Started Three Posts, Finished This One ...

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So today I started a book post, figured I'd go back to France and see what Guillaume was up to, then decided, "Nah, I need to spin out the Norwegian thread first, then we'll get back to France."

I dillied, I dallied, I zigged, and I zagged - before you know it, I was playing, "Oh dear, is that the time?"

That's when the Motivation Gauge bottomed out and kept going. So what I did, with all that back and forth indecisiveness, was basically I stripped out a screw head somewhere in my brain.

Uh, what?

Okay, an example. Below you see the radar package of the mighty F-4D Phantom II. The radar package is extended (damme, I can still name all the parts and could probably dismount them in my sleep, not that I've ever done that before) and Panel 4L has been removed which is the only way to remove the CW¹ Modulator. If you're an old WCS² gorilla, you'll note that said modulator has indeed been removed.

Note the yellow arrow (which Panel 4L is below), the little dot it points to is a screw hole, there were a gazillion of them on Panel 4L. The screws used to affix the panel were made of brass. One had to use care in removing them, or securing them.

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If you did not, you could strip the head of the screw, making it a pain in the ass, if not downright impossible for your average gorilla to remove with a speed handle. Below is an illustration of a speed handle. It lets you screw things in and screw things out quickly. (Did I mention it also allows you to screw things up quickly as well? No? I should have ...)

No, we didn't use a powered drill, many bad things could happen ...

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Anyhoo, once one (or more, usually more) screw heads were found to be stripped (uh, uh, wasn't me Sarge, I swear it came in this way ...), the Sheet Metal shop would have to be called in order to get the screw out. They were very good at that task. I don't know why I never watched them do that, I might have learned something. Then again, that would be one more job I'd have to do, if I knew how.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm lazy?

Left to right: good screw - uh, slow down cowboy - put down the speed handle - damn it, somebody call the sheet metal shop
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Anyhoo, in the attempt to write a book post, which became two book posts, I must have stripped a screw somewhere in my brain.

I've got a call in to the Sheet Metal shop, no doubt they'll have that fixed tomorrow.

One hopes ...

¹ CW (Continuous Wave) Modulator, basically modulates the continuous wave energy transmitted by (you guessed it) the CW Transmitter, which is what the Aim-7 Sparrow missile rides to the target. The receiver for that energy is located in the nose of the missile, radiation reflects off the intended target, missile detects it, missile chases it, enemy airplane goes boom. Hopefully.

² WCS = Weapon Control System, a gorilla is the individual who works upon said system. Had something to do with the ability to lift heavy things and the propensity to drag one's knuckles along the ramp while they (me too) walked from Phantom to Phantom. Fixing things and annoying the other maintenance types. Aircrew were advised not to feed us or to make eye contact. Not saying we were aggressive, well, yes I am.

Feeling Seriously Unmotivated ...

Saturday, 29 January 2022

That's the view from my window as I write this. In fact, that's been the view from my window all day long. It's what we call a blizzard, yes, the Weather Channel named the bloody storm and gave it some fancy "scare the shit out of everyone" name, but here, it's a blizzard. Pure and simple.

It's hard for me to tell just how much snow we received, I can tell that it's a lot, but the precise amount is tough to tell, what with all the wind moving it all around. Battleship Cove, in nearby Fall River, says they've received two feet. I'll take their word for it.

Not a good day to visit the ships ...
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So I'm content to sit back, stream movies on my computer, watch interesting YouTube videos from the likes of The Chieftain and Ward Carroll, and scope out my new games.

Enjoy what remains of the weekend, I need to go check on Billy, Jan, and Jürgen.

Be seeing you ...

It's Coming ...

Though that picture was taken back in January of '17, stepping off the plane on Tuesday at T. F. Green International reminded me that winter ain't all that far off.

Over the weekend just passed, the weather out in Sandy Eggo was a pleasant 80-ish. (When we got there it was in the 60s!)

When I checked out of my hotel Tuesday A.M. (round about 0430) it was around 59°, not exactly balmy but rather higher than 40°, which was the temperature when The Missus Herself and I returned to Chez Sarge, and me in a light jacket!

So yeah, winter is coming (not to quote Eddard Stark, but he was right).

I'm off the rest of this week, then all of next week (trip to New Hampshire for Thanksgiving is in the planning stages). I need the break.

Hey, maybe I'll continue that story I was writing! Just kidding, I will get back to that shortly, but I am in too good a mood to harsh my mellow just yet.

Let's go Brandon.

Administrative Down Day

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The staff and I are working on a few things, like adding the latest fictional endeavor to the Fiction of the Chant page, and also determining where I'm going next with that very same endeavor. Will this be a short story kind of thing, or will I extend it into an entire book? It's kind of depressing writing about what could happen if we don't grow up as a country.

Too many so-called citizens are not paying attention. Our damned politicians (both sides of the aisle) seem ready to sell out to the highest bidder, and, and...

Enough of that.

See, I get too wound up at times.

It's Saturday night and The Missus Herself and I are getting pizza. So there.

I like the song...

Hope there's no need for that sort of thing any time soon.

But keep your powder dry, just in case.

No New Fiction, Real Life Intruded - In a Good Way

The Coast Guard House, the Newport Bridge in the distance.

If you're ever in Narragansett (the town, not the bay), stop by the Coast Guard House Restaurant. Rather than slave over my keyboard bringing you more, hopefully, entertaining fiction, I was out with The Missus Herself and two other couples enjoying a fine meal overlooking Narragansett Bay to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

Yes, yes, it was a bit pricey but in truth it was well worth it. Atmosphere was good (why do Americans feel the need to talk loudly at dinner is beyond me), the food was excellent, and the company was superb. Oh yes, the service was excellent as well.

The meal began with a calamari appetizer prepared in a way I've never had it before which was superb. (I'd give you the details but it was some sort of creamy, coconut-based?, sauce with a rather spicy red dip, garnished with basil, okay those were details weren't they, very tasty it was!) Followed by a main course of filet mignon paired with a lobster tail with asparagus with half a twice-baked potato. All very delicious.

There may have been a couple of Founders Breakfast Stouts in there, with an Irish coffee for after. Portions were just the right size, the food was prepared to perfection.

Heck, if you're going to spend a lot of money on food, then that was the way to go.

So rather than write something for you, I was out there, boosting the economy and playing the gourmand. Hey, someone has to do it, am I right?

More fiction to come, let your imaginations run wild, you know I'll throw you a curve ball at some point, right?

Bis morgen, as they say in Deutschland...

Listening to the surf is good for my morale...