Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Return of Flash

I am not sure how this will finally play out.  
Flash has gone home to the people that love him.  He was dealt a very raw deal by a gang of unscrupulous horse traders.  He was supposed to spend his days as a pasture pet.  He has a dropped hip and suspensory ligament damage.  But that didn't bother the folks, that sold him anyway, lied about it, flipped him, changed his name twice, and drugged him up and offered him for sale as 100% sound, made foxhunting and trail horse, and a superb jumper.   A jumper?  A horse with all those injuries?  And they knew it.  And did not care.
How can anyone do that to an innocent animal?  How could they put my wife's life in danger by these lies?  He was a beautiful, sweet, and intelligent horse, and did not deserve the shady deal he was put through.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Bonnie Prince Charlie

The last of the Stuarts. 

He landed in the Outer Hebrides in 1745 with seven followers, no arms, and no money.  Within two months he had driven the English out of Scotland.  
He was twenty-five years old.

Friday, July 13, 2012

TR

Picture taken about 2004 by my intern.  Trying to match Theodore Roosevelt's look.  Bully.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Shipmates

The picture is probably 1975.  I was just promoted to LTJG, and the USCGC UNIMAK is in the background.  A lot of adventures after graduation from the Coast Guard Academy in 1973, being taught it all by the legendary Bill Turek, who's untimely passing I still have trouble dealing with after almost twenty years.  While signing novels a couple of days ago, one of my shipmates, Dan Carney, walked in the door of the bookstore.  I hadn't seen Dan, who was OPS Officer at the time, for 37 years.  After five minutes of conversation, it was just like yesterday.  He was still the tall red headed LT, and I was the stumbling Ensign, fresh out of school, and learning my trade.  What a joy to find him so close.  Priceless.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Oslo -1970

To make us fit in better with the turmoil of the late 60's/early 70's, especially in Europe, we were issued a CGA blazer outfit as an alternative to going on liberty in uniform.  You can still see the seal on the left breast pocket.  I don't remember if this one survived the cadet cruise on the old USCGC Campbell, but I don't remember ever wearing it again after this summer.  The funny thing was seeing one of my more slender classmates still fitting into it some 40 years later.  This is one of the few pictures of me with my hair combed, and being a little long for the Academy.  I am sure it was gone back to normal whitewalls shortly.

Hunt at Yatten

It is too hot.  My mind is drifting back to cooler times of last winter, and watching the riders set off at Yatten, down by the Wicomico River.  A chill in the air, the fine ladies all showing red cheeks under their hunt caps.  The horses prancing and waiting for the Huntsman and hounds to lead them out.