14. April 2008 by Elwood.

Not much going on in the South, especially since the Tarheels decided not to show up for the semi-finals of the Final Four.  OK, they did make a brief appearance in the first part of the second half, but the rest was so disappointing.  I’m done with the doctors and therapists, not sure if therapy did all that much, and since there was not progress, the doctor released me from care.  He said over the next year will determine how much more progress the fingers, wrist, elbow, and shoulder will make, but he did expect some. 
TBD

I am getting some work done in the yard, but it really aggravates me when a tool slips out of my left hand because I have no grip.  Everyone knows what a patient person I am.  Trust me, I’m worse on myself than I ever was anyone else.

Had my first real doctor’s visit 2 weeks ago, nice to have a doc sit down and take time to completely review you entire medical history.  The unfortunate part was my cholesterol was WAY too high.  Everything still works good, but I’m doing the Atkins diet again with exercise–it worked before, it better work again.  Not really wanting to go on Lipitor the rest of my life.  I just got lazy at the end and continued into retirement, so I know what I need to do.

For all you Minot-eer’s, how about the 72nd coming back?!?!  THAT was a good squadron, especially under the leadership of Ed Dixon.  I imagine the entire state of North Dakota is celebrating, and the realtors have just got to be licking their chops.  Maybe Trav can give us an update, if he reads this.

Chuck, if you thought I ever gave you d0-do about owning a Ford, you should have heard me ROFLOL when I read that you bought a Land Rover.  James Auclair, if any one remembers him from Griffiss or the 49th, had one, and I do believe that it literally was in the shop more than his garage, until he got rid of it.  Good luck, my friend.

James, bully for you on the marathons and your graciousness during your father’s passing.

Reed, I disagree about being richer on active duty, but then my circumstances are different now.  And were you just getting an annual check, or another upgrade?  Glad to hear a good pilot is still flying.

Cheers for now.

Posted in Band of Brothers | Print | 1 Comment »

14. April 2008 by Ponch.

All,

Sorry of not posting the last couple of months. The only time I get to read BoB is a work, and the Air Force in it’s wisdom had blocked all Blog pages from our view.

Its been two whole years since I retired and moved to sunny Californica. Northrop has been a fine place to work with allot of interesting folks to work with. Most have worked with this company for many many years. I had forgotten that outside the military people stay in one place and work at one job as long as they can. Some of these folks have near forty years at the same place doing the same
job. Job security is nice but variety does add to life.

Not allot is going on is our personnel lives that’s much to report. I’m still flying out at Edwards. I got to land on the lake bed last Friday just for grins. Was pretty cool. They look allot smaller from the air, once on he ground they are immense.

The lines that make up the runway edges are foot wide. I was on a check ride so I didn’t get to fool around much. Would have liked to do a couple of touch and go’s and such but an out of time.

It’s tax time again and of course the tax man was cruel and unusual. I’m still not settled in on the number of withholdings and such to get the right amount held from my paycheck. Seems like the more I make the more money they take. We are making more money then I have ever made before (including pilot bonus) yet I feel like our standard of living is below what we enjoyed in the military. I hope all those folks who get my tax money are enjoying it.

We have made a few trips to my dad’s place on the coast. The recent rains have made everything green and pretty so the drive is pleasant. We will have to back off the trips though as the price of gas is horrible. We are paying 3.70 a gallon and it is still going up. I don’t know what folks are going to do to keep living.

The price of food has shot up along with everything else. The paper this week end said the number of folks losing their houses in this area is over 1000 a month. There are five abandoned homes on our street alone. Part of me feels sorry for the people going though this but part of me feels like they are getting what they deserve for being greedy. A lot of they folks bought thinking they would flip the house for big cash. Many bought in on the whole “get rich quick” off of real estate idea that was nothing more then a pyramid scam. Unfortunately many innocent types got ripped in the process. Now there is a growing problem with abandoned houses that will fill up with undesirable types.

Do you think that the church lecture on “greed” has some merit to the subject?

Later

Ponch

Posted in Band of Brothers | Print | No Comments »