Adventures In Party Crashing

So Friday I got an email from a Navy Tweep "I'm going to be in Boston in August. Can we meet up and say 'Hi'?" Well of course! We pick a date and time and I say "You're on the calendar!"

See? That's how it's supposed to work!

Schippert didn't get the memo.

I randomly see this Tweet on Friday - "Driving wife's Outback to Boston. Have friends there but no time to meet, play. Good thing wife's friends are cool though. Day wd suck worse"

I respond "HEY!!! SCHIPPERT! You are coming to Boston?" Followed by "I am calling for support here - @Steve_Schippert is coming to Boston - make him find time for a drink with me"

And I called him names.

So, he came back and gave me a location. Good thing for him!

Then he reminds me "If you see me, remember to walk backwards so I can recognize you by your hair!" He was being a wish guy about my pic here & avatar on Twitter.....we've met.

So this evening I went up to his friend's house and walked in on their party "Hi, I'm Maggie....I'm crashing your party!"

Everyone was very friendly and gracious about letting me barge in on what was clearly an "inner circle" event.

After spending about an hour, I took my leave....with an even higher opinion of Schippert. You're judged by the company you keep buddy and you made out pretty well tonight.

A Soldier's Story: Gen. Rick Lynch and the Toll of Two Wars

Princess Crabby's favorite Army guy, LT Gen Rick Lynch wants you to show up at Fort Hood for a "hoot and a holler" with your Army.

LT Gen Lynch has opened up Fort Hood to more interaction with the puclic. He did the same when he was stationed at Fort Stewart.

*cough cough* is anyone in Newport listening? You know sometimes there are things happening there that a certain blogger might be interested in seeing......

Happy Birthday, 'Zilla!

The one in the middle is the Chief....such a ham.

Happy Birthday and be safe.

Anyone who wants to leave well wishes for Princess Crabby's Grand Vizier can pop over the the Castle of Argghhh!!! and comment in this delicious post.

Official Message Traffic

So over on Facebook.....some Army guy made a movie reference which I did not immediately get.

"Why Shea, does this mean we're not friends anymore? You know, if I thought you weren't my friend, I don't think I could bear it."

I got the second one from a helpful commenter

"I'm your huckleberry....and I think Shea and Maggie maybe didn't get your joke - probably because they were not forced to watch that movie as many times as I was :^)"

Ahhh, "Tombstone". But then Army guy says
"How could you be forced to watch that movie? It is by far the best western movie made since John Wayne died."

OK, now let's all just calm down. One should not be invoking "John Wayne" at the drop of a hat. We all know he is Princess Crabby's greatest cinematic love.

So Army Guy sends
OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE: GODNAVBLOGSTRIFOR
Command directed to go watch Tombstone
Strong Message Follows
KILDAR 6
END MESSAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, well it's finally summer here - sunny and beautiful.

I have a party to crash today (my cousin in hosting a cookout for her husband's family and he was bemoaning the lack of our side's fun - so Jen & I are crashing it)

There is still the LE Eithne to try and visit.

This is the beginning of my parent's time at the cottage, so I have to hang there on the porch and *be*.

Hopefully I get to run into Steve Schippert during his Boston visit.

But otherwise, I'll get to it as soon as possible.

v/r GODNAVBLOGSTRIFOR

A Drug Deal In Front of My House

Jen's fridge was broke last week. She has a prescription that needs to be refrigerated. So it was in my fridge. Her fridge is fixed, but we forgot about her stuff until now when she needs it.

She texts "Are you home? Can I swing by?"

I text "Yes, can you bring me a can of Coke?"

She rolls up and hands me a can and a baggie "This is the saddest drug deal ever. Here, I made cookies."

Psych!!!!

I came out on top on this one. Jen makes great cookies! Only our mother's are better.
~~~~~~~~~~~
That rotten SB!

We were on the phone and I was recapping my day (he said he wanted to forget his) and I finished with this story.

Then I said "Where is my reward for waiting patiently for you to call?"

He replied "You got cookies."

"But they were for taking care of Jen's stuff! You can't ride Jen's coattails!"

He laughed. Bastid. He didn't even have to say it. We both know - of course he can ride her coattails.
~~~~~~~~
Rotten Jen

Jen sends me a text, ripping me for "letting" her watch "Knowing". I liked it, she didn't. She said I'll have to say ten novenas fin order God to forgive me for "making" her watch it. "I can't find that gun I held to your head. Can you check the seat cushions?" then I sent a text explaining that her BFF was trying to ride her coattails.

I got back one word "Ungrateful!"

Free "Fun Fridays" for the Entire Summer!

Free "Fun Fridays" for the Entire Summer!
Free Admission to some of Massachusetts’ most treasured resources
Underwritten by the Highland Street Foundation

The Free Friday for July 10th is the John F Kennedy Museum off of (or as we say here "offa") Morrissey Boulevard at Columbia Point in Dorchester.

Tomorrow the weather in Boston will be perfect! 74 & sunny. Columbia Point juts out into Boston Harbor. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it here.

Between this and SailBoston - tomorrow is the day to hit the city. See the museum have your picnic, then head on up to the Charlestown Navy Yard and see USCG Cutter Eagle, Picton Castle & Bluenose II and the flagship of the Irish Navy - LE Eithne. They are visiting my favs USS Constitution & USS Cassin Young.

Pics of Coasties Having Fun.....

...doing things that you couldn't pay me to do!

These and all the other pics are from Lynn. Thanks Lynn!!

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle

I promised pics and here they are!

Thank you to Lynn of 4Elements who was aboard to visit her nephew who is stationed aboard Eagle.

Our approach aboard the USCGC Pendant (WYTL 65608).

Thank you CDR LaBrec & LT Braesch USCG Public Affairs

And thank you Eric C. Jones, Captain, USCG Commanding Officer, USCGC Eagle who was there to greet us as we came aboard.

I had the best time!

It was beautiful.

I promise there will be pics. There were several people taking pics and I made friends! You know me, if there is a way to ride someone else's coattails, I'll find it.

I got up at 0530 with a plan to leave by 0600. Sadly, that plan did not include a shower.

So there will be a better post and pics later.

For now.....I'll repeat my Tweets. Sent a few from the ship;

"Just transfered from Pendent to another boat in preparation to board USCG Barque Eagle"

"On board USCG Eagle. Whew! Some people made a point of making the leap unassisted. Not me! I gladly took the hand extended!"

"I came across with many people who have family who are crew members. I also met someone who was with the Coast Guard Foundation. "

"As Eagle's crew prepares to get underway, I am watching them hose down the anchor. We are discussing what might be drawn up from the bottom"

"I say that I might not want to know. One of Eagle's crew assures me that the quality of Boston Harbor is much improved in recent years."

"USGS Eagle is gliding across Boston Harbor. It is completely different from USS Kearsarge. No vibration."

"We are approaching George's Island - Boston shrouded in heavy mist just beyond. USGC Eagle"

"I left barely an hour ago & didn't actually leave Boston Harbor - but as USCG Eagle brings me in sight of the Bunker Hill Monument...."

"Someone please DM me. what is the ship P31"

(and Twitter comes through from @chucksimmins @FBL1 @NavyCS & @coastie79 - the answer was the Irish Navy's flagship LE Eithne)

"Chuck you rock! Irish Navy Eithne. Thanks"

"@NavyCS do you think I can BS my way aboard P31 Eithne?"

(which sadly I was not able to do - tours begi at 4 pm. If I hadn't skipped showering I would have goe to my parent's house and napped until 4 pm - but I was wiped and stinky)

"USCG Eagle is securing behind Old Ironsides. People are lined up on the pier, waiting to come aboard. There were a few rain drops but...."

"Sadly, the Irish Navy did not *KNOW* who I was. LOL I was unable to BS, cajole, beg my way aboard. Tours started at 1600. Boo!"

"Thank you CDR Ron LaBrec & LT Connie Braesch of U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs for arranging my fabulous morning aboard USCG Eagle"

OK, off to shower and sleep for a bit.

Meanwhile, here are links to SailBoston -

My Wednesday

....will start aboard the Coast Guard's tall ship, Barque Eagle. Aren't you jealous!

Thanks to everyone who made this invitation possible, especially CDR Ron LaBrec who passed along my name after we met in DC during my Pentagon adventure.
BOSTON - The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle sits at its anchorage outside of Boston Harbor Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in anticipation of the Sail Boston 2009 tall ships event. The Eagle is a 295-foot barque based in New London, Conn., and is used to train future Coast Guard officers. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen)

BOSTON - The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle sits at its anchorage outside of Boston Harbor Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in anticipation of the Sail Boston 2009 tall ships event. The Eagle is a 295-foot barque based in New London, Conn., and is used to train future Coast Guard officers. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen)

BOSTON - (Left to right) The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, its small boat and the Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel sit at the Eagle's anchorage outside of Boston Harbor Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in anticipation of the Sail Boston 2009 tall ships event. The Eagle is a 295-foot barque based in New London, Conn., and is used to train future Coast Guard officers. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen)
~~~~~~~~~

All pics and more stories are available on the Coast Guard's website.

Thank You Father Tim

Chaplain Vakoc leaves legacy of care

Navy Week At Fenway

Friday night at Fenway

090703-N-8110K-062 BOSTON, Mass. (July 3, 2009) The Navy Operational Support Center-Quincy color guard presents colors while a group of boy scouts hold a large flag during the playing of the national anthem by U.S. Navy Band Northeast Jazz ensemble prior to a Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners game. The Fenway Park event took place during Boston Navy Week, one of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2009. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dave Kaylor/Released)

The Highlight of The Sunset Parade

Tonight I was in the Charlestown Navy Yard for the Sunset Parade with the officers and crew of USS Constitution.

There was a reviewing stand and next to it, reserved seating. I got the front row and three of the four marching bands performed right in front of my spot.....excellent!

Afterwards I was talking to people I know and teasing Commander Bullard's son about the treat I brought. Commander Bullard called to me to come over and meet the gentleman he was standing with.

CAPT Thomas Hudner, USN (ret.), MOH recipient

I was completely tongue-tied. I think. Because I don't remember a single thing I said.

It was my absolute honor, sir.

It was the highlight of my evening.
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner, USN Is congratulated by Mrs. Daisy P. Brown, widow of Ensign Jesse L. Brown, after he received the Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House, 13 April 1951.LtJG Hudner was awarded the medal for attempting to rescue Ensign Brown, who had been shot down by enemy fire near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, on 4 December 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives