Saturday, October 31, 2015
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.
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.
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
Saturday, October 24, 2015
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.
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
Parents - Henry W Huber and Grace M Paar
Spouse - Ruby
Children - 1 Son from prior relationship. Son's name unknown.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Run Andrea, Run
Today we watched as Andrea's Cross Country team competed against teams from all over the region. As usual, Andrea was on top of her game:
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Hey, That's Us!
Michele and I were on hand when Four Seasons celebrated their 50th anniversary, and took this picture for a billboard:
What do you mean you can't find us, we're right there at the top right corner of the zero! Sheesh!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Hanging with the Home Boys
While in Sioux Falls a week or so ago, I met up with some of my childhood friends for some beers and shots. No shots for me though, I learned to avoid shots 20 or so years ago.
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| Andy, Don, Scott, Ron, Rene, Shane, Jane, Steve |
Monday, October 12, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Frank (Franz) Huber
Born - September 7, 1835 in Pirking, Bavaria, Germany
Died - March 10, 1922 in Utica, SD - Buried in Sigel Cemetery, Yankton, SD
Parents - Michael Huber Sr and Anna Lingartner
Siblings - Peter, Theresa, Anna, Markus (Max), Joseph, Johann Baptiste, Michael, Abemuch
Spouse - Hedwig 'Hattie' Rudolph - Married May 15, 1873
Children - Frank, Hedwig, Frederick, Max, Rosa, William, Otto, Emma, Henry, George, Albert
Probably Left Behind
Pinching myself to see if I'm still alive, since we were all predicted to die last Wednesday. Perhaps I'm just one of billions left behind, while the chosen few are basking in paradise.
Hmm, no news reports of a mass exodus from the planet, so I guess I'll just write this Biblical Prophecy off as another one that bit the dust, which is not all that uncommon. If I had a penny for every time that happened...
Oh well, with the planet still intact, I guess I get to keep posting pictures of my family, my friends, and whatever else I encounter with my camera. Here's a great shot of my sister and two of her daughters:
Hmm, no news reports of a mass exodus from the planet, so I guess I'll just write this Biblical Prophecy off as another one that bit the dust, which is not all that uncommon. If I had a penny for every time that happened...
Oh well, with the planet still intact, I guess I get to keep posting pictures of my family, my friends, and whatever else I encounter with my camera. Here's a great shot of my sister and two of her daughters:
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| Kristine, Rebecca and Kayla |
Wednesday, October 07, 2015
Going Out in Style
Earlier this week, a Christian group called the eBible Fellowship announced that the world would be ending today. According to the group, the world will be completely annihilated.
This news left me with the difficult choice of having to choose a final post to my blog. How, I wondered, does one end their life's work and go out in style?
After agonizing over this for several days, and carefully considering all of my options, I concluded that there is but one way to put a final exclamation point on this blog. People will be talking about this for the rest of time, which is probably only a couple hours away.
Well, here it is...
Squirrels!!
Happy end of the world to you all, and to all a happy ending. May you all go out in a blaze of glory!
This news left me with the difficult choice of having to choose a final post to my blog. How, I wondered, does one end their life's work and go out in style?
After agonizing over this for several days, and carefully considering all of my options, I concluded that there is but one way to put a final exclamation point on this blog. People will be talking about this for the rest of time, which is probably only a couple hours away.
Well, here it is...
Squirrels!!
Happy end of the world to you all, and to all a happy ending. May you all go out in a blaze of glory!
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
After a Week of Sadness...
Fate handed me a close encounter with twins! Not any twins mind you, these are the Nyberg twins:
Because I'm a generous guy, here's one more, and this one doesn't include my unshaven mug:
Thanks ladies. You brightened up an otherwise bleak weekend. Go Vikes!
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| Karmen and Kirsten Nyberg |
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| Karmen and Kirsten Nyberg |
Monday, October 05, 2015
Too Many Funerals
Last week marked another day in which someone I care for deeply passed away. Her name was Evelyn Baker, and I've known her since I was an infant.
This is a picture of Ron, his wife Mary, and their two kids:
It was a very sad day, but I did manage to corral a couple of Evelyn's son's along with their families for some photos. This is Andy, his wife Karli, and their three kids:
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