Persistence Pays Off

Today, after a many a long year of pestering Connie every time a Jos. A. Bank commercial came on TV, I became a customer of Joseph A. Bank.  Several weeks ago, Connie bought me a few shirts from them on-line that, unfortunately, were not the right size.  So we returned them today to the store on Highland Avenue, right here in Augusta.  Walked out with three brand new shirts that fit.  Almost makes me feel like going to work on Monday!

A New Beginning

My life has taken yet another turn.  Effective yesterday, October 25th, I became a Department of the Army civilian employee.  Essentially, I will be doing the same thing I've been doing for the past three years, writing doctrine.  But instead of being in the employ of a contractor--RLM Communications, Inc. for the past year--I will be working for Uncle Sam.  Again.  Should be an adventure.

Why Are We Still Doing This?

So, the Army is sending me to this professional development class to learn about the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System and the Acquisition Life Cycle.  Inspired by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the JCIDS is how the US military plans for and fields new capabilities.  I learned today that it takes about five years from concept to fielded capability, and that this is an improvement over the previous system.  The acquisition thing is a creature of Congress and the military bureaucracies.  Improvement, I'm betting, is not even in its lexicon.

Back in August, I heard General Pete Chiarelli, the Army's Vice Chief of Staff lament the fact that our enemies can field their capabilities a lot faster than we can.  The enemy doesn't have to abide by so many bureaucratic rules.  He doesn't have to worry about environmental policies or ensuring that minority contractors are treated fairly.  Our five year cycle is only three to him.

Now, tell me again why these two quick wars, Afghanistan and Iraq,are still not won going on ten years now?

I Had Dinner with a Very Nice Lady in Asheville, NC

CMH Staring Down the Paparazzi

My bestie.

I Don't Know What I Missed and Neither Do They!

One Disappointed Customer

It's advertised as "the best dang barbeque in these here parts," Farm Boy's Barbeque. Unfortunately, I cannot vouch for that. At least not yet.

You see, ol' Farm Boy's is only open on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.  And yours truly picked Sunday and Monday to pass through those parts, that is, through Columbia, South Carolina on Interstate 26 at Exit #91.

On Sunday, my first pass through, when I was really in a hurry, I figured they were just the kind of folks that don't like to run a business on the Lord's Day.  But on Monday's return trip, when I found the parking lot totally empty once again, I got out and checked their hours of operation.  And what I discovered was that they are actually the kind of folks that don't like to run their business on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays, either.

So I'll have to wait until another adventure takes me through those parts before I can verify if what they serve is, indeed, the best dang BBQ around.  I'm thinking that it probably is, because there's an acute care clinic just a block down the road from it!

Good Thinking Music

From the Soundtrack to the movie, Gods and Generals, sung by Mary Fahl



They say there's a place
where dreams have all gone
They never said where
but I think I know
It's miles through the night
just over the dawn
on the road that will take me home

I know in my bones
I've been here before
The ground feels the same
though the land's been torn
I've a long way to go
The stars tell me so
on this road that will take me home

Love waits for me 'round the bend
Leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows shall find their end
and all our troubles will be gone
And I'll know what I've lost
and all that I've won
when the road finally takes me home

And when I pass by
don't lead me astray
Don't try to stop me
Don't stand in my way
I'm bound for the hills
where cool waters flow
on this road that will take me home

Love waits for me 'round the bend
Leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows shall find their end
and all our troubles will be gone
And we'll know what we've lost
and all that we've won
when the road finally takes me home

I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home

Leonard Slatkin Conducts the BBC Orchestra on September 15, 2001

To me, September 11 is not just a single day to remember and then forget until the next year, like one's birthday, or Columbus Day.  Nor is it a day to just remember what happened, awful as it was.  We should think about that day much more often.  And we should also think about what is still happening.  Because September 11, 2001 was not the start of a conflict.  Neither were the wars that followed it a conclusion.

Ryder Cup

OK, now. We got 'em right where we want 'em!

The 2010 Ryder Cup - The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales

King Archelaeus and Me

While getting a haircut this morning, and trying to ignore the barber's good natured, but tiresome chatter, it occurred to me that something I once read had bearing upon the situation.

Way back in the 5th Century, BC, a king named Archelaeus, of Macedonia, needed a trim.  His barber, talkative like the rest of his profession, asked the king how he would like his hair cut. "In silence," replied the king.

No telling what kind of a haircut I'd have got if I'd tried that one this morning.