Shout out to all MKs

[BuoyJumper]

I know you'll do better the next time although being in the middle of the pack isn't bad for your first shot at it.  There's always some apprehension about taking the servicewide for the first time.  You're now in one of my favorite parts of the country.  My father's 51-foot boat was built in Kennebunkport.  I have been throughout the Maine coast.  Portland, Rockland, Biddeford Pool, Booth Bay Harbor, Wells, Moody, it's so very pretty in that part of the country.  Winters can be a little rough but you'll adjust pretty quick, you've been in the cold before when you were on the MELLON. 

[cuttercoasty]

It certainly is pretty up here.  And this bright ball of orange in the sky is causing my skin to turn red!!   I havent seen the sun like this in years!  I havent had a tan in like 5 years.
I have seen a pretty nasty winter in Port Clarence Alaska a few years back.... Bering Sea patrols on Mellon were always fun too.  I live a few blocks from the cutter, so winter here isnt going to be a huge deal other then buying oil for the furnace.  I am going to pick up an electric heater in a few months, since electricity is cheaper then the fuel. 


As for being middle of the pack on that service wide..... Certainly true!  better to be middle of the pack then last of the pack.  But someone has to be last...

[BuoyJumper]

Haven't seen you Dad around here in who knows how long?  Hope he is doing well.  Is he out traveling the coutry in the pick-up and travel trailer or has the fuel prices kept him at home this summer?  It would be nice if he could haul the rig to ME for a vacation and a visit.  I pulled a camper all over Maine besides boating the entire coastline.   

[cuttercoasty]

He hasnt been online a whole lot lately.  As far as I know he is working tons of overtime because they cant get enough Deputies.  Every time I talk to him, it was another long busy day.
He mentioned that he wants to take the RV out here and visit, but I think my mom has other plans... like flying out here first class. 

When I transfered out here, I went to their house, and stayed for a weekend.. by Sunday night, mom decided she was going to drive to Boston with me and take a plane home.  So, the next morning, we started our drive out to Boston and got there about 4 pm on thursday.  I covered 3200 miles in about 4 days and I drove ever bit of it.  She was my talkative passenger.  Handled the money for the Toll Booths and screaming at me while we got lost in Chicago... OMG that was funny she was freaking out because the GPS system kept having me get off the major highway and get onto a smaller one.. well, the traffic there is nuts and I kept getting pushed off to side streets.  She was screaming "dont stop!" at all the stop signs and traffic signals on the side streets.  I thought it was a bit amusing.  I can understand her fear though.  The places we would end up where not exactly the nicest part of town.  And she kept reminding me that they got lost doing the exact same thing 25 years ago in the same part of town... only she didnt tell me that till we were through Chicago.

But overall it was a good trip. 
When I got done with all this traveling the CG has sent me on over the last few months, I called to tell them that I am not flying home..... they would have to come see me.
I spent over 12k on traveling and lodging expenses between March and June!  Nothing about this transfer was cheap.

I could only imagine placing somehwere above the MKC cut that I would end up getting transfered next summer.  So takeing the SWE was good, but a blessing that I am not going to make it.  I would like to keep my average for transfers in a normal range instead of this 1 year here, 1 there, two here, one there and three and so on.  Transfering is a pain in the butt..... I know plenty of people who have homesteaded and I have mixed feelings about that... I am jealous of them, and I am angry at them for it because the CG allowed them to do so...    But overall, I think it makes me a better Coastie then if I hadnt. 

[MastersMate]

Getting ready to pull the plug for the night, but,

Once upon a ....... nah this is no ****z.

The Oasis was a CG watering hole just to the right of the stoplight as you come into downtown Rockland. Although I was not there at this occurance, semi reliable sources report that when CWO "Capn Billy" was retiring off Yankton, down in South Portland. Some of the crew decided that the painting on the wall should be presented to her Captain. They showed up at the Oasis, with chainsaw in hand, touched her off and cut the painting out of the wall. Paid the bartender and back down to Portland.

There is a MKCS retired that lives/lived just off Route 1 in Thomaston. His house always had very nice birch deer statues out in the front yard. Had a flagpole and flew the US ensign, CG flag and the Nantucket Republic flag.

Anyway , more than a few times, he'd awake to find the deer statues repositioned into some fairly erotic poses on the front lawn.  While working out here in the NW, ran into a retired coastie electrician who confessed that it was him and others on the ANT, would swing through Thomaston late at night, stop and rearrange Bills deer.. Kept him pizzed for years, trying to figure who did it.

Enjoy Downeast, and remember that AYUH, is in the positive, not the stuff you breathe.

Good night.

[BuoyJumper]

12k on traveling and lodging expenses between March and June ......... OUCH!  That had to hurt.  My wife is from the Chicago area and there are many places around Chi-town I have learned to skirt when I'm in that neck of the woods.  Glad to hear your Dad is just too busy to say hi once in a while.  I don't mean to be rude April, because I am enjoying getting caught up with you but I'm going to have to get off the computer.  My youngest daughter is in from San Antonio and has a friend of hers, an Army E6 recruiter here for a visit and I've already been AWOL from the conversation too long.  She's giving me the "eye" if you know what I mean.

Don't be a stranger and check back in again soon, love to hear from you.

Ron  

[EX-CG-GM]

April,

Go back a page on this thread and look at Masters Mates sig line.  The two ribbons I am talking about are the ones in the bottom row, the two on the left and center.

[cuttercoasty]

  gotcha... I am waiting for a reply back from them.... Hope to have an answer sometime this week.

[EX-CG-GM]

Bless your heart!   

[VT903M]

I worked for the Master Chief on the HAMILTON in the early 80s in main prop as a FA
They brought him in to fix the Engineering DEPT cuz it was messed up
FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS MASTER CHIEF
FA ROACHIE

[vftb]

Welcome aboard Stewart, glad to have you    Thanks for posting 

[VT903M]

QUESTION
How do you get that those cutters and ribbons and patches
at the bottom of your post thats cool

[vftb]

Buoyjumper is our resident sigline artist.  Buy him a beer over at the Porpoise Club and he may help you out 

[BuoyJumper]

QUESTION
How do you get that those cutters and ribbons and patches
at the bottom of your post thats cool

Hi Stewart ... welcome aboard.  The SigLine inserts (that's what they're called) are all done by me.  It's just a matter of letting me know what you would like to have in your SigLine Insert.  Check out Buoy's SigLine Shack for some examples ......... Ron