No, it’s not about the popular milblog Blackfive. It’s our five black guns lined up for a group photo. Top to bottom, left to right, (ignoring the magazines) they are: Remington 870 Express Synthetic 12 gauge 6+1 shotgun, Glock 30 .45ACP 10+1 pistol, Smith & Wesson 442 .38 special 5-shot revolver, Smith & Wesson 908 9mm 8+1 pistol and Glock 26 9mm 10+1 pistol.
Welcome to Verna’s Diner. Over the weekend, we indulged ourselves by preparing this delicious blue-plate special: chicken-fried steaks with mashed taters and country-style green beans – served with a frosty mug of winter lager.
Although the meal seems a bit waistline-unfriendly, we did clean up the fat act somewhat. Verna fried up the steaks in light oil in a pan (rather than deep-fried) and low or no-fat dairy products were used to prepare the mashed taters and gravy. The green beans were accented with onions, garlic and bacon bits. By the way, we used fresh-picked green beans that are still growing in Verna’s garden.
Click on the image to enlarge.
On this Veterans Day of 2007, in addition to thanking all the veterans for their service, we wanted to recognize a special veteran, David Tallichet Jr. who recently passed away here in Southern California.
Image right: Proud Bird Restaurant – click for large view.
Tallichet flew 20 missions over Europe in the second world war, and then came to California where he became a successful restauranteer and entrepreneur. He was best known for his Proud Bird Restaurant located right next to the final approach path at LAX. David also established Ports O’ Call Village in San Pedro, California, which is a nautical-themed collection of restaurants and shops.
Image courtesy 100th Bomb Group – Milton Alvo crew. Standing (left to right): Walter M. Gibson, Jr., Milton Alvo, David C. Tallichet II and Donald E. Israel, Kneeling: George I. Murray, Boleslaw V. Bitel, Farrell J. Davis, Woodrow W. Wilson and Leonard G. Woodruff. Click on the image for close-up view.
Read the complete article about the life of David C Tallichet, II, from the South Bay Daily Breeze:
Verna wore this T-shirt all day in honor of the birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi guys!
Photo taken on Interstate 10 near Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, Blythe, CA. A sandstorm in progress at the time made the sky a dingy brown color.
I found this photo in my archives and wanted to share it here. Little that I have done in my career in aerospace has made me prouder than to have been on the team that produced this magnificent aircraft.
