Greetings from a town that's exactly as exciting as it's name makes it sound.
Had about six people come to visit us today. They all came at once. A guy named Charlie chauffeured five ladies all the way from San Diego!
While the ladies browsed, Charlie and I had time to chat. Really interesting guy!
Charlie joined the army in 1964 and went to Vietnam. He decided that army life was his cup of tea, but after 6 years, 10 months, and 23 days, he was discharged. That's when he started working for a Navy shipyard. For the next 30 years, Charlie worked as a submarine repair mechanic.
Charlie joined the army in 1964 and went to Vietnam. He decided that army life was his cup of tea, but after 6 years, 10 months, and 23 days, he was discharged. That's when he started working for a Navy shipyard. For the next 30 years, Charlie worked as a submarine repair mechanic.
He told me that after the US military decommissions a sub, another country buys it. Evidently, there's a waiting list, and the only country that isn't buying our subs is China - according to Charlie, they don't need to since they're building two subs for every one we build.
Russia builds (or built?) their own as well. Charlie told me that he recently had the opportunity to tour a Russian sub. Every essential system in a US sub is redundant - there are two just in case one fails. Not so in Russian subs. He also noticed that little consideration was given to the crew in the sub's design. There was one toilet for 45 crew members, and only the officers had bunks. The rest of the crew slept wherever they could find room.
Retired, Charlie now enjoys travel and photography. He offered my this bit of trivia from his visit to Germany - if you get a DUI in Germany, you're barred from driving for the rest of your life. Interesting approach.
(This is a picture of Gram icing her noggin after banging it against a side mirror.)
We had a great visit with the whole group and enjoyed sharing lunch with them. After they left, we did some shopping at the local outlet mall, grabbed a tasty dinner at Johnny Russo's Italian Kitchen, and then caught a show at the Fox Cineplex. It was a surprisingly nice theater for only having three screens. And get this - prepare to have your mind blown - we paid $12.50 for three tickets! I've paid that for just one ticket in Chicago!
We're still in Banning tomorrow if you'd like to come see us!
8 comments:
What movie did you see? Your grandparents were probably dying to see "Skyline."
We saw Unstoppable. This theater only had three screens, and I couldn't sell them on Harry Potter or Megamind :)
Germany laws are real strict but not that strict on DUIs. I remember a convo with a German guy when I was there who explained how 1 beer would put you over the limit(which is lower than ours at .05). Mind you he was drinking out of a liter stein which is giant and the beers stronger. Trust me, I own lederhosen.
Also, don't leave our great state without a visit to In-n-out. I recommend you get your burger animal style.
Ever since I heard about these lederhosen on Plan C, I've been wanting to see them!
You introduced me to the animal style In N Out burger years ago - probably 8 years? I've been hoping to grab one ever since we crossed the state line!
Wait, was this when you had a born free? Remember when you got a ticket for driving in the carpool lane by yourself cause you didn't know what the double yellow lines meant?? Haha, I have numerous friends who've moved here and learned the sane way.
*same - although sane may work as well.
Yeah - that was when I had the Born Free! You took me to the airport - remember?
I actually didn't get a ticket cause you promptly informed me that I was headed for trouble if I kept crossing those lines! Haha!
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