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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Our Beloved Dolly

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

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.

Lots and Lots of Seeds

Michele and Julie demonstrate their pomegranate deseeding technique:

Lots of work, but the payoff is pure deliciousness.

Julie is in Town

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

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:

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.

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:

Cody is a Living Masterpiece

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.