Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

Old School Friday

This is my first foray into this meme, but I could truly identify with it, because I had one of those "fell in love to this song" experiences when I was a very young man... not much more than a boy, really.

The year?  It's 1981.

I was just about to turn 18 in the autumn of 1981, and I was stationed at a military installation in San Antonio for some advanced training.  It was my habit (as well as the habit of hundreds of other young enlisted people) to go to the enlisted club on a Saturday night to drink, socialize and dance. 

This particular Saturday night was like all of the others in that I went to the club with my buddies, consumed a bit more alcohol than my almost 18-year-old-self probably should have had, and dnaced with any number of girls.  When the evening was about to end, and we were about to leave, a song came on (I don't remember it now) and one of the guys with us turned around and darted back onto the dance floor, because it was time to do "The Bus Stop", which was a popular line dance at the time... think the "Electric Slide" before there was an electric slide.  You with me?

Anyway, a couple of the other guys went back out to dance, while I stayed in the lobby, waitnig for them to finish.  What happened next was... well, a first for yours truly.  A pretty young woman came up to me, and said that she was waiting for her friends, too... so we proceeded with boy meets girl.  Boy and girl get on famously for 20 minutes while waiting for their groups of friends.  As friends come back into the lobby, the Rick James and Tina Marie classic hit "Fire and Desire" comes on.  Young boy and slightly older girl (ok, woman, she was twenty) have a dance and... well... the details don't matter, really (get your minds out of the gutter... we were together for five months and nothing like THAT happened), but, by the end of the evening we were both all entwined, kissy-face, and in loooove.

When I left Texas for my next assignment, we made promises of love and forever... of course, that only lasted until we both met other people while she remained in Texas, and I went overseas for nearly 4 years.

 

I still think about that night whenever I hear that song. It was a time of near-total innocence. A truly happy memory.

I hope that life has treated you well, Maria.

This post has been done in conjunction with Old School Friday.

In Memoriam

Today's Fatherhood Friday post is being pre-empted, but please, take just a few second and read this:

Here at A Modern Warrior's Life, we would like to take the opportunity, on this sad day, to extend our condolences to the family of Border Patrol Agent Robert Rojas, who was killed in the line of duty, on July 24th.

Agent Rojas was shot to death in U.S. territory, about 100 feet north of the border, by an assailant who had just crossed from Mexico.

Agent Rojas was with several other agents who had responded to a call about four intruders from a Border Scout at about 8:45 P.M., approximately 60 miles east of San Diego, California.

When the agents arrived, a foot chase ensued, and at least one person fired at the agents, striking Agent Rojas in the head and fatally wounding him.

The murderer and his accomplices are believed to have fled back to Mexico.

This morning, in just a few hours, Agent Rojas will be laid to rest, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones in their bereavement.

______________

While not on the topic of fatherhood, I thought that this was just too important to let go by.  Agent Rojas died in the service of his country, enforcing the laws that he was sworn to uphold.  For his sacrifice, I am grateful.

The Best. Song. Ever. (EVER!)

This is the best song ever recorded.  If you don't know it, go find it.  You can find it easily on Itunes or on the Bob Marley: Legend CD.

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the 'and of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil the book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom.

My Friend Walter Mitty

You all know who Walter Mitty is, don't you?  That wistful fellow from the book, so fancifully played by Danny Kaye in the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"?  Yeah, that's the guy.

 

Walter Mitty used to imagine himself in all sorts of heroic situations... and the name Walter Mitty survives in popular culture as a euphemism for daydreamer. 

 

Most people have what we call "Walter Mitty" fantasies... those things that we pictures ourselves being or doing in our own little perfect worlds.  For some people their personal fantasy (non-sexual folks, let's stay focused, here)can be heroic... doing daring feats, rescuing helpless people, being intrepid in the face of danger AND getting the girl/guy at the end of the scene.  For some people, Walter Mitty fantasies have to do with being star athletes; being a big-shot attorney; wealthy power brokers; politicians.... all sorts of things.  I know of people who, in their best Walter Mitty scenarios, do what I do.  Imagine that, there are people who wish they had my life.  Ha.  Apparently they don't know my mother-in-law. 

 

Anyway, I don't want to talk about the psychology of the whole Walter Mitty thing, because I don't know enough about why people think the things they do to try to make any analysis.  What I really want to talk about is my own Walter Mitty fantasies.  In mine, I'm never a great soldier... I've already lived that life.  I'm not an international traveler... I've done that, too.   I'm not the guy that gets the hot chicks... done that, and I got to keep her, too! 

 

No. 

 

In my Walter Mitty fantasies, I'm a musician.  In my mind's eye it's all about being on stage playing a screaming guitar.  I'm Angus Young (only better looking), I'm Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, George Clinton, Jack White, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and every other legendary rock guitarist who has ever rocked a huge venue and whacked the whammy bar unmercifully and made people's ears bleed.

 

That's me. 

 

Of course, that sort of thing could never come true, because I have all of the musical talent of a bale of hay.

 

It's nice to think about, though.  Isn't it?

Fifteen Minutes in Washington, DC

I don't work in DC anymore, but I have to drive into the city once in a while, because my agency is headquartered there.  This past Friday, I had to drive into the city on a particularly nice summer day, and once I finished my business, I called Mrs Gunfighter and asked her if she was available for a lunch date.  To my good fortune, she was.

I drove across town from my agency to her's, and just because I am such a creative fellow (try not to laugh here) I decided to see what sorts of pictures I could take with my Blackberry in the 15 minutes it took to drive across town. 

 

The first place that I could SAFELY take a picture was when I drove through the National Mall, I was at the intersection in front of the National Art Gallery, and had a view of the dome of the Museum of Natural History (soccergirl's favorite).  Not only can you see the museum, but you can also see one of the ost common Washington, DC sights in the foreground:  The ever-present Tourmobile

This is a better look for those of you who are from out of town.  Should you ever get to DC, and want to save yourself some walking, the Tourmobile isn't a bad idea.  No, I'm not on the payroll, I'm just saying.

The front of the Natural History Museum... just because I thought that you might want to know about The Hidden Life of Ants.

As I passed the museum, this stupid cow decided to pedal out in front of me.  Excuse me for saying this, but it really can't be considered smart to drive a bicycle in front of a moving Tahoe.  Of course, being on duty, I could only mutter to myself.

Getting through the Mall, I was presented with a good view of the Wasthington Monument... the weather is still pretty sunny, but this is what comes of taking a picture through a tinted window.

 

Passing the Washington Monument, a better look at the grounds.  One of the things I like most about Washington, DC is that fact that so many Americans make it their vacation destination.  I know that it really screws up the already-bad traffic, but I still love seeing all of the people enjoying their nation's Capitol.

The Lincoln Memorial, as viewed from 17th street, with the WW2 memorial in the foreground... I wanted a better shot, but I took this on the move while looking at the traffic.

This place look familiar?

This is the Organization of American States, at the intersection of 17th and Constitution... and a lady talking on a cell phone.

What would this city be without tourists?  Clearly dad is lost.

What would Washington be without traffic?  This is at the intersection of 19th & C streets, near OPM, the Office of Personnel Management.

 

This is the Pan-American Health Organization... the building to the right is the State Department.

The Watergate.  You remember what happened there.... right?  As swanky an address as the Watergate is, it sure is one hell of an ugly bit of architecture.

Mrs GF and I had a nice lunch.  I enjoyed seeing her in the middle of the day.... just the two of us, you know?.. unfortunatley, I contracted a mild bit of food poisoning.  Damn!

On the way back to my office, in Virginia, I took a few more pictures.

A better view of the Lincoln memorial.

A view of the Pentagon.  As you look at the building, the right side of the picture is where the plane impacted on 9/11.  The blast wall you see in the photo is new.  Mrs GF and I drove past this place about four hours before the attack that day.

About to enter 395, heading back into Virginia, and my office, ten miles away.

Wasn't that fun?

President Obama, Professor Gates, & James Crowley

By now we have all heard, ad nauseum about the recent arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates.  We have heard, also ad nauseum, about President Obama's thoughts on the arrest, in response to a question asked of him at a Press conference... and God knows how sick and tired I am of Sgt. Crowley, the arresting officer, and a host of other cops, Union Bosses, and Right-wing/birther/crackpots on television all bleeding day, today.

It's time to stop, now, folks.  Really.

Let me first state that I know as much about the case as anyone who wasn't there... which means just about everyone except for Gates, Crowley, and maybe a few others.

The right wing fruitcakes are all like "The Commander-in-Chief was disrespectful of all police officers!  Waaaaah!"

The lefties are all like "Racial profiling is keeping the black man down!  Waaaaaaaah!"

The television news scandal pimps are all like "Will Sgt. Crowley apologize?, Will The President apologize?, are there any apologies to make?  Watch Black in America2, with Soledad O'Brien!"   Ka-ching!

Hey. 

HEY!  Are you listening?  Anyone who is paying even a little attention should know this by now, but in case you weren't let me hip you to the closest thing to the truth you are going to get on this stupid distraction piece:

The cops showed up because they were called.  This wasn't "profiling", they simply responded to a call for service (that's what we call it in the biz).  The cops encountered Gates, Identification flew, words flew, and house-sized, professorial egos flared (A celebrity Harvard professor no-less), house-sized police egos flew and an arrest was made. 

OK.  The local DA or Commonwealth's Attorney, or whatever they have in Cambridge decided not to charge Gates... which was smart of them... there wasn't much of a case to make.  Sergeant Crowley, by all accounts a decent bloke, keeps his dignity by not being punked by an asshole professor, Gates gets some serious air time... which all celebrities love.

Still with me?

Good.

Then during a Press conference, a reporter asks President his opinon on the arrest, and the President gives his opinion that the officers acted stupidly.  Then all of this nonsense well and truly goes into orbit!

Last night, I had a facebook exchange with a Republican echo chamber member who was all nuts about this issue... and today, reading the Huffington post, all of the lefties were huffing, puffing, and snorting righteous outrage about cops being "bullies" and "power mad" and claims that "cops control the country" etcetera.

What a load of nonsense.

Let me explain a few things.  Academics have egos... huge ones.  Don't believe me?  ask Mrs Gunfighter, she is an academic who works among academics (in her world, the undereducated have Masters degrees), in her office there are approx. 65 people, and all but about 5 have Ph.D's... she'll tell you.  Let me explain further, Cops have huge egos.  I know this, having been a lawman, myself for the past twelve years.  In my world, you have to be prepared to back your own play, and anyone not strong enough to do that isn't worth the money that he or she is being paid.

This whole incident has become about race. 

It isn't about race.

It's about class and ego.

Harvard professors aren't used to being challenged.  In their world, there is them, and the people that are deferential to them... which is to say, everyone else.  Gates wasn't going to be pushed around by some asshole cop, especially in his own home... who can blame him?  On the other side of this is the fact that Cops don't like being challenged.  In our world, there are the good guys (us), the bad guys, and the people who call us for help.  The Sergeant, a blue collar man, and no doubt proud of his chosen profession, wasn't about to be pushed around by anybody, asshole professor from Harvard or not.

Gates should have kept his cool.  He didn't.

Crowley should have kept his cool.  He didn't.

A legitimate, but totally unnecessary arrest was made.

We see the result.

The President?  Well, he gave his opinion when he was asked a question.  Was he wrong for saying the police acted stupidly in this case?  Not really, because if they hadn't acted stupidly, we wouldn't still be talking about this bullshit story a week or more later.

There is nothing to see here, folks.

Disperse.  Go home. 

Don't be distracted from the real issue of the day, which is getting health care reform enacted.  Don't be put off by stupid "birther" stories.  Don't be put off by the echo chamber and spin machine.

Go in peace.

In Case You Were Wondering.

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum
The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation, a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God’s Word. The motto is based on 1 Peter 1:24-25 (also Isaiah 40:8). It first appeared in the court of Frederick the Wise in 1522. He had it sewn onto the right sleeve of the court’s official clothing, which was worn by prince and servant alike. It was used by Frederick’s successors, his brother John the Steadfast, and his nephew John Frederick the Magnanimous. It became the official motto of the Schmalcaldic League and was used on flags, banners, swords, and uniforms as a symbol of the unity of the Lutheran laity who struggled to defend their beliefs, communities, families and lives against those who were intent on destroying them.

Stream of Consciousness (2)

*  The cellular telephone may be, at once, the most beneficial personal tool ever devised by man to date, and the bane of the existence of the rational human being. 

At the same time, the cell phone saves lives by being available to contact emergency services in time of need or crisis... and frequently causes the need for the aforementioned services because of the freakin' idiots who can't discontinue flapping their gums while they travel on heavily congested highways, or while attempting to navigate parking lots where there are large numbers of pedestrians.  When I am King, people who hurt others or damage the property of others while using cell phones will be taken to the wall.

*  What's with people who are trying to block health care reform?  Truthfully, I don't get it.  I mean, let's go beyond all of the "it's socialism, our care will be rationed" crap, because that noise is just a distraction device for the stupid.

OK, here it is... the numbers of Americans without health care coverage is staggering and increasing with incredible speed.  How can we consider ourselves a compassionate society when there are parents who are told that the only way that they can care for a sick child is to get divorced  so that the state will pay for continued coverage when their benefits run out?  What kind of sense does that make?  In a country that can prosecute multiple wars in different parts of the world, surely we can make sure that the uninsured or under-insured can at least be seen by doctors and are able to buy medicine.  Can't we?

The United States of America has sent multiple manned missions to the moon.  We were, for generations, the arsenal of democracy.  The United States was critical in the victory over dictators and empire-seekers in two world wars.  The United States grows enough food to feed itself to the point of national obesity and still has enough to sell or give to other countries all over the world.  We live in a country where people routinely give their lives just for the chance of getting to live here.

I refuse to accept that we cannot ensure that all of our citizens have the basics of healthcare coverage.

I'll just wait for people to start whining about taxes and illegal aliens, now.

*  Is all of the noise about Sarah Palin's upcoming departure from the office of Governor of Alaska, all about sexism?  Are women held to a double standard when it comes to how they are treated politically, or by the media?  I tend to think not, but then, I'm a man... and something of a knuckle-dragger.  What say you, O ladies of the blogosphere?  (Those of you who aren't at BlogHer, that is)

*  How can Republicans (neo Confederates), who spend so much time talking about state's rights, be serious about gun legislation that forces all of the states that have concealed carry gun laws to recognize the concealed carry permits of all of the other states that have them? 

It seems to me that the big bad federal government has no business telling one state what to do regarding laws or procedures from another state.

Oh, wait... since we are talking about guns, we should make sure that when we say "Republican party" we should immediately append "and the National Rifle Association"... after all, it is the NRA and their PAC that brings all of this foolishness to the table.

So much for the reduction of "Big Gov'mint"

*  Having to spend nearly seven hundred dollars on auto repairs three weeks before going on vacation isn't something that I would recommend having to do.  I suspect we'll have to go car shopping in September.  Damn!

*  My two favorite authors, Harry Turtledove and SM Stirling both have new books coming out soon!  Turtledove's newest will be my vacation book this August, and I can't wait.

Movie Review: Harry Potter & The Halfblood Prince

I actually went to the movies twice this weekend.  That pretty much never happens... it was strange. 

Anyway, I thought I was being a good dad and got tickets (online) for the new Harry Potter movie, because Soccer Girl was all amped up about it.  I figured that I would tell Mrs GF, and she would be all "what a good dad you are"and then I would tell Seoccer Girll and she would be all "oh daddy!, thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

The things that I mentioned above were dancing through my head as I made the purchase and then sent the following email to Mrs Gunfighter, to brag about the fact that I had scored three tickets to the hottest movie in the country. 

"Guess who has scored 3 tickets to the Harry Potter movie?"

Oh, yeah!  I was feeling pretty good about myself, and it wasn't even 7 A.M. yet!  Well, a couple of hours later, I received an email from Mrs. Gunfighter reminding that she had to work on Saturday (big confab with out-of-town colleagues).  DAMN!

Well, what is a dad to do?  I'll tell you what I did... I invited one of Soccer Girl's teammates to come with us.  I was certain that as much fun as she might have going to see a movie with her own beloved father would be, she would probably havemore fun with one of her chums.  Arrangements were made, and off we went to the movies!

Naturally, the girls wanted to listen to the High School Musical 2 soundtrack that is on my ipod (don't hate, I liked those movies!), and they sang along... giggling mightily when I started to sing along with them.

We got to the theater, got our popcorn, and settled in, just in time for the coming attractions, many of which looked REALLY cool... especially the upcoming G.I. Joe movie, which I will be seeing as soon as it comes out... again, don't hate.  I'm a man, I like action movies.

So the Potter movie starts, proceeds, and ends.

Nice visuals.  Good acting.  Good story, and easily followed, even though I haven't seen the previous movies, nor have I read the books.  Harry Potter is a wizard, so are his friends.  They go to a school for wizards.  Old guy with a long beard.  Game they play on brooms that is a cross between rugby and basketball.... sort of like Gaelic footbal.

Right.

Fights, teen romance, sadness, glad tidings, villains, reunion.

The lights come up and the girls are happy... and so am I.  They enjoyed themselves and I didn't have an awful time.

I took the girls to lunch at Noodles & Company, we listened to more High School Musical, and home we go.

Success.

Oh... the movie... look, I'm not into Harry Potter, and any review based on the story/stories wouldn't mean much coming from me.  If you are into it, I am CERTAIN that you will enjoy it.  If you aren't into it, you probably shouldn't bother... but if your spouse, squeeze, lifepartner, hey-baby, or  whatever, drags you to see it, you probably won't hate it.

Movie Review: Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

Do you know what I did Friday? 

I took the day off. 

I had to take soccergirl off to day camp, as Mrs Gunfighter had a big meeting to go to, and I had a midday Dr's appointment, so I bailed on the whole day.

After taking care of the whole off to camp thing in the morning, I went to my appointment and sat in the parking lot and read for nearly an hour which was really pleasant.

After I spent about 10 minutes with the sawbones I decided that I would head over to the mall and see what movies were playing, and if there were any worthy blow-stuff-up movies, I would pass a couple of pleasant hours watching thins/people getting blown up.

Well, the usual array of comedies (yawn) and chick flicks (thank you, no), I saw that the new Transformers movie was out and was starting right away.  Great, I thought, I'll give that a try.

Well, I will tell you that for a summer action movie, at least for any male of the species, this movie had pretty much all that we can wish for it all... or at least mostly. 

Let's review, shall we? 

Robots?  Check;  Zany clueless parents as an attempt at humor?  Check;  Explosions?  Oh heck yeah!, I mean Check!;  Shia LaBouef (I can't be bothered to spell-check that kid's name) check; mildly racist stereotypical comedy relief robots?  (an unfortunate) check.

I'll be honest, the plot is paper-thin, but who goes to see an action film for the plot?  The acting was... meh, y'know, it's an action flick... we don't go for the acting, either.  The best way for me to sum up is to say this:  Lots of explosions, fighting robots, good cinematography, great special effects, lots of military hardware, and lots of tight shots of Megan Fox's bee-stung lips, Megan Fox's enhanced boobs, Megan Fox in hot pants and boots practically humping a motorcycle, Megan Fox in stilletto heels, and Megan Fox sweating, running, etc.

Did I mention that Megan Fox was in this movie?

I had fun for a couple of hours, and walked away not unhappy to have gone to see it.  If you have the inclination, go see it, you won't be sorry that you did.  If you have something else to do and you miss it, don't worry, it's an action film, you've seen enough of them to not be missing much.