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Praetorium Honoris

Monday, October 16, 2017

Tuna--Texas

So, It's Friday night and the end of a lonnnnnnnngggggg week.  Mrs Juvat and I are settling into our easy chairs after enjoying an excellent steak, baked potato and salad accompanied by a good bottle of Nebbiolo.

BTW, since Sarge has branched out in several different journalistic directions, thereby claiming them as his own, I've decided to capture the foodie vector before he gets that one also.  I got the basic plan for the dinner from here. 
I've tried several of his recipes and they're almost always pretty good. 

Having now captured the foodie vector, where was I. 

Ahh.  Nebbiolo and easy chair.  

I've settled down and am reading "The Last Fighter Pilot" by Don Brown whilst sipping a snooter of rum (strictly for medicinal purposes of course).  The book is about the Fighter Pilot who led the last P-51 combat mission of WWII, Jerry Yellin.  Captain Yellin flew from Iwo Jima, escorting B-29s to attack Japan AFTER Nagasaki.  

(I think that puts paid to the argument that the A Bombs were not needed, that Japan was about to quit.  But, then I read history, not rewrite it.)

Learned quite a few things that I didn't know before reading that book.  Highly recommended.

Now, where was I again?  Oh yeah, reading and rum.

So, I'm winding down the evening when my phone announces that I have a text message.

"juvat, you have a text message from a Tuna."

My wife collapses on the floor, in laughter.  Sometimes Cortana adds a little to the message.

"Read it."

"juvat, I'm in Texas,  if you don't have anything planned, could we meet up tomorrow."

My wife collapses on the floor in laughter, again.

"A Tuna in Texas?  Isn't that a play?"

Why yes it is. And a rather funny one at that.

If given the opportunity to see it, you should.

So....after the paroxysm of laughter ceases from Mrs J, Tuna and I work out a meet for the following morning.

I had a few chores to do in town, to include recycling boxes accumulated in my wife's store.  However, it's Saturday in a Tourist Town.  Parking is sparse, so I'm carrying a load of flattened cardboard down the block to my truck while trying to dodge passers-by.  I successfully maneuver past one guy and am progressing down the street, when my mind clicks.  

I recognize that guy.  That's Tuna!

Drop the cardboard in my truck and return to the store.

Make the introductions and discuss the battle plan for the day.  He's in San Antonio visiting his Dad who's recovering from a fall so he can't stay very long.  I suggest a quick visit to the Nimitz Museum.

And we're off.  

I've been to the Museum several times, but never with a fellow veteran and a Navy dude and an Aviator.  

Suffice it to say, there was a furious exchange of stories and things the other did not know.  One of the things I appreciated hearing about was his family's involvement at Pearl Harbor on that day.  I'll leave that to him to relate should he choose.  

I thought it was interesting however.

The visit was over way too soon as he had familial duties to attend to.  As did I.
No, that's not me, that's the Farrier.  The Paints are getting a pedicure.

 But I had fun.

Now.....Sarge?????  Austin Bergstrom is only 1+15 away.

33 comments:

  1. I know, I know.

    You guys look good. The first convention of the South and the West Chanters, I like it.

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    1. A journey of 1732.12 miles begins with but a single step.

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    2. "Too much tea, make you pee."

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    3. Andrew- coffee snort out my nose I did!

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    4. Most of my journeys start with a turning key and a V8 rumble. Walking's for chumps?

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    5. In this case, it's probably better done with the rapidly spinup of a turbine engine, but, hey, I know the walk would do me good. Or at least that's what my cardiologist says. Regularly, and repetitively, without smiling.

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    6. Well, I gotta get to the airport somehow :)

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    7. I mean, I suppose if I were stupid-rich, I could fire up a turbine to get to the other turbines, but that's not likely to happen. :)

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    8. That's slightly more realistic!

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  2. We tinker with hobby winemaking and the Nebbiolo of 2014 turned out well. Every year we say we will use grapes instead of juice, but every year we just buy juice and ferment it.
    Usually we meet our goal of making an adequate table red wine. Or possibly we have become fond of bad wine.



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    1. I've tried to talk myself into doing that, but I like good wine too much. How much Nebbiolo did you make?

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    2. We made five gallons. The juice is sold in a sealed plastic bucket that is a little more than five gallons and at the end of the process you bottle about 24 750 ml bottles.
      In the Philly area there is a strong winemaking tradition and the place we buy our juice sells grapes, juice, and supplies.
      Some years the wine is very good, and rarely the whole five gallon batch gets dumped into the laundry sink, that is always because we made a mistake somewhere during the process.
      Sarge has my email address, and if you are interested I will summarize our experiences with the home winemaking process.
      And of course, if any of y'all are are in Philly the wine cellar will be opened for tasting.

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    3. I think there is supposed to be a hyphen between the 24 and the 750, thus 24-750 ml bottles. Or maybe a RCP. (Randomly Placed Comma)

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    4. I'm an EXPERT on RCP's. ;-)

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  3. "there was a furious exchange of stories and things the other did not know" Very easy to believe based on my experiences with the pilots I partied with at Udorn RTAFB and Luke AFB. It was always very entertaining listening to the stories and watching all the hand movements that accompanied them. Chuck DeBellevue once told me after a few too many beers "Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. Landing is the first!"

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    1. Well, I'd guess that might be true when you're in the back seat and your fate rests entirely on the guy up front. That having been said, there were a number of times when I was very glad to be back on the ground.

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  4. Yup, that'd be how I cook a steak... except maybe for the buttery fun at the end.
    Maybe next time.

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    Replies
    1. The 'hotel butter' actually was quite good and went well with the steak. Course my cardiologist might disagree.

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  5. Do you know why Indians rode paint horses? They wanted to be good and mad when they got to the battle.

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    1. There's some truth in that. Our usual farrier just had a hip replaced, so he's out of pocket for a while. Fortunately, JimBob (his real name. Yes, this is Texas) made room for us in his schedule. However, when we took Merlot (pictured) out of the stall, she started fussing a bit. JimBob asked me to hold her as he'd been bitten by a Paint recently and didn't want that to happen again. I'm getting a lot better at picking up the nuances that clue me in to their current disposition.

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  6. The visit was good, but far too short. I felt guilty for not spending more time with both Juvat and my dad. And we had to skip a lot of the museum's in-depth accounts from WWII vets. I will have to come back when I'm not so encumbered. I didn't even get a chance to partake in the German fare there other than a piece of strudel, which was delish. Thanks again for being a gracious host Juvat. Sarge, you NEED to go visit that museum. For a town of 10K, it's an amazing place- as good as any of the other greats.

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    1. My pleasure, Tuna. You're welcome any time you can make it.

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  7. "A Tuna Christmas" was a staple in our holiday plans for several years. Each year it seemed to get funnier. If you haven't been I would recommend it. I see there are some Tube O' You versions out there.

    F'burg is a great little town and the Nimitz Museum is a must-see if you have any historical military curiosity at all.

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    1. Yeah, we kinda like it here. You need to visit the Museum when they've got the Pacific Combat Zone demonstrations going on. I'm talking Flamethrowers! Cool! (Actually very warm!)

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  8. Thanks for the post. I enjoyed both it and the comments.

    Paul L. Quandt

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  9. I need to get down that way. And I'm a helluva lot closer than Tuna... sigh

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    1. With enough lead time, we can set you up in our guest house. Love to meet you, in the real world anyhow.

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  10. I was in that area last April and was enchanted by the Museum, the town, the Pioneer Museum, the "Sunday" houses, the wineries, the food, and I even sucked it up and visited the LBJ ranch. ;-)
    Lovely, lovely area. And the amazing German settler history of the area was especially interesting after having read the wonderful "Adelsverein Trilogy" by Celia Hayes. http://a.co/fXlrtMC

    For anyone who loves history as much as our host, it is indeed a "must visit" place.



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    1. I've got the first one in the trilogy down. About half way through the second. Very good series, and Thanks, William for the recommendation. Having read some of the actual histories and listened to the old timers. after proper lubrication of course, I think the historical fiction leans towards the historical side in lieu of the fiction side.
      Shoulda given me a call. Any friend of Sarge is a friend of mine.

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