Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Flashback to 1967

Pictured below is my uncle Bob (everybody has an uncle Bob, don't they?) and my brothers and I.


That's me with a missing sock.

A lot has changed since this photo was taken. Bob doesn't smoke anymore, and I no longer sit on his lap. One thing that hasn't changed is that Bob is still one of the kindest people I've ever known.

It's an honor to be Bob's nephew.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Flashback to 2003

Alex and Nick anchor themselves to the sand of the Jersey Shore to keep the surf from sucking them back into the Atlantic Ocean:

















They spent the better part of the day playing tag with the ever growing surf:


A rope anchored to the shore allowed them to stand toe to toe with the biggest of the waves:


But, every once in a while, the surf would get the upper hand and rise up victoriously:


At the end of the day, we drove home with two very tired boys.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Peep Invasion Redux

Christmas break brought about a veritable peep explosion, which translated into a peep invasion. Fun was had by all:



Monday, December 07, 2015

Underway Replenishment

While underway, aircraft carriers travel with an armada of support ships. Some of those ships serve as protectors, and some serve as suppliers of food, fuel, and anything else you can possibly imagine. When supplies are transferred from a supply ship to the carrier, the two ships get up close and personal which makes the operation risky, but also provides for great photographic opportunities for guys like me who like to take pictures.



This photograph was taken in 1983 somewhere in the vastness of the  Indian Ocean. That's the USS Coral Sea on the right, and on the left is one of her support partners, the USS Mars.

This operation of transferring supplies from one ship to the other is called underway replenishment, or UNREP. This particular UNREP was done using Chinook helicopters to move the goods from the Mars to the Coral Sea, but sometimes the transfer is done using cables and pulleys. Both are amazing things to watch.

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Good Thing This Picture Doesn't Have Sound

I can't sing now, nor could I sing when this picture was taken in 1985:


I still liked to play though, and I was fortunate that my fellow shipmates were tolerant of obnoxious noise.

The poor souls that were present to witness this horrible travesty played out over many nights have my deepest sympathies,

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Peep Invasion

A lot of faces appeared on the doorstep last night that we haven't seen in a while. Naturally, I had to document the event:

Jason, Nick, Brian, Evan, Alex, JT, Bryce, Trey

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Something is Lurking in the Woods

A mysterious creature was spotted lurking in the woods near our home earlier today. Fortunately, the person who spotted it was able to get the following photograph as they ran screaming for their life:


The photograph very clearly depicts a terrifying creature of unknown origin, and this video footage seems to corroborate the authenticity of the photograph.

On the other hand, it could be that the photograph was intentionally made to be blurry so that it wouldn't be obvious that it's just a person underneath a green blanket, and the video could be just an additional component of an elaborate hoax.

Hmmm, which seems more reasonable to you?

Here are four guys who know which scenario is true:

Creature Hunters - Drew, Alex, Nick and Jason

Hanging Out Just Like in the Old Days

Andrea stopped by to play cards and hang out. Naturally, we had to get the camera out and take some photos, both serious and silly:



A Friend in Need

I met this amazing 3 legged dog in San Antonio earlier this year, his name is Sgt Rambo N577 :

Sgt Rambo N577
Yesterday, I discovered that Rambo had to be rushed into emergency surgery to remove foreign objects from his stomach and intestine. Those objects turned out to be socks. Seems that Rambo likes to eat things that aren't always digestible.

Sgt Rambo is a war hero, and this year, was recognized by the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.

The latest news is that Rambo is out of surgery and is doing well. The problem now is that the surgery is expected to cost around $3500.00. A gofundme site has been set up to take donations. If you have a few bucks that you can afford to spare, you'd be doing a great thing for a great dog.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Things Were Very Different Back Then

In 1977, I was an 8th grade student at Patrick Henry Junior High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Occasionally, I would bring my camera to school with me, and if I got lucky, I would get a classic shot of my friends, kind of like this one:

Don, Bryan, Bob and Bruce
Oddly enough, we were part of the popular in-crowd. Today, we'd probably be shunned by our peers, and committed by the authorities.





Bob getting choked by David

Saturday, November 21, 2015

First Snow

The first snow of the year fell today. Overall, I think we got about 3 inches.


The ground is still pretty warm, so I don't expect the snow to stick around very long. Glad that Michele and I raked all the leaves last weekend.

Saying Goodbye to Sara

Another peep is spreading her wings and leaping from the nest. This time it's Sara. Soon she'll be leaving town for basic training in the the Army National Guard.


Good luck Sara! We wish you all the best on this new chapter of your life.

Once a Big Game Hunter

Hunting played a major role in my life while growing up in South Dakota. I hunted with my grandfather, my father, my brothers, and my friends. Everybody I knew was a hunter. In 1979, at the tender age of 16, I shot my first deer.


I remember how proud my grandfather was when I gave him the above picture. With a proud smile on his face, he put his hand on my shoulder and said "Dave, big game hunter". He then built a frame by hand and proudly hung the picture in his home.

After my grandfather passed away, the picture made its way into storage, and after many years of conditions not very conducive to preserving photos, eventually made its way back to me.

When I look at the picture now, I look at it through the eyes of someone who doesn't hunt anymore, and has no interest in hunting ever again. I've changed over the years, and while I don't begrudge those who continue to hunt, I just don't have the heart for it anymore. Today, I'd rather photograph a deer than shoot it.

Knowing my grandfather as I did, I'm sure he'd be just as proud of Dave, the big game photographer.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Maneater

The A-7 Corsair is known as the maneater due to the ease with which it can suck people into its engine intake. Trust me, you don't want to stand in front of one of these jets when its engines are at full thrust.



The photo above was taken in the mid 1980s on the flight deck of the USS Coral Sea. That's a much younger version of myself standing next to the maneater, and those missiles attached to it are AIM-9 Sidewinders.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Trading Places

In 1983, the USS Coral Sea and the USS Carl Vinson received orders to swap home ports. At the time, the Coral Sea was home ported in Alameda, Ca, and the Carl Vinson was home ported in Norfolk, VA. It was in March of that year that the two ships left their home ports to circumnavigate the globe, in opposite directions.

Months later, the two aircraft carriers would rendezvous in the middle of the Indian Ocean, which was approximately the half-way point. The photo below was taken at that rendezvous. That's me standing on the flight deck of the Coral Sea, with the Carl Vinson in the background shrouded by thick fog.


When I chose my orders following the completion of torpedoman training, I specifically passed up the Carl Vinson because it was an East coast carrier, and I wanted to be stationed on the West coast. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I discovered that my first cruise on the Coral Sea was simply an exercise in switching coasts.

In hindsight, I'm glad I chose to serve on the Coral Sea. I met a lot of great people, and experienced some really amazing adventures.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Our Beloved Dolly


Friday, November 13, 2015

Sam Goes to the Vet

Sam hasn't seen the veterinarian since 2013, so today was the day she got her shots updated. As expected, she was not amused.




Overall, things went very smoothly, and Sam was given a clean bill of health.

Grace M Paar

Born - June 6, 1893 in Atwood, Kansas
Died - November, 1981 in Sioux Falls, SD
Parents - Charles Francis Parr and Fannie Hayes
Siblings - Ruby Grace, Beatrice Murriel, Hayes Stanley
Spouse - Henry W Huber (Married September 30, 1915 in Yankton, SD)
Children - Harold, Marjorie, Donald, Mary


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Thanks Dad

On this Veteran's Day, I want to pay tribute to my favorite veteran. His name was Donald Huber, and he was my father:


Dad joined the Merchant Marine in early 1944 - during World War II - but was not officially recognized as a veteran of that war until 1988. It was in that year that a Federal court ordered that the "Secretary of Air Force abused its discretion in denying active military service recognition to American merchant seaman who participated in World War II".


The government took 44 years to recognize your contribution to the war effort Dad, but I never doubted it for a second.

Thanks for your service Dad.

Sunday, November 08, 2015

Lots and Lots of Seeds

Michele and Julie demonstrate their pomegranate deseeding technique:


Lots of work, but the payoff is pure deliciousness.

Saturday, November 07, 2015

Julie is in Town

Julie flew all the way from New Jersey to hang out with us for the weekend.


Thursday, November 05, 2015

400th Victory for Coach Kim

Michele and I attended a tournament at Illinois Wesleyan University last weekend, and watched as their volleyball team handed coach Kim Nelson-Brown her 400th victory. It was an amazing thing to witness:


Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Cody Just Can't Take a Bad Picture


How does he do it? Could the photographer have something to do with it? Nah, it's all Cody.

Tuesday, November 03, 2015

OMG! That's Drew!

You know you've made the big time when your image is captured on Google view, and that's exactly what happened to our good friend Drew:


Monday, November 02, 2015

Cody is a Living Masterpiece

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Cody is Photogenic


I almost wish it were Fall year round, because that's the time of year that I get the best pictures of my favorite dog, Cody.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!

Spotted this truck on the road last weekend:


A Weekend with the Peeps

Nick was home last weekend, and that brought other peeps over to the house. It was great to chat and play cards, just like the old days.


With Nick back at school, this weekend is pretty quiet. Looking forward to Thanksgiving break.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Boot Camp

In early May of 1982, two of my closest friends and I boarded a plane destined for Florida. Our final destination; the Naval Training Center in Orlando. The 3 of us, along with 77 other guys, would become members of Company 136 in what used to be referred to as boot camp.

Our fellow recruits got a lot of mileage out of the fact that three of us had come from way up North in South Dakota. I don't know how many times I personally heard someone say something to the effect of "gee, I didn't know covered wagons traveled this far South". Ha. Ha. Hilarious ;)

The photo below was taken while the three of us were trying on our newly issued uniforms. That's me on the far right. Next to me is Steve Baker, and next to him is Brian Scholten. We were all smiles here, but that enthusiasm was short lived. Boot camp wasn't the picnic we thought it would be.


One of my favorite memories of the whole boot camp experience surrounds events that occurred on our first night, and which played out rather similarly on our last night. The contrast in what followed those events is what makes them memorable.

The first night was preceded by an entire day of shuffling from place to place and from line to line as we were vaccinated and issued our clothing and other supplies. When the lights in the barracks were turned out for the evening, many of us were eager to get some sleep, as we had been told that the next day would begin very early. For some however, the day wasn't over, and so a a dozen or so of the guys continued to talk and joke and laugh.

The horseplay continued for about 5 or 10 minutes after the lights were out, until, as I remember it, a loud booming voice with a thick Southern drawl yelled "have a little respect for your fellow shipmates, and shut the fuck up!"

The place went silent immediately. Not another peep was heard from anyone for the rest of that night. Nor do I recall any significant horseplay taking place after lights out from that point forward. I later learned that the loud booming voice belonged to one Marvin Hyde, one of my fellow recruits,

Now fast forward through 8 weeks of basic training. It was our last night in the barracks. The following morning would send the 80 of us in separate directions into futures that were big unknowns. The lights were out, and the silence on this night was deafening.

Suddenly, out of the silence, came a loud booming voice with a thick Southern drawl that yelled "have a little respect for your fellow shipmates, and shut the fuck up!"

The place erupted. Suddenly everyone was laughing hysterically. Then others began to shout out reminders of those things that had bonded us together as a group for the last 8 weeks. The reminiscing went on for probably an hour or more, and when it finally died down, I think it was exhaustion from laughing that put us all to sleep.

There were other interesting things that occurred during our 8 weeks of Boot Camp; like when one of our company commanders (William Brandon) got himself into trouble for shaving one of my fellow recruits with a cigarette lighter, or when one of my fellow recruits (Orlando Ward) dislocated his shoulder after slipping in his own sweat while doing 8 count body builders, or when four of my fellow recruits posed for a photograph wearing nothing but garbage cans on their heads to conceal their identities, then passed that photo off to some girls in our sister company. Those events were interesting, but none reached epic status like Hyde's respect comment did. Hyde had not only made our last night into our best night, he had elevated himself to legendary status.

If you're out there somewhere Marvin, my hat is off to you. Well played sir, well played.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Our Beloved Cody


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Nature's Awesome Beauty


Road Trip to SEMO

Most of yesterday was spent driving to and from SEMO, to bring Nick home for the weekend. The whole trip took over 9 hours, but since we were accompanied by two of Nick's good friends, it sure felt a whole lot shorter.

Nick first became aware that Drew and Brian were riding with us when he opened the door to the van, and boy was he pleasantly surprised!


The three amigos were happy to be reunited. The following photo was taken on SEMO's cardiac hill:


In a few days, we'll be doing the same road trip all over again.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Harold William Huber

Born - September 17, 1916 in Yankton, SD
Died - February 23, 1990 in Sioux Falls, SD
Siblings - Donald, Marjorie, Mary
Spouse - Ruby
Children - 1 Son from prior relationship. Son's name unknown.