Comments for Travels with Kate the Luddite Wife -- The Italian Iteration

Travels with Kate the Luddite Wife -- The Italian Iteration

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:57:17 -0600

Okay, after several mind-numbingly boring days of thumb-twiddling in Kuwait, I finally snuck onto caught a ride on a C-17 as the adult supervision tour guide to [an OPSEC'ed number of troops] from [an OPSEC'ed unit] up to Kirkuk. And I figure I’d better get this AAR out of the way before somebody starts the rumor that, after two weeks of eating Italian food, I’m now John’s size. And, considering all meals in Italy consist of at least five courses, I actually did put on some weight -- since my hair grew about a quarter-inch, I figger I gained at...

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-03

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:01:10 -0600

BILL IS A GUNNER!!!!

Was. 1968 to 1975. And I can *still* eyeball a 10-digit grid as accurately as a GPS.

Hah! Cricket has been hanging around the comment parties at lolcats!

Comment from Cricket on 2008-10-03

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:02:07 -0600

You iz back? Must tell scrupl's and the Precious. Sounds like a reality based show. I can just see it now. Sorreez abowt uniformz. Thay r packed by lolcat contracurs. Srsly.

Comment from AFSister on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:08:13 -0600

Three letters for ya, Twin.
G
P
S

It'll tell you where you are, how to get where you're going, and they come with a really annoying female voice that tells you where to go.
It's just like KtLW, come to think of it! A KtLW with iron boogers, that is.

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:31:33 -0600

BILL IS A GUNNER!!!!

Cheers

Comment from Justthisguy on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:32:53 -0600

Better that, than Beth, the Lyddite wife! (Unless you're JoA) Those of us who have read here for a while are well aware of the heat and light generated when Beth gets her fulmination and fulguration, and detonation on.

Comment from Pogue on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:27:17 -0600

Getting there... Switching back & forth from the R44 (low inertia) to the R22 (no inertia) makes it interesting. I'm at about 325 hours now, so I'm no longer a tyro, just woefully inexperienced. :-)

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:51:17 -0600

Still got that knack for understated irony, don'tcha, Pogue?

Tamed the mighty R-44 yet?

Comment from Pogue on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:45:26 -0600

For newbies, there is one other thing this post makes crystal clear. KtLW does *not* read blogs.

I was wondering if Bill was safely back in Iraq...

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:54:50 -0600

I gather that KtLW is related to BillT.

Yup. Wife by marriage...

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:52:31 -0600

Who wonder what festival is connected with the red, yellow, and green decorative lights they see at every intersection ...

You must've been in Rome or Milan. Lights in the other cities are such a novelty, everyone stops to admire them for a few minutes -- even the green ones -- before resuming speed.

But if you run across a red light in a village with only one street, *stop* -- because that means there's a good chance there's an oxcart coming the other way. Relax and enjoy -- the light will turn green just as the oxcart rounds the streetcorner directly in front of you. Oh, yeah -- the streets have hairpin turns, too..

Comment from bad cat robot on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:36:09 -0600

Ah, Italian drivers. Who wonder what festival is connected with the red, yellow, and green decorative lights they see at every intersection ... I was once in a car driven by an Italian. Once. My GA "counseled" me quite loudly and at length and I'm not to do it again.

Comment from The Thomas on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:21:28 -0600

I gather that KtLW is related to BillT.

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:01:07 -0600

Nah. KtLW's Caucasian.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:59:06 -0600

For newbies, there is one other thing this post makes crystal clear. KtLW does *not* read blogs. Or understand Google.

Else, she'd be a rich widow. Well, widow, anyway. A black widow.

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:58:38 -0600

"John's size" was in reference to the area immediately behind the waistband, not below it -- I have enough trouble standing upright as it is.

Somehow, I *knew* Brab would be the first one to latch on to the " 'round the bend" comment...

* * * * * * * * * * *

Yay! Just got my Offishul Company Uniforms --

The good news is, the cargo pants are the right color. The bad news is, they're the wrong size. I asked for 34/32 and got 36/34 -- I'm gonna look like Stan Burrell in his heyday.

The good news is, the shirts are the right color. The bad news is, they sent short-sleeve polos instead of long-sleeve work shirts.

The good news is, the flight suits are the right size. The bad news is, they're the wrong color. They were s'posed to be USAF Desert Sand and they're the same ol' US Army Sage Green I've got six sets of in the footlocker at home.

*sigh*

At least the zippers are 27" long. Wouldn't be able to wear 'em in mixed company if they were only 26.5" in length (see first sentence)...

Comment from Argent on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:06:56 -0600

A good read as always.

Comment from Barb on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:06:49 -0600

You went 'round the bend a long time ago, Sugar Buttons. That's how you ended up at the Castle, innit?

As to Nav skills, let's just say that the Hubster loves to tell the tales of me directing him while watching my laptop map program, and let it go at that, m'kay?

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:56:08 -0600

I am now John's size.

Dude. KtLW will appreciate that...

Comment from Maggie on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:52:10 -0600

Welcome back baby. I missed you too.

Comment from BillT on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:20:43 -0600

Reload and try again.

*vaulting over the blast wall*

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2008-10-02

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:16:22 -0600

Missed you!