Winner! - Poppy Coin Contest

Recently I ran a competition to win a rare coin that was issued to celebrate Remembrance Day here in Australia

There were a couple of heart-felt entries and a winner has been chosen

Old NFONovember 13, 2012 5:02 AM
I'd like to win this as a reminder of my Father, who was in WWI and fought through Belgium, which is where the poppys grew and were immortalized in the poem "In Flanders Fields".

Also, it reminds me of the ties I've made with the RAN, including being honored to participate in the Remembrance ceremony aboard USS Parramata in 2009 at Stirling.

CONGRATULATIONS! - and please contact me with your delivery address for posting

And in other news...

Santa stocking boxes were shipped off to my two adoptee's mid-month... hopefully they will receive them soon

And "in home" news.  I had my first job interview in 15 years today.  It mostly went well despite my having chronic "bad hearing" today (still have an on-going ear infection that the Doctors all agree is "nasty" but have no options on the healing of it other than "take the medication we've given you; apply the drops to your ears - give it time")  Ehhh...

Oh and my trip to Melbourne last week for a training course went well too.  I got to spend one whole day playing "Tourist" (14 hours in a tour bus - eek!).  Couple of photos below

Loch Ard Gorge

The Apostles Rocks (only 8 now!)

Due to lack of numbers the Tour company cancelled the night-time visit to Philip Island Penguin parade which I was a bit sad about. However I stumbled upon the Melbourne Aquarium during my Friday lunch break and spent a happy 40 minutes seeing the exhibits especially their live penguin display.

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Coffeypot gets Pax Hugs!

I began writing this post well over a week ago. Sadly my mobile phone is in the early stages of dying and I seem to need to do the "Genoa" form of silly antics to get it to download photos (Genoa method... Stand on a bucket with a live frog pinned to your shoulder and shout "BIBBLE" at passerbys*)

AnyoldDownload - I have finally managed to retrieve the photos of the wonderful box of Goodies that Coffeypot sent me earlier this month.

The USS Frank E. Evans hat, shirt, pin, coin and book - amazing! You can read about the brave sailors that were lost on the 3rd of June 1969 HERE. I will treasure these so much

And the penguins. Well Coffey knows his way to a Pax's heart. LYLT JC! (Judy too!)


*The first person (who is NOT Madilayn) who can identify which British Comedy series this quote is from will get a prize

Pax gets some presents!

Yes! You read that correctly - I received a marvellous parcel of early Birthday gifts in the mail, sent to me by the EMOD (Evil Mistress of the Darkness aka Vicki in Cali)

It is in fact a few weeks to go until my mumble mumble* birthday however V was kind enough to allow me to open the gift early (it was either that or she feared she would be on the cleaning crew after I imploded from impatientness)

And within that parcel there was much of the Penguinity to behold

Four!  Count them - FOUR!  Amazing Penguin t-shirts :)

One or two I may even get away wearing to work (ehh.. I'm in tech services - the geeky-look is HOT there baby :D)

So thank you Miss V - You have made my day.  And I suspect that should the 4th of May turn out to be less spectacular than hoped for - these will carry me through.

Happy Penguins to all, and to all a good.... 

Pax
 


*yes.. it is TRUE that it is going to be my mumble mumble birthday! However owing to amazing genetics I only look mumble!

Pax has more penguins

I was expecting no items of joy to arrive for me this V-day - being, as I am, between relationships - however I discovered that an item I ordered for myself last month has finally arrived.

It's red and makes me smile - a lot - so I think I will share with you all

This is actually the replacement Penguin insanity shirt.  Shirt the First ended up being shipped to a (then) friend downrange - he was in need of a touch of 'home' - so it was shipped off (coated in my vanilla perfume) on a "he would return it some day in person to me" type situation.  Sadly that friendship tanked so badly that I am quite sure he ended up burning it as some Manly-act.

So this is now my replacement Happy Shirt.  And when I wear it I will occasionally remember him and wish him joy in his life.

Pax poses the question

While other bloggers are neck-deep in the dramas of the world - either preparing to fight zombies or reporting on new Pentagon cost savings, I have been more concerned about clarifying a vex'd question.

To wit......

What Military service DO the Penguins of Madagascar really belong to?

To a casual observer - the answer may appear to be "Navy" - after all their Leader goes by the name of  SKIPPER

Dashing, debonaire crew-cut wearing Alpha Bird

My Source for many things Navy (and strangely many things Hollywood - what can I say - he's diverse!) writes this about the term :- Skipper is the term for the Commanding Officer of a naval command. Also known as the CO, the old man (not to his face), or the boss.

But wait! - the Junior member of the team is called PRIVATE

Cute cuddly and a bit clueless

My source advises "A Private is a rank in the Marines, Air Force, or Army"
Strange... and worrying... is this perhaps a multiforce special ops team?

Their On-the-Spot Science man - Kowalski - known as the 2IC - nominal rank of Lieutenant

Never afraid to try SCIENCE!

At last but not least - their Ka-boom-in-ator

Able to regurgitate C4, detonators and anvils at call.

So there we have the team - one gung-ho commander (nominally Navy); one Private (could be Marine... but he's a bit too cuddly); one Science Boffin (drafted Civvie?) and their Trigger man (*definately* a Marine - his blade work is excellent)

Let's see them in action...

Questions remain......

Answers are required.....

Comments welcome!

Pax has been Caffeinated!

Wow those Green Bean Coffee people are super organised!  I sent out 30 coffee vouchers on tuesday and by tonight (friday) 28 of those have gone out to (I'm hoping) now slightly happier-and-coffee-filled troops.

I have also had a couple of Pen-friend (well.. in this electronic day & age - email actually) requests, and I'm busy sending back Hello's tonight.

And fear not Oh Loyal Readers - I will remember to consult the "Pax should NOT" list in the event I end up sending any of them Aussie munchies (mutter.. grumble... well at least *I* like Musk Sticks so all the more for ME!)

If you happen to find yourself with a bit of extra change and the desire to make someone deserving happy with an RAK (random act of kindness) then I can really recommend the Cup of Joe program (click on the side bar link to go straight to their donation page)

Even more fun than an explosive-carrying Penguin!

Bestest Christmas gift EVER!!

Some of you may know that I have a thing for Penguins. (Platonic love I swear!)

It all began years ago when a copy of Bloom County feel into my hands (mmm Opus!) and grew even more once I saw the Penguins in the movie Madagascar (My ideal penguin isn't the sort that just waddles about - I really like the ones that make things go KABOOOM!  I <3 Rico!)

So imagine my joy yesterday as I began unpacking not one, not two but THREE parcels shipped to me from California

I am now the proud owner of 4 hand made evil penguin tshirts; a soft toy , a book on evil penguins and the US special version of Madagascar!

I am feeling the Penguin love :)  - Thank you so much Vicki!