Tuesday, January 17, 2017

two posts what do you know!

      Im working hard on doing a better job of keeping up my blog. I truly enjoy when I finally get time to sit down and do a post. Most times when I sit down I may have an idea of what I want to write about and then I have too much trying to come out. Like I've had an idea to write about for a while and finally sat down at my computer to write and other things are popping up in my brain right this second!Ok now there is nothing in my brain and I 'm wondering what I'm doing sitting at my computer.

       I think I live a pretty simple life although I am very busy. Not afraid to work hard although its getting tougher as I get older. Can't do what my brain thinks I can still do but I try. This past week I've been getting home from bus driving after midnight, take the dog out for a pee then have a snack before bed time. I set my alarm for 7:45 get up take Dante out then go pick up a friend [Joe] then going to the apartment building owners place to work on an empty suit she has there. On my normal days off I stay there 6 - 8 hours and on days I drive bus I have to leave around 1pm to go home and shower before I start driving. Today is my first total day off but I went outside and started spring cleaning around the building. Later I'm heading to Langford to babysit my 2 grand daughters [Ben's 2]. Tomorrow I get up early and go babysit Jack for about 4 hours then I start back at my bus driving job. See very simple lol.

     I've done lots and seen lots over the years and have so many wonderful memories. So many things when I was a kid camping in Echo Hills Park, Fantasy Island, Ireland, building go carts riding in dune buggies, riding mini bikes, hanging out with the neighbor hood kids from Brittannia Ave, the close bonds we had with our cousins, All the friends I met, horse back riding .... Then growing up going to the Kentucky Derby, Football and baseball games, concerts, failing grade 7 ..... TWICE!, getting first car getting first motorcycle, Family get together s for weddings,Christmas and such the list goes on and on and on and on! This is kind of off topic and kind of on topic.

       Moving out west I've been able to experience things that wouldn't have been available to me in Ontario. I had never planned on getting married but met Patty and within weeks we were married. That was 10 years ago holy crap! She has 3 awesome boys and they are all married and producing grand kids for us. I think Adam and Mary have room for one more even though they say no. It isnt the first time they said no then went against it. Hello Jack lol. Grand kids are awesome  and I love them to pieces. I just want to be there for them when ever possible. Whale watching the first time was an experience you never forget. I still love doing it but the first time is the most memorable to me. Other times have been almost as good having whales go under our boat and pop up 5 feet from the boat. 2 years ago I went grizzly watching another amazing thing to do. Want to do it again but don't think it would be as good as the first time but still very enjoyable I'm sure.

       And now for the main reason for this post! Last year I got a chance to do something pretty amazing! Al is in the navy and I told him I've always wanted to go out for a sail on a navy vessel. He has taken me for a tour twice when he had to get some of his things off the ship.  I thought it was pretty cool but after him living on it for months he didn't lol. I had bugged Al quite a bit but never really thought it would happen. One day out of the blue Al called me and asked if I was still interested in going for a ride on his ship. I said are you freaking kidding me of course I do. They were going to have a family day and we would be spending the day on the ship and they were going to show us what it could do and what some of the jobs on the ship were and that they would even serve us lunch. Well I couldn't wait for the day to come. Al picked me up very early and we went to Tim's then headed to the naval base. Al told me he had to be there early and I said I didn't mind. I followed him around like a puppy dog. Now Al is a pretty big bragger about how good he is and how much he is needed and I've always got a little chuckle out of that. Well Al's boss shows up and Al tells them what they have to get done that they had forgotten. I forgot to mention that Al was not supposed to be working that day cause he had me there. Didn't take long to see that Al was not kidding about how much he is needed on the ship. We ended up going to where the flags are kept and Al helped them get ready which is part of his job. They have to know which flags to raise when they leave port and in which order they are to be in. While we were there another seaman kept coming and asking Al what he was supposed to do at certain times. Al would explain it to him and he would thank Al and leave. Then he would come back a few minutes later and ask another question. Al was very good at explain what and how he should be doing his job. Eventually the ships captain came and asked Al if he would mind going to the bridge and taking over for the other seaman. Al introduced me to him and he told me to come along. It was fun watching Al work and I was proud to be there with him.

      We ended up joining one of the tour groups and wandering around the ship to different departments. I got to try on the fireman's outfit which was freaking heavy. I was one of the only adults to do it. I got to hold one of the rifles they carry on board and played around with a machine gun off the side of the ship. Didn't get to fire it but got to cock it and it took me three tries. They made it look easy. When we were out on the ocean they showed us what the ship could do. They took it up to full speed which I believe is 40 knots then they told us to hang on and did a hard right turn for a 360 and then a hard left turn for 360 then they straightened it out and came to a full stop. The ship has to stop within 2 boat lengths. They did a man overboard drill then had a helicopter come by and show us a couple different ways they do rescues. While that was going on a pod of porpoises came along us for a short while. When they served us lunch and were hanging around on the deck a real emergency call came over the speaker. They told everyone to stay where we were and that all seamen were to report to duty. Al had to go man his station. Apparently there was some smoke that set off a fire alarm but everything was good. Al and I returned to the bridge and we went into port up front on the ship.

     It was an awesome day and another thing I will never forget till my Alzheimer sets in. The way I forget things I bet I'm a good candidate for it. I really cant thank Al enough for letting me go on this excursion with him. I brag to everyone at work about this day and how great a seaman Al is. He really knows his stuff. Thanks again Al!

Okay enough chatter lets get to some pictures!