So, this weekend, a friend of mine invited me to come along and visit a wreck. It is one which I have attempted to visit in the past, but my lack of a 4X4 kept me from it. He has a 4X4 and has been to it before, so I expect that we will have a better chance. The P-38 in question was one of those that experienced compressability, something the P-38 is famous for (when it was in a dive it approached the sound barrier and its controls lost the ability to change the craft's attitude and therefore the craft just kept going until it broke apart or hit the ground), and broke apart shortly after the pilot jumped out. It is spread between two valleys and should be an interesting day.
Yesterday, was my second day back to one of the local schools. I was met with more love and affection than I expected! It was nice! My fifth grade class was awesome, too. The staff was a pleasure to see, and it was just a good day.
A friend of mine was in a severe accident this last weekend. He is in Harbor View Hospital on the West side. It sounds like he is going to be ok, despite many broken ribs, a punctured lung, and an arm broken in two places. The guy just can't catch a break. This spring he broke his foot/ankle when a horse stepped on him.
We cleaned all weekend and I worked on it further on Monday. The house is looking good. I also added some baby proofing to the cabinets. I soon disabled some of the baby proofing because, let's face it, it's annoying not being able to open things when you want. And, it may be a couple months before the bay gets here. I guess I jumped the gun.
Music for me for the rest of the week, the usual!
Showing posts with label wreckchasing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wreckchasing. Show all posts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's BIG!
The Yakima Training Center, first of all, and foremost, is HUGE! It's BIG! Think of something BIG and then multiply it by 1000. It's simply HUGE! Gigantic even!
I met up with my ride at a little before 7:30AM. He is a nice gentleman who shared much more than an interest in history with me. It was a VERY educational day. I learned about some of the archeological works on the YTC. For instance, on that bench in the picture below there were several sites that native Americans used to create tools like arrow heads and knives and scrapers and such.
Chert, is a silica mineral that indigenous peoples used for arrow heads and spear points. Other forms are called flint and jasper. All have hardness characteristics similar to quartz. Below is some that was resting in the stream bed.
Below you see some petrified wood. This chunk was sizable, about 12 to 14 inches long. Smaller pieces were all over!
This next one is of a piece of equipment left at a diatomite mine...pretty cool, huh?
It was a great day!!!!!! I hope you all can get that from this post!
For Years...
For years, the Yakima Training Center has held great interest for me. It is the only military installation within 100 miles, unless you count the various National Guard Units or the Marine thingy with the tanks. And as most of you know, history is something that I find a little more than just mildly interesting. And, like most boys, I am more than a little interested in things that go BOOM!! So, knowing there is a lot of history out there AND that they make things go BOOM out there only makes it a place of MORE curiosity to me.
The YTC is within about 5 miles of the house, and I have, on more than one occasion, driven up to see what the racket was (sometimes you can hear the explosions from the house, in fact when I still lived with my parents, you could, at times, hear them pounding away at the center more than 25 miles distant, with at least three different ridges in the way, the acoustics must have been perfect or they were using something HUGE!). The way the area is made, though, it is on the other side of a ridge from us.
Over the years, I have seen a few interesting things from where it was legal to be(I say this, because I have been known to push boundaries at places like Mare Island and such, but never the YTC). Back shortly after the build up for Afghanistan and Iraq began, they held some exercises for the men at Fort Lewis. They parks a half-dozen 155mm howitzer type things out next to the freeway. If you pulled off the road you had the opportunity to see some MAJOR booms! A few seconds later the shell would detonate on a hill side about five miles away, maybe more, in a giant puff of dust, smoke, and debris. The sound alone, over the noise of the traffic whizzing by at 70mph was impressive!
Then, one day, I was driving along and saw an aircraft with straight wings flying from the YTC toward the West. The airspace is closed off to civil air traffic, and I wondered to myself how much trouble this guy was going to be in. On my next opportunity, I looked again...only it wasn't a civil aircraft. it was an A-10 Thunderbolt II anti-tank aircraft! This thing is built around a 30mm canon, which weighs more than a Volkswagon Bug (And is longer, too!)! There were two of them, and they were making runs on the targets at the YTC!! I stopped and watched from a great distance, still, the binoculars allowed be to see the smoke from the canon when he let go!! AWESOME!
I have seen enormous convoys of the Army's Strykers...those eight-wheeled monsters that pack troops, an all-terrain-vehicle, and significant firepower into one water-proof attack package. They can mount any number of cool modern destructive weapons on those things!
I have seen flares ignited at night...floating earthward in an spooky orange dazzling spectacle. I have seen a few of the huge Abrams tanks they have out there. I have heard many stories about the place. It is just cool that we have such a place within a few miles and everybody just ignores the awesomeness of it all!
So, today, in just a few minutes, actually, I am going to drive up and meet the historian/archeologist for the installation and he is going to take me to a couple of the wreck sites. With luck, this will only be the first of several forays into this military wilderness in my back yard. I hope to take pictures of the crash site of at least one of the aircraft in question. I also hope to learn a little more about this place that remains hidden by hills and ridges from the prying eyes of those of us curious enough to look.
This is the kind of thing I like to do. I know other men go out and hunt animals or go to sports arenas, but this is my thing. Something I rarely get to do, and something that is very interesting and more than a little fun! I might not be normal...but normal is just too boring for me.
The YTC is within about 5 miles of the house, and I have, on more than one occasion, driven up to see what the racket was (sometimes you can hear the explosions from the house, in fact when I still lived with my parents, you could, at times, hear them pounding away at the center more than 25 miles distant, with at least three different ridges in the way, the acoustics must have been perfect or they were using something HUGE!). The way the area is made, though, it is on the other side of a ridge from us.
Over the years, I have seen a few interesting things from where it was legal to be(I say this, because I have been known to push boundaries at places like Mare Island and such, but never the YTC). Back shortly after the build up for Afghanistan and Iraq began, they held some exercises for the men at Fort Lewis. They parks a half-dozen 155mm howitzer type things out next to the freeway. If you pulled off the road you had the opportunity to see some MAJOR booms! A few seconds later the shell would detonate on a hill side about five miles away, maybe more, in a giant puff of dust, smoke, and debris. The sound alone, over the noise of the traffic whizzing by at 70mph was impressive!
Then, one day, I was driving along and saw an aircraft with straight wings flying from the YTC toward the West. The airspace is closed off to civil air traffic, and I wondered to myself how much trouble this guy was going to be in. On my next opportunity, I looked again...only it wasn't a civil aircraft. it was an A-10 Thunderbolt II anti-tank aircraft! This thing is built around a 30mm canon, which weighs more than a Volkswagon Bug (And is longer, too!)! There were two of them, and they were making runs on the targets at the YTC!! I stopped and watched from a great distance, still, the binoculars allowed be to see the smoke from the canon when he let go!! AWESOME!
I have seen enormous convoys of the Army's Strykers...those eight-wheeled monsters that pack troops, an all-terrain-vehicle, and significant firepower into one water-proof attack package. They can mount any number of cool modern destructive weapons on those things!
I have seen flares ignited at night...floating earthward in an spooky orange dazzling spectacle. I have seen a few of the huge Abrams tanks they have out there. I have heard many stories about the place. It is just cool that we have such a place within a few miles and everybody just ignores the awesomeness of it all!
So, today, in just a few minutes, actually, I am going to drive up and meet the historian/archeologist for the installation and he is going to take me to a couple of the wreck sites. With luck, this will only be the first of several forays into this military wilderness in my back yard. I hope to take pictures of the crash site of at least one of the aircraft in question. I also hope to learn a little more about this place that remains hidden by hills and ridges from the prying eyes of those of us curious enough to look.
This is the kind of thing I like to do. I know other men go out and hunt animals or go to sports arenas, but this is my thing. Something I rarely get to do, and something that is very interesting and more than a little fun! I might not be normal...but normal is just too boring for me.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
It's Been Awhile
Since I posted. Nothing new going on. No, not really. Same old thing going on. Teachin' and screechin'. (usually screeching at the kids)
I am really excited about my chance to go see the crash sites this weekend. Sounds like a few history junkies that work out there might be coming along. I think I may print up some data sheets for their benefit. I also may take some pictures with me to show them what the scraps of aluminum looked like before they were spread upon the desert floor.
Yesterday was such a nice day, when I got home I went out to the back yard to read and relax for a few minutes. The moment I got out there, the city decided then was the perfect time to bring a street sweeper by and sweep the street. So for fifteen agonizing minutes he drove around in circles, apparently picking up every stray mote of dust in the area and making three times the required noise. I mean, DAMN! Get a Dyson, dude!
On the bright side the birds are very happy with the set up, since we obviously feed them plenty, they hang around and look accusingly at us when we are in the back yard. They look at you as if to say, "When are you leaving? I'm hungry!" The gold finches are the best. They are so tiny, but they have such a beautiful song and their yellow colors are eye candy.
Our new fish...ok, two weeks old, are little miners. They have excavated a bewildering array of tunnels which they use to chase each other through. It's fun to watch one of them bring out a piece of coral gravel in its mouth and spit it out. The fish are great for entertainment.
Well, I have to get ready to go teach math at the HS. I was told by the teacher and one of the students later, that I was back by popular demand. The students prefer me to other subs. Because I explain math better? Nah, because I "relate" better to them than other subs. It's helping them with social skills or something, I forget what the teacher said. The student said she and the rest of the students like me better...which, totally is ok with me. I wonder if it is because I give the sixth period class color sheets...yeah, that might be it. Oh, well! It pays to be generous!
I am really excited about my chance to go see the crash sites this weekend. Sounds like a few history junkies that work out there might be coming along. I think I may print up some data sheets for their benefit. I also may take some pictures with me to show them what the scraps of aluminum looked like before they were spread upon the desert floor.
Yesterday was such a nice day, when I got home I went out to the back yard to read and relax for a few minutes. The moment I got out there, the city decided then was the perfect time to bring a street sweeper by and sweep the street. So for fifteen agonizing minutes he drove around in circles, apparently picking up every stray mote of dust in the area and making three times the required noise. I mean, DAMN! Get a Dyson, dude!
On the bright side the birds are very happy with the set up, since we obviously feed them plenty, they hang around and look accusingly at us when we are in the back yard. They look at you as if to say, "When are you leaving? I'm hungry!" The gold finches are the best. They are so tiny, but they have such a beautiful song and their yellow colors are eye candy.
Our new fish...ok, two weeks old, are little miners. They have excavated a bewildering array of tunnels which they use to chase each other through. It's fun to watch one of them bring out a piece of coral gravel in its mouth and spit it out. The fish are great for entertainment.
Well, I have to get ready to go teach math at the HS. I was told by the teacher and one of the students later, that I was back by popular demand. The students prefer me to other subs. Because I explain math better? Nah, because I "relate" better to them than other subs. It's helping them with social skills or something, I forget what the teacher said. The student said she and the rest of the students like me better...which, totally is ok with me. I wonder if it is because I give the sixth period class color sheets...yeah, that might be it. Oh, well! It pays to be generous!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
I'm So Excited!
And I just can't hide it!
Ok, so, for the last month or so, I have been in contact with a gentleman who works for the Yakima Training Center as a Historian and Archeologist. You see, several aircraft have crashed out there over the years. I have wanted to get out there to see the crash sites, since they are closer than many of the others I know about. Still, there is the sticky issue of getting onto a piece of land owned and operated by the US Department of Defense.
Might help if I had served in the military, but that never happened, so I am stuck relying on my gifts of charm and good looks...obviously, I am operating at a disadvantage. Still, persistence pays off. I hope to go out there and see at least a couple sites this Saturday!
Since there are more than just the two, the nice gentleman suggested we could break up viewing into more than one trip. OK, by me! Now the question is: How do I prepare for such a thing? Do I go all out and take reference materials, camera, tape measure, GPS, metal detector, notebook, sketchpad, and lab coat with me? Do I travel light, and only take a few small reference materials, like the accident reports, the camera, and maybe a notebook to take notes in? I have been an armchair wreckchaser much too long.
I suppose this calls for some research. Other guys seem to go out and just enjoy the hike out there. They study the accident reports and take lots of photos. What is the best way? I suppose I should start by asking what I want to get out of it. Do I want to see the sites for the reason of historic visualization ( a term I think I just made up), do I just want to have something to blog about, or do I simply want an outing to enjoy? I think it's a little of all three.
So, how do I prepare? ARGH! I have been wanting to do something like this for quite awhile, but when faced with the real situation I am at a loss. I suppose it's a bit like a kitten catching a moth. OK, I got it, now what do I do with it?
Ok, so, for the last month or so, I have been in contact with a gentleman who works for the Yakima Training Center as a Historian and Archeologist. You see, several aircraft have crashed out there over the years. I have wanted to get out there to see the crash sites, since they are closer than many of the others I know about. Still, there is the sticky issue of getting onto a piece of land owned and operated by the US Department of Defense.
Might help if I had served in the military, but that never happened, so I am stuck relying on my gifts of charm and good looks...obviously, I am operating at a disadvantage. Still, persistence pays off. I hope to go out there and see at least a couple sites this Saturday!
Since there are more than just the two, the nice gentleman suggested we could break up viewing into more than one trip. OK, by me! Now the question is: How do I prepare for such a thing? Do I go all out and take reference materials, camera, tape measure, GPS, metal detector, notebook, sketchpad, and lab coat with me? Do I travel light, and only take a few small reference materials, like the accident reports, the camera, and maybe a notebook to take notes in? I have been an armchair wreckchaser much too long.
I suppose this calls for some research. Other guys seem to go out and just enjoy the hike out there. They study the accident reports and take lots of photos. What is the best way? I suppose I should start by asking what I want to get out of it. Do I want to see the sites for the reason of historic visualization ( a term I think I just made up), do I just want to have something to blog about, or do I simply want an outing to enjoy? I think it's a little of all three.
So, how do I prepare? ARGH! I have been wanting to do something like this for quite awhile, but when faced with the real situation I am at a loss. I suppose it's a bit like a kitten catching a moth. OK, I got it, now what do I do with it?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Being Original
I think our coloring books have done well. I think it has something to do with the fact that no one else has thought to make coloring books to help with their adoptions, though some have asked for our secrets...and if you really want to know the secret? Here it is for all to see: Get yourself a JIM and CORA. I am proud of the way we work together. We both do our parts, though, often, she does more. Let's just say, I enjoy a little relaxation.
I finished the Dragon coloring book last night. Which is, sadly, another book NOT specifically aimed at girls. Sorry, girls, I am a boy. Always have been. I like drawing dragons and dinosaurs and tanks and airplanes...always have.
I DO try to get a little out of my box and draw girl things, but that requires a little more effort on my part. When you are drawing things in between classes, easy comes out more often. So, here's the thing. I AM working on a few girl targeted coloring books. I have drawn a couple butterflies and dragon flies and princesses. I AM working on the story that Cora wrote. It's taking some time, but I noticed when I put my focus on one thing, it happens much more quickly!! It's been over a month since I finished a new coloring book. I HAVE been working on them, just I had been doing one dinosaur, one dragon and then working on a part of the story and then a flower or something.
Now, my main focus is to draw for the story. And I am fond of this story. It is coming along. I have 7 panels done...that is, pages. I may have to re-work a few when it comes to putting text in, but they are coming along. I guess the problem of creating characters that are reproducible and then reproducing them is one of the main issues. Another is visualizing dynamic scenes and then putting them on paper using the reproducible characters and then making them look like the characters on the previous pages...I have been recycling a lot of paper for this.
When we are done, I think it will be something to be proud of.
Another thing I am particularly proud of is my other website. I know I have mentioned this before. I like having people email me to ask me questions. I really like it when I have a little something to offer back. It is rewarding to see that my little site fulfills a little place that no one else's does here in Washington State. I am REALLY looking forward to my coming visit to the Yakima Training Center!! I may actually get to walk around at one of those sites! The other is apparently on one of the main impact areas, so, no walking, but I'll be able to look down upon the area where it hit.
Some have suggested I write a book from it. I don't know about that. Maybe eventually. I know that others have worked on the same subject and probably have more information and a few more years research on it than I do. For the moment, I am happy to live my life and write my other blog for fun. Once it gets serious, it will not be fun.
Same goes for life. When you get too serious, the fun trickles away. What's the use of living life if it isn't fun and interesting? And let's face it, if it's interesting, it's probably a little fun.
This weekend promises to be interesting. We have a wedding to go to! Cora's cousin is getting hitched. Who is this guy? I am sure I will be able to find out this weekend. Of course the REALLY interesting part is the museum she is having it in!! A WEDDING in a MUSEUM! It's genius!!
I finished the Dragon coloring book last night. Which is, sadly, another book NOT specifically aimed at girls. Sorry, girls, I am a boy. Always have been. I like drawing dragons and dinosaurs and tanks and airplanes...always have.
I DO try to get a little out of my box and draw girl things, but that requires a little more effort on my part. When you are drawing things in between classes, easy comes out more often. So, here's the thing. I AM working on a few girl targeted coloring books. I have drawn a couple butterflies and dragon flies and princesses. I AM working on the story that Cora wrote. It's taking some time, but I noticed when I put my focus on one thing, it happens much more quickly!! It's been over a month since I finished a new coloring book. I HAVE been working on them, just I had been doing one dinosaur, one dragon and then working on a part of the story and then a flower or something.
Now, my main focus is to draw for the story. And I am fond of this story. It is coming along. I have 7 panels done...that is, pages. I may have to re-work a few when it comes to putting text in, but they are coming along. I guess the problem of creating characters that are reproducible and then reproducing them is one of the main issues. Another is visualizing dynamic scenes and then putting them on paper using the reproducible characters and then making them look like the characters on the previous pages...I have been recycling a lot of paper for this.
When we are done, I think it will be something to be proud of.
Another thing I am particularly proud of is my other website. I know I have mentioned this before. I like having people email me to ask me questions. I really like it when I have a little something to offer back. It is rewarding to see that my little site fulfills a little place that no one else's does here in Washington State. I am REALLY looking forward to my coming visit to the Yakima Training Center!! I may actually get to walk around at one of those sites! The other is apparently on one of the main impact areas, so, no walking, but I'll be able to look down upon the area where it hit.
Some have suggested I write a book from it. I don't know about that. Maybe eventually. I know that others have worked on the same subject and probably have more information and a few more years research on it than I do. For the moment, I am happy to live my life and write my other blog for fun. Once it gets serious, it will not be fun.
Same goes for life. When you get too serious, the fun trickles away. What's the use of living life if it isn't fun and interesting? And let's face it, if it's interesting, it's probably a little fun.
This weekend promises to be interesting. We have a wedding to go to! Cora's cousin is getting hitched. Who is this guy? I am sure I will be able to find out this weekend. Of course the REALLY interesting part is the museum she is having it in!! A WEDDING in a MUSEUM! It's genius!!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Stupid Post But Great Espanol!
Since about a month ago, I had been agonizing over a post for my airplane wreckchasing site. I had great big plans for it. It was my first post of a B-29 accident (For those of you who don't know, the B-29 was my first favorite bomber, and if you aren't a male, then you had just better go back to your Barbie Dolls and leave us men folk alone because you'll never understand it) and I wanted it to be special. I did a lot of reading. I read about the engines. I read about the economic, political, and military events of the era. I read about B-29. Then I read and reread the reports. I then wrote my post. Then I posted it, only a day late for the 62nd anniversary of the crash. I suppose it is acceptable. Given my other posts, I believe there to be fewer typos and mistakes, so all-in-all, it is a decent post. Still, sometimes you just want something to be more than it is.
So, what's next for that site? Obviously, I will try not to post anything before it is ready. I ordered some more information regarding the B-29, but I don't expect to see it for several weeks. I guess I will keep the posts just a little shorter. I like to post on that site a few times a month, but because that stupid B-29 post wasn't right, I put off posting to that site for over a month. Pathetic, huh?
So, I subbed in Wapato most of the week. It wasn't bad. I got stuffed into a Sped room on Friday when I was expecting to teach biology. It turned out to be a pretty good day, though, so I don't begrudge that change of plans.
I got complemented on my Spanish accent when I speak Spanish. Apparently I sound like I speak it better than I do...or possibly can. I have difficulty rolling my "Rs." One of the people I was working with asked me if I spoke Spanish, I said, no, very little. She seemed surprised because of the way I speak it. Cora suspects it is because I have learned a lot of my Spanish from kids who are native Spanish speakers. I suspect it is just 'cause I am...AWESOME!
The sun is shining outside. I suppose I had better get moving.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Innocuos Adventures Gone Awry!
We all know that I had a close call a few months ago (Read February, apparently I am bad with time, too) when my curiouosity got the better of me. Just before a dinner with a couple I knew in high school I decided to drive up on the hill and see if indeed they were shooting guns at the Firing Center(Duhhh, that's what they do there). I nearly got stuck. I did alot of slipping and sliding around before luck and perseverance got me out of my...problem.
Today was a day off for me. I had the bright idea that I would be able to find a local airplane wreck from WWII. Two wrecks, really. I took my Dad.
One of my sister-in-laws sent me a map of the area in question with a route highlighted for me. I took that route. We got to a point where a bicyclist could have gone, but not my truck. We tried a couple more routes, with identical results.
Finally we drove up to a local Windfarm that lies in the same area. We hoped to drive through their roads to the crash site. No luck. They are adding seven new generators and doing some blasting...which we saw...and so tourists were not being allowed back there. 
that's my truck on the right.
So, we found a road toward one of the crash sites that was...shall we say INHOSPITABLE?
SHIT! Someone died here? This grave was four feet from the road! Maybe it was a memorial, but it did not give the driver (or the pasenger) the warm fuzzies.
Prickly situation? Yes, this was just off the most imposing hill I climbed with that truck...using, among other things, my chains!
Above you see the imposing hill I had to climb with my truck...it doesn't look like much, but a two wheel drive does not like 35 degree roads with LOOSE rocks! The roads we travelled today were better meant for Elk!
We saw this herd. Our passage eventually scared up 13 or 14 head of elk, plus a calf.
Here is my dad begging for passage through the windfarm after our extensive trek. Neither he, nor I, was feeling up to a ten mile drive back out the way we had come. Plus, there is no guarantee we would have made it out. Especially since I discovered my rear tires were shredded from an ascent we felt was a necessity. The steel belt was showing!
This is the view from our ingress...
Here is my truck on Windfarm land...
Here is my dad...with his GPS, may it rest in peace...he lost it...we don'tknow where.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
P-38 Lightning Wreck!!
So, I found my first wreck!! It was a Lockheed P-38L Lightning. It's serial number was #44-23914. I don't know the story behind it yet. I will be getting the accident report from the friend I went with. He is the one who knew where it was...approximately. We did quite a bit of walking considering we knew approximately where it was. Finally, I caught site of a part with rivets. It was really REALLY cool!! If you want to read more about it, skip on over to my other blog...you know, Aircraft Losses in Washington State. I have some other pictures there.
You can see engine parts, wing parts, and, that rusty thing is the side of a M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun...but, we did not see any machine gun rounds...or shells...darnit.
I had originally planned to go to Larson afterword, but the time of day was against me and the weather wasgetting kind of nasty. I can make Larson a trip of its own. As it was, it still took me quite while to get home.
Which reminds me. Does ANYONE know where Glen, Washington is? Apparently it is near Mattawa, but there is no mention of it on-line or on my maps. The reason I ask is a B-17 crashed near it. And it is the only place mentioned with any accuracy.
Cora cleaned house while I was gone and it looks splendid! However, I think we both want to get rid of our washer and dryer. The washer's spin cycle is somewhat violent. It shook so hard it shook a gallon of bleach off the dryer and onto the floor...the lid snapped off and before we were aware of what was happening had emptied onto the lenoleum...we had a VERY CLEAN SMELLING house...everything smelled of bleach for the longest time.
It is turning out to be a nice evening, I hope everyone else experiences a similar weekend.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday the 13th Good, Thursday the 12th? Bad.
So, my Friday went well. No major problems raised their ugly heads. The day slid by with a minimum of fuss. I was happy.
I also got the opportunity to view one of the science teachers doing a once in a lifetime demonstration. Apparently someone from the state went through their collection of elemental specimens and found some Yellow Phosphorus. They told the science teacher he had to dispose of it. Apparently they did not say how. So, he decided to show his students what happens when Yellow Phosphorus is exposed to oxygen. It was AWESOME. It smoldered at first and then small flames began to unfold from it and then it looked alot like a road flare. I asked him if it was anything like handling Sodium. He said sodium is soft and he has never been afraid of handling anything else...the phosphorus...well, he was extremely cautious. Apparently the Phosphorus is hard, a lot like chert or obsidian I am assuming, partilly from his description and from what it looked like in the little glass jar. Yes, he let ME hold the jar...secretly, I wanted to take it home with me! But, there were 20 or so kids looking at me. Still, it was vastly cool.
Tomorrow I get to go see if we can find a P-38 wreck!!!! I am SO EXCITED! It may be covered with up to an inch of Mt. St. Helens Ash...so I m taking my metal detector. I may do a little sight seeing, too. There are some Nike Missile Sites in the general area and of course the Titan Missile sites and Larson AFB and further up there are some Atlas sites, but I am not sure how long Cora wants to have me gone...she probably has chores she would like me to do.
So, some idiot served some Arkansas children windshield wiper fluid instead of Kool-aid...what, didn't the little safety cap or the TINFOIL give it away as being NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION????? How stupid do you have to be??? How about the label that probably said "WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID???????" It isn't like they try to hide the fact that it is WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID!!!
Oh, well, one of the lst Bttlestar Galacica's is on tonight. Dinner will be pizza and refreshments will be beer. What better way is there to start weekend?
I also got the opportunity to view one of the science teachers doing a once in a lifetime demonstration. Apparently someone from the state went through their collection of elemental specimens and found some Yellow Phosphorus. They told the science teacher he had to dispose of it. Apparently they did not say how. So, he decided to show his students what happens when Yellow Phosphorus is exposed to oxygen. It was AWESOME. It smoldered at first and then small flames began to unfold from it and then it looked alot like a road flare. I asked him if it was anything like handling Sodium. He said sodium is soft and he has never been afraid of handling anything else...the phosphorus...well, he was extremely cautious. Apparently the Phosphorus is hard, a lot like chert or obsidian I am assuming, partilly from his description and from what it looked like in the little glass jar. Yes, he let ME hold the jar...secretly, I wanted to take it home with me! But, there were 20 or so kids looking at me. Still, it was vastly cool.
Tomorrow I get to go see if we can find a P-38 wreck!!!! I am SO EXCITED! It may be covered with up to an inch of Mt. St. Helens Ash...so I m taking my metal detector. I may do a little sight seeing, too. There are some Nike Missile Sites in the general area and of course the Titan Missile sites and Larson AFB and further up there are some Atlas sites, but I am not sure how long Cora wants to have me gone...she probably has chores she would like me to do.
So, some idiot served some Arkansas children windshield wiper fluid instead of Kool-aid...what, didn't the little safety cap or the TINFOIL give it away as being NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION????? How stupid do you have to be??? How about the label that probably said "WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID???????" It isn't like they try to hide the fact that it is WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID!!!
Oh, well, one of the lst Bttlestar Galacica's is on tonight. Dinner will be pizza and refreshments will be beer. What better way is there to start weekend?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Things To Do...
Well, Sunday was spent not doing much. Well, that's not true, I watched Cora do stuff. I had an extreme case of the lazies. I think there are drugs for that, but, I opted out of the program. I think Ambition should be stomped out of others because it makes me look bad.
I got an e-mail from a friend that indicated he was interested in going to see a P-38 wreck that is about 28 miles from here, but there are no motor vehicles allowed for the last 4 miles...He suggested bikes for the mountainous terrain. I know I will regret this...or, well, all my muscles will regret it...but I said yes. I am not sure when we will do this crazy thing. I assume he is interested in doing it in March. It sounds like e is not a fan of snakes. I honestly have never seen any but angry Bull Snakes chase you, so I doubt we will have any problems... Still, I look forward to finding my first wreck, even if someone has to show me where it is.
I did some drawings this weekend. Only a few of which will make good coloring pages for the kids I sub for. Alas, I got caught up in the details...always do. I drew a steam locomotive and showed every rivet...that was actully fun. I did manage a passable clownfish that kids should enjoy. That can join the angel fish. I HAD to draw this weekend, since I actually bought some pencils to draw with.
Well, I work at the HS and that is a good thing. I have not worked at the HS...well...at ALL in February.
Spring is coming...it rain this weekend. That's a sure sign, right? I posted at my other site about the USS Turner Joy, if anyone is interested in more ship pictures.
I got an e-mail from a friend that indicated he was interested in going to see a P-38 wreck that is about 28 miles from here, but there are no motor vehicles allowed for the last 4 miles...He suggested bikes for the mountainous terrain. I know I will regret this...or, well, all my muscles will regret it...but I said yes. I am not sure when we will do this crazy thing. I assume he is interested in doing it in March. It sounds like e is not a fan of snakes. I honestly have never seen any but angry Bull Snakes chase you, so I doubt we will have any problems... Still, I look forward to finding my first wreck, even if someone has to show me where it is.
I did some drawings this weekend. Only a few of which will make good coloring pages for the kids I sub for. Alas, I got caught up in the details...always do. I drew a steam locomotive and showed every rivet...that was actully fun. I did manage a passable clownfish that kids should enjoy. That can join the angel fish. I HAD to draw this weekend, since I actually bought some pencils to draw with.
Well, I work at the HS and that is a good thing. I have not worked at the HS...well...at ALL in February.
Spring is coming...it rain this weekend. That's a sure sign, right? I posted at my other site about the USS Turner Joy, if anyone is interested in more ship pictures.
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