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The Major’s Weekend Blast-Off

WEEKEND GRAB BAG O’ THOUGHT:
25 years ago today a young 18-year-old version of me woke up bright and early a couple of hours before daybreak, checked-out of my dorm room, packed up my first car – a beige 1980 Chevy Citation – and embarked on the longest road-trip of my life (at that point). It was a 700+ mile trip eastbound along I-70 from Chanute AFB Illinois (next to Rantoul) through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to my destination – McLean Virginia. It was a long-awaited homecoming for me after being away for 4½ months at USAF Basic Training and Tech School. It was great to see my family (including my lovable cat Fluffy) after being away for such a long time for the first time in my entire life. I got to celebrate Halloween with my 10-year-old little brother at the time. I walked with him as he went trick-or-treating all throughout our neighbourhood – visiting many of my former customers from my newspaper carrier years. After 4½ months I was all grown up and in the Air Force. My military leave was short-lived though. 10 days later I was on my way overseas to my first permanent duty station in Great Britain. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year would all be celebrated in a foreign land away from home.

BEST LUNCH OF THE WEEK AWARD:
Longhorn Steakhouse wins this week’s award (yet again). I enjoyed another spectacular Lunch there today. Coming in 2ND place for the week is a brand new joint that me and some coworker friends discovered for the first time on Thursday. We enjoyed a nice Mexican Lunch at El Santo Coyote – located on U.S. 1 in Princeton at theoretical SW 261ST Street. They made their own homemade salsa right there at our table as we watched. I ordered one of their combination plates consisting of a taco, a burrito, and an enchilada with golden rice and refried beans. It was all delicious, but service was a bit on the slow side. I still recommend it though, and I’ll go back again when I’m not in a hurry to get back to work.

FORTUNE COOKIE MESSAGE OF THE WEEK CLUB:
– Plan a vacation with loved ones.

TAYLOR LESLEY DAY MEASUREMENTS OF THE MONTH CLUB:

My gorgeous niece turned 6-months-old last week. She now weighs in at over 17 pounds, and she’s 26 inches in length. I last saw her about 4 months ago, and I get to see her again in just 20 days !  She smiles a lot because she’s happy !  😀

THOSE SCARY SCARY CATS:

BLATANT PROMOTION:
Tomorrow night on the blog it’s another fresh new edition of my venerable ‘Saturday Night Retro’ as I flashback to Halloween nights of the past. I’ll also feature the Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett classic from 48 years ago – “The Monster Mash”. Then on Sunday the treats continue with another new blog post – ‘Halloween Night Shenanigans’. Be sure to check that one out after you’re all done trick-or-treating. In-between all of the blogs it’s all of my tweets @majorhitwaves. Have a wonderful weekend my friends. Have fun. Be safe.

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History Home Life Music Nature Radio

Saturday Night Retro

Saturday October 23RD 2010
Volume 3 / Number 7 / Edition 104

Back during the memorable Summer of 1977 I was a 10-year-old kid roaming my hilly Lanham Maryland neighbourhood streets named after birds such as Red Wing, Wren, Wood Thrush, and Nightingale. I liked to ride my bike up and down the hills. I liked to play down by the creek and in the woods. Me and my friends had our own territory in the woods that we converted into our own private park with the use of rakes. We even had our own park flag with all of our names on it. We kept our park neat and tidy, and we only allowed our closest friends entry into our exclusive area. Those were fun times from my childhood that I’ll remember forever.

No matter how old you are always live your Life to its fullest. There will be unsuspecting bumps and sharp curves along the way that make you feel  uncomfortable, but then there will be those real good times too that you may take for granted until you realize that they are no longer there. Savour those good times as they happen. Enjoy every second of them. You’ll be able to share those memorable experiences for years to come with your children, their children, and your closest friends on this journey of Life.

Music has always played an important role during my lifetime. It reminds me of the good and the bad – the memorable and the forgettable. It’s the soundtrack of my Life at any given point in time. ‘Saturday Night Retro’ gives me an opportunity each weekend to share my Life with you via memories and music.

Back during that fun Summer of 1977 this song shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It’s teen pop idol Shaun Cassidy with his # 1 smash “Da Doo Ron Ron”, and it was playing on the radio as I was playing in the woods:

Categories
Animals God Health History Home Life Music People Travel Weather

The Major’s Walk-A-Thon

Time: 6:44 AM – 7:26 AM
Sky: Mostly Clear
Temperature: 65°F
Dewpoint: 58°F
Relative Humidity: 78%
Winds: NW 5 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 30.01 Rising

Here are my walking thoughts in 15 words or less:

– It was a bit noisier outside yesterday morning compared with last week.
– My neighbours were driving away, returning home, and walking their dogs.
– When I say ‘neighbours’ I mean all 1,500 to 2,000 of them.
– I had one cat sighting, and she knew that I was her friend and not her foe.
– The air outside was clean, cool, crisp, and dry.
– During certain parts of my walk I could feel that 60°F wind chill.
– It felt really good after a long and hot and humid summer.
– I did not forget my iPod for this walk.
– I jammed to tunes from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, and today.
– One song in particular was rather ironic.
– It was Ferry Corsten’s “Rock Your Body, Rock”.
– 7 years ago I sweat by dancing to it late at night in a packed nightclub.
– On this morning I (not quite) sweat by walking to it early in the morning.
– I’m happy that I can look back at where I came from.
– I’m happy that God has placed me at this point here on this journey.
– This was a 2¼-mile walk, so that’s 4.4 miles towards my goal of a marathon.
– I’m lookin’ forward to the next 2+ mile walk – perhaps next Saturday AM !

Romans 10:13 – For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Categories
Career History Home Life Music People

Saturday Night Retro

Saturday October 09TH 2010
Volume 3 / Number 5 / Edition 102

I lived in the Great U.K. for 2 years and 1 week from November 1985 to November 1987. It was a wonderful (and quite memorable) time during my young life. I remember distinct details of those two years more than any other two year period in my life. There are many great memories – as well as a bunch of not so great memories. One of my best friends back then is now my longest-running friend. We still keep in touch with each other after more than 24 years even though it’s been nearly 23 years since we last saw each other. I wish I still had contact with my other friends back then, but I did some things that I’m really not too proud of. I was young and immature at the time (like we all were). It resulted in the end of friendships that should have continued on through the years. The past can’t be changed. History can’t be rewritten. I can only move forward into the future, and do the right things at the right times.

Thank You my friends for those two wonderful years of working, living, and playing in that foreign country that we once called home. Thank You for those 17 music concerts that we enjoyed together in London, Oxford, and Birmingham. Thank You for partying with me. Good Times indeed.