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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 10, 2021 18:29:10 GMT -6
I probably won’t be getting much written tomorrow. Tomorrow, twenty years ago I, like millions of others, witnessed what happened in New York.
I was working at the U.S. Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, N.C. as a contractor teaching High Frequency Communications. Also located under the School’s umbrella is the Special Warfare Medical Group. The Medical Group trains the highly qualified Special Operations Medics for our Special Operations Forces. During that time, the medics had a working relationship with the New York City Fire Departments. Medics would be farmed out to work with the EMTs as part of their training.
When word got to Fort Bragg of the loss of life of fire department personnel, a team of EMT qualified personnel and three communications personnel, to include myself, were sent to New York to assist where they could. When we surveyed the site, is was clearly apparent it would be a recovery operation and not a rescue operation. We remained in New York the rest of the week to assist as necessary and went back to Fort Bragg the next weekend.
Every September 11th, I remember the countless lives lost then in New York and the dozens of men I had trained or knew, who died in the aftermath of 9/11 conducting the endless war on terrorism.
I Will Never Forget……
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Post by bluefox2 on Sept 10, 2021 19:31:22 GMT -6
I probably won’t be getting much written tomorrow. Tomorrow, twenty years ago I, like millions of others, witnessed what happened in New York.
I was working at the U.S. Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, N.C. as a contractor teaching High Frequency Communications. Also located under the School’s umbrella is the Special Warfare Medical Group. The Medical Group trains the highly qualified Special Operations Medics for our Special Operations Forces. During that time, the medics had a working relationship with the New York City Fire Departments. Medics would be farmed out to work with the EMTs as part of their training.
When word got to Fort Bragg of the loss of life of fire department personnel, a team of EMT qualified personnel and three communications personnel, to include myself, were sent to New York to assist where they could. When we surveyed the site, is was clearly apparent it would be a recovery operation and not a rescue operation. We remained in New York the rest of the week to assist as necessary and went back to Fort Bragg the next weekend.
Every September 11th, I remember the countless lives lost then in New York and the dozens of men I had trained or knew, who died in the aftermath of 9/11 conducting the endless war on terrorism.
I Will Never Forget……Take the time for this for it is important. We can wait and more than likely we will be doing the same thing.
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Post by udwe on Sept 10, 2021 20:28:18 GMT -6
Neither will I, take all the time you need.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 10, 2021 22:01:46 GMT -6
I can tell you exactly where I was when the video of the first plane hitting the Towers was played - classroom at a local university, one of the computer classes. Those videos were the primary topic of every class that had a session - until they decided to stop classes for the day.
I got home to find my better half had made an emergency run to the grocery store - bread, milk, eggs and some chips and chocolate: comfort food was at the top of many menus...
We all need to take time to reflect on that day and what a farce a couple of incompetents in the Oval Office have made of some of the legislation that came out of the event...
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Post by bluefox2 on Sept 11, 2021 7:42:13 GMT -6
I was a member of a local pd at the time. My shift was in training that week. someone came down from the Prosecutor's office and took the tv we were using for training videos. I remember that there was an immediate sense of urgency from us, followed by a huge surge of anger, then pride in how our fellow Americans stepped up to deal with things. My wife, who grew up on Long Island, could not get over the sight of so many people walking out of the city over the bridges. To this day I can not express how proud I am of my fellow military, police and our brothers and sisters in the Fire depts that dealt with this. Not to mention the common citizens who stepped up to take care of business.
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Post by paulk on Sept 11, 2021 8:28:30 GMT -6
Amen!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 17:15:15 GMT -6
The Spring Invitation (Cal refused to call it the Spring Solstice Party, it made him feel like a Druid) was a big success. Even several neighbor families, whose children attended the school, came. There were almost 200 people attending and everyone attending seem to have a great time. The woman made sure the men didn't gather too often to sample Darryl's "Squeezin's" and kept the activities moving. In the evening, many participated in the horse-drawn hayrides, with one of the guys playing a guitar and leading sing-a-longs on the hay wagon. At dusk, the musicians got out their instruments and many played, many danced and quite a few songs were sung. It was decided three individuals would be drawn from the Honor Barrel Dawn, Sylvio and Perry received accolades and free free dinners from Casey's for them and their families. It was the last days before the crowd would move into a busier season of ranching and farming.
Cal was looking over the Piper in Hangar #1 when an LM-100J landed. It was guided down to Hangar #6 and the ramp lowered. A trailer was off-loaded and Cal realized it was a cargo container trailer. The trailer was moved away from the ramp and the ramp raised to a level position. The bed of the trailer was raised to the level of the ramp and a container was moved onto the trailer and locking clamps activated. The trailer was connected to an EV and pulled away from the plane and the bed of the trailer lowered when it was clear. Cal walked down to the hangar as they started moving the container inside. The aircraft started its engines and moved to the runway, taking off without hesitation. Walking inside the hangar, Cal saw Bill talking to Brad Collins.
"What's this?" Cal asked.
"Wind Tunnel. We're trying to figure the optimum placement of the fuel cells on the plane. Weight and balance, you know." Bill grinned. "Come on in and look around."
"Some other time. I've got a lot to do today."
"Okay then, stop in anytime Dad."
Cal looked at his watch. The men were going to be plowing the wheat field today and he wanted to see how they were doing.
When he got to the field he saw two three horse teams using disc plows turning the soil and two teams coming behind them with disc harrows. Since the field was circular, it was one continuous circular route. Sylvio was at the side of the field with the field maintenance wagon with water for the horses.
"They are doing well, Sylvio."
"Yes, the horses are eager to work. However, I fear it is the rear ends of the men that will be getting the most workout today." Sylvio said, smiling."
Cal chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure. They haven't plowed for this long before. I'll see about some sort of cushions for the seats."
"If you wish, Margarita can sow them. All she requires are the materials."
Cal dialed the number for Level #3.
"Charlie? Margarita Becerra will be coming down to see you, looking for materials to make seat cushions for the farm equipment. Show her what we have and giver her two of those single memory foam mattress pads and sign her out a sewing machine. Okay. Thanks. Bye."
"Just have Margarita see Charlie and she can fix her up."
"Thank you Señor Cal. After today, I'm sure the men will appreciate it."
Becky walked into Bryan's office with a smile on her face.
She walked over to Bryan's desk and laid a folder in front of him.
"I think I have the formula right. I've run some short term tests and in comparison to the other hydrogen cells, this one outperforms all the other models we've done."
Bryan smiled and got out of his chair.
"That's great!. When do you start the long term tests?"
"Well, first I want to build an 84 kilogram battery. It won't be a conformal model for the aircraft project but we can scale it down for that project as needed."
"Sounds fine. Well, we've got people to do that, you just supervise and monitor. If you need ANYTHING, let us know."
"Okay Bryan. I'm going to take off early and air my brain out for a while."
"Sure, go ahead. I'll see you in the morning."
Becky took off her smock and pulled on her flight suit and changed her shoes. Grabbing her purse, She went out and got in her Tahoe and headed for the airfield. Parking by the hangar, she went inside to prepare her STOL for flight. Craig walked in as she was replacing the fuel cap.
"Hi!" She said and kissed him. "Want to go flying?"
"Can't. Arny is at the Doc's and I'm waiting for a fuel delivery, which is late."
Becky pouted. "I thought we might fly down to the reservoir and 'talk'."
Craig grinned. "Little chilly this afternoon for that, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I've got some frozen spaghetti sauce and a fresh loaf of French bread. Want to come over tonight for some spaghetti?"
Craig grinned. "I'll be there at 7:00."
Cliff watched as the last teams pulled up to the equipment shed and dropped their equipment off. The men took the horses into the barn and started stripping the harnesses off and hanging them up. After a good brushing the horses were put into their stalls to eat a bit of COB and drink water.
"How did it go today, Antonio?"
"Other than having a sore butt, it was restful. We will finish with the plowing before noon tomorrow and then we can begin planting the grain."
Cliff had been monitoring the care of the teams the men had worked. They did a good job. They wouldn't have a problem transitioning from tractors to horses if the time came. Now they had to work on cultivated crops next.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 17:16:52 GMT -6
Cal looked at the chair and twirled it around inspecting the sewing, Satisfied, he sat down and was please. It was more comfortable than the others he had owned in the past. The problem the fake leather they usually came in was just that,…fake, They'd last a few months before the fake leather wore through or the seams began to come apart. The chair wasn't expensive, but the frame and mechanisms lasted.
Siobhan fixed that.
She purchased a new chair and had an upholsterer completely remove the fake leather and replace the padding and cover with memory foam and soft, pliable tanned Elk hide. The HTR brand was burned into the headrest. Yes, this one just might last a few years.
Cal leaned back in the chair into a semi-reclining position and thought about what had been done to prepare his family and friends for bad times. If economic collapse came, life would be whisked, in a matter of weeks, back to the 1920's. If the government didn't have its act together, life could very well could be more like the 1800's…with more violence. There were too many people who had become leeches on the government and when not given what they deemed as their right to free money, food and housing, they became violent and destroyed, looted and injured anyone or anything that had what they wanted, with no compunction.
As long as he had a breath in his body, he would not let that happen here. He would make sure no one brought pain and destruction to his family's little part of the world without destruction being brought tenfold to the assailants.
It was time to bring Sylvio and his families into the security plans. Sylvio had become a reliable co-worker and leader on the HTR. In other times, he would be considered a Member of Council or one of the Lords of the Realm.
Squash that thought! To many were cracking jokes about him being King of the Realm or President! No, Sylvio was a Trusted Advisor, as was Kengo, Andy, Craig, Joshua, Casey, Rob, Dale and Cyn, and yes, even Siobhan.
He would talk to Sylvio and see if his men would be agreeable to weapons and security training.
Cal would talk to Andy.
Andy was overseeing the completion of the Range Complex renovations and upgrades. Because of the increase of requests for training classes, the work had to be done.
The shooting range now had more shooting areas for qualification, tactical, and long-range applications. The qualification shooting range had 14 lanes with target stands and concrete post yardage markers out to 25 yards. On the 100-yard mark, there was now 75 feet of shade covering 3 cast concrete ambidextrous shooting benches. A staging area had been built with picnic tables for staging gear, seating, or eating. An open 100-yard tactical shooting range had been built that could accommodate vehicles, barricades, or steel targets. A 300-yard range had been added to the long-range shooting area with shooting positions. A building had been added, equipped with HVAC, workbenches, and supplies for cleaning and gunsmithing. Lights, including infrared and infrared spotlights, had been added for night shoots and could be dimmed on demand. Extra power circuits and 110 outlets on site were added along with water points and porta-potties. Twenty-four-inch target stands are in place and could accommodate 1x2, 2x2, or 2x4 frames.
Cal walked up to Andy, who had just finished talking to a Contractor.
"Got a minute, Andy?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Andy, what do you think about bringing Sylvio's people into the Security Plan?"
"It's past time. They are and will be an important part of this community, but there may come a time when they will have the drop the plow handles and pick up their kit."
"I agree. I'll talk to Sylvio."
Two days later, Cal had a chance to get Sylvio to the side.
"Sylvio, do you have some time to come with me?"
"Sí Señor Cal, of course."
Cal took him to the Shelter first.
"Sylvio we live in uncertain times. At any time things could go from bad to worse in the snap of a finger. I have tried to prepare our community to be able to face calamities with little to no bother. One of the first things I did was prepare shelter for the people from natural and manmade disasters."
Cal revealed the keypad for an outside access door into the Shelter. After punching in the code, Cal led Sylvio into the darkened corridor. The lights immediately illuminated the passageway. Cal led him first to the living quarters area.
"Sylvio, every family, including yours, has a place to shelter here in case of disaster. There is a cooking and eating area, we have food for years….all the amenities for us to survive for years. We could go completely underground for months or years if necessary. We brought you here for your farming abilities, and you have become a valued and important sector of this community. But there will come times when we have to turn from our plows and to our weapons to protect that which we have. I don't believe I have to tell you what will happen when the criminal elements have the upper hand. We all have seen it on the television over the last two or three years. Riots, looting, rape, murder….these are things that can happen to us here. They will think that because we are relatively isolated, we will be weak. We have faced such criminal elements before and came out victorious. We have a duty to protect our families and property to ensure our survival and the futures of our children."
Sylvio turned to Cal.
"I understand what you are doing here Señor Cal. I and the men working with me are proud of what we do here as members of this great estancia. What more can we do to assist you?"
"Sylvio, would you and your men be willing to undergo weapons and tactical training to become part of our security reaction forces?"
"But of course! However, I can only speak for myself. I will have to talk to the men."
"I understand and appreciate your help. Please let me know the men's answer."
"Of course. I will talk to them today."
Cal walked out with him and Sylvio returned to the farming area.
"A friend messaged me. There's a delivery tonight at the airfield." Andy said.
Cal nodded. Another one of Gillum's gifts he supposed.
"I'll have Gary up there."
At 2120 that night a large aircraft landed sans aircraft or runway lights.
"What the hell is that?" Andy asked.
"The sound isn't familiar, but it sounds like a four engine turboprop."
The aircraft stopped short and turned onto the taxiway. The pilot never turned on any landing lights so Cal and Andy stayed well clear of it. When the engines shut down, the ramp lowered and only red light could be seen. The loadmaster came out.
"This HTR?"
"Yes." Andy answered.
"I've got three pallets of 'training ammunition' listed for here."
Andy signed the cargo manifest and the loadmaster started to get back on board.
"What kind of plane is this?" Andy asked.
"A400M Atlas." The loadmaster answered.
The loadmaster leveled the ramp and Gary moved over and picked up the first pallet. After setting it down near the hangar, did the same with the other two before coming back with three empty pallets and cargo nets and straps. The ramp closed and the pilot started the engines, The men watched the aircraft taxi to the runway threshold and revved the engines. The plane shot down the runway and lifted quickly into the air.
"Garry, go ahead and take the ammo down. When you've got an inventory of it, send Andy and I a copy."
"Roger that, Cal."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 17:17:50 GMT -6
"I don't know Cal. The two Sterling threshers seem to be in working condition but I won't know until we run wheat through them."
"What about the binders"
"Well, all four work. I towed them with a ToolCat out to one of the hayfields and bound hay to test them out. Are you going to use them this fall?"
"Might as well do the whole harvest with the threshers and binders. It'll give us some insight on what it all entails."
"If I can get this ten-horse combine restored, it will save us a lot of work. Hopefully we can get it finished before harvest."
What about the corn sheller and corn pickers?"
"The two one-row pickers are ready and we've completed the sheller. All we have to do is hook up a hit-and-miss and shell the corn right into the auger hopper at the silo and it's done."
"What about twine and burlap bags for the grain?" Joshua asked.
I'll stock up on them, but I want you to see if you can devise some type of chute that we can run from the bag filler to fill a grain trailer. It would be a lot easier to fill from a grain trailer than emptying bags of grain individually into the auger hopper at the silo."
Cal called Charlie and had her order 1000 30 x 45 inch burlap bags and 500 rolls of sisal baling twine. Cal would be long dead of old age before they ran out.
"Andy, that mono-brow Commander up at Lakewood is pitchin' a bitch about the Intel Center putting out intel before he has a chance to report his information to the Center. He's being scooped every time." Dave said.
Andy leaned back in his chair and grinned. "That's because Jeannie and Patty take turns combing his files…have been since we found out he'll withhold information until it's advantageous to him. Let him bitch. It puts him behind the eight ball and draws attention to himself. Anything new at the Center?"
"They're starting to pick up more noise lately of human trafficking for sex."
"Keep an ear on that. Whose next on the roster?"
"It's Astrid's time in the barrel starting tomorrow."
"Make sure she's briefed."
"Roger."
Gale got out of the EV and walked over to the apartment patio when she saw Chase sitting there.
"Did you hear? An Islamic terrorist detonated a bomb in Copley Square in Boston!"
Chase raised his eyebrows, cocked his head to the side, and continued chewing on the toothpick in his mouth.
"I'm not surprised."
"What do you mean, you're not surprised?"
"Gale, our politicians and left wing State Department have been funding and coddling those guys for years. The CIA fund them when it's to their advantage and feign surprise when those same people commit acts against Americans.
The Palestinians have sponsored terror organizations for years and despite this, the U.S., joined by the U.N., the European Union and nations, Arab states, the World Bank, and other international organizations never stopped sending billions of dollars to the Palestinians who killed Americans and continue their terrorism against Israel.
In May of 2011, after the radical Muslim Brotherhood won the Egyptian election, President Obummer stated that the participation of Egypt's 'religious' parties would create 'the best foundation for lasting stability in Egypt… democratic political order.' Obummer promised $1 billion to support Egypt's democratic revolution.
Gale, the Muslim Brotherhood's creed is anything but democratic. They, like the Taliban, and the Mullahs in Iran, rule by enforcing sharia. Despite the growing opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood's government oppression of civil rights and devastation of the country's economy, the U.S. seemed determined to assist the Brotherhood. In 2013, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Morsi in Egypt and gifted him $250 million in U.S. aid, and an additional $250 million for 'climate projects' from the World Bank.
They do that crap to gain geopolitical prestige. It isn't to safeguard America, it's to safeguard their political careers and international standing.
You mark my words, the Administration that finally decides to yank our troops out of Afghanistan will find a far different reaction than we had in Viet Nam. The Vietnamese didn't keep on attacking us. The camel humpers will. They'll keep trying to draw blood until they are satisfied. And the radical Muslims will never be satisfied.
I wouldn't hesitate one moment to put a round through the running lights of any boy-loving, goat humping follower of a murdering fake prophet, but to be surprised that they have again attacked Americans? No, I'm not surprised at all."
"What can be done?" Gale asked weakly.
"What do you do when you see a cockroach?"
"I kill it." Gale answered.
"Why?"
"Because they are disgusting, they carry disease."
"When a group of people whose sole goal in life is to cause misery and destruction on others not genuflecting to their beliefs and whose only redeeming quality is to breath out carbon dioxide for plants to absorb and release oxygen, then we can do without the carbon dioxide."
"That seems so fatalistic."
"Fatalistic? Yes, but birthed deeply in reality. The reason we didn't 'win' in Viet Nam and won't win in Afghanistan is because politicians don't have the stomach to fight a war, a total war, to the finish. They'll put in little red lines you can't cross, rules of engagement that get our own people killed and still give millions and billions to countries that support the guys you're fighting. The War On Terrorism will never be over until every mutton-eating, sister killing son has turned to dust, or radioactive ashes.
You hungry?"
"Well, I was getting there until we started talking." Gale said
"Okay we'll change the subject. I have a bottle of Chianti chilling, plus I made a pasta salad and was going to make BLTs. That sound all right?"
Gale grinned. "That's sounds like it would hit the spot!"
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 17:19:07 GMT -6
Cal walked into the house and hung his hat up. He rolled up his sleeves and headed to the kitchen to get an Ale when he saw Siobhan standing there at the breakfast bar with tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong!" Cal said, startled.
Siobhan shook her head and took Cal's hand and led him into Amy's art room. There on the easel was a picture of one of the grey Shire Mares down by the lake. The mare was kneeling on its right knee and its left leg extended forward . Little Brigid had her arms wrapped around the horse's nose, hugging, with her gleeful face turned toward them. It was so life-like.
"Cal, Becky uploaded a picture of this to Twitter and so far there has been over a million likes and hundreds of people are asking who painted it."
"What is Tweeter?" Cal asked.
"It's 'Twitter' and it is a social networking site on the internet."
"And I assume a 'like' means they like it?"
"Yes."
"Isn't Tweeter one of those media things that shuts down free speech?"
"Well, yes but…"
"Listen Siobhan, I'm all for Amy's paintings and drawings getting exposure, but this company curtails free speech. Why don't I have Jeannie or Patty set her up a website where she can post her pictures without supporting this 'Tweeter'?"
"That's fine."
Cal called Jeannie.
"Jeannie, how are you at developing websites?"
"Do you have to ask? What do you need?"
"I'd like you to develop a website for Amy to display her paintings and drawings. Becky uploaded a painting to Tweeter and I don't want her using them because of their anti-free speech stand."
"Uh…that's 'Twitter', and I'll get right on it.
Becky stopped by that evening and Cal talked to her about the posting of the picture.
"Becky, I'd appreciate it if you didn't post any more of Amy's pictures on Tweeter."
"Daddy, it's 'Twitter', and what's the problem?"
"They are anti-First Amendment and probably anti everything else I believe in. Jeannie is setting up Amy her own website to post paintings and drawings on."
"Okay Daddy, I've been thinking about canceling my account for the same reasons. I just thought it was a way for her to post her innocuous pictures there that had no political content."
"It is good exposure, but she can get just as much exposure on a website. Jeannie will make sure of that."
"Great. Amy deserves recognition."
"One other thing. People will want to know about Amy, so will you help her write up a Bio that doesn't give out her location any closer than the state she lives in? Also, make sure the location and date/ time stamps are turned off on her camera and phone."
"Whoa! You're getting creepy now! I can understand the location stamp, but date/time?"
"Becky, let's say she took a picture of a landscape with shadows. Knowing the date and time, any analyzing the terrain, you could run that information through some of the more sophisticated GIS and topographical programs, and your location could be determined. Ask Jeannie, she's done it before."
"Okay Daddy, I'll go do it now."
Siobhan looked at Cal. "You're kind of stretching security out, aren't you?"
"Not when it comes to the safety of my family."
Sylvio, Andrés, Manuel, Antonia and Cliff were the first members of the security training. It was more or less a 'Train-the-Trainer' course on weapon familiarization. After they were sufficiently trained, they would assist Andy and Jim in teaching the rest of the men. Tonight they would be working with the disassembly, assembly and maintenance of the Springfield Armory 1911A1 semi-auto pistol and the Colt M4 SOCOM rifle. They would work for three nights and take a hands-on test before moving to the range for both day and night qualifications.
Jeannie went to Cal's house to show Amy and Cal the website she had set up. They went to Amy's computer, Siobhan was close behind. Jeannie had Amy log in and go to the website she had designed "Amy's World."
When the site popped up, the background looked like the local area.
"Before you get your gander up Cal, that photo was taken down in the Navajo Nation, but it does look like the area around here, doesn't it?"
Jeannie showed Amy how to upload photos of her paintings and sketches to a photo album on the site. On the first page of the site was a frame that rotated and displayed, for 15 seconds, pictures in her photo album. There was a space for Amy's bio and a comments area.
"Now Amy, never display pictures of you or your family on here. There are a lot of bad people out there who would try to take advantage of them. Never mention your age either for the same reason. If you see something in the comments section that disturbs you, call me and I'll fry their computer."
Amy looked up at Jeannie, "You could really do that?"
Jeannie shrugged. "I could and would."
Amy scanned a photo of her painting of Brigid and the kneeling horse and before Amy could upload the picture, Jeannie stopped her.
"Amy do you name your pictures?"
"Some of them."
"Did you name the picture of Brigid?"
"No."
"Well, what would you name the picture?"
Amy closed her eyes and thought.
"A Child's Love."
Jeannie installed a photo editing program and showed Amy how to pick a font and font color and put the name of the picture at the base of the photograph. Amy did and uploaded the photo the site.
When she refreshed the screen the photo was in the framed display area.
"Now, double click on the photo, Amy.
The photo displayed in full-screen mode. Another click refreshed the screen to normal viewing.
"That's all there is too it!"
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 17:20:50 GMT -6
Cal drove down to look at the building site for the new apartments. It was coming along well. The septic system was in and Barry was there with the electricians wiring in the power house for the battery bank. Cal saw the concrete bases for the solar powered perimeter lighting were curing. As fast as Sam's crews worked, It wouldn't be long before they would be able to furnish the apartments…which gave him an idea. Cal scrolled his contacts list and found the number.
"Cheyenne? Cal Coleman."
"Hello Cal! What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'm soon to have a 6-unit apartment building ready to furnish and I'll need some help furnishing it. But there's a catch."
"What is that?"
"Well, the occupants have already been selected and I'll need you to coordinate with them on the furnishings."
That shouldn't be a problem. Where can they get together with me?"
"Casey's"
"Okay, would 2:00 tomorrow be okay?"
"That would be fine. Thanks Cheyenne."
"No problem Cal."
Cal grinned. "Turn it over to the women and I'll get fewer heartaches."
Cal went down to Casey's and called her outside.
"Casey, get all the girls together here tomorrow at 2:00 to meet with the designer to pick out furniture for the apartments. Save me some money and try to get the same things a much as possible."
Casey laughed. "Now that will be a trick, but I'll do what I can."
Cal scooted out of there as quick as he could and drove to the horse barn.
Becky went by to see Siobhan after work. Siobhan was in the kitchen and was just putting the meatloaf in the oven when Becky walked in. Becky took down a glass and poured a glass of iced tea and sat down at the breakfast bar.
"Momma, did Grandma Martha ever mention to you about the 'Spell'?"
Siobhan wiped her hands on a towel and sat down on a stool.
"Well, she did say something a couple of times about this land drawing people together. Why?"
"She told me once that I would meet my true love on this Ranch. The land would direct my heart to my one true love. Momma, what if it wasn't Pat? What if all that happen was just Pat's Fate? What if…"
"…your one true love is really Craig?" Siobhan finished.
"Yeah." Becky said weakly. "I loved Pat, but with Craig, it seems even more…fulfilling….different."
"Well Honey, your heart will tell you what to do, and if Grandma Martha was right, this land will too."
Cal donned a pair of electronic earmuffs and walked out to just behind the firing line. Jim and Andy were walking the line, making shooting position corrections and giving advice. The shot groups were looking good. Each guy looked like they had been doing this for years. Cal turned away and dropped his earmuffs back at the range shed and headed for Joshua's forge.
Cal walked into the forge seeing Joshua dipping a hot something into the water to cool it. Ben and Odell were sandblasting the combine frame out under the overhang.
"Hey Cal!." Joshua called out. "I had to make a new sprocket for the combine."
Looks factory done." Cal said.
"Well, I hope it lasts. I tempered it so it should work. What's on your mind?"
"Too much to talk about right now. How's everything here?"
"Well, it looks like we just might have this combine ready for the oat harvest."
"That's good. You figured out how this thing works then?"
"Oh yeah. We'll have this thing going."
"Okay, I'll see you later."
Cal slowly drove down to the horse barn and saw the horses were out in the paddock grazing. He drove on by and went down to the wheat field and got out. He could the slightest green sheen across the field of the wheat beginning to sprout. The other fields had been planted with corn, barley and hemp. They too were beginning to sprout. Cal reached down and grabbed a handful of moist soil and let it filter through is hand. Yep, it was getting richer each season.
Driving back up to the horse barn, Cliff was whistling the horses in and shutting them in their stalls. Cliff looked out as he was shutting a stall door and waved at Cal. Cal waved back and drove on to the house. Going into his study, he sat down in his chair and turned on the computer. Clicking on the link to Amy's website, he clicked on the pictures to see what all she had put in her album. He saw one he hadn't seen before. It was him sitting on a Palomino with the buttstock of his 1893 Winchester resting on his right thigh. He didn't even, or ever had, owned a Palomino. That girl had a vivid imagination. He scrolled on through the pictures until he came to one that gave him chills. It was a view of the Ranch from the top of the mesa, with billowing white clouds in the sky. The faint images of Joshua and Martha were cuddled within those clouds.
They were watching over the Ranch.
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Post by cavsgt on Sept 11, 2021 19:36:08 GMT -6
Thank You for this posting. After today it is a very welcome end to a very sad day.
Phill
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 11, 2021 19:50:35 GMT -6
Thank You for this posting. After today it is a very welcome end to a very sad day. Phill I didn't think I would be writing much today but I finally had to shut the TV and radio off and go to another place...
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Post by misterjimbo on Sept 11, 2021 20:56:13 GMT -6
Yes, Thanks! I'd rather be reading this than watching anything else.
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Post by paulk on Sept 11, 2021 21:14:46 GMT -6
Thank you.
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Post by udwe on Sept 11, 2021 21:19:45 GMT -6
Love, love this latest segment!
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Post by gipsy on Sept 11, 2021 21:40:26 GMT -6
Fine updates for sure
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 11, 2021 22:50:45 GMT -6
Thank You for this posting. After today it is a very welcome end to a very sad day. Phill I didn't think I would be writing much today but I finally had to shut the TV and radio off and go to another place...Me too. Too much TV in a just a few minutes and I needed some quiet so I was off to read.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 12, 2021 17:25:30 GMT -6
Becky looked at the 12.5 millimeter black rod and turned it over in her hand. Everything looked uniform. She needed a strength test. Walking over to a counter she lit a Bunsen burner and stuck the rod into the intense flame and held it there for 30 seconds. Turning the burner off she carefully felt the rod, starting from the base and going to the tip. No heat. Standing there and looking at the rod, that little light bulb went off above her head. She took the rod and left the lab.
Becky entered the shelter and made her way to the armory.
"Good, Del is here." She thought.
Becky tapped lightly on the door jamb. "Del?"
"Oh! High Becky. What can I do for you?"
Becky handed dell the rod. "Dell, can you turn some bullets out of this and fire them?"
Del took the rod from her and examined it.
"Yeah, I could, but the material this is made out of is so light there is no telling where it would go when fired."
"I don't need it to go far. I just need it to exceed 1000 feet per second."
"Come over here." Del directed.
"This is a device I designed to fire and test cartridges from different lengths of barrel. This should work. Do you need any particular caliber?"
"Not really, at least not at this time. The velocity just needs to exceed 1000 fps. I need to look at the bullet after it has been fired. What is your capture medium?"
On this? I'll probably use a gel block. Do you want before and after weights of the bullet?"
"Please."
"Okay. I'll do as you ask and call you when I have my results."
Becky returned to the lab to do some more tests on the material. If her simple tests worked out, she could move to the next step.
"I want to have a cook-out Saturday." Siobhan told Cal.
"Okay."
"I want to invite Billy and Gabby, Becky and Craig, Helen and James and Mary and Jim."
"Fine. What's the occasion?"
"It's 'Siobhan Wants To Have A Cook-Out Day'."
Cal chuckled. "Oka-a-a-y. What do we feed them?
"The kids will want burgers and dogs and fries. Can you make those marinated Elk steaks?"
"Sure."
"Great. I'll fix Brussel sprouts with bacon, and roasted garlic red potatoes."
"Well, in that case, I'll go pull the steaks out of the freezer now and let the thaw in the big fridge in the Shelter kitchen."
As Cal made his way to one of the freezers in the Shelter, Siobhan's mention of potatoes made Cal think of the potatoes they had planted with the horse-drawn potato planter. It worked very well. Ellen and her people had planted the ¼ acre of potatoes by hand in the past. They enjoyed watching the contraption do their work for them in no time.
Cal pulled out the steaks, beef patties and hotdogs out of the freezer and placed them in the fridge.
Cal had asked Ellen to get and plant some Moon and Stars watermelon seeds. They weren't known around here. He had eaten them as a boy and it was the sweetest watermelon he had ever eaten. She had started the seeds and planted four hills of them.
Cal's thoughts were broken when his radio buzzed.
"Cal, can you come down to the Forge?"
"On the way,"
Cal pulled up in the EV to see a a gleaming McCormick-Deering combine sitting outside the forge. Grinning, Cal got out of the EV and walked over, admiring the restoration.
"It's done." Joshua said.
"You three did a great job. Nice paint job."
Joshua grinned. "Yeah, and we still have 60 gallons of John Deere green and 50 of the yellow."
I'll tell Cliff to bring a team up tomorrow and take it down to the equipment barn. We'll do the oats with the binders and threshers so they learn how to use them but we'll use the combine on the wheat. Do we have anything we can recover the straw with?"
"Oh yeah. We have the hay rakes and the hay presses."
"Becky? Del. I'm getting ready to these those bullets. Do you want to observe?"
"I'll be right there."
Becky watched as Del fired 5 bullets into the gelatin block, replacing the block each time and allowing the firing device barrel to cool down. After cutting the bullets out of the gelatin blocks, they weighed them. Practically no mass was loss except for what the lands had carved out. The bullets were not deformed even after being subjected to such pressures.
"Good. Thanks Del. This helps a lot."
Becky went back to the lab and took her formula notes out of the safe. Looking the formula over, she thought of her next step in the process. She decided to make a square box with an open end to slide the mold out. Becky mixed the polymers together and poured them in the holding tank of the 3-D printer. Setting the printer up for a mesh pattern, Becky started the printer. It would take about ten minutes to print out the mesh sheet.
When the printer had finished printing, she took out the square board with the mesh printed on it and placed it in her homemade “curing oven” and set the timer for 10 seconds. The timer chimed and she too the mesh sheet out… it was flexible, like silicone. Taking a cardboard box she draped the sheet over it and started trimming the seams and pinching them together. Looking at her work over, she was satisfied, and placed the mesh covered box back into the oven for a minute and fifteen seconds. When the box was cured, she took it out and removed the cardboard mold and checked each seam to make sure none had come apart.
"Here goes nothing." She thought
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 12, 2021 17:26:49 GMT -6
Becky placed the box on the floor and stood on it. It didn't give. She turned the box on its side and stood on it again. It didn't give or bend. She got a sledge out of a tool closet and hit the box as hard as she could. Nothing.
Becky leaned against table and stared at the box. It was going to be up to the others to do work out a body mold and manufacturing process.
She took the box down to Bryan's office and placed it on his desk in front him.
"Here is my prototype airframe polymer."
Bryan picked the mesh box and examined it.
"Why the box shape?"
"I wanted to do my initial lab test. Stand on it."
Bryan moved from behind the desk and sat the box on the floor. He gingerly stepped up on the box.
"Bounce up and down."
Bryan bounced on the box and the mesh box didn't give.
"You'll have to come with me to answer questions." Bryan said.
"I'm ready."
Bryan drove the EV34 while Becky sat in the passenger seat holding the mesh box. They entered the maintenance bay and drove down the corridor to the T&E entrance. Entering the office, they went right up to up to Bill, handing him the mesh box.
"I don't need another waste basket."
"Billy, this is constructed of a new polymer. Lay it on its side on the floor and stand on it." Becky said.
Bill stood on the mesh box and it held his 210 pound weight with no problem.
"I thought you might use it for airframe construction." Becky said.
Burke and Ted came over and handled the box. "It's very light weight." Burke said. "What is the tensile strength?"
"I have to way of testing that." Becky said.
"And you made this?" Bill asked.
"Yes. I came up with the polymer, but the secret is in the curing process. When I take it partially through the curing process, the polymer becomes flexible, like silicon. You can shape the mesh material around your desired mold shape and when it's cured, it maintains that shape."
"This could have some interesting applications." Billy said. "Thanks Becky. This may take our designs in a different direction."
"If we give you some dimensions, can you make some parts for us to do some testing on?" Burke asked.
"Of course. Just email me over the SecNET and we can get started."
On the way back to the lab, Bryan asked Becky if she had enough ingredients to make her magic "soup."
"Yes, but if they do decide to use it for airframe components, we'll need to order a lot more."
"I'll be ordering a lot of it anyway. It works for the hydrogen cell, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Plus it will make the cell a third lighter."
"We're going to need a bigger printer and oven."
"Cal I found you a steam shovel! A Bucyrus Erie." Ben said excitedly.
Cal smiled. "Where did you find it?"
"It's at a family owned coal mine near Mountain Grove, Missouri. The mine has been closed down since the 40's and the owner's grandson said the old equipment building is on its last legs."
"You going to do this on your own?" Cal asked.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd go with me." Ben said, sheepishly.
"No problem. Do you have any idea what they are asking for it?"
"He mentioned $75,000, but he said that reluctantly, like he was afraid he was asking too much. He would probably take less in gold."
"Okay, set us up a date to meet. I'll have to look at the flight time. Go ahead and get us rooms and a rental vehicle. We may be there two or three days."
"Okay, Cal."
Becky and Craig ate carry-out from Casey's that night at Craig's apartment. They made small talk while eating and leisurely ate their meal. After throwing their trash away and wiping down the table, they took their wine into the small living area and sat on the couch, or at least Becky did. Craig got on one knee and pulled a little grey box out of his pocket. Becky froze and stared as his other hand reached up to open the ring box.
"STOP!" Becky shouted as she grabbed his hands. "Not here!"
She got up off the couch and pulled Craig out the door and jumped into the EV34. When a bewildered Craig had gotten seated, she took off toward the maintenance bay, but went past to one of the outer access doors. Parking, she located the keypad, punched in a code and entered the corridor. She led him down the corridor and turned left until they stopped in front of an elevator door. Punching the 'Up' button the doors quickly opened and they got on and rode to the top of the mesa where they were met by stars and quiet. Becky led Craig over to a bench that overlooked the Ranch with the twinkling lights in the cabins almost matching the stars. Becky sat down on the bench and took a deep breath. Looking over the Ranch, she tilted her head back and was brushed by a gentle breeze that moved her hair as it caressed her face.
She knew it was right. The Land wanted them together.
"Ask me now."
Craig went to one knee. "Becky, you have stolen my heart and given me a life and feelings I never thought I would ever have. My life would never be complete without you. Will you be my Wife?"
"YES!"
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 12, 2021 17:28:29 GMT -6
Cal, Randall Jones will meet us on Thursday morning. I've got rooms for us at the Royal Inn & Suites and a rental vehicle will be waiting for us Wednesday afternoon."
"Good. Mountain is only about three hour flight. We'll leave here at noon on Wednesday. Hopefully, we'll be back by the weekend. Do you have a date this weekend?"
Ben grinned shyly. "Naw, not many girls around here."
"Well what about Tanya, down at the restaurant. She's about you age and just moved into the new apartments down there."
"She wouldn't want to go out with me.."
"Well, you never know until you ask her."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Keep your eyes peeled. There is no Control Tower at this field. I don't see anything on radar, but crop dusters operate out of this field also."
"Okay." Ben answered.
Cal touched down and taxied to the grass parking area.
"Ben, go see about the rental vehicle and I'll start tying the plane down."
"Okay Cal."
Cal got out the aircraft tie-down kit and began driving the stakes in the ground. Ben was soon back and pulled the Ford Escape over and loaded the bags. They headed away from the airport to go into town.
"Here's where we need to eat tonight. It's supposed to have the best food in town." Ben said, pointing to a restaurant sitting back away from the road.
"Well, let's go check in and we'll come back out at 6:00."
Cal drove the eight miles out to the Jones' place using Ben as his navigator. When they pulled in, two Beagles stood on the porch barking at them. An elderly man came out of the house as Cal and Ben got out of the vehicle.
"Mr Jones?" Cal asked.
"Yessir, I am."
"Mr. Jones, I'm Cal Coleman and this is my assistant, Ben Cross."
"Pleased to meet ya'll. I guess you'll be wanting to see that old Shovel?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, come on this way."
Mr. Jones led them down an old farm road that wove amongst cedar and persimmon threes. They walked for about 10 minutes and finally came to a group of old buildings. Mr. Jones headed for the largest one. Undoing a latch, Cal and Ben helped to push the big door open. Sitting inside was ,indeed, a steam shovel, dusty but it looked in pretty good condition. There was surface rust over parts of it but paint showed through over most of the cab. Cal got closer and could see the name "Erie" stenciled on the boom. Cal knew that sometime after 1927 the Erie Company had merged with the Bucyrus Company into one company, so this was a Bucyrus-Erie probably built around 1927.Not looked like it was lock up with rust so they should be able to tow it out to remove the boom and load everything on a low-bed heavy equipment hauler.
"It doesn't look too bad." Cal said.
"I remember when they shut everything down and parked that old shovel in here. I was just a boy. They drained the boiler and greased everything and just close the doors. I don't think those doors have been opened a half dozen times in the last 65 years."
"Why did they close the mine?"
""Coal seam was running out and the bigger companies had bigger and better equipment. My Grandpa made a heap of money from that coal. Hell, I'm still spending some of it. Anyways, they got out while the getting' was good."
"And you're asking how much for the shovel?"
"Well, I was thinking around $75,000."
Cal looked at the shovel, then down at the ground, then back up to Mr. Jones."
"Well, best I can I can do is around $56,000, in U.S. Gold Eagles."
"Gold?"
"Yessir. I've got 30 1-ounce Gold Eagles in my vehicle. Thirty Gold Eagles actually comes out about $56,550, but you can keep the change."
Mr. Jones looked at the old steam shovel for a minute.
"Well, I guess you just bought yourself a steam shovel." Holding his hand out to Cal.
Can smiled and shook his hand.
"You might as well take all those tools hanging on the walls too. They were only used to work on that shovel.
Cal and Ben ran around looking for a trucking company that could haul the steam shovel to Colorado. They found one and a crane company also.
"Ben, I think we should be here when they come to haul this thing away. Lets set every thing up for pick up next Wednesday. That way we can come back and get that boom and stick detached. We need to buy some penetrating oil and spray all the nuts on the boom and stick so maybe they'll be easier to get off.
"Sounds reasonable to me, Cal. Also, we need to bring Odell and a cheater bar back with us." Ben said, grinning.
Cal looked at Ben. "Truthfully? That is a good idea."
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Post by gipsy on Sept 12, 2021 18:56:44 GMT -6
Thanks for the update. Need to build more cabins.
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Post by freebirde on Sept 12, 2021 20:06:00 GMT -6
Hope they get some penetrating oil and spray them before they leave to give it extra time to work.
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Post by paulk on Sept 13, 2021 10:18:25 GMT -6
Thanks again. You do excellent character development. I feel I really know these people and want them to do well. More please.
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Post by iamnobody on Sept 13, 2021 11:44:21 GMT -6
I like the new font size
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