Chris Penningroth’s Weltanschauung

     Some of my friends were not too far away from this event.  They’re alright.  They couldn’t tell me which of these reports about the event were correct. 

     I think I’ll be redirecting my search efforts. 

     "If you are going to let one segment of society or one area of the country become maligned without insisting that the truth be known, all other segments and areas are subject to similar fates."

     – Ronald Reagan, Remarks at the Kiwanis International Convention in St Louis, MO; 21 Jun 1951.  From Speaking My Mind.  New York:  Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 1989; p. 20.

     I was on my way into one of the buildings with some other folks here when I espied this spider.  As best I could tell it was an argiope spider.  This one was about as big as my outstretched hand.  Someone took a picture of me pointing to the spider, but I haven’t seen the photographer since.  One of the locals claimed the spider was poisonous.  I doubt it was, but all the same I stopped putting my hand near it for size comparisons. 

**20080607 Update:   I found the photo my friend sent me where I was pointing at the spider.  You have to click on the photo to see it in its entirety (meaning both my smiling mug and the spider itself). 

 

     I’m the type of guy who doesn’t shy away from wildlife, no matter how wild the life.  If a trail at a national park says to "Beware of mountain lions," it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll find me on that trail looking for a mountain lion.

     This place is no different, although I’ve had to adjust my tactics.  There is a field I have to traverse to get to work sometimes.  It’s not a very big field, and it has varying grass heights.  Parts of it get mowed, other parts are kept short by roving goats, and other parts rarely get cut so the grass grows about knee-height.  Some of my friends pointed out that sometimes people have found snakes in that field.  Snakes? Cool!

     Oh! The snakes are often cobras.

     I’ve stopped walking across that field. 

     . . . at night, that is.  Let’s not get unnecessarily frightened here.  I would love to see a wild cobra! From a relatively safe distance, anyway.  I figure I’ve got the goats as an early-warning indicator during the day when they’re out.  I just stay away from the tall grass where I can’t see anything. 

     The best thing about this deployment was meeting this guy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     . . . At least according to him! You know how these young folks can be brash sometimes.

     You’re doing great work, AJ! Keep it up!

     I had some of the spiciest Kung Pao chicken ever today, therefore I went seeking a dessert that would cool me off afterward.  Actually, I didn’t go seeking it, the waiter stopped by and recited a short list.  I remember hearing "Mango (something), mango (something else), (another something with) mango, and fried ice cream.  Fried ice cream! I haven’t had that since the last time I was in Albuquerque, and that wasn’t recent.  That was what I ordered, fried ice cream.

     The fried ice cream was pretty good, I don’t think it was a honey glazing though.  There were some fruits to the side, which was really tasty.  But the ice cream was coated with creamed corn! It wasn’t bad, but personally I don’t think of creamed corn as a dessert component.  Come to think of it, I don’t think of any vegetable as dessert, and usually not fruit, either.  I can practically hear my wife cringing right now. 

     Today was a first for me:  Weltanschauung just took it’s first hit (that I know of) in the Blogosphere over at Virtualpolitik.  "Hits" is a bit of an exaggeration, it was really more of a fun poke, or at least I chose to take it that way.  

     I can’t be the only MilBlog that posts PowerPoint presentations.  I wonder how she found mine?

     I can’t argue with her.  Prevention of Dangerous Military Activities Between the US and the Former Soviet Union isn’t really earth-shaking.  For awhile I didn’t even find it particularly relevant.  Maybe it’s good to have after all, based on some of the things going on with Russia. 

     I’m glad she got to talk to Mr Patriquin, he’s a great man.  It was also good to see the photo of COL MacFarland, Sheik Sattar, and Travis. 

     Here’s more amazing video from Rob T’s Antarctica trip; set to some music that got my soul singing along, too!

     I’ve found it nearly completely unnecessary to wear this stuff in the current theater.  The primary danger is from pickpockets.  

     I can’t believe I traded in a G-suit for kevlar!

Update 11 Apr 2008:  Due to popular demand to know which one of these fighter pilots-turned fighter-pilots-on-the-ground is me, I’ll give you all the following hint:  I’m the one on the side.  (Seriously, I may tell you via e-mail if you ask nicely)

     Anne, I’m curious now about that riding crop, I’ll keep my eyes peeled.  There aren’t many horses around here, though. 

     This was some footage Rob T. took on his trip to the Antarctic Marathon, and it’s awesome!

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbXtnh2K1Bk

 

     This is not recommended for children too young to watch some of the "meatier programs" on Animal Planet.