Charlie is me darlin'!

That's Charlie Sherpa from over at Red Bull Rising blog

Earlier this year I sent him the news that the television show China Beach would finally be released on DVD.  His sharp eagle eyes noticed a problem with their pre-publication box art work and in gratitude the publishing company supplied a few sets in partial consideration for otherwise unpaid technical-consulting services rendered.  [you might recall his 'Boonie's Haiku Contest' run back in February 2013 where the winner received one set]

Although I am not sure I deserve it (but good luck making me give it back! :D) - Young Charlie sent me the second set.

The box arrived yesterday and included the DVD box set AND *EXTRAS* Yay!!!!!

An matchbox M-ATV of my very own (ask Charlie about his love of ATV's!); a batch of postcards from Iowa and the Army; and a very sweet Army Mule toy.

Charlie writes about the mule...

This particular Army mule has travelled around the world with me a couple of times. The mule is a U.S. Army and U.S Military Academy mascot. (The U.S. Air Force gets "Fighting Falcons"; the Marines are "Devil Dogs." We get mules?) Mules have also been used in the war in Afghanistan. I also figured he'd make a potential drinking-buddy for the stuffed camel I for which remember you once doing a naming contest on your blog. In fact, I seem to recall that I suggested the camel be named "Boonie," in part after the character in "China Beach."

 

Little Muley requires a proper name, so stand by for a "Name that Mule" competition later in the year  [and yes - it's a follow on from the "Name That Camel" competition back in 2011]

 

Thank you Charlie - your kindness has really made my week, month and Year [it's been a tough one lately downunder].

 

Pax

off to watch more China Beach despite the Cat's disapproval!

 

 

Pseudo Stabby Love

Awww... how cool is this :)



1GB memory Bayonet Flash Drive

Found it HERE

Someone remind me if I can send this sort of technology Downrange or Not?

Or should I just invest in one for a competition prize some time?

**Oh - and I may be spending way too much time corresponding with Military types - found myself today trying to explain the importance of keeping my friends at-home addresses as secure as their Downrange ones... the word "Hopsec" just kind of happened...**

A Quick lesson in Aussie Slang

A friend of mine asked about a good name for a new puppy (an Australian Shepherd) and I stumbled upon this website.

Since there any number of phrases here that even I didn't know about you might find it Ed-u-ca-shinal should you ever travel the great Outback and Never Never.

So below is a random selection - enjoy!

Amber fluid : beer
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Back of Bourke : a very long way away  [not to be confused with "Behind Burke": which is a very safe place to be]
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Cobber : friend
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Digger : a soldier
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, busy
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Hottie : hot water bottle
Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock")
Knock : to criticise
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you")
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Ocker : an unsophisticated person
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on"
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery!
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Shoot through : to leave
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something
Tea : supper
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals
True blue : patriotic
Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback [...] that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Weekend warrior : army reservist
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland
Yakka : work (noun)

Name that Camel!

It's been a busy few days here Downunder.

I have managed to catch up with most of my correspondence and bill paying; and have organised the final parcel for my adopted soldier JJ.

JJ goes "stop mail" at the end of April so I wanted to get one more small parcel of Aussie munchies off to him so he can remember me with fondness (... and in years to come he'll join the ranks of those few - those rare few - that can begin a beer-infused conversation with "There was this goofy Aussie Angel...").  I'm hoping my weekly witty written ramblings (ooh I love Alliteration!) and occasional parcels made the time Downrange a little less glum for him.

And every now and then one of my adoptees sends me something in return and I get all gobsmacked at their kindness and thoughtfulness and get a wee bit teary-eyed - because it's not something you ever expect (the guys are downrange - in the sun & sand and drama and everyday shelling attacks - they're generally too busy to even drop notes on facebook let alone plot surprises for the unwitting Aussies)

So in today's post there came a parcel.. and within the parcel was



artistically posed on the wall-hanging that Izzy sent me. Trying to
keep the "Iraq" flavour here.



I've promised my Adoptee that I will think of a suitable name for my newest plush companion but I'm coming up a little blank ("Joe" seems too lacking in originality; and "Sir Humps-a-lot" will probably offend someone).  So my loyal gang of followers (Looking pointedly at the Lurkers from Downrange) can you suggest a clever and/or witty name for my Camel of Iraq'y'ness?

I can probably come up with a small prize for the winning entrant - however it won't be Timtams until the weather grows colder.

Cup of Joe... Pax is gobsmacked!

gobsmacked... it's a good thing :)

Well that was a lovely surprise - I'm subscribed to Cup of Joe on Facebook and this post popped up on my news list a couple of days ago

The Letter writer is now a Penfriend of mine - really lovely guy, serving Downrange and missing his family.

I love being involved with the CoJ program - for just a little bit of money I can send caffienated goodness and a letter of support to the troops [and yes... they sometimes have Aussies and Brits getting the free drinks too!]

standard disclaimer - I receive nothing in return for mentioning this group on my blog

Pax extended

Well that's a surprise! - I've just discovered that my blog has been listed at Milblogging since June.  No idea how it got there and I'm a bit gobsmacked to be in the company of so many wonderful wordsmiths (shh.. don't tell them I'm a goofy aussie - let them discover it the hard way :D)

Of course I've got a major grin on my face - cause.. WOW so amazing to be lumped in with the Cool, Talented Kids (double shh.. maybe if I carry Sherpa's & A1S's books & scribe their history notes I can keep tagging along)

An Unexpected delivery

http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/05/unexpected-delivery.html

I stopped via the post office on my way home tonight - was hoping that I might see a postcard from my parents and that not too many bills would be there. Found instead a "more mail for collection" note so wandered up to the customer service section and received the following International parcel...

Checked the from tag.. wait.. what?.. Soldiers' Angels?!?.

You might recall from my 2nd of May post that a comment had been left on my blog from one of the team at SA - and that I received a lovely email from SA's founder - Patti Patton-Bader - thanking me for my involvement and asking for my address. I was thinking that perhaps a postcard from the USA might turn up (I know how busy the SA staff must be and really wasn't expecting anything at all)

Instead.. there was the BOX.  Which I opened and found

 I really am quite stunned - and not very sure that I deserve such an award. My adopting service people across the seas gives me so much personal joy, and laughter, and hope that I count my blessings that I've been allowed to become involved in their lives. I know it's made me a better person so receiving anything in return is such an unexpected surprise. (and yes I'm all teary eyed as I type this)

So thank you Patti and Soldiers' Angels (if you are reading this) it will have a place of honour in my home (right next to the flags that two of my SA adoptee's have sent me)

Pax Gobsmacked!

I am sitting here with a massively silly grin on my face and am feeling amazingly special.

You see today's mail brought me a package... and in the package there was

Patches & stickers too! ^

and

autographed by the team too! ^

At some point I should stop grinning like an idiot and stop saying "Oh My GOD!" - but it won't be for a while.

THANK YOU IZZY!