Comments for An anniversary to remember

An anniversary to remember

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:19:29 -0600

Yesterday was SWWBO and I's 12th anniversary. I've now gone double my previous record of six years. And, oddly enough, I've been married to SWWBO for as many years as I was married to both other place-holders (apparently intended to keep me off the board until SWWBO was ready). That also means there's some mileage on this chassis. And there have been mods to it, that like any army vehicle, means this chassis has gained weight over it's service life. Snerk. At least that's *my* story. So, the point being that I'm not... young any more.I may be old, but,...

Comment from Cricket on 2010-01-12

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:20:00 -0600

Aww...that's romantic and definitely a good story. Memo to yourself; keep a scarf, boots and wool socks in your truck, along with a hat and a decent coat JIC.

The Engineer keeps a couple of blankets in each car, along with emergency food rations and water, a first aid kit and jump cables. The emergency food rations are not MREs but things like granola bars, dry soup mix and dried fruit and a couple of gallons of water.

Now, was SWWBO glad to see you or what!

Comment from LaMigra on 2010-01-11

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:32:30 -0600

Well, happy anniversary, and hope you "larned y' lesson"! Don't try that agin!

Comment from Maggie on 2010-01-10

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:12:13 -0600

Aren't you wonderful!

Happy Anniversary to a great couple!

Comment from Justthisguy on 2010-01-10

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:34:56 -0600

Hey, Bill, quit pickin on us 29" inseam guys! We make better rasslers, cause we're close to the ground like Antaeus! And we have much more room behind the seat in the F-150 in which to store winter emergency equipment! Uh, whoops.

Comment from BillT on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:04:35 -0600

... but thankfully not AR600-9.

You're just too short for your weight -- isn't there a paragraph covering sudden loss of three feet of height?

Comment from Justthisguy on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:30:36 -0600

So, when you finally got there, did she yell at you, or kiss you, or both? Yah, I know the answer is obvious.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:23:26 -0600

Saker - could be, as long as that means no one in the boxes were uncovered...

Comment from Russ on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:12:04 -0600

Bill's angel must of called in reinforcements for you.

Happy Anniversary.

Comment from Saker on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:06:10 -0600

Best wishes, and may you always survive your moments of stubborn, sir!

Comment from Sgt. B. on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:09:56 -0600

I'm just gonna sit here and LOOK at you with arched eyebrows and an expectant look on my face...

Then again, for the right woman...

Glad that you are all right, Boss... Happy Anniversary to you and SWWBO!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:53:15 -0600

Well, I object to "former Army officer." My commission is still in effect, and I'm still subject to the UCMJ... but thankfully not AR600-9.

Comment from BillT on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:16:09 -0600

Soo glad that you finally completed the trudge to the Castle... Enjoy those frozen 'rita's.

I would've opted for Irish coffee -- then crawled into the cup to thaw out.

"This former Army officer is retired and legally disabled, but he laughs at blizzards."

Had the perfect snark for that, but since you had the uncommonly good sense to marry Beth, I'll forego it. Happy Anniversary, both of yez!

Comment from Casey on 2010-01-09

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:47:33 -0600

John, for some reason I expected you to bellow "WOLVERINES!" once you got home. {/whimsy}

Come to think of it, this would be good fodder for a GWOT psyops campaign:

"This former Army officer is retired and legally disabled, but he laughs at blizzards.

Just think of what the young bucks will do to you..."

FEAR the Army soldier.

Alternatively (with returning whimsy): John Donovan; army of one and a half!

Comment from bad cat robot on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:21:40 -0600

To soothe the savage ego, consider the well-stocked emergency bag could also be used to render aid to lesser mortals stuck in ditches and freezing to death. The purely minor coincidence that you could also make use of such a thing can be loftily ignored.

And speaking of loft, a number of desperate retailers are offering down jackets that can be compressed into a small pocket, for less than $100 if I recall. If Gerbil Worming continues on its endothermic trend, people in glacier country might want to have one in the car for emergencies.

And Happy Mutual Capture Day!

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:08:05 -0600

All the best to you and yours this anniversery. Real glad you made it!!

Comment from Fishmugger on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:05:44 -0600

Congrats on the anniversary.

Have you sent a letter to GM to do Silverado commercials? Not getting an F-150 through the snow is a sure fire bet to get you a spot.

What happened to all that Army training? I thought we learned stuff in Korea and the Bulge. And...where was Buffy with the life saving booze? She's smarter then she looks.

Comment from threadbndr on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:38:12 -0600

Holy cow, sir - If I was your wife, you'd get more than a talking to!

Beef up your emergency bag!

Trust me on this one SWWBO does NOT want to be a widow - frankly, it bites.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:53:23 -0600

Turns out my neighbor did it too - at midnight. He only had half as far to go, however, and is a younger fella.

Comment from Greta on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:14:12 -0600

I barely made it up that road on horseback or with the ATV. You have my undying repsect John for trudging your way home to the most wonderful woman in the world!

Comment from olga on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:10:06 -0600

I guess, my double tap means the interweb tubes gremlins want to emphasize HOW very luck SWWBO is :o)

Comment from fdcol63 on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:00:29 -0600

Congratulations, John & Beth. Best wishes for many more!

Comment from olga on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:21:24 -0600

I am glad you made it through that "little" forced march. I would add only one thing to what others has already written: SWWBO is a VERY lucky woman to have you.

Comment from Chuck on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:51:39 -0600

1. Next time, call me. I can at least borrow you a sled.
2. Even if I can't help, I can laugh at you.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:40:59 -0600

But Baaaaaaarb, I just proved I could *do* it....

Comment from Barb on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:36:09 -0600

Having driven that road (on clear, warm days), I could picture every bit of your progress. I'm glad you made it.
For the record, you do not get to borrow lives from the Interior Guard, so my advice is not to try that stunt again!

Comment from FbL on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:33:33 -0600

Congrats! I echo USMC Steve's comment about there being a bit of Marine in you... ;)

And KCSteve's last line is sadly (for you) true.

But I have no doubt you were suitably rewarded for your heroic efforts. :D

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:32:17 -0600

Thomas and Steve - I did say I would have relieved myself (in the military sense) did I not?

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:28:24 -0600

Snerk! I'm going to leave that spam (after neutering the link)...

More info about the right way to exercise?

Don't.do.what.I.do.

I just tested my cardiologists finding that my heart was fine. If I was going to blow out a gasket, yesterday would have done it.

Comment from KCSteve on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:24:35 -0600

John,

Add me to the list wondering why your vehicle was insufficiently equipped. True, I don't have snowshoes in mine but I live in town so I'm highly unlikely to face snow deep enough to really need them.

Besides, I don't technically have any. We've got some for the ever-indulgent wife though - should see if I can get her to finally try them out in the back yard. I do have that new camera she keep wanting me to use... Very hard to find any snowshoes (let alone in my size) around here.

In a case like yours I would probably have taken my small snowshovel out of my car and used it as sled for the supplies. Or used the tarp or one of the bags, depending on weight. Just need something I can use some of the cordage to get to slide along behind me.

Still, you demonstrated the core of the guy ideal - true goals will be reached, circumstances be darned! Although the journey there may be filled with (semi) private considerations of the wisdom of our approach. But as you said, it helps pass the time.

Oh - one minor issue though: you've now set the bar for what should not stop you from a proper Anniversary Celebration.

Comment from USMC Steve on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:23:30 -0600

That is so stubborn and stupid that you could mistaken for a Marine doing stuff like that.

Comment from abdominal fat loss on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:57:26 -0600

Hola,

Came across this blog a few days ago and I admit that I have recieved some great points already.

I was just wonderin if you could post some more info about the right way to exercise.

Comment from Ky Woman on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:55:07 -0600

Soo glad that you finally completed the trudge to the Castle... Enjoy those frozen 'rita's.

Happy Anniversary to you both!

Comment from prestonious on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:48:39 -0600

Well congrats to you both. I hope you got the beating you deserved.

Comment from The Thomas on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:36:50 -0600

Heh, I carry tent/sleeping bag/cook stuff, winter boots and other stuff in the trunk, and I only live in Mee-She-Gan.

Once it gets cold (temps regularly below 30 degrees) I wear my winter coat with pockets holding my balaclava for skiing, turtle fur neck cover (in place of scarf), good gloves, navy watch cap (heh, I'm balding), and flashlight (whether I use all of them that day, or not).

So, where is your winter bug-out bag?

Comment from JamesLee on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:33:58 -0600

John, you have a rough few days! I think I would have made the same choice, though, were it myself and MrsJamesLee's anniversary. Luckily, ours is in May.

Congrats.

Comment from John (Not The Armorer) on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:29:00 -0600

Amazed you could type all that with frozen fingers and frostbit beard.

You are olde enough to quit doing stoopid stuff now. Old guys don't have to prove anything every time. You could have cheated the Obamacare people out of years of future grief dealing with you.

Still, a fun read...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:28:28 -0600

Yeah, success!

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2010-01-08

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:22:25 -0600

There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity...

Glad you're ok. Happy anniversary!!!