Folks,

SNAFU, DFWC:

Yes, it is certainly uncomfortably hot and humid down amongst the sticky tobacco leaves and across the dusty cotton fields. There are little dust devils flitting about in most every field at mid-day.

You can fry an egg on I-95 at 2 in the afternoon. It is so hot in fact that the small farmer's chickens are said to be frying right out in their yards. All you have to do is pick one up, pluck the thing and and then eat it!

The real trouble is that we need lots more rain down here. We have several beautiful lakes in our area but they are getting so low that our son is having difficulty getting his boat in at certain favorite locations. The Tar River is rather low as well. He wanted to go cat fishing last night but finally gave it up.

To the north, huge Lake Gaston still has plenty of water and it is only a couple hours drive from here. Also, the beach is about three hours away to the east, so don't feel too sorry for him yet. Looks like we may get some thunder showers this evening. That won't help much. What we need is about a week of steady drizzle.

I hate to mention this but often when it gets so terribly dry around these parts relief comes in the form of a hurricane or two. (last time it was 3 within a few weeks). I do not wish for that, believe me.

If we don't get a significant downpour soon the ol' Cap'n' (Jolly Roger) 'ere might 'ave to move 'is creakin' pirate ship from Bath down to the Outer Banks or run aground, 'ide 'is blushing face an transfer 'is flag to tha little Zodiac.



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"Blessed are they who expect nothing.
For they will not be disappointed." - Edmund Qwenn, "The Trouble with Harry"

All

Sir JR2, If you and the family need a rescue call me and the USS SNAFU will steam to you at flank speed. I have installed wheels in the hull in the event the water level continues to drop.

I have been working on a new story but time demands in the summer can be brutal on one's writing and gaming.

Shame to see Cpt F close his site. Been book marked here for a long time. SALUTE!

Folks,

SNAFU, DFWC:

Thanks for the generous offer of support. The USS SNAFU with all it's pennants flying and happy crew waving would be a welcome sight steaming over any horizon. We have received some rain and two cool days and nights. I haven't checked the creek levels lately yet I suspect much more rain is needed for recreation and crops.

Most importantly for domestic tranquility, the wading pool is holding its own, this I suspect, is with the help of the First Mate, so our Grandson has no complaints.

I too lament the likely passing of Cpt_Farell's site. I gather he has lost some interest since his last effort (a lovely BF109E) did not meet with his own expectations due to a limited pallet. As many have pointed out, this is no longer a problem.

You, and many concerned others, including myself, have posted our regrets at his closing his site and our appreciation for his monumental body of exceptional work. Perhaps this will encourage a renewed interest on his part?

Looks like another scorcher today after 2 cool ones. If you and your family will be cavorting amongst the waves of the mighty Chesapeake today don't forget to take along plenty of industrial grade Coppertone barbecue sauce for sunburn protection.

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"Blessed are they who expect nothing.
For they will not be disappointed." - Edmund Qwenn, "The Trouble with Harry"

JRT, SNAFU...

I do wish that you chaps would'nt keep going on about scorchers! We are struggling here to stay in the sixties... thats fahrenheit not era! Lots of rain today, and yesterday and maybe more tomorrow.

Oh! for a week in NC

About that bar to the DFWC and sorry for the delay in replying.
I consider myself fortunate to have been awarded this tribute after only a few stories posted. I think that the initial gong should be for 10, then a bar for a further 20, a second bar for another 20.
After that, the DSWO ( Distinguished Service Writing Order) for an additional 20.

Let's see now...by that yardstick, you two should scoop the lot for stories already represented!

I liked the idea of the 'frosties. They looked so cool and inviting that I had to nip out to the Late Shop and grab a four-pack of Heineken from the cooler!

All his work has been FSM'd and is at the BDG site now


Yup, bloody weather. Tooks the boys out for a walk today in the rain and got bloody soaked. Of course they enjoyed it enormously. Their mother was not quite so keen when we returned with half a river bank on our clothes.

All,

Sir Bader, sloppin through the rain was always a grand treat and to be honest I still enjoy it. I suspect you did too.

Great idea to preserve Cpt F's work on the BDG site.

Old Dux,DFWC I like you ideas for additional hardware to be bestowed on current and future writers.

Sir JR2, your idea of adding additional metals and such completely slipped my overworked mind. Something along the lines of what the Old Dux, DFWC suggested sounds pretty good to me. What do you think?

USS SNAFU remained in port today. Yard work you know.

TALLY HO!

Folks,

Gentlemen (you too SNAFU):

I apologize for going on and on about our hot, humid weather here. Your weather sounds quite good to me at this moment. The sixties (F) eh? Earlier last week that would have made me seriously contemplate a Concorde flight east.

For the past two days it has actually been quite nice here. Temps in the mid seventies during the day and high fifties at night with unseasonably low humidity.

Starting tomorrow we expect daytime temps in the low nineties and nighttime temps in the high sixties and mid seventies. Sounds good to you Brits, eh.

Well, mix in high humidifies and it will make you fellows unaccustomed to it run dripping pints of your choicest vintage sweat all the way to the pool, pub or airport.

Air conditioned cars and homes with central air make it almost tolerable down south these days. We have relatives living down in Mississippi that really have problems with the summer heat. Frankly, we here in eastern NC are located in a rather moderate region of the US. The cellulose cow food seems always to be greener on the other side of your own wooden barrier I guess.

If you'd really like to experience the occasional NC summer heat wave, try this at home. With all your winter clothes on, turn the thermostat up until your thermometer reads about 95 degrees (F) and you are perspiring profusely. Next position an electric heat lamp so that it beams down upon you radiating blinding waves of additional heat. Just when the heat seems almost unbearable, wrap yourself from head to foot in a hot, wet blanket. That should just about do it.

I love NC and would not choose to live anywhere else I've had the pleasure of visiting. The climate is generally moderate here and most pleasant with few days or nights of climate extremes of either hot or cold.

I have to admit though that when it does come to one of those infrequent, excessively hot, humid days or nights of summer, I'd trade cool, crisp and damp over hot, crispy and dripping sweat anytime.

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"Blessed are they who expect nothing.
For they will not be disappointed." - Edmund Qwenn, "The Trouble with Harry"

[This message has been edited by Jolly Roger Too (edited 06-10-2002).]

Folks,

As the stork must have said to Mickey Rooney's Mom "Here's a short one".


Lost to the Living

Minutes ago a parachute grabbed the thin air at 12,000 feet to blossom between two fluffy cloud layers drifting high above a slate colored sea. With a resounding snap the progress of the dark shape now tangling in the shroud lines ceased falling at terminal velocity and was mercilessly jerked to a slower descent.

Now the rushing wind ruffled through the bloody hair of the man hanging slumped in his parachute harness. His battered head rolled from side to side and his glazing eyes saw nothing. The young man’s crimson stained lips that had so recently laughed were now frozen upon the final syllable of the final word these lips would ever form. The word was, as it was for so many young men of his generation, “Mother”.

Moments ago this man was a living breathing human being with hopes and dreams, faults and strengths like all the rest of us. Now, as the dark shadow of his parachute’s silk canopy grew to full size upon the chopping waves below, the gooey, sticky hair and whatever else was left of the poor man plunged without caring into the cold depths of the English Channel and was lost to the living forever.

High above the spreading ripples that mark a new grave that will never be visited there is a glint, a tiny sparkle. It is no more than a speck flying high against the sun and much too far away for the average eye to recognize. The recently lamented fighter pilot would have recognized it. Thousands of feet above the sea, past the scudding clouds, a single gray, shark-like German fighter floats in solemn triumph. The Perspex hood glistens in the brilliant sunlight as the port wing slowly dips. The blue-white reflections shift silently across the cockpit and a shadow fades. The pilot is seen to glance below for one last time. Before the wing rises again we see there are several bullet holes across the wing. The RAF pilot did not go down without a fight.

Then as if finally satisfied that his advosary has landed safely, the Axis pilot lights a short black cigar and turns his custom-built fighter toward France. Sunlight again fills his cockpit as the pilot adjusts his goggles and expertly resets the controls of his damaged aircraft. Now, as firm hands set a new course homeward the 109 dives swiftly toward what promises for the victorious pilot to be a hot bath, some ordinary wine and a very good meal.


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"Blessed are they who expect nothing.
For they will not be disappointed." - Edmund Qwenn, "The Trouble with Harry"

[This message has been edited by Jolly Roger Too (edited 06-10-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Jolly Roger Too (edited 06-11-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Jolly Roger Too (edited 06-11-2002).]

Splendidly poetic.

All,

Sir JR2, you have left us proof that in some instances less is actually quite the opposite.

Your characterization of the grave site nobody will ever visit is a chilling reminder of the coldness and finality of war.

A name is marked off the flight roster, a telegram is forwarded to family but nobody, save god knows what befell the lost soles.

Thank you Sir JR2