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.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
We Like Our Satellite TV
Well, these people do. I saw this this afternoon and decided to take a picture so it would last longer.
I worked math at WHS today and this is what I saw on the way home. I got a kick out of it and wanted to share it with you.
I also wanted to share a few little things I picked up from the kids.
1. How to insult yourself:
-I was handing out a quiz. I was explaining that: "There should be nothing on your desks except for the 4X6 note card and a pencil or pen..." I happened to glance down and saw a kid with a calculator, so I added, "...or a calculator like Tom here."
A girl in the back said, "You won't need a calculator on this test, Tom!"
Another girl said, "It's OK, Tom needs one, he's SPECIAL!" She was using a politically incorrect way to indicate that Tom might be of less than normal intelligence.
Tom, not to be outdone by the girls, retorted, in what can best be described as misdirected verbal attack, "Yeah, SPECIAL ED!!!" It had no sooner come from his mouth than he tried to swallow those words back up again, he had no doubt realized his mistake midstream. The entire class, and me, broke up in fits of laughter at Tom's ability to insult himself. (His statement, for those of you not up-to-date with modern insults, of course, was indicative that he belonged in Special Education classes.)
2. How to plan for the future:
-Later, after much silence from a different class as they struggled to overcome an apparently difficult quiz, a girl got up about 45 minutes into the class. She looked a little disgusted. She came back and handed me the quiz. I glanced at it and noted that there didn't seem to be any work on it. Then, I noticed that a couple problems had been worked on. She said she had only managed one and maybe a second one.
When she sat back down a few others glanced at the clock, looked back at their papers and obviously threw their towels in. They, too, called it quits and as the clock got closer to the bell, everyone joined. At this point the girl that got up first took some cards out of her purse. She discussed how hard the test was. They all agreed they just bombed the quiz.
She told her friends that she'd been learning Poker. "I figure when I drop out of college, I'll be a pro. It's like planning for the future." I think she was only half serious, but it made me laugh, nevertheless.
Oh, and as I walked into the office to return my key, I heard a girl tell her teacher, "That's Mr. H, you should have him sub for you. He's a good sub." Wow, there goes my ego, expanding and floating up to the ceiling.
I decided that might not sound too good. I said, "It's 'cause I'm tough, isn't it?"
She responded, "All he makes us do is work very hard. He's very strict."
I thought she might be going over the top. I probably won't be requested by him now, oh, well.
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?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Summer Already?
So, this weekend was spent in a variety of ways. Including: Cleaning, Yard work, and being sick. Yes, somewhere, somehow, someone gave me the gift that keeps on giving. I got a cold. I think I am recovering now, though. Saturday was, by far, the worst.
I was doing fine. We had cleaned out the sewing room, which in the past three months had become that catch-all room that we all have. Cora and I differ from most people, though, in that we have four to five of those rooms. Anyway, it was sometime after noon and all of a sudden I began to feel like I had been climbing a mountain. I began to feel as though I had run a marathon and then gotten hit by a truck. I soon found myself laying down and taking a nap after medicating myself with cold meds.
On the bright side, we had made a good dent on that room and Cora could now walk in there. We worked more on it yesterday. I felt much better yesterday and managed to do some yard work and make some plans for the old homestead on top of helping Cora some more with her room and going grocery shopping.
Last night, after mowing the lawn and expanding my network of little black watering tubes to include the new side garden, we sat back and relaxed for a little while. We realized we were outside, enjoying the weather and it was already 7:30! We had grilled chicken on salad for dinner and enjoyed each other's company. The weather, the company, and the fact that I was feeling much better made it a good weekend!
The weatherman mentioned that he expects us to be in the 80s by Friday...looks like Summer's a coming!
Maybe today's post should have been "Summer! All Ready?"
I was doing fine. We had cleaned out the sewing room, which in the past three months had become that catch-all room that we all have. Cora and I differ from most people, though, in that we have four to five of those rooms. Anyway, it was sometime after noon and all of a sudden I began to feel like I had been climbing a mountain. I began to feel as though I had run a marathon and then gotten hit by a truck. I soon found myself laying down and taking a nap after medicating myself with cold meds.
On the bright side, we had made a good dent on that room and Cora could now walk in there. We worked more on it yesterday. I felt much better yesterday and managed to do some yard work and make some plans for the old homestead on top of helping Cora some more with her room and going grocery shopping.
Last night, after mowing the lawn and expanding my network of little black watering tubes to include the new side garden, we sat back and relaxed for a little while. We realized we were outside, enjoying the weather and it was already 7:30! We had grilled chicken on salad for dinner and enjoyed each other's company. The weather, the company, and the fact that I was feeling much better made it a good weekend!
The weatherman mentioned that he expects us to be in the 80s by Friday...looks like Summer's a coming!
Maybe today's post should have been "Summer! All Ready?"
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Nice Day
It started early. I got up and began my coffee infusion. I checked my e-mails and surfed Facebook. I got dressed and made myself pretty. I got in my truck and flew low over the low range of hills to my appointment to be a substitute teacher for that science teacher that seems to like me so much. He put me down for today and tomorrow. I don't mind at all. I enjoy those classes.
Today the Biology class was cutting up and dissecting star fish, though we discussed the difference between calling them star fish and the scientific exactness of calling them sea stars. So, I let the kids do their job and stayed out of their way. I watched them cut up their star fish/sea stars. It was interesting.
The other two classes were physical science. They did not enjoy reading, and they further were not interested in doing the questions at the end of the chapter. Oh, well. You can lead a horse to water...
On the bright side, I continued to hear comments like, "Oh! Yes! My favorite sub!"
I DID get an e-mail from a local (in state) part of the National Archives. The person in charge of requests had given me a few ideas about how to find more information on the ever-illusive Zillah Gunnery Range yesterday, but basically told me she could not help me. I was about to give up with the 1945 aeronautical map she sent me. Then she sent me another e-mail saying she could not let it be and she had done a little more research on the federal dime. She gave me a good bit of information and invited me to stop by the archives. I may just do that. But, the info she gave me will help with my eventual goal of finding the borders of that range and perhaps locating the main areas where they targeted their weapons. I dunno where it will lead, but I have high hopes. Maybe I will find more than just the fifty caliber round my uncle located...one can hope.
it was a decent day. I came home and made chicken stir fry that had questionable oriental characteristics. It wasn't particularly great, but it wasn't horrible.
We then bound several coloring books because of the sudden rise in on-line orders. Yippee! All the while watching Survivor. I am married to a wonderful woman. I am happy. I enjoy my job. I look forward to a day when I have a more permanent position, but all-in-all, it was a very nice day!
Today the Biology class was cutting up and dissecting star fish, though we discussed the difference between calling them star fish and the scientific exactness of calling them sea stars. So, I let the kids do their job and stayed out of their way. I watched them cut up their star fish/sea stars. It was interesting.
The other two classes were physical science. They did not enjoy reading, and they further were not interested in doing the questions at the end of the chapter. Oh, well. You can lead a horse to water...
On the bright side, I continued to hear comments like, "Oh! Yes! My favorite sub!"
I DID get an e-mail from a local (in state) part of the National Archives. The person in charge of requests had given me a few ideas about how to find more information on the ever-illusive Zillah Gunnery Range yesterday, but basically told me she could not help me. I was about to give up with the 1945 aeronautical map she sent me. Then she sent me another e-mail saying she could not let it be and she had done a little more research on the federal dime. She gave me a good bit of information and invited me to stop by the archives. I may just do that. But, the info she gave me will help with my eventual goal of finding the borders of that range and perhaps locating the main areas where they targeted their weapons. I dunno where it will lead, but I have high hopes. Maybe I will find more than just the fifty caliber round my uncle located...one can hope.
it was a decent day. I came home and made chicken stir fry that had questionable oriental characteristics. It wasn't particularly great, but it wasn't horrible.
We then bound several coloring books because of the sudden rise in on-line orders. Yippee! All the while watching Survivor. I am married to a wonderful woman. I am happy. I enjoy my job. I look forward to a day when I have a more permanent position, but all-in-all, it was a very nice day!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Kinders
The funny thing about today was that it was supposed to be an improvement over yesterday. See, I had graduated from pre-schoolers to kindergärtners! I THOUGHT it would be better. By early afternoon I was missing the pre-schoolers dearly. But, not before I got a gem from one of the kinders.
The task before them was to color a simple book about the letter S. (S is for Sun, S is for Socks, S is for snails, On my Blocks!) I instructed them to use their BEST coloring!
A little girl came up to me and in a conspiratorial whisper, said she REALLY needed to talk to me. I bent down and she said, "I...I am afraid."
O.K., I've heard this before, I think to myself. But, I'm game, "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid to use my best coloring. Because...because..."
"Whyyyyyyyyy?"
"Everybody. You may not be able to...
"Whaaaaat???"
Ummm, everybody, everybody will not be able to...to..."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat, Mercedes! What?"
Won't be able to take it."
OMG, really? This kid is a gem! "So, let me get this straight, you don't want to use your BEST coloring because you don't think your classmates-or I, will be able to take it?"
"Uh-huh."
"We will just be so surprised by how good your coloring is that it might be harmful to us?"
"Yeah." Demure little flutter of eye lashes.
"Really?"
"Yes." In a whisper, and with serious eyes.
I love this kid's ingenuity! She's a five year old genius! Still, I must meet the challenge, gotta keep a straight face. "Well, I think I can handle it. I'm very experienced in viewing pretty things. Still, for safety, I promise not to let anyone of the kids see it. So, will you use your best coloring?"
She thought on that for a moment. "OK," she said in a whisper.
A while later, I notice she is kneeling on the floor, shielding her color page from the kids every time they walked by, and shifting glances all around. I ignore it, simply happy that she is coloring."
I sit at the teacher's desk and start some notes for the teacher. I become aware of a presence. I look up. There she is. "Ahhh, what Mercedes? Are you done?"
"Yes."
"Can I see it? Oh my, that IS pretty super! The sun is yellow! There is NO white from the paper at all! Good job!"
"But don't tell my mom or my dad, please." She said in her continued conspiratorial whisper.
"OK, but you need to do the other pages, alright?"
She headed back to work on it. I walked around and mentioned that she and several others were doing a good job. A few minutes later she comes up. I ask her what. She says, "I was thinking."
"AND???" I ask.
"I might like to show the class my color."
"And you think it might be safe?"
"Yes."
"OK, I suppose we could risk it, but we will have to wait until after lunch, is that OK?"
"Yes."
And so it was. After lunch, which my class was tardy to, she reminded me of my promise. I introduced her and she said, "This is my color." Everyone gave it a glance and mumbled something and then looked back to their own colors. She seemed pleased with herself and They were nonplussed. No one noticed, and life went on.
I love being a teacher.
The task before them was to color a simple book about the letter S. (S is for Sun, S is for Socks, S is for snails, On my Blocks!) I instructed them to use their BEST coloring!
A little girl came up to me and in a conspiratorial whisper, said she REALLY needed to talk to me. I bent down and she said, "I...I am afraid."
O.K., I've heard this before, I think to myself. But, I'm game, "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid to use my best coloring. Because...because..."
"Whyyyyyyyyy?"
"Everybody. You may not be able to...
"Whaaaaat???"
Ummm, everybody, everybody will not be able to...to..."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat, Mercedes! What?"
Won't be able to take it."
OMG, really? This kid is a gem! "So, let me get this straight, you don't want to use your BEST coloring because you don't think your classmates-or I, will be able to take it?"
"Uh-huh."
"We will just be so surprised by how good your coloring is that it might be harmful to us?"
"Yeah." Demure little flutter of eye lashes.
"Really?"
"Yes." In a whisper, and with serious eyes.
I love this kid's ingenuity! She's a five year old genius! Still, I must meet the challenge, gotta keep a straight face. "Well, I think I can handle it. I'm very experienced in viewing pretty things. Still, for safety, I promise not to let anyone of the kids see it. So, will you use your best coloring?"
She thought on that for a moment. "OK," she said in a whisper.
A while later, I notice she is kneeling on the floor, shielding her color page from the kids every time they walked by, and shifting glances all around. I ignore it, simply happy that she is coloring."
I sit at the teacher's desk and start some notes for the teacher. I become aware of a presence. I look up. There she is. "Ahhh, what Mercedes? Are you done?"
"Yes."
"Can I see it? Oh my, that IS pretty super! The sun is yellow! There is NO white from the paper at all! Good job!"
"But don't tell my mom or my dad, please." She said in her continued conspiratorial whisper.
"OK, but you need to do the other pages, alright?"
She headed back to work on it. I walked around and mentioned that she and several others were doing a good job. A few minutes later she comes up. I ask her what. She says, "I was thinking."
"AND???" I ask.
"I might like to show the class my color."
"And you think it might be safe?"
"Yes."
"OK, I suppose we could risk it, but we will have to wait until after lunch, is that OK?"
"Yes."
And so it was. After lunch, which my class was tardy to, she reminded me of my promise. I introduced her and she said, "This is my color." Everyone gave it a glance and mumbled something and then looked back to their own colors. She seemed pleased with herself and They were nonplussed. No one noticed, and life went on.
I love being a teacher.
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