Happy Vernal Equinox!

     Perhaps it would fit under the law of unintended consequences. Blood pressure medication (Amlodipine) prescribed for me caused issues with my gums. I was back at the periodontist this morning for a deep cleaning.  He also did a bit of surgery. Tongues have minds of their own, and not only around speech. With no conscious thought the tongue continually goes to investigate if the sutures are still there. Yes. they are. It's all a bit of a nuisance but I'm grateful to have teeth.

   At age eighteen, this would be in 1918, my mother got false teeth. Now, here's the remarkable part. She was still using those teeth when she died in 1989. They never gave her any significant trouble. 

   The University Of Minnesota women's basketball team made the NCAA playoffs. Not only did they make the tournament they did well enough to host the first two games. As I write, Ole Miss is playing Gonzaga at the "Barn", the University's Fieldhouse. Minnesota will play Green Bay at 5:00.

Takk for alt,

Al 

It's soon time to cut the cedar trees that I spotted last fall when I was hunting.

Disembarking!

     Both readers of this blog know that my memory often retreats to Marine Corps experiences. Some brain pulse triggered thoughts about disembarking from ships. Perhaps it was seeing the picture below of our aircraft carrier through the door of a helicopter. 

    The least favorite method of leaving a ship was over the side and down rope nets. This method was only done while in full battle gear. That meant a pack with half tent,  another Marine had the other half, ammo belt with canteens and bayonet, rifle and helmet. Taken together the weight was over 100lbs. Naturally neither the ship being departed nor the landing craft waiting below were stationary. The ship rolled from side to side and the landing craft bounced up and down. Marines in the landing craft would pull the net away from the ship so descending Marines didn't get caught between the vessels. It was critical that the descending Marine drop the net the moment his foot touched the deck. Hesitate a moment and the craft might drop ten feet down and then the Marine would have a fall. 

   Descending a gang plank, about three feet wide, with railings on either side, was the usual method of leaving the ship. Typically one end of the plank would be on a dock. The exception to this was in Hong Kong Harbor. There was no dock space for the aircraft carrier so it anchored out in the harbor. A gang plank was lowered hugging the ship. Its terminus was a platform few feet above the water, From that platform we stepped into a harbor taxi to carry us to shore.

   The USS Princeton, on which I travelled, was a World War II, aircraft carrier built after the original Princeton was sunk by the Japanese. It had been re-fitted as an helicopter carrier. Flying off the deck was an easy, but noisy, way to disembark but it always meant training, not liberty.

Takk for alt,

Al

Our ship pictured from a helicopter.

 

Anchored in Hong Kong the top part of the gang plank is visible. Note the helicopter on the deck with its rotors folded.

Marines going down the net four abreast. Don't try this at home!

For what it's worth.........

 

OFH Perk!

       This OFH, of which I'm a happy inmate, features a beauty salon/barbershop. Needing a beauty treatment I made an appointment. In the shop, two floors below my apartment, today Kathy cut my hair and trimmed my beard. The fee, competitively priced, will be added to my monthly bill. No need to drive and use gasoline which is becoming more expensive. I bid the barber farewell until ??? November?

    Two blocks from the OFH, Interstate Highway 35E runs north and south. Before it crosses the Mississippi from the north it crosses Shepherd Road. The 35E bridge over Shepard Road will be replaced this construction season. Plans are to build a temporary crossing over Shepard to keep 35E traffic flowing. Consequently Shepard Road east from Lexington Ave. will be closed. Shephard west from Lexington, which I use regularly, will not be affected.  Construction will begin April 20, with completion projected for November....good luck with that.

    A representative of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) was present here today to explain the project and answer questions. Via closed circuit TV, I listened to the presentation. TV access is available for many events, lectures and concerts. Each day a movie is offered in the Multi-purpose Room that can be accessed via TV. 

Takk for alt,

Al

After my discharge from the Marines in 1962, I bought a car in Long Beach, CA. Ed was stationed in San Francisco with a year left to serve. Picking up ED in S.F., how did we make connections with out mobile phones, we drove to the Seattle's World Fair. Then we visited my cousin, Leslie Negstad and his wife Esther, in Port Angeles. Leslie took us salmon fishing. Leslie caught the 18lb and I the 5lb., which Esther cooked for us.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

     "Who is the least Irish of all, and why is he?"  The OFH announcement was "St. Patty's Day; Shamrock Ice Cream, 2:00 in the Fireplace Lounge"  Shortly after two the line for the ice cream stretched far out of the Lounge. Overcoming my Marine Corps induced aversion to standing in line; I queued up. Not long to wait until, Jim, the Food Services' Director, came by.  Al, "Hi, Jim, is it mint ice cream?" Jim, "Yes, it's mint chocolate chip." Al, "That's too bad becasue I'm not allowed to eat mint!" Jim, "Wait here."  Moments later he retuned with an ice cream sandwich for me. 😁   

    Sammi is the OFH Activities Director. After eating my ice cream sandwich Sammi and I were together waiting for an elevator. Expressing my gratitude for the St Patty's Day event,  I said "These events are good community builders." She said "Offer free food and people turn out!: 😀 It's true, and a phenomena to analyze another day. 

Takk for alt,

Al

And then the snow came! Mt. Fuji with our tents barely visible in the foreground. 1961

Just in case you don't read Pearls...

 

Memory!

    It was the first night and morning in our Quonset Hut barrack in Boot Camp. Upon arrival at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego we were housed in dormitory barracks until there were enough Marines to form a four platoon company. Then we were installed in Quonset Huts for the remainder of Boot Camp. These humble huts would be our home for twelve weeks.

  "On April 8, 1956, six U.S. Marine Corps recruits drowned during a disciplinary night march led by Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon into Ribbon Creek at Parris Island, South Carolina. The incident, caused by unexpected deep water and panic, led to McKeon’s conviction for negligent homicide and significant reforms to Marine training methods."  Internet

   The new rules mandated that from 10pm until 6am, Marine recruits could not be bothered by drill instructors. Taps were played at 10:00 and lights out, Reveille played at 6:00, lights on and everybody up. The first morning most of us were up and dressed in the dark before 6:00. One recruit, on a top bunk, was slow getting up. At 6:00 the hut door burst open admitting a drill instructor. When he spotted the recruit still in his top bunk he grabbed the mattress and threw it and the recruit on the floor. After that no one was tempted to hit an imaginary snooze button.

   This memory was occasioned by the Beetle Baily cartoon below.

Takk for alt,

Al