USS Ronald Reagan

It must be of great comfort to the Japanese people to see the mightiest war ship on the planet docked in their harbor, knowing that the ship is there to use its awesome power of death to bring about the power of life. What they don't see is the strike group that always accompanies the carrier a short distance offshore. This group constitutes the most deadly arsenal afloat or beneath any ocean and stands ready to be of assistance to Japan in their time of need, and to let other countries know it is unwise to think of any aggression while Japan is on its knees.

I liken the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan to the starship USS Enterprise orbiting around a Federation planet preparing to help them in their time of need. It may be an unrealistic comparison, but it does illustrate the dual purpose of every branch of our military. They (the military) are not warmongers always looking for an excuse to wage war, but instead, they are men and women who understand what a fragile world we live on and the horror of leaders who would try to rule our world through fear, torture, and death.

As I sit here pondering the fate of the Japanese people, reactor meltdowns, global health and financial repercussions, the picture of the USS Ronald Reagan in Japan’s port gives me reassurance and comfort also. I have had the honor of being a guest aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vincent while my daughter served in the Navy. I came away from that “Tiger Cruise” amazed at the dedication of our young men and women who serve our country. They are ready and willing to serve not only in war, but in a humanitarian role as well, just like they are now doing in Japan.

Would you and I volunteer to go to Japan right now considering the dangers from radiation and disease? I freely admit I would rather just send money. The men and women aboard the ships of the strike force understand very well the risks they are now facing, as do the many volunteers from other countries that are there to help find survivors. A risky business indeed…and that is an understatement!

While I dare not think of the global impact this disaster could have on the rest of the world, I must admit the spirit of the Japanese people is inspirational. While I sit here worrying about my future, the people of Japan are digging in and starting to repair their country. Even though they know that thousands of their countrymen have perished, the one and only goal is to rebuild. Let us all pray that nuclear radiation does not prevent that from happening. If the unthinkable should happen, our home is open to as many of our Japanese friends as will fit….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Japan

Let’s all pray for the people of Japan in their time of need. They are one of the countries in the world that would help us if our positions were reversed. Someday that could very well be the case!

Write on,

Mittster

Tidal Wave

One thing Japan doesn’t need (or anywhere else for that matter) is a monster earthquake and a corresponding tidal wave. My heart goes out to the Japanese people during this catastrophe. The loss of life and property will be enormous and I hope all free countries of the world will help with the recovery.

I know the doomsday weirdoes will jump on this story like the plague and start ranting and raving about the apocalypse, when, in reality, one only has to study about the Pacific ring of fire to understand why large earthquakes occur in the region. Thank God for the extensive tsunami warning system in the Pacific Ocean which has enabled officials to warn Hawaii and other places of the impending tidal wave. Indonesia did not have a tsunami warning system in place in the Indian Ocean when devastating 100 foot waves killed hundreds of thousands without warning in 2004.

I use to be a surfer in my youth, but now, the ocean scares me senseless. It’s not that tidal waves didn’t happen in the ‘60s, they did, but we just didn’t hear about them. I remember surfing some incredible 20 foot surf at Wind & Sea in La Jolla, California; maybe it was made possible by an earthquake in Japan. I wonder if the surfers are waxing their boards in Hawaii right now. I bet they are – idiots!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Charlie Sheen

Like most Americans, I don’t understand how the deaths of our young men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq can be ignored by the press in this country, while the drug-induced rantings of a movie star is front page news. Rather than complain about the situation, I started researching Charlie Sheen on Google. Of course, I don’t know Charlie Sheen personally; research was necessary so I could even know his media persona. I admit that I have never really been a fan - after all, his father is in my generation. I was a fan (and still am) of Martin Sheen long before Charlie was even thought of.

While researching the life of Charlie Sheen, it became obvious that nicotine, alcohol and drugs have always been a part of Charlie’s teen and adult life. His father also abused drugs and alcohol, but never to the extent of his son. It’s no secret that Charlie has a temper and it is intensified through his drinking and use of amphetamines. How do I know he is using meth, or coke, or both? Because you can stick a glass eye in a monkey’s butt and see the results every time he speaks in the media blitz interviews.

As I researched the movie life of Charlie Sheen, I started to become a fan, more or less, in the sense that he has a definite appeal. Handsome, funny and smart, Charlie started to make me feel good inside. I learned to like his camera persona and looked forward to seeing more; that is, until he started to make headlines with very bad behavior.

The interesting thing is that now I feel sorry for a very out-of-control young man, who is heading for disaster at breakneck speed. The waste of even one person’s potential is a tragedy. While trying to understand the motives of a spoiled rotten Hollywood star, I found Charlie Sheen’s humanity hiding inside a drug-induced wild man.

I have watched the same thing happen to some of my family and even myself in my early drinking years. Meth almost destroyed one of my daughters and coke devastated one of my sisters. Watching Charlie Sheen on television news is like watching a rerun movie of family members who were sucked into addiction, and for a long time were smarter than everyone trying to help them – just like Charlie. I find myself liking Charlie Sheen. Not the wild looking person I see on the news, but rather, the great actor he can be and has been in the past. For the sake of his children, I can only pray that intervention happens soon, before someone really gets physically hurt or worse. There is no denying that emotional damage has already been done to his family and friends, but it’s not too late to reverse course and head back to reality….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Colorado Memories

A lot has happened since this fantastic motorcycle ride to Colorado in 2006. The world went into deep recession, Bernie Madoff raped and plundered the stock market, home foreclosures devastated the housing market, I and millions of others were laid off, and to make matters worse, I sold my Harley so I could write and publish murder mysteries.

Don’t get me wrong, selling the Harley was my choice. Construction was dead, and writing had become my new passion. I managed to write, Evil in the Mirror ,much to the surprise of everyone, including myself. My second book, Day Stalker, was published in January of this year. Both books have five star reviews and hopefully they will, someday, start selling in mass quantities. Of course, that is the dream of all newbie authors.

While walking the dogs yesterday, it was obvious that spring was coming to Arizona. The sky was deep blue, sun warm, and the sounds of singing birds filled the air. I heard the unmistakable roar of a Harley-Davidson in the distance and riding memories immediatley flooded my mind as I looked toward the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks jutting high above Flagstaff. This, in turn, reminded me of Harley trips to the high country of Colorado that my brother, Walt, son Jay and his wife, Shannon, and others made every August. Our group was always small so that we could enjoy the wonders of the majestic Rocky Mountain Range without the confusion of a large group.

God, I miss the fresh, pine-scented air assaulting my senses like fine, imported wine. The cold wind in my face intoxicated me with its aroma, while the sun felt warm and inviting. Sometimes I would have to refocus on riding the curvy mountain roads as if coming out of a sublime hypnosis. It would not be good to get too enchanted by the mountain’s siren lure; the bottoms of the canyons are thousands of feet below.

They say that motorcycles are addictive – I know this to be true, because I am still withdrawing from riding’s spell. It’s all good though, because as long we are alive we must follow the paths we choose, and my new path is one of excitement, challenge and extreme gratification when a book in finished. And, it’s OK to fall back into the siren’s spell for a time and ride into the sunset "on" fantastic memories.

Write on,

Mittster