El Pirata

Guess no one else is doing this. I have a "One Eyed Willie" biking jersey I am planning on wearing for the event. I thought about wearing my regular pirate garb but 13.1 miles is a heck of a long way to wear that while running.

I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about the Flyin Pirate event in NC April 9 & 10? From what I have researched it's a run event and I entered the 1/2 marathon on the 10th but that's about all I know. I will wear a little pirate garb, well progably just a pirate for hire ball cap because running 13.1 miles in pirate garb would be bordering on the nigh in possible.

Here's one of my troops this morning.

Heavy Metal - Don Felder

As it turned out I was not able to be there during the event but I was there before the event and was able to meet the Royaliste on Friday. I pulled the Army pier out this morning and sailed it back to Fort Eustis. I hope this next year I will be able to attend during the event.

Rather ironic, I will be emplacing the pier the boats will be mooring to on Thursday about noon. The big navy gray looking pier is in fact an Army pier. I will have a few troops out there as well. I am not sure I can get away from work but I will try to be there for the festival.

Happy Memorial Day. Remember those who have fallen defending this country and our way of life.

Without a doubt a very fine film. Once again the critics are full of canal water.

Ok, I'll still see it Wednesday and post my thoughts in a few days.

Riddle me this, why did just about every review of POTC 3 say the movie sucked an egg? I wanted to see it last night but I had to pull a 24 hour duty and my ex is not able to watch my daughter until Wednesday night so it looks like I will have to wait a week to see it.

Define Own... I hold the pink slip on 30 million worth of Army vessels.

Only 2mb so click away. http://www.colonialpanama.com/misc/army/Bo...eally_Small.wmv

YEAH!!! Men win!

I loved that fedex commercial. Unfortunately I only saw it once and was always looking for a digital copy of the commercial.

I was haze gray and underway today so that gave a lot of time for reflection. My daughter was devistated yesterday when she heard and was a mess for most of the day. I really can't believe he's gone. I have more emotion over this one TV character than I have over anyone outside of my immediate family dying. I remember treasure hunting when I was a few years younger in the jungle and in the ocean. While wildlife was a benefit of these treks it was not a primary goal. I felt lucky moreso when I saw wildlife on these treks than when I found stuff of monetary value. Well not really, each had their benefit and both were rewarding. I think Steve embodied what I have wanted always, to live life to it's fullest. I hate to say it being stuck in the US for the past 7 years has not done anything to make me feel young and skipper about treking through the jungles. It seems like a lifetime ago and Steve was helping keep that life alive. I know I am stuck here until my daughter graduates from high school in 10 years and by then I'll be in my mid 40's which will be a bit older than I would have liked to start working down there but still not too old that I can't do it anymore. Vaya con Dios Steve

Here are a 2 pics I took at Little Creek this past winter.

I was hoping the Army will give me off for brievement tomorrow however, I have the unfortunate title of being "mission essencial" tomorrow.

Joy-Division

multiplex

Yeah, I read they had informed Terri and she was returning home to the Australia Zoo. She has also told the children of his death. When I think his daughter Sue is 8 and my daughter is 8 also, holy shit, reality check.

It's official he died yesterday. My daughter was devistated when she found out. She loved him so much she was a Crocodile Hunter for the past 2 halloweens and wants to be a crocodile hunter when she grows up. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/0...rwin/index.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_...n_tv/obit_irwin http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14663786/

No wonder why kids of today are so screwed up. This one needs to switch to decaf and unplug forever: http://www.break.com/index/patiencechild.html

The hydraulic room filled with water and hydraulic oil. The inside of the pilothouse. All of us got into the salvage effort at this point so no pics were taken which is why the sun is close to setting in the remaining pics. Here she is being lifted up. Here she is on the barge. Here she is being pushed home by the ST 911 into the sunset.

The slings got hung up on the initial lift attempt. The sheen on the water from the bilge oil and the diesel fuel coming out of her hull. Attempt 2 went flawless. The winch is now visible. The pilothouse is now visible. And the stern. You can see the pilothouse door is open. As she sank the door was forced open by the pressure and the window in the door was blown out. The first people board her to start salvaging her. That's the mast where it fell when it broke off sometime during the previous 48 hours. One of the engine rooms filled to the brim with water and oil.

Here's pics of the revcovery today. The original plan was for a tugboat to pull it so that the bottom was facing the water again and have the divers fill the stern with air uuntil the vessel was free floating again. Once on the surface the remaining hatches would be opened and the water pumped out. For whatever reason this never heppened and they ended up using slings tp just plain lift it to the surface then open the hatches and drain the water out. Once the water was drained the vessel would then be put onto a barge and sailed back to her home port. As seen this morning two days after she sunk. These next 3 are the tugboat pulling her flat. Here's how she settled after she was pulled flat and the crane that would lift her later in the day. One of the diver's about to hook up the slings. The Small Tug 911, she is one of the 900 series and had just been completed around 9/11 so she was renamed Enduring Freedom. The diver's mobile equipment and the two types of slings used for the lift. The initial lift attempt.