Cuppla Things ...

Though suffering from a flare up of my diverticulitis, I felt that the antibiotics I had onboard, and which I would be downing throughout the week, would be sufficient to keep me on my toes and capable of performing useful work while out in Sandy Eggo. Said place being where I'm at right now. I am surviving, but I ain't blogging, not for now.

At one point in the trip, early on as a matter of fact, I had the impression that the trip was going to be exciting, though short-lived.

Now you may be wondering about that opening photo, which, by the way, is of U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" dive bombers from scouting squadron VS-8 from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) approaching the burning Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma. Well, therein lies the part of the exciting but perhaps short-lived aspect of the trip out to California.

I departed T.F. Green from Rhode Island on a cloudy morning, bound for Newark where I would connect to Sandy Eggo, after a three hour layover. The day was overcast, the air was very bumpy. There were bands of thunderboomers to the west which might cause me delays getting out of Newark. The ride was indeed bumpy as we climbed to our cruising altitude. Naught of the ground could be seen initially.

As the lower cloud layer began to clear, somewhat, the aircraft dipped its left wing, rather precipitously I thought. There, some 16,000 feet below, was not the Japanese carrier fleet, but what was probably Connecticut. I wondered just what target in Connecticut we were about to dive bomb, for it felt just like that.

The aircraft recovered, momentarily, then the left wing decided to go off on its own again. A passenger somewhere behind me, male, yelled something about making fudge, though preoccupied with thoughts of my own imminent demise, I couldn't be sure. Oddly enough I had a moment of calm, almost preternatural, sense of "Oh well, I've had a good run."

Yup, I seriously thought that my days had come to an end and I was about to become part of Connecticut (at least I would remain in my beloved New England). But nope, the pilot recovered the aircraft and on we went to Newark, none the worse for wear.

As I deplaned, I happened to pass by the flight attendant and one of the flight crew, perhaps the pilot, perhaps the co-pilot, I couldn't be sure. I waggled my hand at the flight attendant, mimicking the motion of the aircraft during our little excursion from level flight, and said, "Well, that was exciting."

The flight attendant gave me a smile and then she said, "Yeah, what was that?"

I believe the flying chap just sort of grimaced at me. He seemed to be not amused.

I wonder why.

Now about that aircraft, relatively new I think, an Embraer 175. Due to the humidity on that day, I expected a bit of condensation from the overhead air ducts when the engines spooled up and the bird went to internal power, I was not disappointed. But what really interested me, is that upon taxiing out and later taxiing in, there was a sound running down the length of the fuselage (over our heads) which sounded very much like small pebbles being poured over us.

The very sound which I understand German U-Boot crews heard when being "pinged" by British ASDIC¹ during World War II. No doubt the last sound many of them heard. I read that somewhere, can't remember where. I've never been pinged in a U-Boot.

No doubt many of you have seen the trailer for the upcoming film directed by Ridley Scott about Napoléon, starring Joaquin Phoenix. For those who have not, I present it for you below.

Many of you might know that I am an aficionado of those times and have read much about the Emperor and his armies and foes. I have to admit, a chill ran up my spine when I first saw this. If the film is anything like the trailer, then I say, "Come October, come quickly."

'Tis a day of rest for me as you read this. We have a day off, a day I plan to spend sleeping and reading, by turns. I am, after six straight long days (one of travel, five of work), exhausted.

To put it mildly.

My friends, I shall be back, probably not until I set foot upon the soil of Little Rhody once more, but I'll be back.

Until then, juvat is up Monday, and Beans is, as always, a real team player who has been pitching in on all the days I should be blogging, but aren't.

Thanks, Beans!

¹ Which is what the Royal Navy called sonar, it was named after the Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee.