And Now for Something Completely Different: Random Musings Edition

As I mentioned, I've been away for a while on a trip overseas.  Some random thoughts forthcoming:

Kavanaugh Hearings-  I didn't watch much of it, but it sure seemed like a lot of dramatic political posturing by the Dems.  Theater really, playing up to their base to look like they're trying to stop the freight train.  Senator Corey "I wanna be President" Booker was the worst of them, although Kamala "I also wanna be President" Harris sure seemed to love the spotlight as well.  I just heard that Feinstein has an unnamed source who knew Judge K in High School, who refuses to come forward, with a secret allegation- on the eve of the confirmation.  Absolute BS.  That party is a clown show.


Politics continued in my absence apparently, although I barely paid attention.  Didn't miss it in the least.  Anything I should have caught?

Baseball season is winding down I guess.  Haven't watched much this whole season, but then again, the Padres were out of it back in July.  The San Diego motto?  "There's always next year."

Football has supposedly started again and I still don't give a rat's a**.  Nike is such an overrated company.  Kapernick giving up everything?  BS.  He turned down a very good offer to test free agency and his timing sucked, like REALLY bad.  Greedy is what he was, not a hero.

Flying up in front of the airplane is always a treat.  No, I wasn't in the cockpit. I wish, but not anymore.  The overseas flights are far more pleasant in "tolerable leg room class."  We  upgraded to business which is really nice.  Too bad I wasted the lay-flat seat I had by not sleeping a wink.  Despite all the past bad PR for them, I still like United.  Still doesn't help me sleep on planes though.

I under-packed.  No rain gear and I could have used more expando-pants- Boy did I eat well!  We packed so light in just one carry-on each that we had zero room for souvenirs.  Had to buy another suitcase.  Sorry, I didn't get you anything.  I didn't know your size.

I flew home on 9-11.  I'm afraid it's starting to become one of those ho-hum days with people not caring as much as they should.

Doesn't anyone use their blinker anymore?  It's not like I'm going to speed up and not let you in.  In fact, it's just the opposite.

Saw a ton of castles on the Rhine river.  Best part of the trip.  Turns out a bunch of them aren't even castles.  They're actually toll gates.  If you wanted to pass you had to pay up or get shot from the battlements.  I guess even in medieval times the only sure thing was death and taxes.

By the way, my pictures were too small so I'm going full monty with them.  Hope the intrusion into the sidebar isn't too distracting.  If so, just click one and see them individually.

Supposed to be an island, but the river is uber low.

Google Rhine Castles for even better pictures.

Marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, along with many other things of course.  Actually, it's not legal, it's just not illegal. At least that's how they describe it.  It must be really good based on the number of "coffee" shops where you can buy and smoke it, as well as the huge MJ culture there- souvenirs, shirts, hats, even a museum.  I'm not sure what the fascination is though, and I'll never know.  However, if I ever get cancer or glaucoma and some doc wants to prescribe it to me in a pill form I may think about, as long as there's no high associated with it.  I just can't go there.

Didn't partake in their wares either.

My daughter is starting her third year of college in a row under the threat of a hurricane.  First year, she was evacuated.  Second- classes started a week late.  This year?  Florence seems to be settling down and may not be as really really big and really really wet as Trump described.

*Ok, it's not a Cat 4, but it's definitely wet.

Saw this in my feed.  It looks like it's gonna work.  And the  Hornet Bubbas rejoice:

I love my car.  Having a convertible Mustang in Southern California is a blast, and I have the lousy mileage to show for it.  But if I could take mass transit to work like most Europeans in most major metropolitan areas I would.  They are so easy and efficient.  I also love the narrow streets and big open squares, all lined with flower boxes.  I guess you can get that when you have cities that were built before cars were invented.

I am really grateful for the experience I received from the Navy in going overseas.  I feel that I'm very travel savvy, mostly because of it.  My wife is that way too after we fumbled through Italy five years ago.  We figure we can go anywhere and if there are any issues, we'll figure it out- we may get lost, but that's ok.  We'll just ask for directions or just find our way.  We know how to decipher the machines to take the trains, buses, trams, etc.  And the GPS in your phone means you're never really lost.  And Uber works in Europe too.  We noticed that others didn't have that confidence however.  They barely stepped off the ship without someone leading them, needing to be picked up at the airport, taken to the hotel, bags dragged to the bus, etc.  I guess it's to each his own, but port visits in third world countries can definitely take the edge off of any travel fear!

Strasbourg France

Colmar France

On a sad note, my Uncle Art passed away Wednesday after 87 years on God's good earth.  A good run if there ever was one.  A retired USMC LtCol, he commissioned me into the Navy nearly 30 years ago.  Married 62 years, he and my Aunt Jo had six kids, all of which were there when he passed.  I got there a couple hours later to join my wife, and I was able to pay my respects before he was taken away.  More respect to follow- Aunt Jo asked me to do his eulogy.   Guess I better keep writing.