Shawn and I were going through the old photos, and we found this gem:
That’s me and Shawn on the Cunard Princess (or Princess 2, I can’t remember, it was 23 years ago), which during the first Gulf War was docked in Bahrain and used as an R&R destination for soldiers for a while during the conflict. Shawn and I scored a three day pass and were helicoptered there and spent a couple drunken nights and days. When we got there, we had to buy civilian clothing from the ship store because all we had were our BDU’s (and we both felt naked without our LBE and personal weapons- it was like a running joke that we would make the other one drink when someone accidentally reached to check on their firearm- “DRINK MOTHERFUCKER, I SAW THAT!” Fucking sensitive items checks will make you nuts.) and wore the same outfits for three days. We just washed them in the sink every night and then ironed them in our little galley.
We would take a shuttle to this little outdoor pool that had a bar inside the pool, and spent the whole couple of days hanging out with a couple CWO chopper pilots and Navy officer flyboys. It was heaven, even though Bahrain has like 200% humidity.
On the helicopter flight back home, we all puked repeatedly, and when we landed in Kuwait City, Shawn and I had to go to the med tent and get multiple IV’s because we were so dehydrated and it was like 0% humidity in Kuwait.
Good times. I would do anything to be 21 and doing it again. At times it sucked hard, but god damned these were some of the best times of my life. I was just so lucky I was in when I was in, and I didn’t have to go through what guys have been going through since 2003.
And yes, I was drinking scotch.
Little Boots
sweet.
I have serious questions to ask, but you don’t like me. can I ask them anyway?
Omnes Omnibus
Ironed? While on a three day pass?
Being 21 again, no. Thirty? Maybe.
John Cole
It’s not that I dislike you. I dislike being riddled. Try one comment at a time and gauge the reaction.
Little Boots
and incidentally, will you ever stop monitoring me?
Little Boots
@John Cole:
okay, do you think that this blog, and most blogs, suffer from groupthink?
Amir Khalid
@Little Boots:
No. So say all of us.
Omnes Omnibus
@Amir Khalid: Gabba gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus: Was going to say the same thing. Ironed? You are your father’s son.
Little Boots
@Amir Khalid:
least somebody has a sense of humor.
but I do seriously wonder about this stuff.
we do not need our own bubble.
Mnemosyne
@Omnes Omnibus:
It’s funny, I always hear it in that scene as “gooble gobble,” but it’s pretty common for people on the East Coast to say they hear “gabba gabba.” I don’t get it.
Mnemosyne
What the heck am I in moderation for? Has FYWP decided that hyperlinks are one to a customer again?
Omnes Omnibus
@Violet: Now, I will admit that I got very good at ironing while I was in the army, but, almost on principle, I did not iron any civilian clothes ever.
Violet
@Mnemosyne: Is there a restricted word in your link?
Little Boots
omnes, chime in any time. people actually listen to you, even though I’m always right, and you, well, sometimes.
? Martin
And now we have Formula 1 races in Bahrain while people protest the Saudi puppet government.
Shawn’s got a pretty cool friend. I like him.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, that’s the thing. Guys on a three-day bender in a climate like a sauna and they iron their clothes? That’s odd.
Omnes Omnibus
@Violet: The dude mops while naked. I am not sure that ordinary behavioral rules come into play. OTOH, I guy I knew in OCS ironed his underwear and tucked his t-shirt into his boxers. He was an MP.
ETA: He was also married to a German woman who he later divorced for sleeping with just about everyone. (Not me though.)
? Martin
@Violet:
Depends. Were there any girls around? If so, I’d have ironed my clothes as well.
Little Boots
I think I might have an answer, but John, you didn’t. what do you think?
Mnemosyne
@Violet:
It’s a YouTube link. That sometimes makes FWYP choke.
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: If there were, they would have been female soldiers on a weekend pass as well. Ironing wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
I dunno, maybe I’m just in a mood, but I think we need to think about our own bubble. but maybe we don’t.
? Martin
@Omnes Omnibus: Sure it would. Guys would outnumber the girls 10:1. The girls would have their pick. An iron might make all the difference.
Mnemosyne
The thing you need to know about this series of tweets is that Dolores and Harry are both characters made up by Franklin Habit.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: People do have lives outside of this place. They read other things. They talk to other people. Hell, I was reading the Green Bay Press Gazette earlier; the Packers re-signed John Kuhn for another year.
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: Early 90s. Grunge. Irons bad. Just saying.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
the who signed the what?
yes, I know, but sometimes I get obsessive.
so I’m totally right about the bubble, right?
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots:
It probably depends on the person.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
it probably does.
but just say I’m right. it’s always the best bet.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots:
Na Ga Na Hap Pen.
Little Boots
no music?
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: I already posted some. Step off.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
stubborn.
oh, post something awesome.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: What do you mean about reading other things besides Balloon Juice? What are you, some kinda of Commie?
? Martin
@Omnes Omnibus: Hey, Cole and I are the same age. While he was having that photo taken, I was finishing up college. A friend of mine from Austria hooked up with the hottest girls. At first I blamed his accent, but he told me he always dressed better than everyone else and that I should try it. So I did. And it worked. It worked really, really well, in fact. And that was 1991.
Omnes Omnibus
@BillinGlendaleCA: Not enough news about the Packer free agency around these parts.
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
he has gone a-whoring after strange blogs.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
would you post a good song, now?
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: Packer? Wuts that?
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
see. everyone loves you. so tell them I’m right. problem solved.
Omnes Omnibus
@? Martin: A few years older than you, but I was running around Europe in my unpressed clothes – it worked for me. I dressed well. I just didn’t iron every-fucking-thing. To be fair, I was and am a fan of Brooks Brothers no iron 100% cotton shirts.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C53QAuOoSgc
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: The slut thread is below.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: Here.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
oh, omnes, so rude.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
well, finally.
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA: @Omnes Omnibus:
well, finally.
see, that is beautiful.
Little Boots
so, monkees. I want to do monkees:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: I see you Monkees and raise you another Badfinger!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kojWZ5USS3c
Steeplejack
Haven’t heard this in a long time, but Badfinger reminded me of it. (Not very similar, just same time frame.)
Omnes Omnibus
FWIW I hate my cold. I can’t sleep because I cough when I lie down. I am croaking rather than talking. And any ride I try to take on my bike is painful because I can’t take a deep breath.
Mnemosyne
@Omnes Omnibus:
Do you have a neti pot? If it’s similar to the cold I had this winter, just getting all of the excess crap out of your sinuses will go a long way.
Though I tried to talk one of my friends at work into using a neti pot for his clogged sinuses, and as soon as I said the words “water up your nose,” he was like, I’m out.
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
nice. really nice., you are awesome.
Steeplejack
Dwight Twilley, “I’m on Fire.”
Steeplejack
Argent, “Liar.”
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
uh, huh.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: Neil Diamond wrote that song.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: This was written by Mike Nesmith.
@Mnemosyne: I refuse to waterboard myself.
Steeplejack
The Zombies, “Leave Me Be.”
Steeplejack
Sugarloaf, “Green-Eyed Lady.”
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
well,that is nice.
and you know I just like to pick on you, right?
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: I’m sure some folks from the previous administration would be more than happy to accommodate you with waterboarding.
Anoniminous
Aaron Copland: Quiet City
Rearranged for brass ensemble, Wynton Marsalis on trumpet.
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
damn, you are aawsome. you know you’re awesome, right?
Omnes Omnibus
@BillinGlendaleCA: Quite so.
Steeplejack
Unit 4 + 2, “Concrete and Clay.”
muricafukyea
Hey Cole. I was thinking of heading down there for a visit since I have never been there. How about I just stay at your place for a few months. Oh also I would like to borrow your new Subaru. I tend to drive those things into fields btw but I know that is not a problem with you either.
See ya soon.
Little Boots
I love steeplejack, so much.
Steeplejack
Dion, “Abraham, Martin and John.” A good performance from the Smothers Brothers’ TV show.
I’m slightly surprised there was not more notice taken of the anniversary Friday.
BillinGlendaleCA
In memory of George:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddz6GT8810w
Omnes Omnibus
@Anoniminous: I couple years ago, I saw the youngest Marsalis (Jason?)brother sitting in on drums at Preservation Hall. The fascinating thing was that he wasn’t familar with a couple of the songs that the oldsters wanted to play; they talked to him – said “it’s a 6:8 with a knd of hard thing on the cymbals” The dude would go “Something like this?” The old dudes would say “Not quite more bass and lighter on the snare” And then he would just nail it. Talented family, with a shitload of knowledge.
Steeplejack
The Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Oh, Happy Day.”
BillinGlendaleCA
@Steeplejack: I remembered it when my wife told me about the vet appointment today. Also Rev Al did a segment at the end of his show.
Little Boots
can everyone come upsatairs, especially omnes.
Omnes Omnibus
@Steeplejack: My dad’s b-day. He turned 25 the day of the assassination.
Steeplejack
The Undisputed Truth, “Smiling Faces Sometimes.”
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: Now I’m hurt, Boots.
John PM
I know what you are saying. I just did a 20-year improv reunion show, then had 3 Macalan’s afterward. I would not wish to be 21 again, but there were definitely some good times. And yes, I am typing this very slowly
Omnes Omnibus
As we have been doing late ’60s, there is this.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
You and steeplejack are terrible people, and I love you both.
I make bad choices,based on music.
bastards!
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
post bad music.
I’ll come around.
NotMax
Hm. Drinking left-handed.
Omnes Omnibus
@NotMax: On my rugby team, one always drank left handed. Shots were involved if one didn’t.
mai naem
I figured he was ironing his clothes because he was trying to dry it with the iron. I’ve done that with damp clothes when I’ve been totally desperate and short of time.
Omnes Omnibus
@mai naem: I figure he wanted creases. I may be wrong. It has happened before.
Cermet
To be 21 again and in college; those were the days! At least I realized at the time they were some of the very best days of my life in so many ways! Also, how lucky I was not to have to worry about money, then (damn that was sooo fucking nice! I only wish most people had that luxury!)
Things were finally clicking academically, socially and the world was good, then for the most part! Family and friends and good times just were a daily thing – no worries or real concerns.
One can never go back but those are what make life good (at least if one has health and enough money both then and now – otherwise it sucks and I realize the importance of having and still those two!) While I nearly lost the former a few years ago and it is a daily fight to maintain it (luckily, my research has found work-a-rounds for all my illnesses – so far!); still, it is nice winning that battle (for now, at least – forget the fucking future; death meets us all sooner or later. So, enjoy today!)
So today, the sun is out, its spring, some critical projects are moving forward (to hell if they fail; that is the future and who knows? Maybe some will fall into place!) and my daughter is doing well at MIT and I feel well. It is all good!
I hope some of you out there who are struggling get better news and things start falling into place for you.
Cain
Bah, I’m not sure.. I didn’t really drink a lot in my 20s. Hell I drink more now than I did then. I just don’t get drunk. Secondly, I physically look better now than I did in my 20s. I also looked like I was in my teenage years for a lot of my 20s. Now I;’m in my mid 40s and I look like I’m in my late 30s.
So I would like to continue being what I am right now. If I think hard, I think I might like to be in my late 30s again. But the 20s ? nah. I’m good.
also, stop fucking reminiscing and live in the now. Your best years aren’t necessary behind you just because you are in your 40s. I think I’m one year older than you. If you live your life in a shell, dont’ go anywhere, hang out at home and so forth, things are going to feel a little closed in. You and Sean should go out, and adventure. You have some companionship now! (and some dog sluts too)
Fred Fnord
@Omnes Omnibus: That’s what session drummers do.
Mnemosyne
@Cain:
I’m with you. In college, I was fat, clinically depressed, and barely hung on until graduation. I graduated in the middle of a recession and used my degree for a series of minimum-wage retail jobs. I didn’t really get things straightened out until I was almost 30.
So, no, I’d really prefer not to go back to the “good ol’ days,” thankyewverymuchly.