tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230830582024-03-14T06:45:54.672-08:00Hyperbole Prattle"I Enjoy Many Things In My Life, But Only Recently I Have Decided To Enjoy Life More"Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-72543813336233680922014-02-24T19:07:00.001-09:002014-02-24T19:12:34.980-09:00Thank You For Your Service
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the past 12 years, the brave men and women of our armed
forces have spilled their blood in the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our soldiers and Marines have carried the fight to the terrorists and to
those counties that harbored them. Our Navy has maintained a constant patrol of
the seas surrounding these countries launching aircraft to support the ground
troops, our SEALS on the ground carrying out missions that only a few can
accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Air Forces making long
flights from the U.S. to the war zone also to support our troops on the ground.
We have seen so many come home in flag draped caskets, others returning home
wounded and dismembered. These are the men and women that answered the call and
fulfilled their missions and obligations in which they swore to uphold. As
Americans, we were quick to call them "heroes", although most of them
would have preferred to be just acknowledged for their service, they were
simply doing what they we trained to do and their personal obligation to serve.
Messages and patriotic postings were made on all the social medias, thanking
the veterans for their service and to support our military families. Grand
shows of patriotism were staged at all sporting events and wherever a group
formed, thanking these Americans for their service.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During Presidents Carter’s administration, your military
forces were drastically cut, including our naval fleet which was hindered form
going to sea because of the lack of supplies and manpower. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my last trip into Vietnam, I had division which
was comprised of three Petty Officers including myself and fifteen seaman. My
minimum regular complement for my division was set at forty-three personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning we pulled out of Pearl Harbor, a
caravan of paddy wagons appeared on the pier and unloaded our new crew
members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Brig at Naval Station Pearl
Harbor had been cleaned out and those that were incarcerated were our new crew members,
untrained and undisciplined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Peace Through Strength” was a predominant plank in
President Reagans presidential campaign, his vow was to restore the strength of
our military services including the construction of a five hundred ship Navy. A
goal that he completed midway through his second term. During this tenure in
office, our nation’s economic conditions escalated, due in part to
reconstruction of military services. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
the same time, we saw the Berlin Wall fall as well as the Soviet Union dissolving
as a nation and adversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, due in
part to our strong military stance and their lack of ability to maintain their
stance in comparison.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In July 1973, I was I a different aspect of the Navy while
assigned to shore duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was Navy
Recruiter in western Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at
that time that our Military Draft System concluded and we made the transition to
the “All Volunteer Forces”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
transfer of personnel acquisition did not concern me, the Navy had not used the
draft system since WW II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “All
Volunteer Force” has worked for us very well since that time in both our Commissioned
Officer and Non-Commissioned ranks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, my primary concern was and I made it abundantly clear at the
time, eventually we would have a Commander in Chief and other elected office
holders that had no previous military experience. I feared that budgets would
be cut and hesitation would be used in committing our military in times of
turmoil. This has been the case in the past six years.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the fourth year of the Presidency of the President Obama,
the strength of our naval fleet had been reduced to less ships than prior to
World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This occurred at the same
time that China and Russia was increasing the size of their naval fleet to
include aircraft carriers and support ships for those carriers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither these countries had developed a “carrier”
prior to the current administration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
federal law, the Department of the Navy is required to maintain a fleet of ten
aircraft carriers. Today, we have nine carriers on line with additional cuts
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To accomplish the primary mission
of the Navy, in keeping our sea-lanes open to commerce transportation, they patrol
the waters of the world to complete that mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, they maintain a steady strike force in
the event that it is required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our immediate
past, we have seen several incidents where they were not available to fulfill
that requirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Fleet of the Navy has always maintained a posture of two carrier task forces in
the Mediterranean Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to
complete their primary mission of insuring the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar
is open to traffic, a bitter lesson we learned in World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, we do not maintain that posture in the
Mediterranean Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past two years at least three incidents
occurred with no presence of our sea power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first occurred, when two destroyer class war ships of the Iranian
Navy left their home waters and passed thru the Suez Canal and into the
Mediterranean Sea to park off shore from Israel. There was no carrier task
force to welcome them and demonstrate “Peace Thru Strength”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second incident occurred with a loss of
life when our consulate was attacked and destroyed in Benghazi by organized terrorists
resulting in the loss of life of our Ambassador and three security personnel. The
Administration states that there were no resources available to render assistance
in the attack. If the normal carrier task forces had been maintained in the Mediterranean,
those resources would have been available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aircraft could have been launched and reached the area in a short period
of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not ideal to utilize, but just
the presence of our aircraft flying low and fast over the heads of the
terrorists would have given them time to reflect on their wisdom of attacking
U.S. soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, each carrier also
has a contingent of Marines and sailors that make up an organized “boarding
party” that could have been airlifted into the “hot zone” by the carrier
helicopters if they were in range. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, the American public still has not received
the true answers as to what occurred at Benghazi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third and most recent occurrence was just
a couple of months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Syria was utilizing
chemical warfare against the peoples of their state. When confirmation was
achieved, the President drew a “red line in the sand” and ordered our ships to
the area, two fast frigates was the total show of force that we demonstrated,
as no carrier task force was available in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, very capable two fast frigates does
not have the desired impact as a super carrier and all of her escorts. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the length of the administration of President Obama,
there has been more Flag Ranked Officers (Admirals and Generals) retire from
military service than all of the previous Presidents combined!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earliest retirement possible of senior
enlisted personnel is at an all-time high in each of the services. Re-enlistment
levels for first term enlistment personnel is at an all-time low, these are our
mid management level personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
retention in the service is critical for later development into senior enlisted
management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Low morale is the biggest
impact that the services are currently experiencing due to longer deployments
and curtailment of benefits.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, another nail was pounded into the coffin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Vietnam Veterans returned home, they
were spat upon, ridiculed and called every name in the book, demonstrations
were common place on our college campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Naval vessels returning to their home port in San Francisco had cans of
red paint dropped on them from the Golden Gate Bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these veterans endured as they were completing
a mission that their country asked them to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, it is the veterans of the past twelve years being attacked for accomplishing
their mission. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not by the citizens of
their country but by their government.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was announced today by the Commander in Chief’s Administration,
via his Secretary of Defense, Chuck Nagel the immediate outlook for the future of
our military services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Politics make
strange bed fellows, Chuck Nagel, Secretary of Defense must know the effects
that this “new policy” is going to have on the military services, but lacks the
fortitude to set the example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck
Nagel, was at one time Sargent Nagel, U.S. Army serving in Vietnam and among other
medals for his service, he was also awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds
suffered in combat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, where are
the Generals and Admirals, why are they walking in lock step with the Commander
in Chief other than for their own benefit and being awarded another star to
display on their shoulder boards.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was announced today by the Administration that the
personnel levels of the military services will be “cut” to lower levels than we
saw prior to World II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that
longer and more regular deployments will be required by the remaining
personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as important, it also
means that our services will be so weakened that a response to a national emergency
will be difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we entered into the
2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> phase of World War II in the Pacific we had a draft system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of men and Women did not wait to be
drafted, they enlisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s “All
Volunteer Services” this will be more difficult to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, first we saw a reduction of the Navy
fleet reduce back to WW II standards, now we are seeing our personnel being cut
back to the same time frame.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, that is only part of this package of gratitude for
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently, the Department of
Defense Budget is cut by 53% of the overall budget with additional cuts
forthcoming from the “sequester cuts” developed two years ago. Additional cuts that
were announced today to our military and military families is the curtailment
of future pay raises for those on active duty to the amount of no more than 1%,
cost of living increases, reduction or elimination of Commissary (grocery
stores) privileges, additional costs in medical care, and reduction of “on base
housing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome home, men and women of
our military services, we appreciate your dedicated service and the sacrifices
that you and your families have endured the past twelve years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now it is to me for each of us to step forward, make our
voices heard to each of our elected officials that these “employees” are the
most dedicated and underpaid employees of any of those serving in our government.
Write to your congressional delegation and tell them, do not ask, to vote no on
these drastic cuts to our men and women that serve us so well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-23602583348601245362013-11-12T03:34:00.006-09:002013-11-12T03:34:57.949-09:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brDGVfGkgEA/UoIfwk7s4aI/AAAAAAAAJao/JshShCHl59g/s1600/Commander+McCain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brDGVfGkgEA/UoIfwk7s4aI/AAAAAAAAJao/JshShCHl59g/s1600/Commander+McCain.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The following Veterans
Day 2013, it was so good to see so many of you posting stories and pictures of
the veterans in your lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
stories need to be told, the sacrifices that they made to insure the freedoms
that we hold sacred as Americans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether they serve on the land, in the air, or
upon the seas, they are the protectors of our freedoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, they are Ambassadors of our
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On foreign soil the example they
set is how America is judged by the host nation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are most often viewed as “warriors” or “conquerors
“, seldom is the respect shown for the thousands that render aid and assistance
in the time of natural disaster anywhere throughout the world. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>However, at the same time
in our own nation we have a tendency to overlook or do not recognize some of
our veterans and the sacrifices they have made except on special days, such as
Veterans Day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each and every veteran
that has served will have “ghosts” or stories they cannot or wish not to
disclose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is how they insulate
themselves and the reality that they have faced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any man or woman that has honorably served
their nation deserves this respect despite their age, color of skin, beliefs, or
handicaps incurred while on active duty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Case in point, do you recognize the two
individuals in the picture attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
is easily identified as President Richard Nixon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other, I have heard him called every name
in the book over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To name
just a few, “cripple”, insane, war monger, idiot, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fool, grouchy old man, worthless, and some that
I will not print.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I were to ever meet this gentleman, I would
be humbled in his presence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of
admiration and respect, I would refer to him as “Sir”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite serving his nation for the majority
of his life, he is deserving of that respect as a veteran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time you see this ”patriot” overlook
his limp and other handicaps <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you might observe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disregard his political party affiliation or philosophy;
don’t be so quick to judge him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
second man in the photo with the President is Senator John McCain,
R-Arizona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this photo he is Lieutenant
Commander John McCain III, U.S. Navy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
picture was taken the latter part of March 1973.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This picture was taken at a “meet and greet”
ceremony hosted by the President.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just days
prior to this meeting, Commander McCain and 142 other military men had been “guests”
of North Vietnam as Prisoners of War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One hundred and forty-three men were released on March 14, 1973 following
their stay at the “Hanoi Hilton” in North Vietnam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commander McCain had been their guest from
September 30, 1967 to March 14, 1973, a total of five years and six months as a
Prisoner of War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those handicaps that you
observe and often make fun of, were imposed on him by his “hosts”. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>On July 29, 1967, Lieutenant
McCain was sitting in the cockpit of his A-4 Skyhawk awaiting a catapult launch
from the carrier U.S.S. Forrestal <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the
South China Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A missile from a second
aircraft accidently launched, striking his aircraft or the aircraft sitting
next to him, immediately exploding on impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was able to open his cockpit, crawl out and get a hold of the
refueling probe of his aircraft to get down to the deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On fire, he rolled to extinguish the flames. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this accident, 134 sailors were killed and
heavy damage to the carrier Forrestal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
would return to the states for repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead
of returning with the U.S.S. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forrestal;
Lieutenant McCain volunteered to transfer to Attack Aircraft Squadron 163,
embarked on the carrier U.S.S. Oriskany due to their shortage of pilots. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was from this carrier that Lieutenant
McCain would launch on the morning of September 30, 1967 on a mission over
North Vietnam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the targeted zone, a
Russian made, ground fired missile would strike his aircraft. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He managed to bailout of his aircraft but was
captured as soon as he was on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He received little medical attention by his captors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In total, Lieutenant Commander McCain flew
twenty three missions over North Vietnam.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>As a “guest” of the “Hanoi
Hilton” he was subject to constant and intensive interrogations by his hosts who
had great difficulty in understanding the Genève Convention Code of Conduct in
the treatment of Prisoners of War. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was not until late into his interment that his “hosts” discovered that he was
the son of the highest ranking officer in the Pacific, Admiral John McCain II,
Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They offered him “early release” in hopes that it would influence some
of the other POW’s to divulge information for their early release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lieutenant McCain refused their offer and
stood by their policy that prisoners would be released by the order that they
were taken prisoner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through treaty negations,
the one hundred forty three Prisoners of War would be released on March 14,
1973. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Coming home, after his recover
and rehabilitation period, Lieutenant McCain would return to active duty and
re-qualified for flying status.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
advanced to Commander, he would assume the Command of an Aircraft Squadron
based out of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Following this Command, he
would retire from the Navy in 1981 as a Captain (equivalent to Colonel in other
military services).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Captain McCain’s
Naval Honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion Of Merit, Purple
Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and a host of other decorations.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Perhaps, now the next time
you see Senator McCain standing at the podium on the floor of the Senate, you
might want to consider what he has endured and willingly gives in the service
of his country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a veteran, a patriot, and the type of
Commander that I would be proud to serve under.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>As a side notes, one other
Naval Aviators that was a guest of the “Hanoi Hilton” and released the same time
that Commander McCain was released was Commander “Marty” Lewis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was proud to serve under his Command after
he returned to active duty. Perhaps, one of the most inspirational Commanders that
I served with during my career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>As well, there are
several personal coincidences that have occurred that I thought interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During WWII, Admiral John S. McCain I served
in both WW I and WWII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On May 18, 1945
(my birthday) he raised his pennant on the carrier U.S.S. Shangri-La<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(the first ship that I served on in the Navy
starting in 1964) as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces he controlled all
aircraft operations in the South Pacific, including those of the U.S. Army Air
Forces. Terry’s dad spoke highly of him even if he was in the Navy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, Commander John S. McCain,
II was a Submarine Captain in WW II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During part of my tenure in the Pacific Operating Area, he would elevate
to Commander Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) which is also during part of the timeframe
that Commander McCain was a Prisoner of War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-35208065107622661422013-10-18T02:02:00.000-08:002013-10-18T02:28:14.195-08:00Fifty Years Have Passed<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first duty station was
Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois for my initial training. Within
a matter of weeks, our training was halted for two weeks due to the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The base was
on lock down and the military put on alert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Graduating from Recruit Training, I was transferred to Navy Submarine School
in New London, Connecticut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Graduating in
May 1964. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to my enlistment, the nuclear
powered submarine, U.S.S. Thresher was lost in Long Island Sound with all souls
onboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lengthy investigation as to
the cause of the accident created long waiting lists for graduates to get
orders to a submarine since the nuclear fleet was grounded until the investigation
was complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I opted to go to sea on a
surface ship, the U.S.S. Shangri-La CVA-38 out of Mayport, Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fell in love with the “Shang” and would remain
onboard her until October 1967. Your first ship is like your first love, she is
always special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would carry me to
the Mediterranean Sea on two different occasions for eight month deployments;
numerous trips into the North Atlantic and a constant barrage of “sorties” into
the Caribbean Sea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Atlantic transit
from Mayport, Florida to Naples, Italy is 4,450 nautical miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From 1964 to 1967, the total nautical miles
onboard the Shangri-La was likely in the 65,000 nautical mileage range. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While onboard the Shangri-La, I was temporarily
assigned to train as an Assault Boat Coxswain in Dam Neck, Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In 1967, married by now,
we would transfer to Naval Station, Adak, Alaska where two of my children were
born, Shane and Shana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My duties on Adak
consisted of being the Leading Petty Officer for the two structural fires
stations and the one crash Station at the Airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would remain on Adak for two and half
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From NS Adak, I was temporarily assigned
to the Armed Forces Police Detachment in Vallejo, California enroute to my next
homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and reported aboard the U.S.S. Ponchatoula
AO-148, a fleet tanker, assuming the role as Leading Boatswain Mate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within two weeks of reporting onboard, I was
underway again enroute to the western Pacific to support the fleet on Yankee Station
off the coast of Vietnam and supply the swift boats operating in the rivers of
Vietnam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking breaks to take on fuel
in Subic Bay, Philippines we would make sorties into the Korean Sea to refuel
the fleet operating in that area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
seven months, we returned to Pearl Harbor to operate locally and served as a secondary
recovery vessel for Apollo 14. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
nine years on sea duty, it was finally my turn to rotate to shore duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My request was that I be assigned
to Navy Recruiting duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Completing my training
in San Diego, I was assigned to Navy Recruiting District, Denver, Colorado and ultimately
assigned as Recruiter in Charge in Durango, Colorado where our second daughter was
born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1973, I was selected as “Salesman
of the Year” by the Denver Branch of the Marketing Sales Executives of
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same year, I was selected
as “Recruiter of the Year” for Area 6, in ceremonies in Washington D.C. in meeting
with Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, the Navy had just came out with a new rating called the
Navy Counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked if I wanted to
convert my current rating from Boatswain Mate to Navy Counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really can’t say no to the CNO, besides I
also enjoyed that type of duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bypassing the selection process for the new rating, I left Washington D.C.
as the first Navy Counselor in the Navy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would remain on recruiting duty in Durango
for another year until I transferred to Grand Junction, Colorado as the Recruiter
in Charge and Zone Supervisor for the Western Slope of Colorado. Two years
passed and once again it was time to rotate back to sea. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Returning to sea duty, I
would return as a Navy Counselor, my deck days were over, although I did miss
being a Boatswain Mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was assigned
to Attack Squadron 95, the “Green Lizards” flying the A-6 Aircraft. In the squadron,
I was assigned to the Executive Department which was not a very big department;
it consisted of the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Command Master Chief
and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My arrival in the squadron came right at the
time that we were scheduled to make a Western Pacific Deployment onboard the
carried U.S.S. Coral Sea home ported out of San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Packing up all of our equipment, office
supplies, etc. we flew down to San Francisco to board the carrier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once onboard and underway, as soon as we
cleared the Golden Gate Bridge, our aircraft as well as the other squadrons
would fly the aircraft onboard to make the Pacific transit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enroute to the Philippines, we would make a layover
in Pearl Harbor and take on last minute supplies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Detaching from Pearl Harbor some of our
aircraft would detach from the carrier and fly to the Philippines due to the
dual mission of the carrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again,
operating in the area of the old “Yankee Station”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midway through the cruise we rotated to
operate in the Sea of Japan and Korean Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This particular deployment lasted six months until we returned to San
Francisco and ultimately Whidbey Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Returning to Whidbey Island, I
would be selected and advanced to Navy Counselor Chief Petty Officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our second son would be born on Whidbey
Island, Oak Harbor, Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later in
the year, I took leave to visit my family in Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon my return to the squadron, Commander
Craig, my Commanding Officer called me into his office for coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chatted about the squadron and
personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally he asked me if I ever
wanted to return to recruiting duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Replying
that I did, he smiled and said, I was hoping you would say that and handed me a
message that was ten days old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
message was that he Navy was going to establish a permanent assignment to recruiting
duty due to the all-volunteer concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
noticed that the deadline for the applications had already passed while I was
on leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed and rr3plied that is
why he was happy that I wanted to return to recruiting duty because he had
submitted my application and I had been selected, it was only then he handed me
my orders to Navy recruiting district, Seattle, Washington. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reporting in at the main
station in Seattle, I was then transferred to Anchorage, Alaska as the Navy Recruiter
in Charge for the State of Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would never return to the main command in Seattle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After two years, I expanded our offices in
Alaska to include an office in Fairbanks and one in Juneau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spent
a lot of travel time between the three offices assisting the recruiters that
manned the offices for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the spring of 1983, I
had been selected for Senior Chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Command in Seattle called me and said that the Recruiting Command was looking for
a Zone Supervisor in Oklahoma City to manage several stations and that I had
been selected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talking with the Chief Recruiter,
I told him I would call him back the next morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I counted up my time and had the requirement
to retire, although I would have to extend or reenlist for two more years to
accept Senior Chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked to Terry
that evening pertaining to our options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We mutually agreed it was time to retire and stay in Alaska. The next
morning, I called the Chief Recruiter and announced that I would have the time
required for retirement in August and intended to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ironic thing was that I had been in
Alaska almost four years, I had never returned to our main headquarters in
Seattle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In August 1983, I retired
from the active duty Navy with twenty years of service to the Navy Fleet Reserve
for the remainder of my ten years, subject to recall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My retirement ceremony took place at the new
Federal Court House, just four blocks from the old Court House that I had
enlisted at in 1963.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In late October
1993, I received a Certified Envelope, enclosed was my Honorable Discharge for
serving thirty years in the Naval Service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a great career, to do over again; I would choose the same
option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I mentioned previously, your first
ship is always your true love, “Lady Shang” took me to sea as a boy and returned
me as man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifty years later, it is a
good day! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-83944742062453786992012-10-30T19:51:00.000-08:002012-10-30T19:51:10.437-08:00Benghazi Raid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVvDs5WBets/UJCfxrbVvqI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/z5mEeM3e88k/s1600/001us_navy_seals_insignia111-vi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVvDs5WBets/UJCfxrbVvqI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/z5mEeM3e88k/s400/001us_navy_seals_insignia111-vi.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our Ambassador and his Aide was killed
in this attack, but just as important there were two former Navy SEAL’s that sacrificed
their lives in order that others could escape to the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until just a few years ago, very few American’s
even know about the SEAL’s, which they and their family preferred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two ex-Navy SEAL’s in Benghazi the
morning of the raid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were both at a
CIA Annex about a mile from the Consulate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hearing gunfire coming from the Consulate they requested permission to
leave the annex and render assistance at the Consulate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three times, they were denied and told to “stand
down”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two men were Tyrone (Ty)
Woods and Chris Doherty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disobeying orders, they proceeded to the
Consulate, arriving, they assisted a number of individuals in escaping and boarding
a bus to the airport. They went back into the Consulate, under fire to find the
Ambassador and his aide. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remaining
four would lose their life in the ensuing fire fight and from smoke inhalation
inside the “safe room”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Chief Ty Woods and Chris Doherty were still
on active duty they would be likely candidates for the Congressional Medal of
Honor for their actions and disregard of their own lives to save others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the two of them could be entitled to
nomination of the Congressional Gold Medal which is the civilian equivalent to
the Medal of Honor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Chris Doherty served seven years in the
Naval Service as a Navy SEAL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tyrone Snowden Woods was a Senior Chief Petty
Officer in the Navy having served on active duty from 1990-2010 with SEAL Team
1, 3, and 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retiring from active duty
he became a private contractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although,
at the time of his death he was still in the Navy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Military personnel that retire with 20 years
of active duty, is still obligated to serve an additional ten years or any equivalent
in the Fleet Reserve until a combined total of 30 years is completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are subject to recall to active duty at
any time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-61329079048260376402011-12-12T23:55:00.001-09:002011-12-13T00:20:30.680-09:00Christmas Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zNnLvAftBQ/TucBvw8S7GI/AAAAAAAAI9E/SOlpDeRxe8A/s1600/christmas05.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zNnLvAftBQ/TucBvw8S7GI/AAAAAAAAI9E/SOlpDeRxe8A/s320/christmas05.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7R8AvMYQfq8/TucBaKrzspI/AAAAAAAAI88/06SZVD3M2tw/s1600/Santa+VII.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7R8AvMYQfq8/TucBaKrzspI/AAAAAAAAI88/06SZVD3M2tw/s320/Santa+VII.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">During this, our greatest Holiday Season of the year, our culture and values have changed through the years. Today, via the mass media, we are bombarded with the commercialization of Christmas. Although,it is an important business season for our economy, I maintain that there is a better way to market the season. I see parents getting stressed out to get their children everything that is on their Christmas list, despite the fact the majority of the Christmas season expenses are put on a credit card and paid through the New Year. Modern technology and the electronic generation adds to this since every child wants or thinks they need the latest electronic gadget on the market. Parents feel guilty if they cannot provide the things that their children request from Santa. Today, a parent takes their young child into the mall to see Santa Claus, they sit on his lap and have their picture taken, of course at a small expense to the parent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am not naive enough to believe we can return to Christmas Past, but like many things in our lives we can learn from the past and apply to the present. As a pre-teenager, I lived in a small rural community in western Colorado. Predominantly, it was a ranching and farming community. At that time, the population base was around 5,000 residents. Each Christmas, I thank my mother for teaching myself and my siblings the meaning of Christmas. But, I also thank the community for similar values. Today, in this community, in the center of town is the movie theatre, the Fox Theatre. The last time I visited the community, it was still there and still in business. As a child, the theatre always had a Saturday matinee, cost of admission was a dime. But, Christmas was very special. On the Saturday before Christmas, the Fox would host a free matinee for the children of the community. It would consist of two cartoons, the news reel, and a full feature movie. Following the movie, the lights would come on, Christmas carols would start playing, and then the Mayor would make a short speech and introduce a special guest, Santa Claus. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Santa would not sit in a big chair, he preferred to stand up with a Elf standing next to his side. He to, would make a very brief speech, highlighting important things like school work and listening to our parents. When he finish, those of us in the audience, would file out by row and proceed in line to meet Santa. As we approached him, he would extend his white gloved hand and shake your hand. As he chatted with you, his Elf would appear with a brown paper sack, a lunch bag nearly filled with a variety of candies and always some type of fruit, orange or apple. In later years, I learned about Santa's visit. The Fox Theatre would provide the Free Movie, the merchants in town contributed all of the contents of the bag by either donating cash or product. Following the meet and greet of Santa, we would return to our seats and a choir would come in and sing a variety of carols, with Santa leading them. At the conclusion, he would depart the theatre, step up onto the City Fire Truck, wait for all of us to clear the building and with sirens blaring head down the street from our sight. Years later, as an adult, do I believe in Santa? I do because I saw him through the eyes of a child, I touched his hand, and he spoke to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Walking home, the majority of the homes were decorated for Christmas, City Hall and every church would have a naivety scene, some them even having live animals at the manger. The homes would decorate with lights, but they did not keep time with blaring music, but every home would have an outside tree decorated. It always intrigued me, but some of these homes would have lights in the shape of a star in their front window. The stars would always be solid blue or gold. It was later that I learned that those stars indicated that they had a member on active duty if it was Blue. If the family had lost a member of the family on active duty, the star would be Gold. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A family of seven, my farther made a living of buying and selling horses to supplement his guiding and dude ranch business in the summer and fall. My mother would work in the local restaurants as a cook to provide additional income. She would start in early November and start preparing for Christmas, making candies, cookies, fruit cake, and reviewing or lists to Santa. We never got everything on our list, but she always insured that we had at least one gift from our list, two if there was a surplus of cash, and of course school clothes for the remainder of the school year. She made it possible and we never felt disappointed because we did not get everything we wanted. We got much more than she realized she was giving us. We established Christmas traditions that are still practiced in our home today. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Merry Christmas To All" </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-66438575252661847302011-09-04T16:58:00.000-08:002011-09-04T16:58:06.493-08:00Summer 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The northerly winds are starting to show on a regular basis, marking the end of the summer and the changing of the season's. The fall season will be short lived and once again we will experience the onslaught of winter. The wild and domestic flowers have passed their prime, but we have experienced a great summer growing season. These pictures were taken at our home in Anchor Point, Alaska. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Front Yard Rock Garden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDxUML2fXus/TmQPu02JY7I/AAAAAAAAI8w/84sVnuSWSRk/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDxUML2fXus/TmQPu02JY7I/AAAAAAAAI8w/84sVnuSWSRk/s400/206.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Delphiniums experienced a great summer, three of the nine beds exceeded eight feet in height between 5/18/2011 to their peak the latter part of August. The ground cover at the base of the White Delphiniums are English Daisies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ghRcyNmRJI/TmQPcCypSBI/AAAAAAAAI8s/emspEBxhDU8/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ghRcyNmRJI/TmQPcCypSBI/AAAAAAAAI8s/emspEBxhDU8/s400/212.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We raised four varieties of Lilly's this season, a hardy flower for our conditions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBMb5Nqtzp8/TmQOTYS_lxI/AAAAAAAAI8c/S1D4WaQLatk/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBMb5Nqtzp8/TmQOTYS_lxI/AAAAAAAAI8c/S1D4WaQLatk/s400/240.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Dahlias ~ this is the first year that I have attempted to raise Dahlias, although late bloomers, they were a great addition. A very sturdy plant that do well under our windy conditions since we live on a bluff </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> and susceptible to wind. Plan on increasing to several beds this next growing season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdTAgkKCNCI/TmQNoqI8N5I/AAAAAAAAI8U/zkuIGXP3IQQ/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdTAgkKCNCI/TmQNoqI8N5I/AAAAAAAAI8U/zkuIGXP3IQQ/s400/DSC_0234.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My all time favorite ground cover flower, the Livingston Daisy. By planting them close, you can create a bed of blossoms that are vibrant in color and hardy. They are also known as "Sun Flowers" because they will close up under low light conditions and blossom in full color with a touch of sunlight. A great flower requiring very little maintenance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmTFCP8ph44/TmQPDzY4k6I/AAAAAAAAI8o/gHbgjYsSVR4/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmTFCP8ph44/TmQPDzY4k6I/AAAAAAAAI8o/gHbgjYsSVR4/s400/191.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lilly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AI2B5hsqt34/TmQOtyxb6nI/AAAAAAAAI8k/4XCxPyhdDVw/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AI2B5hsqt34/TmQOtyxb6nI/AAAAAAAAI8k/4XCxPyhdDVw/s400/232.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">English Daisy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObvG4buauTA/TmQQHnqjh_I/AAAAAAAAI80/QOfcBWBhf1Y/s1600/241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObvG4buauTA/TmQQHnqjh_I/AAAAAAAAI80/QOfcBWBhf1Y/s400/241.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lilly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWvObrFyOFE/TmQOgLj5wRI/AAAAAAAAI8g/gyOHHnxTIUg/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWvObrFyOFE/TmQOgLj5wRI/AAAAAAAAI8g/gyOHHnxTIUg/s400/238.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lilly Bed Combined With Plox, Columbine, and Fern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-OxSygjH5k/TmQS8hMYexI/AAAAAAAAI84/d9cm_AkOs9k/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-OxSygjH5k/TmQS8hMYexI/AAAAAAAAI84/d9cm_AkOs9k/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-29958800203264204872011-03-30T00:05:00.001-08:002011-03-30T00:05:00.273-08:00Happy Birthday ~ My Good Friend<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This evening, I have sat and searched out hundreds of poems to best describe how I feel about a special friend of mine. Then it dawned on me, words of poetry cannot describe our friendship, our bond that has existed for the past nine years. Between, the two of us, we do not need to share the spoken word, our feelings for one another is expressed through our eyes, a slight movement of the hand, and from the heart.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You have been there, at times when I needed a friend the most. In grief at our loss, as the tears swelled, you would awaken from your nap, come to me and lay your head upon my lap. No words were spoken, but as your eyes look into mine, you were telling me that everything would be just fine. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Friend, you have done well. You were eager to learn, but more eager to please. We worked together for hours to learn to retrieve, as you progressed from singles to triples, I realized that you were training me. You taught me patience, by showing me heart. You showed me your ability to learn without threats of being hit or with a shock. In return, all you ask for was a little playtime with the ball, just you and me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We have traveled thousands of miles, memories all good, the nights we spent camped out and waiting for first light. We have been fortunate because together, we were able to enjoy some great sights.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The past nine years have slipped by fast, but looking back old friend, we have had a blast. We have had some rough times, but we have also shared the good, with each event by my side you stood.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday To My Good Friend, "Dutch" </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dutch Harbor Dutchman ~ "Dutch"</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Date of Birth: March 30, 2002 ~ Dutch Harbor, Alaska </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>May 18, 2002</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Our First Day Together </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>My Birthday Present</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Anchor Angler, Anchor Point, Alaska </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O48veVXFxY8/TZKqKE3X0KI/AAAAAAAAIrA/-LlD24D581s/s1600/Dutch+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O48veVXFxY8/TZKqKE3X0KI/AAAAAAAAIrA/-LlD24D581s/s400/Dutch+4.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>First Visit To Friends Home ~ Meryl Wolford</b></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-vU3jQYh84/TZKqdDeBkdI/AAAAAAAAIrU/FpY8WXdg6co/s1600/Dutch+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-vU3jQYh84/TZKqdDeBkdI/AAAAAAAAIrU/FpY8WXdg6co/s400/Dutch+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Marking Retrieve In The Snow"</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzxIBx-CzZE/TZKqESIg8oI/AAAAAAAAIq8/FddWOBz29ow/s1600/DSC00265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzxIBx-CzZE/TZKqESIg8oI/AAAAAAAAIq8/FddWOBz29ow/s320/DSC00265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Anchor Point Beach Grass ~ Waiting For Release Signal For A Retrieve</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm-L8cO2uc8/TZKqU08kyrI/AAAAAAAAIrI/Sq4MhfwlN8w/s1600/DSC_0540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm-L8cO2uc8/TZKqU08kyrI/AAAAAAAAIrI/Sq4MhfwlN8w/s320/DSC_0540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Day At The Beach With His Buddy Ruger</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wal59813EJw/TZKqbgFCVDI/AAAAAAAAIrM/weIlcxMo_Xc/s1600/DSC_0544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wal59813EJw/TZKqbgFCVDI/AAAAAAAAIrM/weIlcxMo_Xc/s320/DSC_0544.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Playtime In The Snow"</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltajjyXs1Mg/TZKqcJ4ZpII/AAAAAAAAIrQ/6nnusTCPY5w/s1600/Dutch+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltajjyXs1Mg/TZKqcJ4ZpII/AAAAAAAAIrQ/6nnusTCPY5w/s400/Dutch+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-vU3jQYh84/TZKqdDeBkdI/AAAAAAAAIrU/FpY8WXdg6co/s1600/Dutch+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><u><span style="color: black;">Time Out To Play Ball</span></u></b></span><br />
</a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-21KxctcRWB8/TZKqM0muoUI/AAAAAAAAIrE/9KHWXvbAfJY/s1600/DSC_0187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-21KxctcRWB8/TZKqM0muoUI/AAAAAAAAIrE/9KHWXvbAfJY/s400/DSC_0187.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-78369509856362877402011-03-25T14:45:00.001-08:002011-03-25T15:00:34.721-08:00Great Alaska Earthquake<div style="text-align: center;"><b> FORTY SEVEN YEARS AGO THIS SUNDAY: </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>At 5:36 p.m. AKST, Good Friday, March 27, 1964 the second largest earthquake to ever recorded would strike the Alaska coastline. The major earthquake would last a duration of four minutes, reaching a magnitude of 9.2 on the Richter Scale. A vast area, predominantly coastline communities suffered the greatest loss of life and property. A total of thirteen individuals would loose their lives related to the actual earthquake. However, the worse was yet to occur. The Tsunami Wave came ashore following the earthquake, although the Tsunami varied in height from 27 feet to 8 feet. The loss of life and destruction of property was far greater than that created by the earthquake with a total of 113 lives being lost due to the Tsunami Wave.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Additional lives would be lost in Canada and as far south as Cresent City, California where twelve souls would loose their lives due to the massive wave.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>EARTHQUAKE RECORDS </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The largest earthquake ever recorded occurred at Valdivia, Chile on May 22, 1966 measuring 9.5 Magnitude.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Second Largest: March 27, 1964, Good Friday Earthquake in Alaska measuring 9.2 Magnitude</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Third Largest: December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia measuring 9.1-9.3</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fourth Largest: November 4, 1952, Kamchatka, U.S.S.R. measuring 9.0</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fourth Largest: March 11, 2011 Pacific Ocean, Tohoku, Japan measuring 9.0</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The following photographs were taken by my father,Vern Harrington on the Homer Spit, Homer Alaska.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Front) Land's End Resort ~ Homer Spit ~ Homer, Alaska </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oiRsf6y3npM/TY0PWrLuoJI/AAAAAAAAIm4/MrARbZQ2RFk/s1600/Spit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oiRsf6y3npM/TY0PWrLuoJI/AAAAAAAAIm4/MrARbZQ2RFk/s400/Spit+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Buildings ~ Homer Spit ~ Homer Alaska </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eAeYQGhyuoI/TY0PeddaIFI/AAAAAAAAIm8/6EgDJJbP1ng/s1600/Spit+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eAeYQGhyuoI/TY0PeddaIFI/AAAAAAAAIm8/6EgDJJbP1ng/s400/Spit+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Rear) Land's End Resort ~ Homer Spit ~ Homer, Alaska</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZeqiefnVfOM/TY0PfX_-ujI/AAAAAAAAInA/R45V7CTeekE/s1600/Spit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZeqiefnVfOM/TY0PfX_-ujI/AAAAAAAAInA/R45V7CTeekE/s400/Spit+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Fuel Farm ~ Homer Spit, ~ Homer Alaska </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZGK_x6MBPOM/TY0PgwYsKlI/AAAAAAAAInE/7jahh2tQzLQ/s1600/Spit+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZGK_x6MBPOM/TY0PgwYsKlI/AAAAAAAAInE/7jahh2tQzLQ/s400/Spit+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Fuel Storage Area and Buildings ~ Homer Spit ~ Homer, Alaska </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8T3m1qiRmRw/TY0PhqCU8iI/AAAAAAAAInI/FLloGHZ3jIo/s1600/Spit+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8T3m1qiRmRw/TY0PhqCU8iI/AAAAAAAAInI/FLloGHZ3jIo/s400/Spit+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-28732797650488652542011-01-24T05:00:00.004-09:002011-01-24T05:55:44.093-09:00Change You Can Believe In<div style="text-align: center;">Now, this is "Change" that you can actually see with your own eyes. The two photos were taken the same day, January 19, 2011. That date should be familiar to you as it was the day that President Hu made his visit to the residence of President Obama. In the morning, a light graying of the hair. Later in the day when photographed with President Hu, he had washed that gray right out of his hair.<br /><br />As with all of our Presidents, the daily stress of this office has a tendency to age them rapidly. This process goes with the job. However, hiding the signs of this stress does not really eliminate the factors of the stress. President Clinton discovered that smoking a good cigar would reduce his stress level. <br /><br />The President is forty nine years of age, typically this is the point in a man's life that you can expect some changes. There are those that describe this process as a mid life crisis for men. First sign of this process is the desire to become healthier. The purchase of a "juicer" and making up all kinds of concoctions of a variety of fruit and vegetables is a sure sign that a man is looking for the fountain of youth. Then come the motorcycles, vintage cars, new clothes, new hair style, and yes, coloring of the hair in order to return to the age of their youth. <br /><br />I am just a few years older than the President. Although, I have not had the stressful life of the President, I too am showing a little gray around the temples. Several years ago, I went to a costume party. For this particular party, you had to come dressed as you would in your younger years. I donned my "old" Navy uniform that I was issued when I joined the Navy thirty years earlier. Looking at myself in the mirror, the gray that was showing did not go well with the uniform. I got myself some of that instant youth looking goop and washed it through my hair. Drying it and combing it as it was in the 1960's, I was amazed that my hair looked worse than before I tried to restore my youth. You can hide the color of hair, but those little wrinkles in your face will not disappear.<br /><br />The "graying process" has never bothered me, I consider it the "learned look" as well as being distinguished. The thing you must keep in mind is that you may wash the gray out of your hair, but at the same time, you also have to color your beard, mustache, arms, legs, chest, and any other area that hair happens to grow. The best thing to do is let it go and consider yourself lucky that you have achieved that position in your life. <br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TT2GJaBMLbI/AAAAAAAAIi8/GusRLrzIXFQ/s1600/obamagraysplit600.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TT2GJaBMLbI/AAAAAAAAIi8/GusRLrzIXFQ/s400/obamagraysplit600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565752210661060018" border="0" /></a>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-47927563435633344022011-01-14T22:15:00.004-09:002011-01-14T23:16:41.190-09:00Welcome To "Change"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TTFK3xJlfrI/AAAAAAAAIgc/jyYjB-Il014/s1600/Owl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 128px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TTFK3xJlfrI/AAAAAAAAIgc/jyYjB-Il014/s400/Owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562309336726077106" border="0" /></a><br />Recently, while having morning coffee at the Anchor River Inn, one of the regulars at the coffee clutch produced a email from a lady that lived in Anchor Point. Although, I knew of her, I had never overly indulged myself in conversation with her due to her radical political philosophy. She was a self proclaimed Democrat, very liberal in her beliefs pertaining to saving the environment, global warming, and destruction of our planet. She placed the majority of the blame on the timber industry and large oil companies.<br /><br />Her email went on to explain her life after leaving Anchor Point. She moved to Sappho, Washington, a small community on the western side of the Olympic Peninsula. She purchased a small home and several acres in Sappho which is situated on the border of the Olympic National Forest. On the highest point of her property there was a very large tree. Wanting a better view of the "natural environment" of her land she decided to climb the tree.<br />As she neared the top of the tree, she encountered a Spotted Owl that attacked her because she got to close to the owl's nest. In her haste to escape the owl, she slid down the tree to the ground. Having her legs wrapped around the tree, she acquired a number of large splinters in the area of her crotch.<br /><br />In considerable pain, she hurried to the medical clinic in Forks, Washington, about ten miles in distance. Arriving at the medical clinic, she demanded to see the Doctor on duty immediately. During his examination, she explained as to how she acquired the splinters. She went on to expound on her political beliefs as to her position on the environment, anti-hunting, and how much she admired President Obama.<br /><br />The doctor listened to her with great patience and then told her to to wait in the operating room and he would see if he could help her and remove the splinters. The nurse assisted her in positioning herself on the table and placing her feet in the stirrups in anticipation of the removal process. After waiting for two hours, the Doctor reappeared in the operating room. The angry lady demanded "What took you so long, I am in great pain and very uncomfortable!"<br /><br />A sly smile escaped the lips of the Doctor and then he went on to explain to her, "Well, I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Forestry, the Division of State Parks, and the Bureau of Land Management. She demanded why he had to do all of that simply to remove the splinters from her crotch! The Doctor again smiling to himself, replied, "Well, before I could remove any old-growth timber, which is the nesting area of "Spotted Owl" from a recreational area, I needed the required permits. I'm sorry, but due to the permitting process, Obama Care turned me down." The nurse will assist in helping you get dressed, have a good day. As the operating door closed behind him, she could hear him laughing and repeating, "How Do You Like The Change Now"<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TTFK35JwWDI/AAAAAAAAIgU/0ofMq0Al1Qc/s1600/spotted-owl-picture-s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TTFK35JwWDI/AAAAAAAAIgU/0ofMq0Al1Qc/s400/spotted-owl-picture-s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562309338874271794" border="0" /></a>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-39953137139883670252010-12-21T21:34:00.001-09:002010-12-21T21:39:45.126-09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TRGc_kGD08I/AAAAAAAAIb0/TwuO6jrHL0g/s1600/christmas05.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 56px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TRGc_kGD08I/AAAAAAAAIb0/TwuO6jrHL0g/s320/christmas05.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553392431359316930" border="0" /></a><br /><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 1.5pt; width: 100%;" width="100%"> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div style="margin-left: 3.75pt;"> <div style="margin-left: 3.75pt;"> <div> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <div> <div> <div> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-style: outset; border-color: rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 6pt 6pt 6pt 1pt; background: rgb(229, 223, 205) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; width: 80%;color:#e5dfcd;" bg border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" width="80%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-style: inset; border-color: rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt; padding: 15pt;"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-style: outset; border-color: rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt; margin-left: 12.5pt; width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="border-style: inset; border-color: rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) rgb(140, 37, 0) -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt; padding: 5pt; background: rgb(229, 223, 205) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;color:#e5dfcd;" bg><div> <div> <div> <div style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"> <div> <div style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 12.5pt; margin-right: 12.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:maroon;"><span style="font-weight: bold;color:maroon;" >A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.<br /><br />His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.<br /><br />Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_4">Montgomery Ward</span> during the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_5">Great Depression</span>. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.<br /><br />Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_6">Christmas Day</span>. But the story doesn't end there.<br /><br />The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_7">Santa Claus</span> in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.<br /><br />In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.<br /><br />Bob's brother-in-law, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_8">Johnny Marks</span>, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_9">Bing Crosby</span> and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_10">Dinah Shore</span> , it was recorded by the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_11">singing cowboy</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_12">Gene Autry</span>. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_13">Christmas song</span>, with the exception of "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_14">White Christmas</span>."<br /><br />The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292864129_15">gift of love</span> that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing. </span></span></b></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-76510944393591100842010-12-17T05:08:00.003-09:002010-12-17T05:42:49.177-09:00Is It Really Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQtvuUmQiQI/AAAAAAAAIZc/LHgIKlTn1c0/s1600/christmasbells1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQtvuUmQiQI/AAAAAAAAIZc/LHgIKlTn1c0/s400/christmasbells1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551653807258110210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQtvIYA39TI/AAAAAAAAIZM/lHKwQh-Cn1g/s1600/capt.e662afde773046f28e82a1946d752a11-e662afde773046f28e82a1946d752a11-0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQtvIYA39TI/AAAAAAAAIZM/lHKwQh-Cn1g/s400/capt.e662afde773046f28e82a1946d752a11-e662afde773046f28e82a1946d752a11-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551653155340023090" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ever wonder why the price of gasoline is so high?<br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is a picture of a Christmas Tree at a glitzy hotel in the Muslim desert emirate of Abu Dhabi.<br /></div>This particular tree is valued at $11,000,000 dollars. So you do not have to count zeros that is $11 Million dollars. The tree only cost $10,000 Dollars. The decorations was the expensive aspect of the Christmas Tree.<br />The 40 foot evergreen is located in the gold leaf rotunda of the hotel. The tree is decorated silver and gold bows, ball shaped ornaments, and small white lights. The necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry draped around the branches are what gives it a record value. It holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires, and other precious stones. <br />If you are planning a visit Abu Dhabi in the near future and make reservations at the Emirates Palace, for a seven day stay, your cost is going to be only $1,000,000, however, that includes the butler, and chauffeur driven Maybach luxury car as well as a private jet available for trips to other countries in the region. Oh, I would love to visit Iran or Syria during my Christmas vacation.<br />If you run short of cash, they also have ATM's, but it is a vending machine that pays out in gold! To find another machine like that, you will need to take the private jet to Germany! <br />What caught my attention is that Abu Dhabi is predominantly a Muslim country, why are they celebrating CHRISTmas?<br />However, a spokesman for the hotel answered that question. Asked if the tree might offend religious sensibilities in the United Arab Emirates? His reply was "It's a very liberal country"!<br />Might want to stop and asked some of the woman that live in this area as to how liberated they feel! <br />However, that is O.K., my little Christmas tree that has had the same ornaments on it for many years, it reminds me each year of Christmas past. Maybe, I will leave it up and celebrate the Muslim Holy Days. <br /><br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-90688647806490830472010-12-14T02:24:00.012-09:002010-12-14T02:57:24.908-09:00Reflecting Back<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQdYwxM-nMI/AAAAAAAAIXs/fu7DGw_FmxQ/s1600/christmas05.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 70px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQdYwxM-nMI/AAAAAAAAIXs/fu7DGw_FmxQ/s400/christmas05.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550502660622163138" border="0" /></a><br />The Christmas Season is always a great time to reflect on the years that have passed. Tonight, while cruising this site, I came across this picture first posted on November 23, 2006. The photo was taken on Thanksgiving Day, 2006. We celebrated Thanksgiving as a family above the video store this particular year. Although, only five years has elapsed, I stared at it in amazement as to the transformation of each of the "little ones". Some may consider me as being verbose, however, when I look at this picture and see the transformation, all I can say is, WOW!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"FOUR GENERATIONS FOR DINNER"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQdYNG_T43I/AAAAAAAAIXk/sOqmmu31tkY/s1600/Family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQdYNG_T43I/AAAAAAAAIXk/sOqmmu31tkY/s400/Family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550502047995126642" border="0" /></a><br />I also came across this posting from December 23, 2006 which I have cut and pasted from the original posting on the blog site. <br /><br />While on the subject of Christmas carols, recently a copy of a re-written carol was delivered to me, which I would like to share with you but the young artist wants to remain anonymous, as she is afraid that it may effect future Christmas gifts from grandma.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/627/2359/1600/425502/8reindeersled.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/627/2359/400/701002/8reindeersled.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER</strong><br />(Chorus)<br />Grandma got run over by a reindeer,<br />While walkin' the Beach Road<br />You can say there's no such thing as Santa<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But for me and Grandpa, WE BELIEVE!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />She'd been drinkin' to much Zinfindel<br />And we begged her not to go,<br />But with her wine glass in hand,<br />She stumbled out the door and fell in the snow.<br /><br />When the Park Ranger found her Christmas morn<br />She was layin' face down in the ditch,<br />There were tiny hoof prints on her back<br />and inciminatin' red paint marks on her slacks.<br /><br />Chorus (Repeat)<br /><br />We are all so proud of Grandpa<br />He's been takin' this so well<br />He is till watchin' football<br />Drinkin' rum and playing poker at the Inn.<br /><br />It's not Christmas without Grandma,<br />All the family is dressed in black.<br />And we just help but wonder,<br />Should we open her gifts or will Grandpa want them back.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Chorus (Repeat)<br /></div><br />Now the Turkey is on the table,<br />We are using Grandma's favorite china.<br />We will surely miss her,<br />But would someone pass the potatoes so we can eat.<br /><br />Grandma got run over by a reindeer<br />While walkin' the Beach Road<br />You can say there's no such thing as Santa<br />But for me and Grandpa, WE BELIEVE. </div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-4243484853593086792010-12-11T10:34:00.003-09:002010-12-11T11:41:00.927-09:00"The Last Stand"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQPSil22MII/AAAAAAAAIVE/30M1D-wrXd8/s1600/capt.3f43d576797748e1b5ad49d2d1dff122-3f43d576797748e1b5ad49d2d1dff122-0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 326px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TQPSil22MII/AAAAAAAAIVE/30M1D-wrXd8/s400/capt.3f43d576797748e1b5ad49d2d1dff122-3f43d576797748e1b5ad49d2d1dff122-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549510657570123906" border="0" /></a>On June 26, 1876 , Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led two hundred mounted U.S. Cavalrymen and scouts of the Crow Tribe into the valley of the Little Bighorn. Splitting his formation, he mounted a charge against an encampment containing 1,800 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lakota</span> Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors. The short lived battle that transpired would be called "Custer's Last Stand" <br />All members of the 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> U.S. Calvary would be killed in the valley or on the slopes of the surrounding hills during this engagement. There is one soldier that was never accounted for, his name was H.M. Harrington. Extensive searching by his family and the U.S. Army has never determined his status. <br />The picture of the above flag, known as a "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">guidon</span>", with the distinctive swallow -tailed shape which is frayed, torn, and with possible blood stains is one of five that was carried by the 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> Calvary that day. It is the only flag that was recovered by the Army. Following the battle, those forces that were suppose to rendezvous with the main forces prior to the attack arrived and preformed the duties of the burial detail.<br />The above flag was found under the body of a soldier, according to the testimonials of the Indians involved in the fight, Corporal John Foley was attempting to escape on horseback, however, he shot himself in the head and his body covered the flag. All of the other flags were believed to be taken by the Indians.<br />Sergeant Ferdinand Culbertson recovered the flag and it became known as the "Culbertson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Guidon</span>" . Pieces of the flag, including one star was neatly cut from the flag, it is believed that different members of the burial squad took pieces <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">of the</span> flags as "war <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">souvenirs</span>".<br />After being kept in storage for many years it was displayed in Montana.<br />The Detroit Institute of Arts purchased the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">guidon</span>" in 1895 for $54.00.<br /> The "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">guidon</span>" was sold "because it did not fit with the museums focus on art" on Friday, December 10, 2010. A private collector purchased the "Culbertson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Guidon</span>" for $2.2 Million Dollars.<br />If you have never visited the "Valley of the Little Bighorn" and the site of "Custer's Last Stand", I would strongly recommend it. The field of battle and where each soldier or Indian fell in combat are clearly marked with crosses. You can cover the entire area from the trail system. The static displays in the museum gives you a good sense of how and why the massacre occurred. It is another case of some great American History that is now overlooked in your educational system. <br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-51236802800516714162010-11-26T12:37:00.010-09:002010-11-26T15:36:52.717-09:00Spirit Bear ~ Fact or Fiction<div style="text-align: center;">In my best recollection, the year was the summer of 1954. After visiting Alaska during the winter, my father, Vern Harrington and by older brother, Tad Harrington worked for Shell Oil Company on the Alaskan Peninsula. This was the day of the early exploration in the wilderness of Alaska. Both my father and brother, even though he was a teenager at the time, were experience "horsemen" and packers. Their job with Shell Oil Company was to move the campsites from one location to another for the exploration crews. This was done with horses, which were leased from a homesteader in Homer Alaska by the name of Jack <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dietz</span>. The horses were then barged from Homer to the Alaska Peninsula (Old Harbor). <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Moving the camp on a daily basis required them to work alone, ahead of the seismograph crews, most often by themselves. Later in the summer, my brother would move to a support boat that operated off shore for Shell Oil Company. My brother would be the radio operator on this boat, the M/V Tempest. This made my father the sole "packer" for the seismograph crews which almost cost him his life. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A secondary job that they held was to act as "bear guards" when they were working in the same area as the seismograph crews. In performance of this assignment, they did have to put down several Brown Bear that posed a threat to the crews and or horses. Keep in mind, that at this time these bears had experienced very little contact with humans and no contact with horses. Most likely, they considered the horses fair game as any other of their prey. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One of the bears that had to be put down, was a light colored Brown Bear, seeing a "blond" Brown Bear is common, however, this particular bear was almost a pure white in color. Unfortunately, colored film was not a reality and the only pictures taken were Black and White from an inexpensive camera. General Jimmy Doolittle, CEO of Shell Oil Company, visited the seismograph crews in the field, upon seeing the pictures, he turned copies of them over to Walt Disney Studio for their future use. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Tad" Harrington ~ Alaska Peninsula ~ 1954<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TPBJhHE07HI/AAAAAAAAIP8/uAFd4uUNIxQ/s1600/White%2BBear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TPBJhHE07HI/AAAAAAAAIP8/uAFd4uUNIxQ/s400/White%2BBear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544011974476885106" border="0" /></a>Recently, I saw this news clip on television and it made me wonder, if the folklore pertaining to<br />the "Spirit Bear" is correct or if perhaps there is a sub-specie of Brown Bear that are actually white or it is just a natural very light blond Brown Bear. The "white" bears filmed in the news clip are located many miles (800+) from the location of the "white bear" in the above picture. The possibility exists that if this is actually a sub-specie of the Brown Bear, although it would be a long distance, the possibility exists that there could have been a overland migration of the bears in the south to the Alaska Peninsula. <br /><br />To view the news clip, click on the link highlighted below:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/canadian-spirit-bears-are-brought-out-of-hiding-23204099">SPIRIT BEAR</a><br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-30052137435882242642010-11-14T19:18:00.004-09:002010-11-14T19:38:52.276-09:00TAPS<div style="text-align: center;">The sounding of "TAPS" always makes me sad, but at the same it makes me pause and reflect upon the past and the meaning behind the music. We have all heard the notes of "TAPS" played on the trumpet, I have read the actual words to TAPS but until now, I have never heard TAPS played in it's entirety except for one time at the Marines Barracks #1, Washington D.C. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Quite, by accident, I found it recently, it is a beautiful piece of music played by a young lady that plays the piece precisely and beautifully.<br /></div><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdPTNN9rojOGOkMZPvxa_Hyh18ZRRRpXEUSjtTePdWlBp_ZuaduzXXe7KhlcxRuuLOMwmJzeucLoo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-912219352133233412010-11-03T23:08:00.003-08:002010-11-04T00:47:41.121-08:00Random Shots<div><div style="text-align: center;">Having just recently returned from an extended driving trip, I had the opportunity to shoot so many pictures. Although my primary interest is Wildlife Photography, I also enjoy shooting pictures of old houses. I enjoy them, not only for their rustic features but also it makes me wonder about the people that once <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lived</span> in these homes, their history, and their lives. I also saw a number of things that humored me. The trip also gave me an opportunity to observe first hand the economic conditions throughout the western states.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I came as a surprise to me last evening when the electorate of Nevada re-elected Senator Reid. I spent a great deal of time in the small towns of Nevada, most of them living ghost towns. So many businesses closed and house after house with a "For Sale" on it. Talking with the locals, I would have placed a heavy wager that Senator Reid would not be re-elected. Once again, I think the larger cities like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Las</span> Vegas and Reno played a major role in his re-election. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot divulge the exact location at this time, I am seriously considering coming out of retirement and purchase a business in Nevada. In past trips, we have seen this business and now because of the economics, it is on the market. Nice mild winters, it would be a good trade off to live in Alaska in the summer and the deserts of Nevada in the winter. It has a small cafe, motel rooms, and a small bar. I did not stop or take a tour of the holdings but have since been in contact with the owner. I am now awaiting the details in regards to the profit and loss statements, what inventory is included, and of course the list of <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ass</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ets</span>. It looks interesting, on a major highway with ample truck parking. Since my brother is a truck driver, I am sure he could push a little business in my direction for those driving the lonely highways of Nevada. I just hope someone does not see the potential before I can make a decision. It is not everyday of the week that you find a "Brothel For Sale"! Economics are so bad in Nevada the whorehouses are even having to close. Since seeing it, it has brought a lot of self indulged humor to the many miles of looking out the windshield. There were two big signs posted, one north bound and the other southbound. Did not see any cars or trucks parked in the parking lot. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The below picture, I know why the owners built this house at this location. It had the only trees that I saw in southern Wyoming for many miles! <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJd0j8IR7I/AAAAAAAAILs/BqCOyE06T7w/s1600/DSC_0339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 321px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590049573783474" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJd0j8IR7I/AAAAAAAAILs/BqCOyE06T7w/s400/DSC_0339.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Montana ~ Fixer Upper ~ Has a Nice Brick Chimney<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdz8YpPYI/AAAAAAAAILk/PS9W1sE7Oe4/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 322px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590038955965826" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdz8YpPYI/AAAAAAAAILk/PS9W1sE7Oe4/s400/DSC_0325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Old Timers In Nevada Took Advantage Of Natural Building Materials In The High Desert ~ ROCKS (I Love Rocks) This is one of several that I found that was built into the bluff. Even has a two car garage built out of rocks. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzjObnAI/AAAAAAAAILc/vf_PNjGZ-hM/s1600/DSC_0322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 321px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590032202243074" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzjObnAI/AAAAAAAAILc/vf_PNjGZ-hM/s400/DSC_0322.JPG" border="0" /></a>This sign almost came home with me, I know a good location for it. It may be duplicated at a later date. It was located at a Rest Area, surely glad they tested the water and posted it. I have to wonder how many people stop there at night and do not see the sign?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzHcReYI/AAAAAAAAILU/gAFedXOJnAY/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 321px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590024744106370" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzHcReYI/AAAAAAAAILU/gAFedXOJnAY/s400/DSC_0318.JPG" border="0" /></a>The business community of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Granby</span>, Colorado also provided me a couple of days of humor.<br />I do not know who is in charge of their marketing, but one would think that one of these businesses should not be sandwiched between the other two. "Hey, kids go in and buy yourself a "Happy Meal" or a Foot Longer", I am going into this store and buy myself a "Happy Jug"! As big as the parking lot is, surely there is room for a "Pawn Shop" or perhaps a good location for an "Adult Gift Store" next to Burger King and Taco Bell. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzHI-dRI/AAAAAAAAILM/ANB6VdMQvvY/s1600/DSC04119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590024663168274" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TNJdzHI-dRI/AAAAAAAAILM/ANB6VdMQvvY/s400/DSC04119.JPG" border="0" /></a>In all seriousness, if you enjoy history or old buildings, spend sometime exploring Nevada from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Las</span> Vegas north to the Oregon border. It is a great place, desolate and miles of straight highway, but unique in it's own rugged way. I will explore it once again, perhaps my bucket list for next year. <br />Goldfield, Nevada which is located on Highway 95 just a few miles from Death Valley in California. It is a living ghost town. At one time, it was the largest City in Nevada during the gold and silver days, population 25,000 to 30,000. Today, ten or twelve blocks of empty buildings sit vacant, boarded up, remnants of the turn of the century. There is a two story hotel that takes up a half city block, peeking through the dusty windows, I could make out the lobby furnishings, including the front desk with the ornate wood trim. It was beautiful and sitting idle for many years. There is only a handful of businesses in Goldfield today, most of them doing business in antiques. I did find a little corner grocery store. Very little inventory but they did have a coffee pot. A lady was operating the store as I made my way to the coffee bar. There were two men much senior to me standing by the coffee bar, enjoying a cup of coffee. Both very helpful, showed me where the cups and sugar was at and even poured me a cup of coffee. I would place them in their late 80's perhaps early 90's. Both dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and pull over sweater. We struck up a conversation from my questions I posed to them about Goldfield. They were raised there as youngsters and have lived there throughout their life. One asked me if I had family, I replied that I did and told him of my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. One of them replied that they had outlived their families. They recalled the glory days, the bars, saloons, brothels, and gunfights in the street. When I had came in, they were having a discussion on country western music with the lady that worked in the store. One of them asked me if I liked harmonica music. I replied that I did, that I had a friend in Alaska that played the harmonica but Bob had passed away. He asked me if I would like to hear a piece of music, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out this harmonica. His eyes stared into mine and he said, "I don't play that country stuff, I play classical harmonica". He commenced on his chosen piece of music, I watch his hand movements and lips coordinate the music that transpired, every once in awhile he had to pause long enough just to get some air into his lungs to continue. The entire time he played, he never look away from the eyes of his friend, as if he was seeking approval of how he was doing. Being classical, it was a very long piece of music, a good seven or eight minutes. Afterward, as we visited he asked me if I had recognized the piece, I got lucky as I did not know the piece, but I knew if had come from the "Big Band Era". He smiled, "young man, you are right, Tommy Dorsey made it popular, but the original composer was ..........." He told me all about the European composer who had written the piece. As I walked to the front counter to pay for my coffee, they followed me. At the counter, I shook their hands and once again thanked him for playing for me, it was very enjoyable. As I turned to leave, his friend came up beside me and whispered "thank you for taking the time to listen to him play and for the kind words that you said about him, you have made him happy man today." I considered myself the lucky one to have had the opportunity to meet them.<br />This is just another one of those reason's that I do not drive the Interstate Highway System, I do not want to be in such a hurry that I cannot spend a forty five minutes of my time visiting people like this. <br /><br /></div></div></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-2462957635315148132010-08-21T02:45:00.007-08:002010-08-21T03:06:10.739-08:00My Dad Is A Veteran<div style="text-align: center;"><object style="background-image: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Fv4jnlkxOaw/hqdefault.jpg);" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fv4jnlkxOaw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fv4jnlkxOaw?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The clip that you just viewed was aired on CNN, typically considered to be on the liberal side of politics. My concern is why was this not verified and researched by our news media. Perhaps, we have become accustomed to the fact that what we hear on our evening news is verified and reliable information.<br /><br />I had four Great Uncles from the same family (Baker Brothers) that served in World War II in the Europe. My Great Uncle Wayne Baker, went ashore at Omaha Beach during the Normandy Invasion. I also had a Uncle on my other side of the family serve in the same area of operation during World War II. Uncle Marshall Riley served in both World War II and the Korean War. I remember when he returned home and visited us, following World War II. I also remember when he visited us when he was being transferred to combat in Korea. I did not know my Great Uncles, but I have visited their grave sites in recent years, I have a great deal of respect for this generation of Americans because they answered the call.<br /><br />I also hold a great deal of respect for the office of the President of the United States. However, I hold very little respect for President Barack Obama. He is a great Orator, when he has the teleprompter in front of him but can we always trust what he is telling us. I served under one Commander In Chief, which I had little respect for however, his leadership qualities surpass those of our current Commander in Chief.<br /><br />In regards to the news clip aired on CNN, why didn't someone stop to verify the contents of his speech or call him on his misleading representation pertaining to his fathers tenure in the military fores during World War II.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obama's</span> father was named Barack Hussein Obama, Senior. His date of birth was 4 April 1936 and he passed away on 24 November 1982. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">His mother remarried, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lolo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Soetoro</span> (two additional aliases). His date of birth was 2 June 1935 and he passed away on 2 March 1987. </span><br /><br />World War II commenced in Europe in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. America would enter the war in later years. In the Pacific, America entered the war with Japan after they attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. For practical purposes, World War II ended in August on both fronts, Europe and the Pacific Ocean region.<br /><br />If President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Obama's</span> father returned as a Veteran of World War II as he claims, his father set a new record as being the youngest veteran in our history. At the conclusion of the World War II his father had not reached his 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> birth date.<br /><br />Giving our President the benefit of the doubt, I researched (took all of five minutes) his stepfather, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lolo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Soetoro</span>. He was a year older than Barack H. Obama, SR which would have made him slightly over ten years of age.<br /><br />President Obama, you are quoted as saying, "I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals." I would consider a blatant lie a testimony to the lack of values.<br /><br />I must admit, that I did not include the complete quote above, the entire quotation reads as follows:<br />"I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But, if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."<br /></div><br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-27208568736823830242010-08-19T23:52:00.018-08:002010-08-20T09:41:04.613-08:00"Fruits Of Our Labor"<div style="text-align: center;">Each morning, I find myself sitting on our front deck or on the bench in the rock garden taking my morning coffee and admiring the variety of flowers that are in blossom. The labors of last spring are now paying big dividends in every color and shape.<br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41qP6Kl7I/AAAAAAAAHxs/eA6WRcHNiYY/s1600/DSC_0847.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41qP6Kl7I/AAAAAAAAHxs/eA6WRcHNiYY/s320/DSC_0847.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"Columbine"</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG458DTAa2I/AAAAAAAAHyE/NFeSzzJK1R0/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG458DTAa2I/AAAAAAAAHyE/NFeSzzJK1R0/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507403098160655202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Terry's Birthday Present A Half Dozen Years Past<br />"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lillies</span> ~ </span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >A Gift That Continues To Give</span><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/acd92f841f8f94cf.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/acd92f841f8f94cf.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"Lilly"</span><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69XZveioI/AAAAAAAAHyg/R40dmllxRjk/s1600/DSC_0851.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69XZveioI/AAAAAAAAHyg/R40dmllxRjk/s320/DSC_0851.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/9ff6b3fa820d8b23.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/9ff6b3fa820d8b23.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"Wild Lupine"</span><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41pqSj2QI/AAAAAAAAHxk/OEQRREm9O08/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41pqSj2QI/AAAAAAAAHxk/OEQRREm9O08/s320/DSC_0202.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dianthus</span>" </span><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69X4cvdmI/AAAAAAAAHyw/G0jgGafhji4/s1600/DSC_0832.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69X4cvdmI/AAAAAAAAHyw/G0jgGafhji4/s320/DSC_0832.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /></div>This is one of my favorites, the Livingston Daisy. Their colors are so vibrant, sunglasses are recommended to look at them. At night and cloudy days, they close up and when the first rays of the sun hit them, they pop open with a transfusion of brilliant colors. A hardy plant and when <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">planted</span> about six inches apart, they will then mat the ground in a blanket of color.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bed of Livingston Daisies</span></span><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69XiMF9KI/AAAAAAAAHyo/74fB3zNRJIA/s1600/DSC_0834.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG69XiMF9KI/AAAAAAAAHyo/74fB3zNRJIA/s320/DSC_0834.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/789cd669c85e88ce.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://localhost:1522/a8f05373b42bbca7064e0e1ea4547e84/image/789cd669c85e88ce.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Livingstone Daises</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG48gSyOEdI/AAAAAAAAHyM/URlaUMupyRQ/s1600/DSC_0837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG48gSyOEdI/AAAAAAAAHyM/URlaUMupyRQ/s320/DSC_0837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507405919816651218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >More Livingston Daises</span><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG48gSyOEdI/AAAAAAAAHyM/URlaUMupyRQ/s1600/DSC_0837.JPG"></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41rQozXJI/AAAAAAAAHx8/C9bNmjIU5ZU/s1600/DSC_0836.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41rQozXJI/AAAAAAAAHx8/C9bNmjIU5ZU/s320/DSC_0836.JPG" border="0" /></a></div> </div> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">These are the giants of our "rock garden, although the rainy and windy summer we have enjoyed this year, it has hampered their growth. We have a number of these in our garden, to date the tallest one is about seven feet tall. There is one white, that is just now forming the blossoms. In full bloom, it will likely peak out between eight and nine feet in height.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"Purple Delphiniums"</span><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41q_krnlI/AAAAAAAAHx0/fi9eFoyfJc4/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TG41q_krnlI/AAAAAAAAHx0/fi9eFoyfJc4/s320/DSC_0840.JPG" border="0" />"</a> </div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Poor little Riley James Harrington, Great Granddaughter, is not quite tall enough to "smell the flowers"<br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><br /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-12108616015025793432010-08-12T00:28:00.004-08:002010-08-12T01:34:38.825-08:00Closing Of The Day<div style="text-align: center;">Despite the every day stresses of life, you know you have had a great day when the daylight slowly surrenders to night allowing you to reflect upon the day that you experienced. As the sun slowly settled behind the mountains on the Alaskan Peninsula, I sat and observed the Eagle family and ending to their day. Setting on the bluff, overlooking the river of my youth, my family fished the river below me as I watched the antics of the Eaglets. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Parent Checking On the Brood"</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2b4UPsfI/AAAAAAAAHuE/P-dWfuoy-HE/s1600/DSC_0499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2b4UPsfI/AAAAAAAAHuE/P-dWfuoy-HE/s400/DSC_0499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504443759666901490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"3rd Eaglet Going To Scare His Unsuspecting Two Siblings"</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2cQxlxEI/AAAAAAAAHuM/aPny-GKd418/s1600/DSC_0511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2cQxlxEI/AAAAAAAAHuM/aPny-GKd418/s400/DSC_0511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504443766232433730" border="0" /></a>As the Eaglets settled down for a nap, I visited the Anchor River, finding my family fishing one of my favorite stretches of the river. The traditional method that my father taught me, now passed to the next two generations. I reflected upon this as I watched my Grandson, Son, and Daughter In Law building their own fishing memories. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO4NJEkBDI/AAAAAAAAHus/eQEx-aazmls/s1600/DSC_0547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO4NJEkBDI/AAAAAAAAHus/eQEx-aazmls/s400/DSC_0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504445705489744946" border="0" /></a>My son, Heath has fished this river on his own, from the time he was in the 2nd grade, guiding fishermen before he ever entered junior high school. He has built his own legacy on the river, although he was won his share of large fish derbies, he fishes because be loves to fish and this is his home waters. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2c2BR4WI/AAAAAAAAHuU/z-3MV46aJZw/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2c2BR4WI/AAAAAAAAHuU/z-3MV46aJZw/s400/DSC_0559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504443776230351202" border="0" /></a>Arriving home just as the sun settled behind the horizon, the sky was slowly turning pink. My two pals, "Dutch" and "Ruger" and I walked out to the edge of our lawn on the bluff overlooking Anchor River.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2dOqxvxI/AAAAAAAAHuc/S8owu-P2mSU/s1600/DSC_0571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2dOqxvxI/AAAAAAAAHuc/S8owu-P2mSU/s400/DSC_0571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504443782846856978" border="0" /></a>We watched, as the pink slowly changed to yellows, golds, and oranges making the final transition to night. As I walked back across the lawn, I thought to myself,<br />"It Has Been A Good Day".<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2diJvmfI/AAAAAAAAHuk/CNLNB8-_fYk/s1600/DSC_0574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TGO2diJvmfI/AAAAAAAAHuk/CNLNB8-_fYk/s400/DSC_0574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504443788077013490" border="0" /></a>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-50850502870260055142010-08-09T00:00:00.002-08:002010-08-09T00:42:52.698-08:00When the wind and marine conditions finally subsided enough to allow us to get on Cook Inlet on Sunday, we found some fantastic fishing and the surprise of my fifty eight years of sport fishing. Fishing off of the Anchor Point Lighthouse in about 110 feet of water, we found some fantastic halibut fishing. Having boated the halibut shown below, which weighed in at 173 pounds and knowing this was enough fish to last us through the winter, I decided to see if I could not "mooch" up a Silver Salmon or possibly a late run King Salmon inbound for the Kenai River. <br /><br />Rigging up my trolling rod with a Magnum Blade Cook Inlet Special, with a Chartreuse and Flame 50/50 Blade, I commenced mooching. We were consistently seeing both Silver Salmon and Pink Salmon jumping in this area. Growing weary of "mooching", I put my rod in the holder and just let the big flashing blade stream behind the boat, occasional breaking the surface with the tide running out. While watching the others fish for halibut, I sat drinking my coffee and harassing them for taking so long to catch a fish. <br /><br />Fish On! No one saw the fish strike, but we could all hear my reel screaming as line was rapidly being stripped from the reel. Perhaps, I had got lucky and finally hooked up with that big King Salmon I had wanted all of my life. With assistance due to the pressure on the rod, two of us got the rod out of the holder. I had to sit and hold the rod with both hands as the rod tip bent to the waters edge. The others got their gear reeled in, started the boat and commenced giving chase after my King Salmon, hoping that I could get some additional line back onto my reel. <br /><br />Catching up with the big fish, it decided to go deep and we hovered over the top of it just enough that the line would not touch the side of the boat, did not want to take the chance of loosing this fish! After 32 minutes of fighting the fish deep, I felt it starting to work itself back up to the surface, I reeled as fast as I could to recover my line and not allow any slack where it could slip the hook. <br /><br />Once again, the fish hesitated on coming to the surface at about the twenty foot mark, since we were hovering close to the fish, we could pick it up on the fish finder which pretty much assured us that I had hooked into a big King Salmon. Hoping that it was tiring, one person got the net out that we use for King Salmon while the other two manned the cameras to capture the landing of the big King. <br /><br />Again the fish went down to about 40 feet according to the fish finding, but not for long, he turned in an instance and headed to the surface, fast enough that the fish finder could not track his movement. By now, my arms were tired from the strain of the rod and reeling, there was no way that I could keep up with him as he ran for the surface. He broke the surface about 20 feet behind the boat, I stopped reeling in disbelief of what I saw. It was the fish that dreams are made of, but it was not a King Salmon. It was only after we got home and looked at pictures that we were able to identify the specie. <br /><br />Breaking the surface, he was airborne four times, finally on the fourth jump he cleared the water about six feet and rolled to the left as he entered the water, the only assumption we can make is that he rolled in the slack line on his assent to the surface and snapped the line. The snapping of the line sounded like a gun shot, I was heart broken, but I also realized that it was one of those times in your life that you have to appreciate it, despite the outcome. The big fish that got away has been identified as a "Blue Marlin", why it was this far north is any one's guess. Perhaps, following migrating salmon runs to feed, similar to the Salmon Sharks, perhaps it is the warming the oceans and their migration patterns of the Marlin is moving north. <br /><br />All, I know it was a great fish story and a great day on the water. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3NXeNlaI/AAAAAAAAHqk/B510ntjcwtc/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3NXeNlaI/AAAAAAAAHqk/B510ntjcwtc/s400/DSC_0262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503318709936952738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3M1MD_QI/AAAAAAAAHqc/dPyqL61XfCo/s1600/319598.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3M1MD_QI/AAAAAAAAHqc/dPyqL61XfCo/s400/319598.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503318700734020866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3MZsnhBI/AAAAAAAAHqU/cQoSlgBTjvo/s1600/319599.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TF-3MZsnhBI/AAAAAAAAHqU/cQoSlgBTjvo/s400/319599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503318693354374162" border="0" /></a>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-83632652901475407992010-06-16T20:35:00.006-08:002010-06-16T21:48:09.923-08:00Ode To "Goldie"<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="fulltext"><strong>IF IT SHOULD BE<br /><br />If it should be that I grow weak<br />And pain should keep me from my sleep,<br />Then you must do what must be done,<br />For this last battle cannot be won.<br /><br />You will be sad, I understand.<br />Don't let your grief then stay your hand.<br />For this day, more than all the rest,<br />Your love for me must stand the test.<br /><br />We've had so many happy years.<br />What is to come can hold no fears.<br />You'd not want me to suffer so;<br />The time has come -- please let me go.<br /><br />Take me where my need they'll tend,<br />And please stay with me till the end.<br />Hold me firm and speak to me,<br />Until my eyes no longer see.<br /><br />I know in time that you will see<br />The kindness that you did for me.<br />Although my tail its last has waved,<br />From pain and suffering I've been saved.<br /><br />Please do not grieve -- it must be you<br />Who had this painful thing to do.<br />We've been so close, we two, these years;<br />Don't let your heart hold back its tears.<br /><br />--- Anonymous ---</strong></a></span></strong><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-style: italic;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="fulltext"><strong><br /></strong></a></span></strong><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="fulltext"><strong>Today, we had to let a friend slip away, a decision that was difficult to make, she now rests without the pain and suffrage of </strong></a></span></strong><span>age. She was just a "dog" some would say, but to us she was part of our family, a friend that gave so much and ask for so little in return. </span><br /></div><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="fulltext"><strong></strong></a></span></strong></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"GOLDIE"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">June 16, 2010</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnUKzO-jI/AAAAAAAAHR8/mXUll3H6rVA/s1600/Goldie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnUKzO-jI/AAAAAAAAHR8/mXUll3H6rVA/s400/Goldie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483597986238757426" border="0" /></a><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="fulltext"><strong></strong></a></span></strong>"Goldie" was rescued from an owner that did not care for her by our daughter in law. When my son and his family moved from this area in 2002, "Goldie" remained with us and became part of our family. Although, she was an older dog when she came to stay with us, her heart was that of a puppy. We enjoyed her company for 6 / 7 years.<br /><br />In our home, she had good friends, her best friends were "Ruger" and "Dutch". Between the three, there was never a quarrel over their personal dog dish or where they slept. Although competitive in sport, again their was never a quarrel if one got to the ball before the other. "Goldie" was the oldest but she was all heart. Her legs could not carry her as fast over the ground as the other two dogs, her lungs would not support the effort. But, in the water, she was the best swimmer that I have ever witnessed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"THE THREE AMIGOS"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Ruger" ~ Dutch ~ Goldie</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnTldWGUI/AAAAAAAAHR0/NoS9rhz8RjU/s1600/DSC01428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnTldWGUI/AAAAAAAAHR0/NoS9rhz8RjU/s400/DSC01428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483597976214837570" border="0" /></a><br />"Just A Dog", there are those that feel animals do not have a sense of knowing when something is wrong. I have witnessed this sense in dogs on several occasions over the past few years, but never in the form that I witnessed today. Although, they have been close friends for years, they have always maintained their own separate sleeping areas and even rooms in the house.<br /><br />Today, "Dutch" and "Ruger" remained in the area that the resting spot for "Goldie" was prepared in the meadow, her favorite place to explore and play. After we returned to the house, both dogs went to the place that "Goldie" has been resting for the past several days. She was aware of their presence, occasionally lifting her head to see them. They remained snuggled up to her for a couple of hours. In the years that they have been together, I have never seen them lay together this close. I am sure it gave "Goldie" the comfort that she needed as well as the comfort that it gave us as humans. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnTIBy7iI/AAAAAAAAHRs/rrp93jrAfGM/s1600/DSC_0871.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/TBmnTIBy7iI/AAAAAAAAHRs/rrp93jrAfGM/s400/DSC_0871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483597968314658338" border="0" /></a><br />"Goldie"<br />May your spirit run free in the meadow,<br />Where the wild flowers grow.<br />Where we can share our past memories,<br />In your grace,<br />May the "ball" always bounce in your place.<br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-14071563614021473482010-05-16T22:45:00.002-08:002010-05-16T23:32:02.300-08:00They Are Champions<div style="text-align: center;">In Anchor Point, Alaska we have just completed our 16th Annual Calcutta King Salmon International Tournament. If you are not familiar with a Calcutta Tournament. In this particular case, all of the boats entering the tournament are auctioned off the night before the tournament to the general public. The person that has the "high bid" on a boat and if that particular boat wins the tournament, the "high bidder" receives 50% of the funds generated by the auction. The boat or individual on that particular boat that weighs in the largest King Salmon will receive 25% of the auction funds. This amount is then normally divided equally with the other members on the boat. The tournament is restricted to one prize money for the largest King Salmon weighed in. The "one fish wins all" encourages catch and release of this great sport fish. The remaining 25% is of the funds is retained by the sportsman association to fund their "youth activities".<br /><br />In the Sixteen year history of the Tournament, King Salmon in the 20 to 50+ pound class have won the tournament. Also, in the history of the tournament, only one boat has repeated as the "Calcutta Tournament" champion. The boat is the "Lauren A" skippered by Meryl Wolford.<br />However, that record was broken in the tournament this year when this same boat, skipper,and crew completed a "Three Peat". Meryl and his crew won the tournament in 2000 with a 31.1 pound King Salmon; again in 2006 they became the Champions with a 37.4 pound King Salmon.<br />This year, they achieved their Championship with a King Salmon weighing in at 30.5 pounds.<br /><br />This crew fishes together every year, not necessarily to win the tournament but just to go fishing. They are all true gentlemen and sportsmen. I have known Meryl, for many years. I consider him as one of my best friends. He retired as a Sports Fishermen Guide a couple of years ago, however when fishing with him it was never a guide / client relationship. He always made you feel that you were on a fishing trip with a "buddy". <br /><br />Meryl worked out of our tackle shop, the Anchor Angler on Anchor River for twenty three years. He was a "salmon troller" on Cook Inlet. During that time, we would book clients for him on a percentage basis. We never had a contract, our contract was a handshake. In that length of time and the hundreds of fishermen that we booked to fish with Meryl, we did not have a single complaint from anyone that fished with him. He is still the only man that I know that removes his hat when being introduced to a lady. He is "old school", a true gentleman. He is my friend and I feel very fortunate. He is a true "Champion" in so many respects.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Oh, Did I mention that it was just Meryl and I trolling off the beaches of Whiskey Gulch when I hooked up and landed the King Salmon of my "lifetime", a beautiful fish weighing in at 72 pounds.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2010 Calcutta International King Salmon Tournament Champions </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S_DmfdgwDJI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/dcXpJagLAX4/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S_DmfdgwDJI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/dcXpJagLAX4/s400/DSC_0291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472126975427480722" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-21012324534757780162010-05-13T20:23:00.003-08:002010-05-13T20:46:26.923-08:00Save Your Butts<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">DISCLOSURE:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> To be fair and balanced, I feel that a complete personal disclosure must be made prior to your reading this posting. I am a Conservative, Independent Republican, Smoker, Tea Bag Supporter, WASP, and Butt Stripper. Other than that, I am basically a good person.</span><br /></div><br />Although, I am a smoker, I do not recommend that anyone take up the habit. Once hooked, it is a very tough habit to break and as I am reminded each day, it is harmful to your health. However, there is a good side to smoking and everyone should be made aware of this fact. Smoking could also be a excellent way to supplement your daily income, if you collect "butts" for a proposed refund.<br /><br />On this date, I read an article that was most interesting. According to a study conducted and published in the American Chemical Society bi-weekly journal, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, scientists have identified nine chemicals in cigarette butts (filter). Although, one chemical is so toxic that it will kill fish when discarded into a body of water. To eliminate this problem, I am normally a "butt stripper", I will discard the remaining tobacco and a little paper on the ground, but the filter goes into my pocket.<br /><br />The chemicals that they have found in the filter portion of the cigarette after immersing the cigarette butt in water acts as a deterrent to corrosion and rusting. They applied the extracts to N80, a type of steel used in oil pipes and found that the chemical solution protected the pipes from both corrosion and rusting. They estimate that 4.5 trillion cigarette butts find their way into the environment each year.<br /><br />Having discussed this discovery this morning, we had a panel discussion at our daily "coffee clutch" pertaining to accidental fuel spills due to pipelines being corroded. Although, these discussion groups have a tendency to become political, I came upon a concept that may well be a break through in regards to oil spill containment and clean up.<br /><br />The "Tea Party" movement is spreading across our nation, concerned citizens about government control and the erosion of our democracy. To the Liberal minded folks, the "Tea Party" movement is a bunch of radicals and right wingers. The solution to improve their image in the eyes of all is simple. Currently there is a great concern, rightfully so, pertaining to the continued oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It was then that I developed a concept and asked for opinions from our focus group. There was laughter as well as comments made as to my level of education. However, listen to me and buy stock in the company that makes Lipton Tea.<br /><br />My concept was that a simple "tea bag" when used in vast quantities could and would clean up a oil spill. Perhaps, you can understand why I was the principle recipient of crude remarks. I asked the nice waitress if she would please bring me a bowl of cold tap water, some oil from a can of lubricant oil under the bar, and a tea bag. I then applied a good solution of common table salt to the water to attain the salinity of typical ocean waters. Once stirred for a couple of minutes to dissolve the salt, I applied a liberal amount of 3 in 1 oil to coat the surface of the make shift ocean. Dipping the "tea bag" into the oil water and moving the bag through the water, the oil was absorbed by the "tea bag". Approximately 90% of the oil was collected in less than two minutes. I came upon this clean up system from reading a little history pertaining to the "Boston Tea Party", "Taxation with Representation". On December 16, 1773 a fleet of ships were tied up in Boston Harbor. Colony Rebels boarded the ships and threw all of the tea into the harbor. No oil slicks were seen in Boston Harbor for many years following this date.<br /><br />Perhaps, by cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico with Tea Bags, a new light would be shed on the group of individuals that are frowned upon by the Liberals and Environmentalists. If you want to amaze your friends, you to can be enlightened by this home experiment.Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23083058.post-62589260037549922412010-05-06T16:41:00.006-08:002010-05-06T18:28:05.208-08:00Passport Required<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-NlLw9rpVI/AAAAAAAAHFg/g48umcgKDNk/s1600/ArizonaFlag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-NlLw9rpVI/AAAAAAAAHFg/g48umcgKDNk/s200/ArizonaFlag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468325625354495314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-Ni7pbuOHI/AAAAAAAAHFY/XUnqRbjI-70/s1600/ef9dbbdde8d1ed48.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 95px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-Ni7pbuOHI/AAAAAAAAHFY/XUnqRbjI-70/s200/ef9dbbdde8d1ed48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468323149431847026" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Most recently, the "God Enriches" State of Arizona has been been bombarded in the news media after legislation was adopted and signed into law by the Governor requiring proof of citizenship. Protest marches and threats to boycott this great state has come from all sides. Despite the fact that it is simply enforcing the federal statues that were adopted in 1952, known as the Smith Act. Those folks that crunch numbers and take the pulse of the nation on everything that occurs has polling data supporting that 60% of our nation and 73% of Arizona residents support the enforcement of the new law in Arizona.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALASKA SUPPORTS ARIZONA</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although, you are required to show a U.S. Passport if driving into Alaska, via the Alcan Highway, once you arrive io the Last Frontier, you are free to drive the highways and byways of our great State. The single exception to that policy is the Kenai Peninsula. This pristine and beautiful area has become the playground of Alaska. This is particular true for those residents of our largest metropolitan area, Anchorage, Alaska. Traffic counts and other polling data indicates that the population of the Kenai Peninsula increases by 437% between the months of May through August. <br /><br />Most recently, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the duly elected government of an area designated by borders enacted a similar program as Arizona. In all other states, except Louisiana, these designated areas are known as counties. Due to the increase in cost of maintaining highways, parks, and other recreational facilities the Borough Government has been forced into limiting the number of visitors to the area. Kenai Peninsula Borough Ordinance 32-2010 was unanimously adopted on May 5, 2010 and signed into law by the Borough Mayor on May 6, 2010.<br /><br />Effective, May 10, 2010 any person not residing within the geographical location of the Kenai Peninsula must have in their possession a Kenai Peninsula Passport. Port of Entries will be established at the base Turnagain Pass on the Seward Highway and at each of the harbor facilities in Kenai, Seward, Homer, and Seldovia. All person's entering the Kenai Peninsula from these primary points must have in their possession the Kenai Peninsula Passport indicating their current address, place of birth, date of birth, and citizenship. Each member of the family is required to possess a passport. To acquire a Kenai Peninsula Passport, you must provide proof of evidence as supporting documentation to obtain the Passport. The cost of each Passport is established at $50.00 and is valid for two years. Senior Citizens with a current address in Alaska is entitled to a free Passport as all children under one year of age if accompanied by at least one parent. <br /><br />Possession of the passport is for identification and residency status only. It does not preclude obtaining current sport fishing and hunting license, King Salmon Stamps, Campground Passes, including those required by federal, state and borough facilities, boat launch fees and passes, and any other cost associated with recreational activities as may be deemed necessary by federal, state, borough, and city governments. While visiting the Kenai Peninsula, dependent of which locality that you visit, you can can also expect to pay a Kenai Peninsula Sales Tax as well as imposed Sales Taxes by incorporated cities. These fees will very dependent on the area that you choose to visit, minimum Sales Tax that you will encounter is 2.5% to a high of 7.5%.<br /><br />Although, to some these additional restrictions may appear to be excessive, however, it is a small price to pay for a visit to paradise. Enjoy yourselves exploring the beautiful, Kenai Peninsula. <br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-Nh8AL67DI/AAAAAAAAHFQ/Mt9YsVMDhe8/s1600/Untitled1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SQTDx2k1fCs/S-Nh8AL67DI/AAAAAAAAHFQ/Mt9YsVMDhe8/s400/Untitled1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322056027958322" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Stan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473861389583701859noreply@blogger.com2