Throwback Thursday

     My daughter Kristine and her boyfriend, Jacob. The occasion was a high school dance, perhaps the prom.  I'm guessing this was around 2009. They have been married for two years, now, and are doing well.

Happy Fourth of July, America

One Retro

One Modern

Throwback Thursday

     On this day in 1937, Amelia Earhart, with navigator Fred Noonan, disappeared while attempting an around-the-world flight.

Sludge

Tomorrow I go in for a colonoscopy. I just started drinking the sludge they give you to cleanse the system. They can perform heart surgery on unborn babies, but they can't come up with a better way to empty one's pipes. At the very least can't they improve the flavor? Sheesh!

Throwback Thursday

     No, that's not me. I'm showcasing Mrs. Peel/Diana Rigg because, sadly, her co-star on The Avengers, Patrick Macnee, passed away recently. I watched their show back in the dawn of time and it brought me a lot of joy. Especially seeing her spinning and kicking in her skin tight leather suit with all the zippers. Mrs. Peel was the perfect English woman--elegant, saucy, playful, strong, and sexy. And that was just her accent. Her face and figure multiplied those assets exponentially.

Garryowen In Glory

This is what the New York Times wrote in the On This Day posting:

"On June 25, 1876, Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry were wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana."

This is a lie. 

The Seventh Cavalry was not wiped out. About 200 troopers with Custer were killed, and 50-60 more with the Reno-Benteen contingent, but the Seventh's strength was about 1250 men (not all of whom were in the field that day). About 80% of the Seventh Cavalry lived. You would think someone at the Times could get a simple fact like this right. Incidentally, they posted those exact words last year. Twits.

Father's Day

     Here's mine circa 1940. He's been gone since 1977 and I wish he were here.

My Favorite Father's Day Gift

The following was written by my daughter Kristine last year, and since Father's Day is here I thought I run it. What a great kid, eh?

In spirit of Father’s Day, I thought I would say thank you to my dad for all he has done for me. I feel so incredibly lucky that I grew up with a father who cared so much not only about what was good for his daughters, but also what we wanted to achieve. He was also never short on telling us funny jokes, making us laugh with his hilarious demeanor, and playing with us in our silly games.

My dad has so much to do with the person that I am today and I would like to think that I have taken some of his skills and positive qualities with me. His wit, kindness, musical artistry, writing skills, the ability to stand up for himself, his frugality, love of history, love of horses, and, he would never forgive me if I didn’t mention the attractive traits of the Napier Family (ha ha). He will also go to the edge of the earth for his family and is always there for us when we need him most. It’s even an inspiration to me that he has given up [caffeine free] Diet Coke after God-knows-how-many years of him drinking it. My dad himself probably thinks it’s no big deal, but I think it’s pretty great that he didn’t decide to stay stuck in his old ways.

Sometimes we don’t realize how good we have it while we are growing up.  I, for one, had a dad who continuously supported me and my sister’s love of riding horses from the time we were 10 & 11 until we were 14 & 15. We only stopped because of my decision to do so.  During that time, we were both so passionate about horses–we did not even mind picking up horse poop for free just to be around horses. He drove us back and forth so many times on Saturdays and during the week when he was also working full-time.  He devoted to us about as much time, or more, than we did to our horses and I will never ever forget all that he did especially during that time.  My dad has also supported me and my sister’s educational goals as much as possible, which is also a wonderful gift.  My drive to score high grades and always persevere when academics seem challenging has come from him as well.  As I get older, I realize more and more what a great dad, and parents, I have.

I can never repay you for all that you have done for me, dad, because it is completely invaluable.  But I can try.

Thank You and Happy Father’s Day to my favorite dad in the world. I love you!

Throwback Thursday and Other Memories

     Fifty years ago this month I graduated from high school, and good riddance. I was also the lead singer of The Violations, which was odd because I wasn't much of a singer. Also in the band was Joe Travis (lead guitar/vocals), Bob Juanillo (rhythm guitar), Ronnie Morrisey (drums) and Johnny Kane (bass). Joe was a prodigy and by the time he was in his mid-teens could play circles around anyone in the county. Now, he and Bob are dead; I don't know anything about Ronnie and Johnny.
     Before the summer was out I had been replaced. I didn't blame the guys at all. What little voice I had was shot. Nowadays I sound like a strangled cat when I exercise my pipes.
     The Violations continued for many years with the usual personnel changes. I missed being in the band because it not only was a lot of fun, but I--a skinny geek who was dismissed by every teenage girl as beneath contempt--was now given google eyes by these same creatures. What a difference a microphone makes.

     There are no photos of the group so I'm using a 1964 Beatles picture. Naturally, we did a bunch of their songs--the ones that weren't too challenging vocally, of course.

Throwback Thursday

     My maternal grandparents, Lina and Antonio Servidio. I don't know when the photo was taken but no later than 1950 is my estimate. I also don't know who belongs to the head in the foreground. Grandpa was a shoemaker all his life. Grandma used to crochet tablecloths and doilies and her work was exquisite.

Deer Prudence

     A few days ago this blacktail buck was feeding in front of the house. I went upstairs to get my camera, came downstairs, tiptoed out to the deck, and just as I was about to snap the photo some lamebrain yelled and scared the deer away. Here's what he looks like leaving.

One Smart Kid

     Guess who can write her name now?

Throwback Thursday

     I mentioned the passing of my Aunt Peggy, who died the day before Mother's Day. Here she is with me and my girls about 13 or 14 years ago when she visited the Pacific Northwest.

Throwback Thursday

     Ocean View Elementary School. I went here in the fifth grade and maybe the year earlier circa 1956-7. When I attended this institute of learning I also lived on the Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. I have a lot of good memories of this school. Funny thing is, the front entrance is not one of them. I always came and went via the rear doors. The city bus, which I rode, let us off about a block away from the left of the building in this photo. There was a mom and pop store there where I'd buy gum from a machine and try to score charms as well. Usually a penny brought out a couple of pieces of gum and two or three charms. I liked the ones with cowboys, Indians, horses, and revolvers. Other kids got comic books, candy, snack cakes, and the fad of the day, snap beads, at the store.
     I recently looked at their web site and was amazed at all the government mandated programs they now have. When I went we just sat there and learned, broke for lunch and recess, and then learned more. Kids who misbehaved got smacked by the teacher or sent to the principal's office for a paddling. For a couple of weeks me and some other guys packed our cap guns on our hips and had impromptu gunfights, sans caps. They made us stop because they thought were we getting out of hand, but not because anyone thought we were going to commit mass murder.
     Those were the days.

Aunt Peggy, RIP

    On this day, May 9, my Aunt Peggy passed away at age 96. When she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last October they gave her three months to live. She beat that by five. That's how she was, though. Tough, scrappy, domineering, and with a large appetite for living. All this and she never reached five feet tall. She will be missed by all who knew her.

    Sofia's Kindercare photos. Four years old.

Throwback Thursday

                                           The Duke, The Cap'n, and The King of the Cowboys

Throwback Thursday

     My girls having lunch circa 1992.

Kit of the Day

     Now here's a kit that won't challenge your modeling skills very much. We have a pine board, a dowel, and a paper sail. A great introductory kit for the young modeler. On eBay for $7.68. Hurry, this will sell fast.

National Siblings Day

     There's about an hour left in the day in my time zone so I'd better get this posted before National Sibling Day is over.
     I have two sisters; one older, one younger. Here we are with our mother in 1985. They are, from left to right: kid sister Denise; mother Gloria; older sister Wendy; me. The dogs belong to Wendy.

Throw Back Thursday

     A Play Doh party with the girls, July 1993.

Happy Birthday, Georgie and April Fool.

     In one of those galactic twists of fate my cousin George was born on this day in 1946. This photo was taken in 1965 when we were clowning around for the camera. In fact, that's my Beatle wig he's wearing. Georgie was always up for something dangerous. Give him a steep hill and something with wheels and he was off, never mind that he had no idea what was at the bottom of that hill. He liked weapons and was always making something deadly from whatever materials were at hand. It's a miracle that he survived childhood.
     But he grew up to be a fairly responsible citizen thanks to a wife who knew how to deal with him, and in his spare time he crafted furniture that was of tremendous quality and beauty.
     So happy birthday, cousin. You sure made my teen years interesting times.

Evan Strikes Again

     My old pal Dave "Evan" Lewis launched a new series in the current issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine--May 2015-- with "The Continental Opposite," an inventive story that has Dashiell Hammett's portly little detective The Continental Op coming out of retirement to clean up corruption in 1953 Portland, Oregon.
     Peter Collins is an operative for the Continental Investigations, Inc. agency. When he learns his boss is in cahoots with the town's criminal kingpin he notifies the main office, who send the unnamed but obvious Continental Op to set things right.
     Inside jokes abound, starting with the protagonist's name. Peter Collins is underworld slang for a nobody, and also a take on Peter Collinson, a pseudonym of Hammett's early in his career. There's a Chinese joint called Hung Lo's. Lots of side-of-the-mouth patter spices up the dialogue and exposition.
     We also have a tong gang, crooked cops, an oily gangster who runs a nightclub, and Peter's mother, who is no June Cleaver, not by a long shot. It's a wild and wooly ride peppered with action, humor and a dash of pathos. I hope AHMM doesn't wait until its annual humor issue to present the next installment.

Broadway Melody

I just checked the panel schedule for Left Coast Crime in Portland and it's a good thing I did. My panel--that is, the panel on which I'll be a panelist--is slated for 2:30 on Thursday in the Broadway Room. When I first agreed to be on the panel it was at 3:30 and I think the last time I checked it was going to be in a different room. But for now, and I hope this is permanent, 2:30 in the Broadway Room is official.

Be there or be square.

13 Days of Glory

     On this day in 1836 the Alamo fell to the forces of Santa Anna after a 13-day siege. Remember the Alamo.

Happy Birthday, Linda / Throwback Thursday

     Today is my wife's birthday. Doesn't she look nice in this tintype from her high school yearbook?

     This can also serve as a Throwback Thursday photo, circa 1965.

Birthday Girl

     My mother turned 92 today and I'm happy to say she's doing very well.

Throwback Thursday

     Kristine's high school graduation, 2009. With her is her sister Stephanie. My great girls.

Kit of the Day

   
     It's been a long time since I featured an unusual model kit here but when I saw this one I had to act. As you can see, the subject is legendary model Bettie Page and the pose is based on one of the sessions she had with Bunny Yeager (IIRC). The kit is 1/6 scale, which means a six-foot person would be a foot tall model. The material here is not styrene plastic but resin, and there are only about ten pieces. Kits like this are for the skilled painter or someone dedicated to the subject. You can bid on it on eBay today, Feb. 15, for an opening offer of $99.99. There is a better Bettie Page kit from the same maker also on eBay, but it was a lot more revealing and this is a family blog.

Throwback Thursday

     From 1998, my daughter Kristine and her tap dance group about to perform at their recital. The theme was "Money" and those are giant dimes they're holding. Kristine is on the front right (thank goodness). My wife and I were also in that recital, and because the teacher had never had a family show up for classes she gave us a spotlight number.

     I posted another blog entry today. See below.

Happy Birthday, Great Emancipator

     Yes, on this day in 1809 Abe Lincoln was born in Kentucky, not Illinois as many believe. Happy birthday, Honest Abe.

Slow Hand Salute

Lt. Col Edward J. Saylor Jr. 3/15/20 - 1/28/15 

We suffer the loss of our Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather. Born in Jordan, MT and raised on a cattle ranch. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1939. On 4/18/1942 he took part in the Doolittle Raid against Japan. After the war he was awarded a commission as an officer and served for 28 years. He was an avid fisherman, and he loved to travel with his wife Lorraine. He enjoyed working with stained glass and had a great sense of humor. We will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Lorraine, son Eddie, son-in-law Don, and grandson David. He is survived by daughter Charlotte, son Rod and wife Billie, daughter-in-law Sue, Darlene and husband Jerry, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

Col Saylor was one of the four remaining Doolittle Raiders. I had the privilege of seeing him and two of the other Raiders speak at McChord AFB when I worked there; it must have been about six years ago. They talked, answered questions, and signed small,  prepared  posters for everyone. I was honored to be in their presence. If you don't know about the Doolittle Raid, you should Google it, or check out the movie 30 Seconds Over Tokyo. 

Throwback Thursday

This was taken in 1997 at Monterey, California, where I was the Bouchercon Fan GoH. From left to right we have Loren Estleman, his wife Carol, me, Leslie Slaastad, and Bill Crider. I still have that t-shirt.

Catching Up

I don't do much with this sham of a blog but I usually note milestones. This month I forgot two.  Jan 18 would have been my father's 93rd birthday. Jan 17 was the 46th anniversary of my Army discharge. While I was glad I served my time I was even happier to get out. The castle, here, is the insignia of the Corps of Engineers, of which I was a part.

Must See TV

I urge all of you to watch this documentary when it airs. Too many people think the Scientology Organized Crime Family is just a kooky but harmless cult, but in fact it is sinister and evil. Watch the show and discover what they're really about. Here's an article about it.--Cap'n Bob

THE Church of Scientology is launching a “Cruise” missile attack on a revealing new documentary about the controversial religion, The New York Post reports.

            The attack, which will include newspaper ads slated to run in the US on Friday, will claim Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney didn’t give Scientology executives a fair shot to respond to certain of his claims, sources said.

            The documentary, Going Clear, based on the 2013 book of the same name, claims the church uses its Hollywood members — like Tom Cruise and John Travolta — to advance its goals.

The book uses interviews with former church members, including Crashscreenwriter Paul Haggis, to slam the church headed by David Miscavige.

            The documentary will debut at Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The festival kicks off January 22 and Going Clear is slated to be screened on January 25.

            But Gibney’s film is biased and one-sided, the Scientology attack will claim.

The church will use a recent story in Rolling Stone about a campus rape — which didn’t include responses from the accused rapists, who, it turned out, weren’t near the scene of the alleged attack — to tar Gibney’s HBO-backed film.

            “Twelve times Alex Gibney and HBO have refused the church’s requests for questions, assertions and statements about Scientology that will be included in the film so that it can comment on the ‘facts,’ ” the newspaper ad claims.

            The church is also expected to attack the Gibney film because it was based on Lawrence Wright’s book, a National Book Award finalist, which it claims used sources that have been discredited. Wright’s book is described by The New York Review of Books as a “horror story” and a “tribute to fact checkers.”

            Scientology executives disagree. In one of the church’s most coordinated and focused attacks in recent years, the attack campaign claims, “Mr. Gibney’s film has been in the works in secret for two years. He and HBO never bothered to tell the Church it was even being made until recently.”

Fighting back

            Gibney fired back after hearing of the church’s expected attack, telling The Post in a statement, “I requested interviews with various people — including current church members and officials — who could shed light on specific incidents discussed in the film. All those asked either declined, did not respond, or set unreasonable conditions.”

            The pay TV network also returned fire. “HBO has an extensive history of producing award-winning documentary films,” it said in a statement. “It is customary in the documentary filmmaking process to request on-camera interviews from individuals that participated in events discussed in the film. This film identifies those that were approached.”

            HBO, which will air the film March 16, has been prepping for a fight for months. In November, it had 160 lawyers looking at the film, The Hollywood Reporter said at the time.

            This story originally appeared on NYPost.com.

                                                  Xemu, strange visitor from another world

                                        who made everyone insane, especially L. Ron Hubbard.

Throwback Thursday

     Daughter Kristine playing her Fender Stratocaster (cheap clone version) when she was in high school.

Throwback Thursday

I have about ten minutes until it's Friday so I'll grab the first thing I can find...

How about Sofia as a baby? Hard to believe she turned four about six weeks ago.

Throwback Thursday

     Here's a section of a camp perimeter in Nam. I don't think it's from my base, but they were all pretty much alike. The tower in the background was where I liked to pull guard duty because it was a 24-hour post, 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. That way, when I got off I could go back to my tent and sleep for a long spell.

American Eagle

     A bald eagle perched in a tall tree next to the house yesterday. Here he is.

Zoo Lights

When my girls were young we made numerous trips to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium for their popular Zoo Lights exhibit. It is what it sounds like, the zoo is festooned with thousands of lights and people walk around and enjoy them. Some are sequential and give the effect of a bird flying from one tree to another, some are in shapes of animals, and many more just decorate trees and bushes.
     Tonight, Linda and I took my daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Sofia to see them, the baby for the first time. Usually the weather is freezing cold and the walkways icy, but we're having relatively mild weather right now and it was a perfect evening to go. Apparently most of Tacoma thought so, too, because the place was packed. Everything went smoothly until it was time to leave. The shuttle bus to the parking area was caught up in a massive traffic jam because one bonehead's car broke down. All in all, though, a good evening for us all.

Throwback Thursday

     My daughter Kristine and Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral, Tombstone, Arizona Territory, 2008.

Tiger Cubs

Tiger cub litter born at the Point Defiance Zoo. At 8 weeks old they made their public debut. 

I Remember John

     It's been 34 years since we lost John Lennon to an assassin's bullet. I still miss him and can only imagine what music he'd have made during those years.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

     Lest we forget, this is the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. We lost 2300 men that day, 1177 on the USS Arizona alone. Today, seven Arizona survivors held their final official reunion. Two other survivors are too ill to travel. The men who attended the memorial vowed to return again next year even if the government won't support them. I hope they do.

Happy Birthday, Kristine.

     I can't believe my baby girl is 24 already. She's the sweetest, nicest kid you could hope to have and I love her madly.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Georgie

Every year at this time I memorialize two birthdays. One is George Armstrong Custer's. While known for his death at the Little Big Horn, he also had a sterling Civil War career. His actions at Gettysburg saved the day and possibly the war for the Union.

Throwback Thursday

     Rather than post a picture of me or a family member, I thought I'd pay tribute to a show that gave me great pleasure when I was a lad, THE ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY. David Stollery (left) played Marty Markham, an orphan being raised by his wealthy grandmother who is sent to the Triple-R Ranch for the summer to learn how to be a regular boy. Tim Considine (right) played Spin Evans, a normal kid who, though disgusted with Marty's haughty ways at first, gives him the benefit of the doubt and eventually befriends him. Also in the cast were Roy Barcroft, Harry Carey, Jr., and J. Pat O'Malley. The idea of spending a summer at a horse ranch seemed like heaven to me and the show had humor, heart, and adventure to boot.
     Alas, the following year's episodes brought in that unbearable Disney staple Moochie and a plot about putting on a show with a girls' camp that suddenly appeared nearby.

Princess Sofia

     Princess Sofia in her castle, Nov 30, 2014. Six days after her official birthday she had a small party and she had to wear her princess costume. She's less enthusiastic about slippers.