So you think you can dance

The pressures of operating in a deployed status are unfathomable to the citizen who has never served. The stressors lead to lifelong friendships and fellowship. Today over a lunch of leftover homemade spaghetti and meatballs the discussion turned to the greatest dancers ever. If you are as stiff as Britney at the video awards, watch this and start stretching.

So you think you can dance? Be prepared to be amazed. This is better each time I see it.

September 11th, 2007

I have the good fortune to lead over 15,000 active duty Sailors and Marines who serve their Navy, Marine Corps and their Nation with honor. They do this voluntarily and a majority have taken their oath following September 11th 2001.

"I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith allegiance to the same. I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and all officers appointed over me in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or purpose of evasion and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God."

I thank each of you for taking the oath. I thank our families and friends for without your support we could not do this mission.

God bless America. We will never forget.

For another thought on 9/11 please read the comment to this earlier blog entry.

I like this photo

I like this shot so much I decided to "blog" it. To me it represents the success of Courtney by graduating from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. The success of my family, which is 30 days away from reaching 30 years of being The Hall's. Finally I just like how cute my daughter and wife are.

I'm a lucky guy period dot

The Game for Life

There is perhaps no greater pleasure than spending five hours on the links. But of course it doesn't get any better than spending that time with three generations from the same family. Playing with your sons who are now men is indescribable. With a Garry and Sam in one cart and Garry and Sam in another the outcome was predetermined. Garry and Sam walked away the winners.

If I could only wrap up like Sam!

Sam, Sam (Popo) and Garry

The Hall boys, Sam, Garry and Garry.

Brothers take aim at the Dads

Driving the course and dodging Texas mosquitoes.

The smiles tell all.

Never pass up the opportunity to play the game with the most important people in your life.

American Idol update

My American Idol had his shot at the show in San Diego California. An early start and long lines were rewarded by a chance to perform before the producers of the hit show. Showing talent and a unique singing quality he was given the chance to perform twice. Singing rock classics he showcased his rock talent. Alas, after deliberations it was determined, while a talented singer, "you are not what we are looking for." Not goofy enough for the outtakes and well "not what they were looking for."

It is better to live of life of daring and fail trying than to live one of quiet desperation. Great job G. I'm proud of you! Rock on.

Now move that ball and chain!

One of my Favorites

Still as funny today as it was decades ago. The king of the double entendre.

Enemies in War, in Peace Friends

Happy 4th of July. In a few hours here in Manama Bahrain 50 or so American Sailors and Marines will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on the roof patio of our high rise complex. There will be no fireworks or red white and blue bunting. But there will be country and rock music coming from Jerry's Bose iDock. We will enjoy the day off, talk of family back home and reflect on why we are so far from home. These Sailors and Marines are making a true difference in this war against violent extremists. Extremists who would love to end our way of life. Your Sailors and your Marines will not let that happen.

Someone from home asked what he could do to help. My simple response, "go to church and celebrate your faith."

Today, take time to read "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America."

If you've taken the time to read the Declaration, thank you. I hope you see the connection between the wrongs that were addressed and the freedoms you enjoy these 231 years later. No matter what anyone says on the news, this is a pretty damn great country.

God Bless America and God Bless our Sailors and Marines.

And God Bless and watch over our families as they watch the fireworks with out us. We miss you.

Do your duty, boatswain's mate, or you'll take his place

In summation of flogging, Samuel Holbrook in 1857 comments, "I fancy that those editors and legislators who sit in their cozy armchairs, in office or congressional hall, and talk wisely about the necessity of flogging for sailors, need only once to witness the infliction of the punishment they think so needful, and experience with their own breasts the feeling of dark humiliation which falls upon the soul at seeing the manhood being scourged out of a fellow creature, to alter their convictions as to the expediency of flogging."

Answering the critic who would ask why the bluejacket does not protest, he continues. "A 'man-of-war' is not the place for too free an expression of opinion. The regulations of the service do not admit to freedom of speech. They contain such a word as 'mutiny', for which they provide 'death or such other punishment as a court-martial shall provide.' And, as there can be no half-way-talk concerning so brutal a practice as flogging a human being - a creature created in the image of God - the consequence is an ominous silence. 'A still tongue makes a wise head' - nowhere more so than in the service, where it is truly said, 'You are allowed to think what you please, but you must not think aloud.'"

Good advice no matter who hears it. I have two ears and one tongue, I should use them in that proportion.

What's on your fridge?

Why is it that everyone is curious about what's in your fridge? Watch MTV's cribs and you will invariably be given a look inside the celebrity du jour's fridge and they always seem to feign embarrassment. A quick look always says "I have someone stock this for me." Look in a real man's fridge for a true picture of his lifestyle. Jerry has a carton of smokes, six pack of beer, two limes, bottle of hot sauce and several can of tuna which need no refrigeration. I questioned the smokes but then remembered the Cuban cigars in mine waiting their turn to enter my overcrowded maidador. I'll explain in another post.

But back to my comment, what's on your fridge? That's one of the things I miss at home - the collage of our life posted on our fridge. Always changing always growing. Pictures and magnets reflecting our life. A young Sailor. A kiss. A family. Celebrations. I'm an old Sailor now. I miss the kiss. I miss my family. I miss the celebrations. Can't wait to kiss my family and celebrate Court's graduation.


What's on your fridge?

Blog everyday or a pretty pathetic weekend

Blog everyday. That's what you see in the cyber self help columns around the internet. Pretty pathetic if you're surfing the web looking for tips on how or what to blog on or how to blog.

1. Blog everyday
2. Don't blog about work
3. Don't post poetry
4. Don't add music

Pretty pathetic, so how did I find it? Answer that and you'll know how my weekend passed. Best advice came from my son, "please dad don't blog how Starbucks screwed you today with a Vende when all you wanted was a Tall."

Time for a Martini.

1. Always add a photo to entertain your visitors

Pathetic