Random Thoughts Showing 7,751-7,800 of 17,689

[happy]

They had some really cool photos of WW II, Korea and Viet Nam in our BN HQ - inlucding some from Hamburger Hill

[happy]

Don't recognize the name, quite frankly I don't remember who the Bde Cdr was - LTC Frankawicz (SP) was my Bn Cdr

[happy]

Sceadugenga wrote: ""AIR ASSAULT SIR!!"

We used to have a Sat Com operator from the 501st attached to our platoon on major exercises."

I had the radio/RATT plt - so he would have been one of my people - or my sucessors

[happy]

Now that 2 old soldiers have done reminicing - back to our regularly scheduled discussion :)

[Jesse]

Terri wrote: "Jesse wrote: "

Right on Portia. I am in the South, so ya'll come on. I have coffee, e..."

I think I'll go to Jesse's and Skype to anybody who has gone to Portia's. I am a dog person. I prefer c..."

You made the right choice Terri. No cats here. I have 2 teacup yorkies who sit next to you while reading all day.

[Lia]

Derek wrote: "... I'd need several valiums & cocktails to get on that plane... or maybe a severe concussion. ..."

Just like Mr. T from The A Team? ... :D

[Allison]

Terri wrote: "If it looks like happening I'll have a lot of work to do on my fear of flying. I'll only go if I think Hawaii is worth possibly dying for. :-)
I'M not convinced it is. I live in a land of beautif..."

The flight is the easy part. What makes me all anxious and crazy is the airport. I don't like to be rushed and I'm always the one stopped to be searched. Ugh. Once you get thru the airport nightmare, the flight is smooth sailing... so to speak :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Allie wrote: "Terri wrote: "If it looks like happening I'll have a lot of work to do on my fear of flying. I'll only go if I think Hawaii is worth possibly dying for. :-)
I'M not convinced it is. I live in a l..."

I can understand that with American airports. Dear God, what a production they make of it. Mostly rude and cold. The Aussies and the Kiwis are polite and respectful when you're going through security and customs. Don't know what Britain will be like next year, but I'm expecting they can't possibly be as rude as the TSA people.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

happy wrote: "Now that 2 old soldiers have done reminicing - back to our regularly scheduled discussion :)"

That's what the thread is for. Random discussion. You can ramble for as long as you want. I am just disappointed I went to sleep and couldn't join in. :-)

Sceadugenga
Some of the craziest jobs seem to be allocated to those Scout Platoons (hey, you really are a Sceadugenga!). Lol. When I think Scout Platoon I think of those mad bastards in Vietnam flying the Light Observation Helos (not that I was there, I was only born in the 70's). You had to be a little crazy to be one of those guys. The sh#t they did in those easy targets..remarkable. (Obviously Air Cav and a different kind of scout platoon to yours, Joe).

And happy, what do you mean 2 old soldiers. You chaps are still young bucks!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jesse wrote: " You made the right choice Terri. No cats here. I have 2 teacup yorkies who sit next to you while reading all day .."

Aw...yorkies are gorgeous. :-)

So, dog lovers to Jesse's, cat lovers to Portia's. We'll have two tea parties.

[[deleted user]]

Lia wrote: "Derek wrote: "... I'd need several valiums & cocktails to get on that plane... or maybe a severe concussion. ..."

Just like Mr. T from The A Team? ... :D"

Lol! Yep...just like good ole BA from the A-Team, I'm a total wimp when it comes to flying. I've been known to take 20 hour Greyhound bus rides in order to avoid 3 hour flights. I've also been known to have anxiety attacks on planes, so unless I'm going overseas, I'll drive, take a bus or a train. It's not the fear of crashing that gets me. It's some kind of weird fear of being trapped in a big tube way up in the sky. A form of claustrophobia I guess. :)

[Jane]

I was fine until 9/11. Since then, flying terrifies me with all the awful things you read.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Jane wrote: "I was fine until 9/11. Since then, flying terrifies me with all the awful things you read."

Have done most of my flying since 9/11. Security is much better since then...except, perhaps in Kuala Lumpur. Have made mental note to not so much as even fly through that airport. Security is damn near non-existent.

Singapore, on the other hand, has incredibly strong security. Or at least it did in 1996, I'm expecting it's only got tighter rather than looser.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

My hubby came back from a trip to Singapore for work last week. He said the security was really relaxed. he was surprised at how nonplussed they were there.

[Bobby]

Just got back from Hawaii...go there often and my job has me flying almost every weekend. A lot less idiots up in the sky than driving on my streets! Also flew over 400 combat hours in Vietnam so I guess I'm bucking the odds now! I rarely even think of the dangers involved anymore.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Bobby wrote: "Just got back from Hawaii...go there often and my job has me flying almost every weekend. A lot less idiots up in the sky than driving on my streets! Also flew over 400 combat hours in Vietnam so I..."

I wonder how rare it is for ex military men and women who once flew or were flight crew, to have a fear of flying later in life. It must be rare.
You'd think, unless they suffered a trauma (experienced or saw something that traumatised them) that being in planes would be a piece of cake for the rest of their lives.

Although, I have heard airmen used to choppers say that being in a plane scares them and they would take a chopper flight anyday over a plane flight.

[Bobby]

I feel 100 times safer in commercial aircraft and surprisingly not just because its in a non-conflict situation. Most of my flying was in a Huey or a fixed wing OV-1 Mohawk which had virtually NO glide ratio whatsoever if you had a problem. Choppers felt safer due to an auto-rotate function of the propellers that allowed you to maintain some control as the Huey spun and descended. Hard landing but doable. Not sure, but I believe most of our commercial pilots in the States are ex-military. That's a plus as well. Of course an exception would be my daughter-in-law who flys for Mesa Air and is a self taught pilot.

[Darcy]

I've done most my flying since 9/11 too and other than changes in security, and that's got more to do with location than anything else, flying itself hasn't changed all that much.

I haven't had any problems flying out of anywhere in the UK. each airport has a different process for checking in though, so if you just follow directives it's easy peasy.

[Bobby]

In truth, the hardest part of flying for many who rarely fly is the stress of getting through security and knowing all the nuances of simply getting aboard , bags stowed, phones off etc. I fly enough that I now have a TSA pre-check which gets me through TSA in a timely manner. Mainly, much shorter lines. They actually have classes here in Phoenix for people with a fear of flying. Saw it in the news a couple of weeks ago.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

I think I am lucky. I don't have flight stress. I took my very first flight at 3 months old. Have been flying ever since. Lots as a kid, and a heck of a lot more since about 2009. I tend to view airports as a second home. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I never had a problem with flying either. I enjoyed it. Then on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney there was a storm and a lot of bad turbulence. There was also a delay and we were in a holding pattern for an extended period getting bumped and shaken around. I thought I was going to die. (I was like a duck on water though. Calm on the outside, crapping myself on the inside).
It scared the bejeebers out of me and I swore I would never fly again. And I haven't.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Bobby wrote: "I feel 100 times safer in commercial aircraft and surprisingly not just because its in a non-conflict situation. Most of my flying was in a Huey or a fixed wing OV-1 Mohawk which had virtually NO g..."

The thing that freaks me out about choppers is that they can just drop or go belly up given the wrong up drafts/altitude/thin air etc etc..
I could beat my fear of flying if I had to. But you won't ever catch me on a chopper again. Those things are just too unpredictable and listless for me.

[happy]

Terri wrote: "happy wrote: "Now that 2 old soldiers have done reminicing - back to our regularly scheduled discussion :)"

That's what the thread is for. Random discussion. You can ramble for as long as you want...

And happy, what do you mean 2 old soldiers. You chaps are still young bucks!
"

That's not what my back tells me some mornings :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh don't worry about those ol' aches and pains. Young soldiers get those too. ;-)

[[deleted user]]

Holler at me if anyone wants to talk about whatever. I'm around....can't sleep.

[Allison]

Derek wrote: "Holler at me if anyone wants to talk about whatever. I'm around....can't sleep."

What are you doing on here? Unless theres an all night library I don't know about...

[[deleted user]]

I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. She has all kinds of computer gadgets, so I have no shortage of internet access for now. New place, though....can't sleep. :) Many more job opps here in Tulsa, so I plan to stick around here for now.

[Allison]

I'm in the same boat. It SUCKS having to move back in with someone after being on your own for so long. Ugh. I'm glad you have her tho :)

Both of us should be reading... or at least doing something productive. Every time I go to get off GR's, a new notification sucks me back in! I'm babysitting my nephew who went to bed super early so I know the little squirt will be up bright and early. Blah....

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Derek wrote: "I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. S..."

I'm so glad you are reunited with your beloved dogs, Derek.
It's terrific that you have better digs now. A more settled environment where you have a proper roof over your head so you have less stress while trying to find.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Terri. It is a relief for sure.

[Erica]

Derek wrote: "I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. S..."

That's good news Derek. Takes a bit of the stress off. Glad you have family on your side. Good luck with the job hunt.

[Andy]

Derek wrote: "I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. S..."

Grand to hear & gl with the job hunting.

[Mark]

Best of luck Derek.

[Andy]

Derek wrote: "Lia wrote: "Derek wrote: "... I'd need several valiums & cocktails to get on that plane... or maybe a severe concussion. ..."

Just like Mr. T from The A Team? ... :D"

Lol! Yep...just like good ..."

Ha! Flying i love but the tube thing & claustophobic made me smile as it's how I feel when I go into that thing we called the Chunnel which has umpteen tons of water overhead! Horrible trip it is n hot n humid mostly if yer stuck in a coach or similar - much prefer'd the ol' days & the ferries if yer couldnt fly direct.

[Andy]

Margaret wrote: "Allie wrote: "Terri wrote: "If it looks like happening I'll have a lot of work to do on my fear of flying. I'll only go if I think Hawaii is worth possibly dying for. :-)
I'M not convinced it is...."

:) wouldnt be so sure about that! Theye re normally a nightmare unless yer in the EU queue, have had some very poor experiences with customs when i was with a Norwegian lass & we used to spend hours trying to get throu customs at UK end, more me than HER! :) Dont say it!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks guys. :)

[[deleted user]]

That Chunnel would probably freak me out, Andy. I'd probably have to be sedated to take that ride too.

[Luna]

Hello everyone!
I'm not really new in this group, but i rarely post. ( hoping to change that)

[[deleted user]]

Hi LunaBelle! Speak up. We won't bite. :)

[Luna]

Lmao How can I be so sure that you guys wont bite? :p jk jk

What's up?

[[deleted user]]

Just getting my goodreads fix in. I'm a hardcore GR junkie.

[Chrisl]

On one of those USAF planes where the seats face the tail and there aren't many passenger cabin windows, about an hour from Tucson on a night flight from Anchorage, the aircraft suddently nosed down ... after about 10 really long minutes, the co-pilot opened the cockpit door and casually stated something like, "If any of you guys are awake and wondering, we are losing air pressure and need to get to lower elevation. After that, I knew flying would always be safe on future flights. But I do hate sleeping in airports after the security folks cause me to miss ongoing flights.

[Alicja]

I also don't fear flying (or airports). Being between Poland and the US since I was a kid and flying with two or even three connecting flights by myself since I was 13 left me fearless.

And since the security changes I just act as if I was going through prison booking... head up, follow directions, stand in line, move when the line moves, get patted down, move on replying only yes sir or yes ma'am to the personnel. And it helps to wear flip flops and an outrageous band t-shirt, something that makes you stand out. It seems that when you draw attention TSA leaves you alone and goes for the grandma behind you that looks like she's carrying deadly knitting needles in her purse.

[Lisa]

Great news Derek!

Lunabelle, you are safe with me and Derek, but I'd watch out for Andy, lol.

[Jane]

Derek wrote: "I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. S..."

Glad you're in w/ your sister for now and I hope a job will open up for you soon! Good luck.

[Nate]

Derek wrote: "I've relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm living with my sister until I can find full time work, and get my own place. She has been keeping my dogs, and offered to let me sleep in her spare bedroom. S..."

Good news buddy! Very glad to hear that.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks so much Lisa, Jane & Nate. Things are looking good...I appreciate all of the support & encouragement from you all!

Lunabelle....most of us are harmless, but like Lisa said, you better watch out for Andy. ;) He might actually bite. :)

[Andy]

Lisa wrote: "Great news Derek!

Lunabelle, you are safe with me and Derek, but I'd watch out for Andy, lol."

OI that nearly hurt ;) et tu Derek lol

[Luna]

*walks in. Becomes paranoid* the so called Andy is here.
Hi Andy!

[Andy]

Grrrrrrr :D