Re: Happy New Year!!! January Thread

[Phillip Gross]

Lucky ducks!

I bet I haven't used or heard that phrase in years, but I used to hear it a lot as a kid. Reminds me of when I was really young and confused lucky and yucky. I have a vivid memory of running to my mom crying because my older brother and sister said I was lucky because of something or other. That was the day that they explained that I had those two words mixed up.

[Mark Jones]

We are going to do a Freeze if you Please car campout at a State Park about 16 miles from my house. Will pull up and backpack in about 1000 feet and setup up camp. We are getting 2 to 5" of snow tommarrow and the temps will drop down to 0 degrees...that's cold.

Not sure how much turn out we will have. But we do this every year just doing it early in the year this year. We have lots of years of laughs on these events.

Mark Jones

[Phillip Gross]

Ended up just being my brother and two older boys on this past weekend's backpack trip. We did 11 miles total and I will say it was a "next step" kind of thing for us. To date, we've only packed in a mile or two to a base camp and then day hiked from there. Carrying full packs the entire time is definitely a different animal. As would be expected though, the boys were really proud of themselves for enduring.

I need to work on our gear though if we're going to go on increasingly longer treks. I was hauling around 40lbs without my cot. The current sleeping pad I have is about useless though. I'm done with "self-inflating" anything. Just wasted weight IMO now. Sea to Summit has some nice looking pads out there that weigh in at less than a pound and the reviews I've read and watched on YouTube show them to be pretty good. The self-inflating pad I have now is about a pound and is only about an inch thick. Junk.

Might sound like I'm going on and on about sleeping pads, but after a night of subpar sleep, I could feel the 7 1/2 miles on Saturday. I tossed and turned all night... and hurt. My theory is that the nights on the trail affect the days a lot!

Our next goal is a two night, 15-17 or so mile trip. I want to see how I feel after two nights on the ground and packing during the day before I launch out on a 25 miler.

We had a couple people express interest in going on this trip, but they hadn't ever been backpacking before at all. I told them that I wasn't sure if this trip would be a good start, and I'm glad I did! Even after doing several smaller trips, building up a little experience and developing my gear somewhat, it was still the "next step" for us. Not a "first step". I am planning to do an intro to backpacking trip coming up soon though for interested people. I plan to do a short trip of about 3-4 miles total between both days. Pack in a mile or so, set up camp, break camp the next day and continue on. If they like that and want more, then they can continue on more.

[Mark Jones]

Good job. Good advice. Good wisdom. Thanks for sharing. I love backpacking.

Mark Jones

[joecool]

I have never, ever given money to someone standing at a street corner with a sign. I have handed an occasional meal to one, though. Today, I noticed a black guy with backpack and bedroll walking out of town on the highway. "Stop and give him some money." I ignored the voice, and verbally said "No!", but the impression wouldn't go away. Drove a couple more miles and finally turned around. Why am I doing this?

Pulled over in front of him and walked up. He backed up a couple of steps, not sure of my intent. I told him the Lord wanted me to stop and give him a little help for his journey. "You're a Christian, huh? I'm a Buddhist. Thank you." Now, the last thing I expected a young black guy to say was that he's Buddhist. But at least I found out why the Lord wanted me to stop.

[RRCmdrBennett]

I was stopped by a man while Ubering in front the casino claimed to be a veteran and once at another intersection with a sign claiming to be a veteran. They all claim to be veterans.

[Claymore]

Now, the last thing I expected a young black guy to say was that he's Buddhist. But at least I found out why the Lord wanted me to stop.

Kind-of funny how the Lord knows what neither of you knew up to the point that you met. Kind-of like God can hold up the entire Reel of Film from the Movie and see it all, while we can only see the frame that we are in at any particular time.

It might be interesting when you find out how this movie ends.

[joecool]

Kind-of like God can hold up the entire Reel of Film from the Movie and see it all, while we can only see the frame that we are in at any particular time. It might be interesting when you find out how this movie ends.

Keep the popcorn coming!

[Phillip Gross]

Good on you for listening. I hate when I debate with God driving farther away, only to have to drive that much farther back when I give in!

[Phillip Gross]

Think it may be time to invest in a leather welders smock. Ended up setting myself on fire tonight! I was in the shop working on a project when I started to smell smoke. I lifted my welding hood to see my shirt on fire. It ended up being a burn hole about the size of a quarter.

I should've bought one a long time ago. I once had to pick a little slag ball out of my rock sack when I was welding overhead. That hurt....

[RRCmdrBennett]

Jonah found out the hard way about getting too far away from God's will for your life.

[joecool]

Today, a federal court in California overturned the conviction of a man in a "stolen valor" case. The judges ruled that it was a freedom of speech issue for the guy, who was wearing combat decorations that he never earned. Too bad for Admiral Mike Boorda, who shot himself over the revelation that he was not entitled to wear combat "V" devices on two of his medals. A good lawyer could have cleared his name.

Not sure what your highest decoration is, Claymore, but feel free to bump it up a few notches. It just doesn't matter anymore.

[Claymore]

Is second award for a CMOH an Oak Leaf or a Star Device?

[RRCmdrBennett]

Bruce, lets see how that defense flies if I paint an old crown victoria black and white with serve and protect and drive it donning a LEO's uniform. But sir its my free speech to dress like a cop.

[Phillip Gross]

The country has lost it's mind.

[joecool]

Is second award for a CMOH an Oak Leaf or a Star Device?

You get an oak leaf. For me, a sailor, I have three stars on my Navy Cross.

[RRCmdrBennett]

Bruce does that apply to honorary 4 star generals like me who earned CMOH for my work at the battle of Axanar?

[Claymore]

Is second award for a CMOH an Oak Leaf or a Star Device?

You get an oak leaf. For me, a sailor, I have three stars on my Navy Cross.

I had a Warrant Officer at the Fort Hood Parachute Shop inform me that he was authorized a Combat Star on his Parachutist Badge prior to being authorized the Parachutist Badge to put the Star on.

I believe him; interesting story.................

[joecool]

Bruce does that apply to honorary 4 star generals like me who earned CMOH for my work at the battle of Axanar?

I received heroism medals for service in a future interplanetary war. Because they haven't happened yet, I'm not supposed to wear them.

[Claymore]

Bruce!

Ixnay on the Arway.   That's a Black Op!


(I know, 'cause we had to cover our Name Tags and Unit Patches with Duct Tape on that one!)



..................or..........."will have to...........", whichever tense applies (or shall apply...........???)

[RRCmdrBennett]

I see I'm not the only geek on this forum...Bruce!

[Phillip Gross]

Anyone watching the debate tonight?

[joecool]

Watched most of it. I think Cruz did best, although someone ripped him pretty bad on the "NY values" issue. Next came Rubio, who I really like (except for that amnesty gang of 8 thing). Then Christie and Trump. When Jeb! responds to questions, it's like he's reading from a mini-teleprompter on the inside of his glasses. Very canned and unnatural. Kasich and Carson showed up.

[Phillip Gross]

I think most Americans understand what Cruz meant about New York City morals. Trump pulled the 9/11 card to get the focus off of the point. Who can be angry with NYC morals when you bring up the horrors of the 9/11 atrack. That was a terrible attack against Americans, but it doesn't change the fact that most from NYC are in fact liberal. That was the point and the fact that Trump had aligned himself with that type of thinking in a previous interview.

[Claymore]

I can't argue with much of what JoeCool said.

Trump artfully turned the NY Values thing into a sympathy play about rebuilding after 9-11.

I would say that, if Cruz became the republican nominee, then we could kiss the electoral votes from New York away.

But then, no conservative Republican is going to take New York State any more.

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