document to private.You will not be able to read it unless the owner changes it to public on their uploads page, or sends you a direct link."
Thanks! That would be interesting to read in any event. Amazing the things you have done and where you have been.
Yeah, it didn't work. Tried a new browser as well to be sure. Don't go to any bother on my account. Thanks in any event.
I may be able to load in in another format, but tied up at work today. Sorry for the false advertising!
I'd enjoy meeting you some day. Thank you.
My team received mortar fire while pulling security for an artillery survey team that was checking out forward positions to set up for our first move into Iraq. The rounds were not close and fell short. We just veered off of the border, called for fire from nearby artillery units, and they destroyed the mortar positions so we could continue. I didn't even get an ataboy for that. 🤪 We also had a staff sergeant who got a bronze star because his Howitzer did not break down once the whole time there. Made no sense.
Last edited:
Haha. That reminds me of a humorous Desert Storm story, Warrior.
Me, photographer Bob Jordan, an Army Capt. whose name I forget - but he was a West Pointer which makes this worse - and some kid who was driving us named Cartwright peeled off from where the 1st Infantry (Mech) stopped on the second day of the ground war to drive back to some designated rendezvous where we could hand off Jordan's photographs and my typewriter written stories so they could be driven back to Dhahran to become 'Pool Reports' for the world's press.
So, the captain, who turned out to have a terrible sense of direction, gets us lost out in the vast Iraqi desert. Finally, we're driving along some dirt path, where you can see mines on either side of us, and we drive RIGHT INTO THE IRAQI LINES at a place where VII Corps had bypassed them. We spot the Iraqis first, Cartwright does a u-turn, and runs over a piece of mangled metal from airstrikes and ruptures a tire.
So, Jordan and I set to changing the tire at Indy 500 speed. We can see the Iraqis, no more than about 200 meters away, watching us out of their trenches, weapons drawn.
Cartwright cocks his M-16, gets in firing position and says "permission to fire, sir!" -- at the hundreds of Iraqis who haven't figured out yet who we are. Photographer Jordan, who was this crusty ex-paratrooper from North Carolina says, "why don't you just shoot us Cartwright, and cut out the middle-man?"
Tire fixed, we managed to backtrack out of range, and the Iraqis never open fire. Eventually we made it to Hafr al-Batin, where we were headed.
So, here's the kicker. A few years later, I'm down in North Carolina covering the murder of Michael Jordan's father, and I bump into Jordan. He says, 'You'll never guess who got in touch with me a while back. Cartwright! He told me he and the captain both got bronze stars with V for Valor for driving us into enemy lines!"
Last edited:
Judging by this, I shoulda got a Bronze Star. (sarcasm) I was in charge of a couple of guys in a jeep when we met an Army convoy in a little village on the road with no joy. The road was narrow, so we had to pull over. This numbskull in the back seat let a Vietnameze kid steal his M-16. The kid and the numbskull dashed between vehicles in the convoy and disappeared. What to do? The convoy was blocking the jeep. One of us couldn't chase without the other being alone. We both couldn't leave the jeep. I sat there wondering what to do. When the convoy finally passed, he showed up with his weapon, so we drove away. I didn't write him up or anything, just called him a dumbazz and let it go.
To quote the reply of General McAuliff to the Germans at the battle of the Bulge: "Nuts"
Good morning from ATX. We're at 80°F and partly cloudy. Today's high expected around 104°F.
Wishing y'all another awesome day.
Wishing y'all another awesome day.
Good morning folks. Got distracted walking out the front door by a conversation with my son and ended up leaving my iPhone behind. Odd how isolated and cut off from the world we feel now without a device that didn't even exist a little more than a decade ago.
I'm sure my far-flung kids, my wife and a couple work buddies in NYC I collaborate with mostly through phone texts think I've been abducted by aliens.
Busy morning already. But some good pieces to work on, including one that has several really moving long narratives from Korean War veterans.
Reds sweep last night. "Hope is the thing with feathers," as the poet says...No, I don't know what that means. A buddy of mine, Vietnam veteran, war correspondent, used to say it in Mogadishu and Sarajevo and Baghdad. I don't think he knew what it meant. Maybe that we -- and now the Reds -- ain't dead yet, and might still fly out of this mess.
Have a good day.
I'm sure my far-flung kids, my wife and a couple work buddies in NYC I collaborate with mostly through phone texts think I've been abducted by aliens.
Busy morning already. But some good pieces to work on, including one that has several really moving long narratives from Korean War veterans.
Reds sweep last night. "Hope is the thing with feathers," as the poet says...No, I don't know what that means. A buddy of mine, Vietnam veteran, war correspondent, used to say it in Mogadishu and Sarajevo and Baghdad. I don't think he knew what it meant. Maybe that we -- and now the Reds -- ain't dead yet, and might still fly out of this mess.
Have a good day.
Out of the blue, we're near the end of 2" rain this a.m. Good deal. Yesterday afternoon it was "a slight chance of showers" for today.
Attended FCC-Miami soccer match last night. Messi was Messi. Delivered two airborne passes in front of goal for header goals. Miami won on PK's after a 3-3 tie with 30 minutes extra time. Longest soccer match I ever attended: 3+ hrs. Normally 2.
Attended FCC-Miami soccer match last night. Messi was Messi. Delivered two airborne passes in front of goal for header goals. Miami won on PK's after a 3-3 tie with 30 minutes extra time. Longest soccer match I ever attended: 3+ hrs. Normally 2.
Last edited:
Maybe because it could fly away within a moments notice? Yeah, I know, not all feathered animals can fly away but, most can.
In response to the Reds. Yay? or no way will I get my hopes up just yet again. Sweep or at least take the next series and the excitement level will rise. We are young.
I watched that match on TV with my son. In the DC market we could only find it on Spanish Language TV. Lots of shrieking and hollering we couldn't understand by the announcers but we kept the sound on because it somehow seemed to add to the drama, like when a movie sound track falls into D-Minor chords..It certainly was a dramatic game. That Messi pass for the tying goal in the 98th and final minute of regular time was one of those things where you say, wait, did he really mean to do that?
@MdWIldcat55
"I'm sure my far-flung kids, my wife and a couple work buddies in NYC I collaborate with mostly through phone texts think I've been abducted by aliens."
Watch out for our resident alien hunter.
"I'm sure my far-flung kids, my wife and a couple work buddies in NYC I collaborate with mostly through phone texts think I've been abducted by aliens."
Watch out for our resident alien hunter.
I haven't seen CatnIL around here lately. I figured he was visiting "home" if you get my meaning...
It is already hot here, 82°F on our way to another 95° day and up to 98°F tomorrow. Ole Bert is staying in.
I got my last big tree removed Tuesday. $1,600 for it because it was not 80 feet tall like the three wild cherry's and they did not have to bring out the heavy equipment. My back yard is not pretty like it used to be.
I got my last big tree removed Tuesday. $1,600 for it because it was not 80 feet tall like the three wild cherry's and they did not have to bring out the heavy equipment. My back yard is not pretty like it used to be.
Good deal. Sounds like you thought the crowd was lively. Pretty much true except for this old man.
Sat in "cheap" seats ($60 face, $300 on street.) in upper corner with 13 yr old grandson (It would be a great game regardless next to him.). Still good view as TQL seats only 26K. Messi fans all around rooting for Miami. Probably 10% of crowd.
I thought FCC had it but let down late. I think FCC coach screwed up not trying to kill the game & late weaker subs, but it was in low 90's & humid as could be & maybe players wore out. Thought Acosta was best player on the field. Messi saved his strength with short bursts periodically & free kicks - which is what both those header goals were off of. He is 36 now.
Trivia: How did Messi wind up with Lionel as a given name - it's not Spanish? His mother was a big Lionel Richie fan & chose it.
Last edited:
$1600 for one big tree makes my upcoming $3500 bill seem not quite so bad. But that's the price of having trees & I like my trees. We have about 25 of various sizes on our 0.45 acre. Biggest are three locusts.It is already hot here, 82°F on our way to another 95° day and up to 98°F tomorrow. Ole Bert is staying in.
I got my last big tree removed Tuesday. $1,600 for it because it was not 80 feet tall like the three wild cherry's and they did not have to bring out the heavy equipment. My back yard is not pretty like it used to be.
Alpha Centauri then on to Ork.
Divorce it and get a new one.It is already hot here, 82°F on our way to another 95° day and up to 98°F tomorrow. Ole Bert is staying in.
I got my last big tree removed Tuesday. $1,600 for it because it was not 80 feet tall like the three wild cherry's and they did not have to bring out the heavy equipment. My back yard is not pretty like it used to be.
My lot is .49 acres and the trees are at the Western edge of the lot. The three cherry trees cost only $3,650 because they got logs out of them (otherwise it would have been $6,000). My fence repair, where the cherry trees fell, was $2,400. The Hack berry was $1,600. So now I am out big time and my back yard sucks!
Now I have to go to war with my insurance company. My deductible is $1,000. I doubt that I will get a $1,000 back. I have never filed an insurance claim in my life and I may wait until next Monday to get rested before the big fight.
Good afternoon, D, finally getting a chance to visit the D, this side-stained glass gig has turned into a full-time gig. I've got a picture I would like for Bert to post for me of a new project I did called Sunrise in Kentucky. Bert sorry to see your trees down, I had a hackberry go down in the ice storm a few years ago.
My daughter had surgery yesterday, had her nasal cavity worked on, doctor ask her when she broke her nose, none of the family remembers it, neither does my daughter.
I am getting ready for Squash and Gobble art and crafts show in September, going to be huge, this will be our first time doing anything like this, will update the D after it's over. One item I've been ask to make was a Cardinal, not a Loserville Cardinal, a redbird. I never could find a pattern that I liked until recently, I did finally find one I liked and since then I've made about 20 and sold 13 of them, people are ordering some of my pieces now and asking me to deliver them to the funeral home as a gift, one lady told me that flowers die away but, stained glass last forever!!!! So far, we've delivered Hearts, Crosses, Butterflies and Cardinals. The Hearts are two-piece hearts, I am making them with 2 colors, example, making them with the Mother and daughters favorite colors combined.
Well D Leaguers, I think I have made it big time now, someone stole one of my stained-glass feathers my friend took to the rodeo last week!!!!
Well D, you are in my prayers, ATX and your wife are on the top right now, get well my friend!!!
Well Kentucky is like it was when I was at Fort Hood (will always be Fort Hood to me), it is so hot, they would say, I saw a coyote chasing a Roadrunner and they were both walking!!!! It's 97 degrees right now with the heat index of 106, dew point is 76!!!!! Weather you wear!!!!
My daughter had surgery yesterday, had her nasal cavity worked on, doctor ask her when she broke her nose, none of the family remembers it, neither does my daughter.
I am getting ready for Squash and Gobble art and crafts show in September, going to be huge, this will be our first time doing anything like this, will update the D after it's over. One item I've been ask to make was a Cardinal, not a Loserville Cardinal, a redbird. I never could find a pattern that I liked until recently, I did finally find one I liked and since then I've made about 20 and sold 13 of them, people are ordering some of my pieces now and asking me to deliver them to the funeral home as a gift, one lady told me that flowers die away but, stained glass last forever!!!! So far, we've delivered Hearts, Crosses, Butterflies and Cardinals. The Hearts are two-piece hearts, I am making them with 2 colors, example, making them with the Mother and daughters favorite colors combined.
Well D Leaguers, I think I have made it big time now, someone stole one of my stained-glass feathers my friend took to the rodeo last week!!!!
Well D, you are in my prayers, ATX and your wife are on the top right now, get well my friend!!!
Well Kentucky is like it was when I was at Fort Hood (will always be Fort Hood to me), it is so hot, they would say, I saw a coyote chasing a Roadrunner and they were both walking!!!! It's 97 degrees right now with the heat index of 106, dew point is 76!!!!! Weather you wear!!!!
Last edited:
Thank you again Bert!!! This one is called Sunrise in Kentucky!!!!
Good morning from ATX. Current temperature = 83°F and clear. Today's high may reach 106°F. Few more weeks of this nightmarish Summer remain.
Wife returned home around 3:30 pm yesterday. Step-daughter picked her up from hospital. She's happy to be back. Pup glad to see her.
Co-worker out today. Looks busy already.
Happy Friday, y'all.
Wife returned home around 3:30 pm yesterday. Step-daughter picked her up from hospital. She's happy to be back. Pup glad to see her.
Co-worker out today. Looks busy already.
Happy Friday, y'all.
Good morning D-League.
Thanks for that photo of the banana split Austin. Trying to lose a few pounds but I can look. When I was in HS I was actually trying to gain a few pounds in the summer and I had a job and a girlfriend who worked at our very good local Dari Bar. I’d get a “special” banana split every night after my construction job shift. Jeezus, I can taste it yet. I don’t think I’ve had one since I left that town forever in 1977.
Cool and overcast in the east. We’ve actually had a mild summer. Hope the misery ends soon for those of you who have been baking.
Gotta get through one more work shift, then a nice weekend ahead. A highlight will be a slightly delayed Anniversary Dinner, 27th, at a good steakhouse. I’m easing on my eating discipline for one night and looking forward to a New York strip which is my preference.
Have a good day.
Thanks for that photo of the banana split Austin. Trying to lose a few pounds but I can look. When I was in HS I was actually trying to gain a few pounds in the summer and I had a job and a girlfriend who worked at our very good local Dari Bar. I’d get a “special” banana split every night after my construction job shift. Jeezus, I can taste it yet. I don’t think I’ve had one since I left that town forever in 1977.
Cool and overcast in the east. We’ve actually had a mild summer. Hope the misery ends soon for those of you who have been baking.
Gotta get through one more work shift, then a nice weekend ahead. A highlight will be a slightly delayed Anniversary Dinner, 27th, at a good steakhouse. I’m easing on my eating discipline for one night and looking forward to a New York strip which is my preference.
Have a good day.
Similar threads
