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Post by lawdog on Jul 12, 2012 9:33:45 GMT -6
Hello from southern Illinois. Finally decided to join and hopefully can contribute something from time to time. I am a US Army Vietnam veteran, former coal miner and retired law enforcement officer, having been a city patrolman, county deputy and retired as county sheriff. I have been a history nut since childhood and always try to include historical stops in every vacation we take. Have been to the battlefield 4 times since 1978, the last time in Aug. 2010. Love it there but love to be anywhere that history was made. While in the Black Hills a few years ago we made a special stop at the 7th Cavalry encampment location near Custer, SD. Thrilling to stand on a spot, even over 130 years later, that once saw history in the making. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading the forum posts and finally decided to get a little involved. I look forward to the opportunity to learn more and hopefully contribute to the conversation.
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Post by Gatewood on Jul 12, 2012 12:29:08 GMT -6
Hello LD and welcome. Looking forward to your input and comments. I always try to incorporate history stops into vacations as well - drives my wife crazy, but she humors me a little, but there are limits. For some reason I particularly like to tour forts and fortifications - things of that nature. She hates it and sometimes just sits in the picnic area while I do my thing.
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Post by quincannon on Jul 12, 2012 17:58:40 GMT -6
Gatewood: I think your wife and my wife are related somehow. Her favorite expression during those battlefield tours is "I don't know why you have to stop all of these places. One damned cannon looks just like another". I think I cured her from getting out of the car though when at Weir Point she saw up close and personal Jake (the snake) and his big brother. Did not get out of the car the rest of the day and that includes the museum/visitor's center parking lot.
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Post by bc on Jul 12, 2012 21:53:50 GMT -6
Gatewood: I think your wife and my wife are related somehow. Her favorite expression during those battlefield tours is "I don't know why you have to stop all of these places. One damned cannon looks just like another". I think I cured her from getting out of the car though when at Weir Point she saw up close and personal Jake (the snake) and his big brother. Did not get out of the car the rest of the day and that includes the museum/visitor's center parking lot. Chuck, you've been slacking off in your duties to your wife. I guarantee that no cannons look alike and I know, I look at every one of them. They had to chase me out of the Fort Sill museum at closing time last summer. bc |
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Post by quincannon on Jul 12, 2012 23:00:07 GMT -6
My wife lacks some of the finer points. She does not yet realize that the cannon is not as important as what they are aimed at. Give me another twenty five or so years and I will have it all sorted out. The first twenty two have been less than productive though. She fails to stand when I enter the room. From time to time I have to cook my own rations. Her idea of a night in the field is something a little more upscale than a Holiday Inn. And, the worst of all I have to shine her shoes. I tell her that rank has priveledge, and her reply is - Well you are certainly rank enough, take a shower.
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Post by Gatewood on Jul 13, 2012 6:12:46 GMT -6
My wife can tell the difference between a Parrot and a Napoleon and is quite proud of herself. She also knows what various other important things, like Bailey Bridges, are.
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Post by lawdog on Jul 17, 2012 20:06:37 GMT -6
I see I have come to the right place!! My ex of 30 years was never too enthusiastic about Civil War battlefields or museums. She also enjoyed staying in the car during her 2 trips to LBH. In 1978 my 2 year old daughter went with me everywhere in those days when you could roam freely over the battlefield. My wife of 7 years now has enjoyed our trips and even sat and listened to the interpretive talk at the visitor's center while I walked the Deep Ravine Trail. She enjoyed it and I was proud of her but I have seen her eyes glaze over at times when she asks what she feels is a simple question and I give her the complicated, in depth and lengthy answer I feel is required. I never learn. She did balk at walking the entire battle ridge at the Fetterman site and I walked the Washita battlefield by myself in 90 degree weather while she stayed in the comfort of our truck. She does love the west, so that is a bonus and she has expressed interest in going to Gettysburg. I'm thinking I am a lucky man.
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Post by bc on Jul 17, 2012 20:31:31 GMT -6
Welcome lawdog. Tell your wife that not walking down Deep Ravine Trail is strike one.  She missed a chance on running into a rattlesnake. We are planning on going to Gettysburg at the end of month but we can't figure out how to get all the animals taken care of while we are gone. Have a good one. bc |
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Post by plainsman on Jul 17, 2012 21:04:30 GMT -6
I'm new here and always figured it was a violation good manners for a new person on a board to welcome anybody until they had a couple hundred posts themselves. But since it IS nice to be made to feel at home, more or less, I say "Welcome" and protocol be damned.
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Post by lawdog on Jul 24, 2012 12:20:51 GMT -6
Ah, animals. We lost our last old dog a couple of years ago and thought we would be free to travel and go as we please with no worries as to what to do with any animals around. That lasted a few months until we brought home not one but two new puppies so we again have the task of kenneling them when we go or taking them with us camping, etc. Wouldn't really have it any other way though.
I do appreciate the warm welcome from all. After wearing a badge for around 25 years it is nice to be welcome anywhere!!!
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Post by benteen on Jul 24, 2012 13:18:43 GMT -6
Welcome aboard lawdog. Look forward to exchanging ideas with you. You did the right thing taking the puppies home. As someone once so rightly said "Dogs are not our whole lives...but they make our lives whole"
Be Well
Dan
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She missed a chance on running into a rattlesnake. We are planning on going to Gettysburg at the end of month but we can't figure out how to get all the animals taken care of while we are gone. Have a good one.