Oklahoma City Arrives at Portsmouth Navy Shipyard

USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723) and her crew of 18 officers and 126 enlisted personnel arrived at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on September 5. While at the Shipyard, the ship will undergo an Engineered Overhaul (EOH) to include systems maintenance and equipment upgrades. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding Company and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, the nuclear powered attack submarine OKLAHOMA CITY was commissioned on July 9, 1988, at Norfolk Naval Base.
The first OKLAHOMA CITY was a 14,000 ton light cruiser commissioned December 22, 1944. During World War II, OKLAHOMA CITY was awarded two Battle Stars for heroic service in the Okinawa campaign and for action against the Japanese homeland. Decommissioned in 1947, she was re-commissioned in 1960 as a Guided Missile Light Cruiser, and became the first Pacific Fleet Combatant to fire the Talos anti air missile. OKLAHOMA CITY was awarded 13 Battle Stars, three Meritorious Unit Citations, and one Navy Unit Citation for gallant performance of duty during the Vietnam War. She completed her distinguished career as the Seventh Fleet Flagship and was decommissioned on December 15, 1979.
OKLAHOMA CITY’s Commanding Officer is Commander Ed Mayer IV. Commander Mayer, a native of New Jersey, received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1987. He was a Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate and received his commission at Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. After completing Nuclear and Submarine Training, he was assigned as a division officer on the commissioning crew of USS WEST VIRGINIA (SSBN 736) in 1989. He reported to S1C Prototype in Windsor, Connecticut, as a shift engineer in 1992. He returned to sea again as Navigator and Operations Officer on USS BOSTON (SSN 703), deploying to the Mediterranean Sea and twice to the North Atlantic.
After serving on the Staff of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs, Commander Mayer was assigned as Executive Officer on USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN 759) in 1999. During his tour, the ship deployed to the Western Pacific and earned the 2000 Submarine Squadron Eleven Battle Efficiency “E” Award. He then served as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. Commander Mayer assumed command of OKLAHOMA CITY on June 2, 2005.

Portsmouth Navy Shipyard

I thought today I would show where my hubby works..He works here at the portsmouth navy shipyard as a general foreman ..Needless to say we don't discuss his work outside of 'how was your day'.
If you are interested just click the title and it will take you to the shipyard site.
It is about an hours drive for him to work from home. He enjoys his job very much.
He was a policeman up north, very community oriented, jaws of life and fire department as well.
I am very proud of my hubby, I caught me a good one. We met when I was around 23 or so, and all these years later we are still quite happy. Especially now the kids are grown, we really can enjoy each others company. He makes me laugh and laugh..

Rodeo

horses have always been a challenge for me to draw..so I have practiced on a few here and there, this one didnt come out too terrible, I had to try the rodeo

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.

He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

Its so nice to be Kneaded

My kittens are so cute, this one is jinx, the female. She loves the dogs and can be found draped across one or laying beside one. I can't tell if she is confused or loving, perhaps both..the yorkie, he doesn't care for the claw work but the poodle loves it and will roll over and let her do his belly.
At the same time he is getting a mini vibrating massage from her motor. I don't know who ever said cats and dogs can't get along.

For the birds

Here is a sneak peak at my progress for the ATC trade.I have like 7 or 8 more to do yet, no hurry, but where the weather is soo pouring rain and black sky, I will probably finish em up today, nothing else on the agenda at the moment

Thru my window

This morning, my husband looks out the window and calls for me to come and see. This little fawn was standing right in my driveway, No sign of mother, he wandered around for a bit then of course the barking of the dogs scared him away. I have come back to edit this post to add mother, she was down the drive, I didn't think she was too far off.

Just a thought

Ya know as I sit and watch the t.v. the reporter is telling me that they are yet again raising taxes on cigarettes. I was watching the other night and Californias' gov. was thinking about legalizing marijuana, it has occurred to me today, that the marijuana will soon be legalized and the cigarettes will be smuggled. If a man runs against hard times and turns to dealing drugs for awhile just ya know to get caught up on a few things he is risking going to prison, but California runs into hard times and what does the gov. start talking? selling drugs..LMAO..that is hilarious.
Only in the U.S.A. !!