Ok, I'm gonna start out with a YGBSM Rant! Sorry! (OK Not Sorry!)
How about the USS Gettysburg shooting down an FA-18, shooting at a second, but missing and targeting a third? Fortunately, the crew of the one shot down was able to eject and was rescued. The report reads that the Captains Situation Awareness was low.
No SHIT, Sherlock!
Apparently, the Captain thought the three jets were inbound Houthi missiles. HMMMM, I can think of several, maybe a dozen, different ways to identify inbound targets and that's from experience 20 years ago. None of which will be discussed here, but which have very good reliabliltiy in ID'ing targets.
USS Gettysburg |
YGBSM! Court martial, reduce in rank to E-1 and cashier him out of the Service after a lenghty dereliction of duty sentence. But that's my charitable side. Is Criminal Stupidity causing fratricide a crime? If not, it damn well should be!
ANYHOW enough on that debacle...On to this week's assessment of progress in the "Move to College Station" campaign plan. The ratio of Boxes packed to Boxes not packed yet is getting closer to turning the tide. (I'm writing this paragraph as I look at a picture of a cruiser, so...a Navy quote.)
Movers come for pickup a week from today and we depart for our new location the next morning. Should be interesting, 3 dogs and a cat in a small-ish 4 door, for about 4 hours. Sanity? Who needs Sanity?
Rental house is standing ready, a bit small, but will work until the new house is built (about 8 months, if we're lucky). But there is quite a bit of work that needs to be done. So...Grin and bare it.
No, that's not a typo!
On a different note, we attended the annual 'Burg Christmas Parade, Friday Night.
 |
| Traffic was terrible. We're an hour and a half prior to parade start and 4 blocks from where we parked our "place holder" car and now can't find a parking space. The parade IS a big deal! |
Always a big turnout and it's great to see people you know but haven't seen in a while, (Unless at HEB, then it's almost a foregone conclusion). MBD and gang joined us for the parade festivities. The Grandchildren are now old enough to somewhat understand the goings on. So, a good time was had by all.
 |
| Yes, a truck and horse trailer decked out in lights, Who'da thunk? |
Now, be advised, these were only 3 of the hundred or so float pictures I took. The parade went on for 90 Minutes. There were "a few" floats in it, ok, "Quite a few". The parade route was about a mile and a half. We were at the end of the route. By the time the FHS band marched by our spot, well, one could tell they were a bit tired. But, as the song says, "The Band played on!"
A little chilly, but all in all, well worth the time. BTW, both sides of the street were parked in completely. It's a big deal in "The Burg".
As to the title, as mentioned above, this time next week the movers will be in the house schlepping boxes and furniture onto their truck. The horses will be chauffeured to their temporary quarters awaiting construction of their quarters on our new property. Again about 8 months.
No, Beans, their conveyance isn't pictured above. At least, I don't think it is! Who's to say?
We'll be headed to College Station shortly after the horses depart here. And then the "New Adventure" will begin.
Wish us luck!
Peace out, y'all!
Good luck on that upcoming journey with the cat and four pups juvat. My hometown puts on a Christmas parade around Thanksgiving, can remember taking the bus downtown and back with my mom and grandma since it kicked off early in the evening, dad was working.
ReplyDeleteNylon, thanks. Sounds like a “Big Adventure” for a youngster and a lot of fun!
Deletejuvat
I read your opening rant and thought, "AGAIN?!?!?!" Then checked out the incident. A year ago, investigation cited poor training, poor leadership, and lack of communication.
ReplyDeleteI remember parades like that. Cloverdale still does one, so do a few small towns in Sonoma County. I shudder at what Santa Rosa would make one into.
Good luck with the move.
Yep, my Bad! Flew off on my tirade after reading the first paragraph or two and didn't read the rest of the article which defined when the incident had happened. That having been said, I don't recall much news about the incident when it happened. So, I assumed and you know what that word means about you and me ;-).
DeleteI agree with your assessment about many parades nowadays. More's the pity!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
juvat
And to you and yours, Juvat.
DeleteOur Christmas dinner will be interesting. My wife is getting her upper teeth pulled tomorrow (her mom was given tetracycline when she was pregnant, and that ruined Lisa's teeth). She wouldn't get uppers until late January.
Joe, we’ll add the Missus to our prayer list.
Deletejuvat
Thank you!
DeleteYes indeed. Prayertime for the digital family is a real thing around here! I hope the extractions went OK. FuzzD4
DeleteAmen!
Deletejuvat
Yup, very old news. What's with all the Google definition links?
ReplyDeleteA very nice parade you have, I guess that's your last as residents of the 'Burg. Kinda sad, but hey, it's a new chapter in your lives and closer to grandkids is a huge plus.
Sarge,
DeleteI didn't notice that, I was spell checking and copied the correct spelling of the word. Didn't notice that the link came with it. That was in my final read through and Mrs J called dinner. My Bad. But...the spelling was correct.
Yeah, we'll have to research a new "Get into the Christmas Spirit" activity next year. Although the "Burg" is only a couple of hours away from College Station, so....
Very much looking forward to the Grandkids, and Daughter and Son-in-Law.
juvat
Juvat - I do not remember that incident at all! Yikes! Stuff like this is why people do not take you seriously in a military sense. Glad it was not worse.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice that small towns still do parades. Mine does as well; Uisdean Ruadh has encouraged me to come for years but the timing never works.
How exciting to be so close to moving! You have never really mentioned it, but will you miss where you live a lot, or is somewhere that you happened to stay for a while?
THBB,
DeleteLast first, no, we've lived out on our 31 acres for 25 years, we're a mile and a half off the highway, got 4 neighbors on that stretch of road. Very quiet, 2 horses, 3 dogs, a cat (which adopted us) and a boatload of deer. A glass of wine, my beautiful wife and a small table and comfortable lawn chairs out front makes for a wonderful end of day activity (and my BP goes way down). So...I will miss it. But, Family is important and being there to help them and have them there to help us is a big plus. So...Like most things, there are pluses an minuses. Perfection would have been them moving here, but...Careers...
So, what will be, will be.
juvat
I understand, Juvat. This was a consideration for my parents' property as well; likely none of our children will ever live close to us unless we move close to them.
DeleteJuvat, we missed the Parade but did attend both performances of "the Burg's" Singing Christmas Tree, Saturday and Sunday night. Mrs. Cletus has occupied the top position on the Christmas Tree for the last three years, but that has come to an end with maturity gaining the upper hand through knee issues. MRI has been scheduled.
ReplyDeleteTrust the blog will continue, and would like to wish you and Mrs. Juvat, a safe and uneventful move to the Bryan/College Station area next week. Blessings on you both, the family, horses, dogs and new home.
Cletus
Cletus,
DeleteI don't know if you were near the parade route at all. It was a mob scene. That having been said, we've been to a lot of the Christmas Parades. I think this one was the best. Even at the end of the parade route, the FHS Band was in step and in rank and playing Christmas music quite well. The floats were better than usual, the ladies on board were doing the beauty queen wave perfectly and smiling the whole way. Being on the far end of the parade had an unexpected advantage, most of the people on the main part of the parade had already left by the time the last float got to us. Traffic wasn't all that bad going home. So...We had that going for us
Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year!
juvat
You have a busy week and then you have Christmas! Best of luck for the move and I'm looking forward to see how it all went (2 weeks from now).
ReplyDeleteRob,
DeleteThanks, It's going, Mrs J is driving the train and we're making progress. I needed a short break to recover, so pled need to answer blog comments.
Hey! It works don't it?
;-)
juvat
Great news- Advancing on all fronts, and including time off to enjoy local festivities. And, nary a mention of any medical issues.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all y'all!
John Blackshoe
JB,
DeleteA Merry Christmas to you and yours also!
As to progress, A lot of cardboard is being consumed as well as tape, stickers, magic markers, etc. If I never have to climb another ladder, it won't be soon enough. But...Yes, we are making progress!
juvat
Ah, Christmas Parades... Nope, not here in Godless Gainesgrad, capital of Alachuacountystan. Heck, there's not even Independence Day fireworks. Socialist bastids.
ReplyDeleteSounds good on the move plan.
Are you doing okay? Any more information on your condition? Did USAA pay off the truck?
As to the ship-shoot-plane thingy, well, not unexpected under the Obama/Biden years. Betcha that doesn't happen under Hegseth, Secretary of the War Department (I love going back to the old ways...) Especially since his administration is pushing for to execute that Hassan dude that shot up the army base back in the early 2000s.
Beans,
DeleteWell, I'm sorry to hear that about parades in your neck of the woods. That's got to be upsetting.
As to the injury, but the pain level is very tolerable now. Still wearing my neck brace. Got til the end of the month. Bit of a PITA, but the alternative would be a lot worse. I've gotten used to it, doesn't even bother my sleep cycle any more. Yes, USAA gave us a good payoff for a 9 year old truck. Won't buy a new one, but will make a pretty darn good down payment. But....No sense in buying one as I'm not supposed to drive until May. So....
Gotta like "The Donald". Best President since Reagan IMHO!
Cheers, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
juvat
"about 8 months"
ReplyDeleteMay He gaze down kindly upon you undertaking/building.
I'd like to wish you a bit of luck as well. the saying being "Been there, done that, when I was much, much younger (with a far longer temper).
Boron,
DeleteWell…one can certainly hope, can’t one. The quoted time frame is 8-12 months. We shall see what will be. Optmism, right?
juvat
There is a fellow on you tube who has shirts that say "Stupid should hurt". Some days, after looking at the news, I agree.
ReplyDeleteLoads of prayers ongoing for 1.) Smooth transport of all critters. When I moved to MI, my kitty cried for the first 5 hours of the (13 hour) drive. Finally shut up when I turned on talk radio...music radio didn't work... 2.) That it ONLY takes 8 months and that all supply chains flow smooth as glass to get your new home built. and 3.) Remember it's a rental...ya do not need to "fix it up" as a) that's the landlord's job, (unless they agree with the repair and are willing to knock some off the rent to cover the cost of improvements to their property) ask first, lots of times they get upset with changes other than paint. And b) you are ONLY going to be there for 8 months!! (fingers and toes crossed) As long as it is clean, I would save the $$ and take the time to rest up after unpacking from your packing up adventures...cause in 8 months, you will get to pack up what didn't go into storage, and unpack EVERYTHING you are packing up now...and isn't that a happy thought! Lol.
Glad to hear the healing is happening and the pain is improving!
Suz
Thanks Suz, good info. Some of which I actually knew, but not all, so thanks!
ReplyDeletejuvat
Day late and a dollar short on the comment, but the shootdown is somewhat being blamed on the fog of war and the time critical nature of the missiles shot in close proximity, but when you've got aircraft in the air, and you're the air defense ship responsible for clearing a/c into the carriers airspace, WTAFO?
ReplyDeleteYeah, it’s always the “Fog of War” that gets blamed. I’m not buying it. The ship is in the middle of the med. Three radar returns appear on radar. Did they IFF ( identification friend or foe) them? Are they contacted on radio? warned on Guard? Those are the 3 first actions taken in that situation. As mentioned, (but not described) above, there are several others.
DeleteI’m not buying it. Sorry.
juvat
No need to be sorry- I'm shocked at their ineptitude.
DeleteSorry, late to the party. I went and read what I could of the report and would love to read the entire JAGMAN on the case but what leapt off the pages for me was that Link 16 did not work and that nobody cared that there was zero interoperability between the USN ships and USN aircraft over the Red Sea and that the people on the carrier were not, as usual, talking to AW and AB was clearly out of the picture. This is the recipe for Blue on Blue and EVERYONE KNEW IT and that IT WAS INEVITABLE given how they were playing. This wasn't a loss of situational awareness on one cruiser this was robust stupidity and failure to follow the rules.
DeleteSrsly, I'm tooling around robo cruiser in a jet at night and you better believe I want my peers at the staff to make damned sure that that cruiser and every other shooter knows I'm up there and flying around with a dodgy IFF is a stupid and predictable way to die in a high air threat warning RED battle space.
Juvat, good luck!
Juvat et al - please be patient with life as these changes take place. Sovereignty is something to be remembered. Somehow we old FPs don't like the concept. As I become a REALLY OLD FP, I see the wisdom of it. Remember the sense of patience you had when checking someone out. It's a good feeling,right up until THE SAVE, from the crash. Then, you're the hero!
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved East (it was twelve years ago now), I thought I would never run out of possessions that needed to be packed and transported to temp storage. Turns out we needed little to nothing here in the condo, so many years were spent trying to unload stuff on the kids. Yeah, right!.
You will get through this! Kids and grandkids are worth all the effort.
Sorry to ramble - D4Fuzz
No worries, Fuzz. Sovereignty is a factor. And protecting your ship and crew is vital, but….situational awareness is crucial ( but you know that). The article doesn’t delve into that concerning actions taken prior to firing, and the aircrews could have (should have) got on guard. ( no mention if they did or didn’t). In the end it’s the Captain that gave the order. And tired isn’t an excuse.
Deletejuvat
You are down to just one cat?
ReplyDeleteYeah, he had run away a while ago. The others passed. I guess he just decided the wild life wasn’t his bag. He seems more comfortable sleeping on the bed with Missus J and I. He’s a pretty decent bed warmer.
Deletejuvat
Tommy, my six month old tomkitten, crawls under the blankets, but since his body temperature is 102°F, and his grandfather and two uncles are on top of the blankets, I am set for warmth.
Delete