Chapter 4: Basic Training - Part 2

One day during zero week in Basic Training,....

Wait, I better explain something before I continue. We were in basic training for nine weeks. The first week of basic training is called zero week and spent waiting for the rest of the new recruits to arrive and just trying to learn the basics and what was expected of us. The real training didn’t start until the second week of basic which they called week one. Makes sense, right? Okay, now I'll continue.

One day during zero week, someone asked us if any of us had a driver’s license. I did, so I raised my hand along with a few other guys. I think only about a dozen guys in the entire company had drivers licenses. We were pulled aside and were asked about our driving experience. I had my license for a couple of years already and even was a truck driver the electric company back home. Our licenses were checked and we were assigned to take the Light Vehicle Drivers Course.

Light Vehicle Drivers Course - This course trains and qualifies selected personnel for duty as military drivers capable of safe light vehicle operations and operations limitations, maintenance and emergency devices.

I loved driving school. I spent my days in school instead of being harassed by the drill instructors. I also got to stop by the ice cream stand walking back and forth to drivers training, which was forbidden! Having experience as a truck driver came in very handy for me. To get our military drivers license, we had to qualify in a jeep and five different sized trucks. The largest truck was one was the ‘Deuce and a Half’ and was used for carrying cargo or troops. I drove a line trucks for the electric company that were about the same size as this deuce and a half I became licensed to drive.
I passed the drivers training and issued my license on May 17, 1968. Here's the proof I passed.

Getting that drivers license was the best thing that happened to me while in training. I was regularly assigned as a driver which got me out of so much bull shit and even KP at least once a week. The guys were always so envious of me, especially the guys that had to relieve me from KP if they needed me to drive.

The best assignment as a driver was driving for the battalion commander. I’d just sit on a bench in battalion HQ waiting and then drove him around in a jeep so he could observe training. There was nothing like sitting around in the jeep watching the training instead of going through it.

Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal! It's All About Curb Appeal!

Today I started another large project at my place. This project is new landscaping. I had the old bushes in the front of the house ripped out, once bush transplanted, the rest of the shrubs trimmed and a part of an old sidewalk removed. This is what the landscaper accomplished in 5 hours.

Here's the "before" of the front of my home.

Here's the "before" of one end of my pool.








This is the hedge at the other end of the pool.








The north side yard looking towards the pool.








The north side yard looking towards the street.








Here's what used to be a garden. Now it's just weeds.








The crew arrives and starts ripping everything out in the front of the house. This guy is the owner of the business. Guess that's why he gets to play with all the very cool toys.






It was amazing how fast a backhoe can destroy the over 50 years old shrubs.







Everything is gone!








It filled up four trucks. Here's two of them.

















Boy, did those bushes need trimming!








I also had the old cement walkway removed. Most of it was destroyed when the cesspools were installed in the front yard, so it looked stupid with the cement walk and the rest being gray slate.





I couldn't believe how thick it was. Maybe 4 or 5 inches think!








Once they got everything cleared out, they raked it and then brought in a load of top soil.



















The old side walk is no more.








I've never seen this side yard so bright. It's amazing what cutting down those old trees did!







I can actually walk behind the diving board now. Speaking of diving board, I have to get a new one of those too. It was cracked last summer when a VERY big guy jumped up and down on it.






I can walk around that side of to pool too now.

















The place looks so naked now.

Looks a lot different!

Next they are going to power wash the house and send a mason over to redo my stoop. I'm having it covered with the slate that almost matches the roof of the house.

(To be continued!)

Anybody want to join us?

Lori had to work today. There was a big anniversary thing at the aquarium and working was mandatory for everyone. She also has to work tomorrow, the poor thing. I felt so bad that I'm making her a special dinner tonight.

• 2 lb lobsters
• Fresh local tomato, cucumber, green pepper & red onion salad
• Fresh local corn on the cob
• Oh, and gin & tonics. Lets not forget them!
  

The swimming pool is up to temp too. Since my son has to work until 7:30, the Nudist Rules are in effect with mandatory skinny dipping until then.

Anyone want to join us? Leave your bathing suits at home. :-D

OMG! A Miracle Happened Tonight!!!!!!

Let me explain.

This evening after work, Lori and her son came to my place so we could get a sofa for her and put it in my garage.

(FYI: Lori is trying to find a place near me, so is looking for furniture.)

We planned on eating Saugies (sp) for dinner (don't ask me what the fuck they are, ask Lori . They look like hot dogs to me, but I ain't from Rhode Island, so what do I know.)

Any way, I got the van from U Haul and we picked up the sofa and moved it to my garage. After we returned the van, we came back to my place for dinner. We cooked the Saugies.

Just so happens my son Brian got off of work and was home before I started cooking. Lori asked him if he wanted any. He said yes, he'd have one. When they were done, she told him they were ready and did he want to eat with us.

Okay, now here comes the miracle part.

He said YES!

HOLY CRAP!!!!!! HE SAID HE'D EAT WITH US? YOU SURE? YES, SHE SAID!

As Barry Manilow said...........................

Cause' its a miracle
A true blue spectacle
A miracle come true....................

HE'S NEVER EATEN WITH US BEFORE! HELL! HE DOESN'T EVEN EAT WITH ME!

I have to explain something. My son was not happy when I started dating after my wife passed away. He thought it was too soon. He like Lori, but just didn't want to accept my dating her. This is the first time he's ever sat down with us in the 15 months Lori and I have been seeing each other. Seriously, this really is the first time!!!!! You have no idea how happy I am.

Lori, her son Adam, my son Brian and me all sat around my dining room table and ate the Saugies (what ever the fuck they are) for dinner. We (mostly Lori and me) told stories and we all laughed and bitched about people for over three hours.

CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE IT? THREE FUCKING HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian even got up a few times and then came back to the table to chat some more. I was truly shocked. He's never wanted to associate with Lori's kids. Hell, he's never even sat down to dinner with Lori and me.

Do you think he's finally accepted that she is my love and accept that her and her kids will be part of our lives, forever.

Yes, forever!

Lori is my baby and I ain't giving her up no matter what!!!!!!!

What do you think?

The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy of Root Canal HNT

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in tooth 19 (Where?)
Down in tooth 19 (Where?)
Down in tooth 19
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in tooth 19 (Where?)
Down in tooth 19 to stay, but not for long

And I'm so un-happy
So very un-happy
I've got the love of my endodontist in my heart
And I'm so un-happy
So very un-happy
I've got the love of my endodontist in my heart

I've got the pain that passes understanding down in the depths of tooth 19...

I've got the wonderful love of my endodontist's dipping way down in the depths of tooth 19...

Well, if my regular dentist doesn't like his work, he can sit on a tack...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today was another appointment for root canal. This time it was for one of my favorite teeth, tooth 19. That's the one way, way, way back in your mouth on the bottom right side. As I sat in the waiting room waiting my turn to see the dentist, another man came in, checked in and sat down. The poor guy was a basket case. He never sat still for a second and was as fidgety as a hound dog with fleas. Less than five minutes later, he got up and told the receptionist he'd be back in a minute, then walked quickly out the door. I sat there reading my newspaper for at least 10 minutes and he never came back. I figured he made a break for it.

The assistant came and got me and showed me to the recliner in the torture chamber treatment room. I sat down and she placed the bib around my neck. "The doctor will be here in a few moments. Don't I look happy?

Soon the sadist dentist came in to start torturing treating me and my look immediately changed.

The first part wasn't so bad. Just that little stick with tasty stuff on it that is supposed to numb the gums so the needle doesn't hurt when he stabs give me the shots.

That wasn't so bad, but then I see the needle and my mouth locks shut!!!!! Nothing was going to make me open it, nothing!!!!!!!!!

Well, nothing except when he turned around and asked to open wide. No, wider! WIDER!!!!!!

Okay, lets get this torture over with. I opened wide and he gave me the shots.

I knew I was just being silly, because the last two times I had root canal I never felt a thing until the Novocaine wore off.

Now I just sat there and waited for the lower right half of my face to numb.

The Novocaine did it's job and about ten minutes later the sadist dentist came back in to start the torture work.

I couldn't see what he was doing, but soon the spot light was turned to brighten the view of my mouth. That could only mean one thing! The sadist dentist was going to start the torture work.

Next came that cute little rubber apron he so gently placed over tooth 19.

"Yes Doc! That's it! You pinched the gum ever so slightly. I was hoping you'd remember that part."

Then the real torture work began!

The sadist dentist starts drilling.

So far so good.

He pokes around for a moment.

I felt a slight something. Not really pain, just a little something.

He drills some more and that sent a shark sensation down into my jaw. Like a burning sensation. I winced.

He asks, "Did you feel that?"

I wanted to say, "WTF!!!! Why do you think I jumped you idiot?" But couldn't say anything with my mouth full of rubber, so I just shook my head.

He carefully probed and asked, "Can you feel this?"

I nodded my head in the affirmative.

He probed again and said, "But you don't feel this, do you?"

I nodded my head in the affirmative again.

He pulls out that needle again and starts stabbing in my mouth wildly give me a few more shots. These I didn't feel.

The sadist dentist continues torturing me working and finished up about 15 minutes later. He bids me ado and I run like a scared rabbit walk to the reception's desk to make another appointment to finish the tooth.

So here I sit at my computer as the Novocaine slowly wears off and the pain is just starting. If it's like the last time, tonight it will peak and I won't be able to sleep on my right side. Never knew a pillow could cause so much agony.

UN-HAPPY HNT!

If you enjoy theme park rides........

.... read this before the next time you go. You may decide to stay home instead.


THEME PARK RIDES ARE VERY SAFE, until they're not.
http://www.rideaccidents.com/

I INTERRUPT THIS BLOG FOR IMPORTANT ANNOUANCEMENT #342!

YOUR FACE IMMORTALIZED on STAMPS just like Elvis.

You can now buy real postage that you can really use to mail real letters that have your real picture on them.  This is especially good for mothers, grandmothers and just plain conceited people that want to show the world their pretty face or whatever else it is they want to show the world.

http://tinyurl.com/2yykzx

Credit: I got this link in an email, along with a lot of other cool links, from my boys Linky & Dinky!