First off, the pride of the Memphis Zoo. Only a handful of zoos around the country are able to afford the costs of “rental” and up-keep of these beautiful animals, we are very lucky that Memphis Zoo is one of them.

Panda relaxing at the Memphis Zoo

Now, I wanna side track you a second before I show you more of the animals. Right outside of the Panda exhibit, there is this Chinese symbol embedded into the ground;

Chinese symbol at Memphis Zoo

I have no idea what the symbol means, but when I turn the picture on its side, it appears the Chinese may be playing games with profanity!

SH...??

Aaa, who knows – I more than likely am seeing things – my Mom sees faces in clouds, I guess it’s hereditary. Back to some animals!

Meerkats at Memphis Zoo

Bongos at the Memphis Zoo

And here is one that I think makes a GREAT background for your computers monitor

One of the Newest Members - A REAL Memphis Grizzly!

Two thirsty warthogs

6ft 3in tall baby giraffe - only one month old.

Memphis Zoo has lions, tigers, bears, and oh yea - cheetahs too!

And lastly, one of our favorites – the polar bears.

One of the three polar bears at the zoo.

Well, I hope you enjoyed them – I have a ton of other Memphis zoo pics I have taken over the past few years, if you liked these then check them out too. The zoo is world class and a must see – when you come, make sure you too bring a camera

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Bonnie and I jumped on the Florida resident ticket offer that allows the freedom of entry into all the parks as many times as we want for the next 15 months. It is usually a 12 month offer, but if you get them before 31 December 2009, you get an additional 3 months. For as often as we go it will pay itself off in no time.

We visited Animal Kingdom during this trip; I made a crappy video of the Expedition Everest ride, in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, taken with my really crappy and old camera, but you get some idea of how fast the ride is and how long it lasts. To juice it up a little I added some Guns ‘N Roses music; enjoy.

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Yankeetown Coast Guard Station

Oh, and i would be amiss if I didn’t show a picture of the Yankeetown Coast Guard Station located on the same river. What a great set of orders this duty station must be.

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Golf Clubs

It is time to get the golf clubs from the dark recesses of you garage and dust them off. Walt Disney World has announced starting April 26, 2009 they will discount for those with a military ID (active, activated and retired) the rate of 18 holes of golf at all their golf courses.

To play before 1000 the rate is $59.00, after 1000 it is just $39! Yes, that includes the Magnolia, a PGA course which hosts the Children Miracle Network Classic golf tournament where Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Mark O’Meara are a few of the professionals who have won the championship trophy in the last few years.

We will be using our complimentary and discounted 5-Day Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Tickets with the Park Hopper option and Water Park Fun & More Option.

Tee time is set! We will be mixing golf with our visit to the parks over a few days in late April staying at the Shades of Green which is nestled right between the Magnolia and Palm courses (staying at the hotel is not a requirement for the discount).

To establish your tee time or to seek additional information you can call Disney Golf at (407)939-4653.

Thank you Disney! FORE!!

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Happy First Wedding Anniversary Kevin and Katie, what a great and memorable way to enjoy the momentous occasion!

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Just the other day I received a friend request on Facebook from a person I hadn’t seen or heard from in over 20 years. This isn’t some long lost high school friend (although I get those too), I am talking about a friend who is from another country I met while attending a NATO school on the Italian military base Borgo Piave in the middle of nowhere outside the town of Latina, Italy.

SATCOM Classmates

The school we classed up for would keep us there for about 3 months, the classes we attended prepared us for working on NATO’s satellite ground terminals. We arrived in May 1988, the class was made up of people from many NATO countries but five of us formed a bond I recall often and do cherish the memories.

They called the five of us the Beastie Boys. Three from the United Kingdom, one each from England, Wales and Scotland, one Canadian and myself.

Arriving in May allowed us to spend the best part of the summer within 25 minutes of some great beaches. I left Italy with the best tan of my life! But, beach stories and touring Italy will have to be for another time as the first memory my friend brought back to me is the one I had filed in my subconscious – he brought the nightmare back…

Just about every night after a good meal somewhere in the town of Latina we, the Beaties Boys, would make our way to Piccadilly’s, a small pub in the center of town with a video jukebox.

The jukebox contained what has become one of my favorite songs, each time I hear it I remember the friendship and also get a craving for some vino bianco (white wine).

Our drink of choice was whatever white wine the bartender had in the bottle behind the counter. We had the bartender trained. Each time we played the song “Hotel California” by the Eagles and sung aloud the words, “So I called up the Captain, ‘Please bring me my VINO!”, he would quickly bring us a fresh bottle, some nights he would make no less than 20 trips. By the look on his face each night I guess he hadn’t had that spirit there since nineteen sixty nine!

Now understand we would be there for hours, we talked, we would listen to our Englishman sing pub songs and of course we played games. One game we played… well, I’ll get to it.

After a few weeks in school we decided to bring our wives over for a holiday so they could also enjoy Italy.

Once our wives arrived our routine didn’t change, in hind sight I guess it should have. Each night we would eat out and then end up at Picadilly’s. We would tell stories, sing and play games.

The rules of one game we played, slaps, included a member filling your glass with vino – most cases the vino would actually be above the glasses rim. The game was to pick the glass up and take a drink without spilling a drop. If you spilled a drop and were seen, the person who saw you was allowed to slap your face for alcohol abuse. Because each one of us would spill some at least once a night the slap was more of a tap on the cheek, nothing violent, all in fun.

My wife, Bonnie, didn’t/doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages.

My wife understood the rules of the game. I later found out she was also very eager to play. You see, she witnessed me spill a drop…

A look of pure evil came over her face, my palms started to sweat. Bonnie had her chance and she wasn’t going to waste it.

Bonnie stood in front of me (oh yea, the Beastie Boys and their wives were rooting her on), pulled her arm so far back I lost sight of it. I think somewhere up in Rome, about 45 kilometers away, they first reported the sonic boom as Bonnie’s hand made as it way though the countryside and approached my face.

Schlew-PAAAAP!

You always think it’s funny when the cartoon character gets hit and he sees stars and small birds flying around their head, until it happens to you. “How many fingers am I holding up?”, Ummm, “Thursday!”

Before I could react, Bonnie jumped into my lap and gave me a kiss. She looked at me and said, “hey, I may never get that chance again! Do you still love me?”

Of course I love her and patiently for the last 20 years I have kept a watchful eye on her drink, someday she’ll spill some and then it’s my turn

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

It is when we have weather like this we find ourselves reminiscing about our time in Iceland. For two and a half years my family and I lived on the naval air station in Keflavik. I was stationed at NATO Satcom, NSGT F-15. A ground satellite terminal with the big dish and everything.

Summers there were somewhat mild, I think the warmest day we experienced while there was about 59 degrees, quite balmy really when most days hover in the low to mid 40’s. It would be just warm enough to play a round of golf at 0200 just off the base at a sea side course – we used to play at “night” because at that latitude in the summer the sun was high enough in the sky to almost need sun screen (I said almost ).

The winters in Keflavik were what you might think they would be close to the arctic circle, cold and windy. Yes, it did snow occasionally but that wasn’t the hard part. The wind could frequently reach 60 knots and on a few days I remember gusts over 100. The dampness combined with the cold and wind would form black ice on the road ways and parking lots making for some hazardous conditions to say the least. I remember more than a couple of times opening the car door and getting jerked out of the vehicle on to the ground. Some cars would have their doors bend all the way open to the front corner panel. Lord forbid you had to walk across a parking lot with the winds and ice!

Darkness engulfed the sky during the winter almost 24 hours a day in Iceland. Tearing through the darkness were the northern lights. Aurora borealis, as they are also known, almost seemed close enough to touch. The lights looked almost liquid and would assume various colors as it flowed. An amazing sight for sure.

Overall we loved the experience. Without serving in the Navy I doubt I would have ever had the chance to go there. My family and I talk about those times we shared in the “land of fire and ice” with a great fondness but it also gave us a threshold of what bad weather can be. So I may have considered the weather in Memphis today “gloomy” but in retrospect it wasn’t all that bad.

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

I remember the first show I saw aboard the USS Forrestal while deployed in the Med. The only time I saw Bob Hope perform live was a USO show on the flight deck while in the shipyard in Philly, he was a class act.

One of my favorite opportunities was an impromptu performance in one of the hangers at about 0200 at NAS Keflavik, Iceland with the band Kansas (Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son), their plane was diverted to the island so the members of the band decided to treat about 20 of us to a live concert!

The shows are just one of the many things the USO does for servicemembers. The USOs in the various airports around the world are a welcome oasis to the military members in transit. For a number of us the years are passing, the Admiral’s hope really should come true. Donate your time or even some cash to the USO, it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside – here is the LINK!

The Venue’s Not Fancy, But the Audience is Appreciative
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2008 – This year’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff USO Holiday Tour has played at an aircraft hangar in Germany, in a maintenance facility and in an in-processing facility here in Afghanistan.

The tour’s stars — Kid Rock, Kellie Pickler, Lewis Black, Tichina Arnold, Zac Brown, Kathleen Madigan and John Bowman — have played far more prestigious venues, but probably none as appreciative. And their usual audiences generally don’t get this warning:

“In case of a rocket attack, let’s do what we always do – hit the ground and count to 100,” Army Brig. Gen. John Nicholson, deputy commanding general for stability at Regional Command South, told the audience here. “If it continues, the performers will leave, and you will leave to take shelter. But when the all-clear sounds, they will come back and you will come back, and they’ll pick up where they left off.”

The performers rocked at every show. U.S. troopsand their allies got world-class entertainment under challenging conditions. Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said the performers are national treasures who came for the purpose of saying thanks to the servicemembers, and giving them a little touch of America.

Kid Rock worked his appreciation for the servicemembers into his “If I Were President” blues song. He told them, “As long as you are out here, you can count on me to keep coming back.”

In the middle of Kathleen Madigan’s performance in Kandahar, the all-clear siren sounded. She wasn’t sure what the siren meant, but she kept right on with her bit, incorporating it seamlessly into her comedy.

The comedians kept the audiences roaring, and servicemembers sang along with Kid Rock’s, Kellie Pickler’s and Zac Brown’s songs.

“It was freaking awesome,” said Army Spec. John Barnett, who saw the show at Forward Operating Base Sharana in Paktika Province. “Not too many people come out here – it really is the middle of nowhere — so we all really appreciate it.”

“These guys could be having fun back with their families – it is the holiday season,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Annette Gant, who caught the show here. “Instead, they are with us. We can’t thank them enough.”

Mullen told servicemembers at every stop that he appreciates their sacrifices and those of their families.

“Thank you for volunteering at a very crucial time in our nation’s history,” he said. “Thank you for all you do for our country and for the people of Afghanistan.”

In an interview later, Mullen said the universal comment from servicemembers when he meets them is an expression of thanks for bringing the entertainers to perform for them.

“It’s something that they will remember for life, and I hope that as the years go by they remember and do something for USO,” he said.

Happy Holidays!

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Children Miracle Network Classic

This week the Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour pros arrived at the Shades of Green (SOG) to participate in the Children Miracle Network Classic golf tournament. This is the thirteenth year for the event and hearing some of the golfers talk about it in the lobby it is one they look forward to. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Mark O’Meara are a few of the professionals who have laid claim to the championship trophy in years past.

Amateur golfers can also participate in the event. Discussing the subject with the wife of such a golfer she said there is about a $7500 entrance fee and everything is included – even the hybrid Cadillac Escalades with chauffeurs who drive you where ever you want to go.

The Shades of Green blocked off 70 rooms for the event for the golfers and tour administrators. It is the only time of year individuals not normally eligible to stay at this Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) can take up the brief residence.

The Shades of Green

The contract for the event is between Disney and the PGA. The golfers do not stay at the Shades of green for the military rate, I was told by a hotel representative the room charge is the same as a high end room at a local Disney Resort hotel. Disney collects from the PGA and distributes the earned funds for the rooms and conference center to the Shades of Green. The money is used towards the operating costs of SOG which obviously helps keep the costs down eligible service members.

If you like rubbing elbows with the golfing elite the Shades of Green is the place to be in November. Put it on your calender for 2009, this is great!

Also while your here you can of course take advantage of the large Mickey Mouse head shaped heated pool, play a round of golf on a PGA tour course for about $55, the many restaurants and the Disney theme parks. Shades of Green has a bus system to take you to the various parks or you can make the short walk just across the street to the Polynesian Resort and catch the monorail.

The Magic Kingdom

Staying at the Shades of Green affords you the same priviledges of those staying at the other resort hotels on the Disney property like “Extra time in the parks”. Each day different parks are selected for resort visitors to be able to enter the park up to an hour before or stay later up to three hours than the regular park visitor.

Each time I have stayed at the Shades of Green I have been disappointed about only one thing, the Army seems to be the only service to have gotten the word about this place out (I’m a little surprised the Air Force isn’t represented more than they are, arn’t they always on liberty?).  Help get the word out, don’t just sit at home the next time you take leave, get here and take advantage of this benefit.

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart

Shades of Green

The Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located at Walt Disney World. It is the only AFRC located in the continental United States and room rates are determined by your pay grade. The resort is located amidst golf courses and across the street from the Polynesian Resort which makes it an easy walk to the monorail. Check here for eligibility requirements.

We already have our reservations booked and my golf clubs are packed! The Shades of Green is offering the following for November 2008:

Special “Fall into Autumn” Package

NEW Reservations booked starting October 21st for reservations arriving November 1 through November 21, 2008

Our “Fall into Autumn” package ranges from a 2 night to 8 night stay (Existing Reservations cannot be upgraded to the Fall into Autumn Package)

Package includes:

• 20% discount off of your nightly room rate
• 15% discount off Garden Gallery Breakfast
• 15% discount off Garden Gallery -or- Evergreen’s Sports Bar and Grille Dinner
• Gratuity for Servers 15%

This is a great opportunity to lock in our lowest rates available, but don’t wait…Rooms are limited and rates like this will not last!

For complete details and to reserve your Shades of Green room, please call our Reservations office at 888-593-2242.(Open Monday – Friday from 0830-1700 hrs EST, closed all Federal Holidays)

Reservations are subject to availability and are taken on a first come, first serve basis.

Please note: The Children’s Miracle Network PGA Tournament will be held the week of November 3-9, 2008. Resort guests with resort ID can follow their favorite pros as they compete in this year’s tournament.

Golfers can enjoy a special golf rate of $75 before 10:00AM and $59 after 10:00AM at the Osprey Ridge or Lake Buena Vista courses 10/1 -10/10 and the Palm or Magnolia courses from 10/11 – 10/21. For more details call guest services at 407 824-2437

2010 Military Pay Chart
2011 Military Pay Chart