Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Jim Coats

Nancy.  For Toby...."Fair winds and following seas."  It's a nautical phrase meaning good luck.  Since the Marine Corps is part of the Navy, I have borrowed that nautical saying from time to time.

Finally:  Medics....like Toby will be....are called corpsmen in the Marines....borrowed again from the Navy.    In Vietnam I had two favorite "people."  Corpsmen and helicopter pilots.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD PROTECT OUR MILITARY.

P.S.  Loved your Flag ceremony and that it will be up during Toby's tour.  Ours is up 24/7/365.

Dennis Moran

For Toby:  THANK YOU 

In the Air Force I worked Medical Supply.  Before my Tech school class we went through  Medic trainning.  The Air Force created the Physician Assistant program. But all the services have excellent and talented teachers in the Medic Field so do your best and be glad you are getting teck school trainning   It was above anything I couldl of hoped for.  The biggest kick I had was having a red cross stamped on my military Id... it covered the whole Id.  So many of my friends went onto the full medic spec training.  Before i joined I was terrified with shots but after that no biggie.  the guys and girls who gave the shots really knew what they were doing.  No matter who you will work with you will be blessed by people who know what they are doing...NO YOU ARE NOT A BEDPAN COMANDO YOU WILL BE A LIFESAVER.  Your part of a team and we are all lucky to have you.  Thanks again Toby.  Great choice and with Airborne wow.  Never saw anyone who got injured by the medicine shot guns they were fast and efficient and most medics can give you a shot and you wouldn't know it was done.

In basic you will meet so many people, some like you, some not.  But your all in the same boat and remember clean shaving, keep hands out of your pockets, if you pockets have buttons...button them and listen to your TI he will give you clues of what he wants, Lock you locker and don't forget where the key is ... like I did, tho it was fun cutting the lock off but they will never know. Don't take anything personal  You will make mistakes..it happens

Now for my worries:  Ok my Republican comrades, when are you getting rid of Senator Mitch McConnel he is 81 and makes President Biden look like the new and improved version.

But,  Mick Jager is 80 and makes sharp look like an underestimate.  The group of numskulls that are running well maybe all but Nickki Haley look like the party is raiding the funny farm.  And look at the Democratic party with its gang of nursing home residence.  Its a shame but no one in the wings that couldn't be going to prision with the rest of the elected 2nd choices.

Go Mick ... I hurt when I watch you move love give me satisfaction.

Dennis.

Frank Wiley

Hi Nancy, Great for Toby.  His training can be used after his Enlistment ends.  I agree with the notes from our Classmates.  Especially the Flag  Ceremony.  You might want to get a picture of him and your family at the flagpole and he could put it on his cellphone art.  He would see it each time he turns his phone on.  God Bless him.  I'm proud of him!!

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Nancy, you have a very special grandson and he has a very special grandmother.

Jim Coats

Someone mentioned they are getting the whole "kit and caboodle" this morning on the news.  What is that?  For the love of God....What is a caboodle and should I get one?  Do I have one?  Can I get one on Amazon?  Can I be innoculated against a kit and caboodle??  Should I be?  Do I have to mask up when around one provided I know what it is?  SOMEONE....please help!

Bill Kaehler

Jim-- If you can't get it on Amazon, you probably don't need it.  

DeWitt Bacon

Jim and Bill. I think the kit is available on Amazon. The caboodle comes with the kit, but you have to assemble it yourself. 

DeWitt Bacon

Nancy. Thank you for the update on your grandson and your special send-off for him. I know you must be very proud grandparents. We all are grateful for all those like Toby who dedicate at least part of their lives to serving our country. We wish him well.

Michael Kelly

Greg Watkins  Yes, California is now attempting to make good on the "Sanctuary State" drivel by taxing Calif. Residents in every way imaginable for the Undocumented Persons who have decided to just cross the Southern Border and just kinda take up residence wherever the Mood dictates. Our Calif. Frachise Tax Board is levying on people's Bank Accounts like The Dalton Gang did on Railroad Trains. Craven Gruesome (Gavin Newsome) is trying to Make California Livable Again by taking our money for his Undocumented Person supporters. A Shithole, Just the Beginning!

The Kit comes from Amazon, but the Caboodle you have to capture by either finding an abandoned Caboose on a siding, or by hanging out at a Factory that makes them usually located near where Beyonce Records her records.

Congrats to Toby, choosing Army The Best!!!!!

Dennis Moran

Military humor:

NaC1

NaOH

the base is under a salt.

Dennis.

Frank Wiley

All of you worried about Kit's and  Caboodle's-----need a nap!!

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Good one, Dennis!

Frank Wiley

My Wife, the former Reference Librarian, says "Kit and Caboodle" has a Military origin.  Now days we call them backpacks.  I guess she's still earning her pension?

DeWitt Bacon

Frank, regardless of where the term 'kit and caboodle' comes from, I like your suggestion for a nap. I need one badly. See you later (ZZZzzz)

DeWitt Bacon

JUST ONE MORE:

The famed American frontiersman Kit Carson was known to carry his belongings rolled up and tied behind his saddle. Was this KITS CABOOTLE?. I know. I know. That was a bad one. Sorry.

Jim Coats

It's a strange world we live in now.  Kids are coddled too much.

I remember when I was in 1st grade at Monte Vista that I died after falling off the monkey bars and my Mom made me rub some dirt in it and walk it off.  None of you probably remember that.

Frank Wiley

Sunday Funnies--1. Old is when---Your sweetie says, "Let's go upstairs and make 💕, and you say, "Choose one, I don't have the energy for both!"  2. Old is when---Your friends compliment you on your Aligator Shoes, and you're in your bare feet.  3.  Old is when--You're in your front yard and a sexy woman walks by and your Pacemaker opens your Garage door.  4. Old is when---You don't care where your spouse goes just so you don't have to go with them.  5. Old is when--You're cautioned to slow down by your Doctor instead of the Police.  6. Old is when---Getting a little action means, you won't have to take any Fiber today.

Greg Watkins

DeWitt Bacon

Jim, I don't remember that particular incident, but I do remember kids falling off now and then. I think I fell a few times.  I got skinned up more on the merry-go-round. When I got home, my mom did call Cr. Gillespi, (sp), the principal, and she didn't sue the school. She would just tell me to be more careful next time. How times have changed since then.

David Rainwater

DeWitt, my pediatrician was also name dr. Gillespie...maybe the same?  I remember his office had glass bricks.  I think he delivered all five of us and dad was paying something like five bucks a month for a long time for it.

Jim Coats

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GLEN!  You're one of my most memorable characters from Monte Vista.  Enjoy your day.

Bill Kaehler

DeWitt and Jim- I only went to Monte Vista for my fourth grade and I'm sure I've met both of you, but faces are pretty hard to remember 66 years later.  But I can't remember either one of you falling to near death off the monkey bars . . .probably because I was doubled over from being hit in sensitive places with a dodge ball. 

Jim Coats

Bill Kaehler and DeWitt.....perhaps I ever-so-slightly exaggerated my monkey bar mishap.  I didn't actually die, per se.....and my Mom didn't precisely say "rub some dirt in it and walk it off."  Outside of that, everything else I stated was 100% accurate.  I DID go to Monte Vista and I did fall off the monkey bars.

Bill:  I have great empathy for you and your dodge ball incident.

Dennis Moran

Jim Coats,

Falling off the monkey bars. that was a fun time.  I reall like that and the carosel.  Both were made of metal and in Arizona I wonder how many of us old souls lost skin. Hey at St. Thomas grade school I didn remember them having monkey bars...oh I guess if we had them the nuns would be their and swinging to their hearts content. I was lucky and could go to Madison 2 to get my fill of such sinful pleasure... and especially the slides also all metal and since its a mixed crowd I can't go into the number and where the sores were.  Hey now the kids are protected; they are covered and are non metal..   The poor kids today...and the girls have to wear shorts so no more panties or non panties depending on where you went. Hey at St. Thomas we had a football, baseballs and a basketball.  I even had to write a letter for Father Reily (sorry about the spelling but he was a A-Hole. the letter had to be 100 words and was about not kick the football into or near the goalpost.   well that explaines why I never became a punter or field goal kicker.  A reuined carreer.

So, Im glad you were not injured.

Dennis.

Jim Coats

For some reason, I'm into Monte Vista today.

I was not a bad kid, nor was I a real good student.  But, my mouth got me into trouble a bit and I was sent to the Principal's office twice.  Both times, I had to face Clayton William (Gus) Gittus, the assistant or vice principal.  It was NOT fun.  He had a florid complexion that made him look very, very angry.

But, here's the Rest of the Story.  Mr. Gittus was a fairly young man then.  His wife passed away in 2017 at 87 years old, so I'm guessing "Gus" was younger than my Dad.  He was much younger than Mr. Gillespie, the Principal.  Mr. Gittus went with my Boy Scout Troop down into Havasu Canyon (Beautiful!!) and played like a kid.  He swung out over the water on a frail rope trapeze tied to an overhanging branch put there by someone else.....who knows how long ago.....and did a back flip into the water (several times) without regard to what lay just under the surface.  We looked at him through different eyes after that.  And I never made another trip to the Principal's office because he was cool.