This week finds me in Raleigh, North Carolina. Got off to an odd start in class yesterday. It seems the customer (State of NC) expected one class, I am here to deliver a different one. Luckily I teach both, so we worked through things. While I'm not delivering the class they expected (haven't prepped for it, nor are manuals available for this class), I am still covering most of the topics they wanted to discuss.

         Had a pretty good time tonight at dinner. I went to dinner late, at least late for me, 8 pm. Was going to go to Nattie Green's pub (Nathaniel Green, American Revolutionary), but an ambulance and fire truck were parked in front, so I drove past. On the corner was an Irish Pub (Napper Tandy's Irish Pub), so I decided to go there. An Irish group was playing music inside, so it was nice to sit and listen to them, as well as watch the patrons sing along. (No, I didn't sing, didn't know the words ) While sitting there, I heard someone mention that Karaoke was starting soon, so I thought I'd see what went on. Didn't stay long enough because it was getting late and I do have to teach tomorrow still. But one of the singers sang 'The Humpty Hump' as done by the Digital Underground. I've never been really big on Rap, but for some reason I love that song! A plus was that he did it very well too. All in all, a very nice night here in Raleigh. Will be back in North Carolina in about 4 weeks when I go to Pitt County, then up to New Jersey for a class. Til then, travel safe if you go anywhere.




Jim Dorrell
 

         This week finds me in Gastonia, North Carolina. This is a small town, essentially a suburb of Charlotte. Charlotte of course, is the home to the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, but also the Charlotte Bobcats, most recently finishing with the NBA's worst win % for a season. Gastonia is a small town really, it has a couple of nice parks, most notably the Crowders Mountain State Park. I've driven around town some, but there isn't a lot of places to go. I did have a nice dinner last night at Nick's Steak and Taphouse, it's one of the nicest places I've dined at all week. It's in an old renovated movie theater, and is a unique place to have a nice dinner. The kitchen is wide open, so you can see the food being prepared. Above the cooks on a large wall, movies from Turner Classic Movies are shown, but there's no sound. Last night, "Dear Heart" was being shown (I recognized a couple of actors, and looked on IMDB.com to find what it was). The food is excellent, the atmosphere is just as nice, so it was a big plus for me. I go home to Chicago on Saturday; my next trip is right back in here North Carolina, to Raleigh for a few days. Till then, y'all be good, and enjoy the warm weather!




Jim Dorrell
 

         This week finds me in Houston, Texas, home of the Astros, Rockets, and Texans, all professional sports teams. It's hot here, at least to me, but what's struck me most, is the amount of road construction that is going on! Almost all of the downtown area is experiencing some amount of road work. With most of the streets being one way, it makes it that much harder to get around. It's been nice though, and the people here are typical Texans. No, don't think like that, get your mind out of the gutter! They have been very nice to me, willing to answer any questions asked. Had a fantastic dinner last night at a restaurant named, "Bayou City Seafood and Pasta". Had some Boudin Balls to start, a nice cold Shiner Bock beer, then some Seafood Courtbouillon. To say I was stuffed would be an understatement. I had to have dessert, Blueberry Bread Pudding. YUMMYYYYY!! OF course this is the home of NASA (went there two years ago), and the WWI Battleship Texas, moored at San Jacinto State Park. Been a nice trip, but I learned today that my trip to Alabama next week has been postponed, so I will be in Chicago instead. The following week, I will go to Gastonia NC for a class, then back to Chicago for a few weeks. Till then, y'all take care of yourselves.




Jim Dorrell
 

         Last week, I was in Tampa Florida for business with MacDill AFB. I had a nice time there, my in-laws live across the bay in Clearwater, so I spent a lot of time with them. As a result, I didn't get to do my usual things, exploring and taking pictures, and being on here to do the reviews I wanted to do. But, I have been in Tampa many times before, I think seeing relatives is far more important than any sightseeing I might want to do. I did manage to drop by the local Bubba Gump Shrimp and pick up a shot glass. That's the 13^th Bubba Gump I've been to! This week I'm in Clovis, New Mexico. Another AFB, Cannon AFB is why I'm here. There isn't a lot in this small town, but I still find it to be nice. I grew up 200 miles west of here in Albuquerque, so this is like being home. I even managed to drop by to see my mother, she will be 92 in 10 days!! Everyone be sure and wish her a Happy Birthday for me, you know I will myself. Other than her, there's only my brother Terry and his wife Ruth living there anymore. My father died in 1971, my sister in 2007, and my other brother in 2009. Seems like the family size is shrinking, but it's not when you consider the children and grand-children we both have. Such is life huh, it just goes on and on. Reminds me of a book I read long ago, called "Earth Abides". One of the last lines in the book was, "Men may come, and men may go, but Earth abides." So true, so very true.




Jim Dorrell
 

         Well, here I am in the vast state of Texas. I'm in a small town on the Rio Grande called Del Rio. There doesn't seem to be a lot here, other than Laughlin AFB, the reason why I'm here. The countryside is beautiful though, reminds me of where I grew up, Albuquerque. I've always loved the desert, and while this isn't quite the same, it looks very similar. The best thing about being here? Pollen count is low, my eyes don't itch day in and day out. Tomorrow morning I'll fly to Tampa to deliver a class for MacDill AFB, then go home to Chicago Friday. Sunday (a week from today), I'll be flying to Albuquerque to see my mother and brother briefly before driving to Clovis NM to deliver a class there for Cannon AFB. Gee, you'd think that being a retired Navy man that I could deliver a class to the Navy once in a while! See you next time round, maybe in a Panama hat then!




Jim Dorrell
 

The Descendants, a movie about coming together as a family, learning to cope, and accepting things that happen beyond your control

Ratin

I recently saw the action movie 'The Grey'. Here's what I thought of it.

Rating:

Top Billed Actors: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney

Synopsis:
         A plane carrying crew members from a remote oil rig in the Alaskan Wilderness crashes, leaving 7 survivors on their own. While at the rig, Liam Neeson's job with the crew was to protect them from wildlife as they worked, but I've never known wolves to attack humans that are not injured or weak. After the accident, Neeson leads the group as they struggle to survive in the harsh wilderness.

         I would love to rate this better, the idea of it really appealed to me. It is fine as an action movie goes, but a lot of the plot was unrealistic. The worst part about the movie was the use of the wolves. I couldn't tell if they were animated (very poor if they were), or claymation, or what. What I do know, is that there were times when you'd see a closeup of a wolf's head; the wolf would growl very menacingly, yet the mouth never moved, much like the old werewolf movies before they greatly improved animation and special effects. I have to say, I can't recommend this movie, unless all you're looking for is an 'action movie fix'.






Jim Dorrell
 

         This week finds me in Petersburg, Virginia, delivering a class for the US Army at Fort Lee. Sadly, I won't get out to see much since I'm only here two days. It's a nice small town, the site of the longest siege of the Civil War. I guess that during the battle, the Union Army dug under a battery and exploded a mine, creating a crater. The National Battlefield is at the site of that crater. Tonight I had dinner at an old Pub called the "Brickhouse Run". It's in the historic district of Petersburg, and well worth a visit if you enjoy craft brewed beer. They always have an ESB (Extra Special Bitters) on tap, but tonight I enjoyed a nice IPA. I had a cup of their Seafood Gumbo to start, and I have to say, it put most Gumbo's I've had to shame, including the excellent gumbo at Pappadeaux. The beef stew was excellent also, so overall, a nice place to eat. I don't think a lot of local's go to this pub because of what it is, a pub. Most of us American's go to the more renown places, or national chains; as a result we miss places like this. If you visit Petersburg, Virginia, give this place a shot!





Jim Dorrell
 

I love going to movies, and thought what better way to tell people about them than in my blog here? I will be adding my comments on movies I see, but will strive to not give away the plot or spoil it for you. Today's comments are on "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close".

Rating:  

Top Billed Actors:  Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock

Synopsis:  Oskar is an extremely bright 10 year old boy living in NYC with his widowed mother. He and his father had always shared a special bond, many adventures shared as he found things in expeditions his father sent him on. However, his father (Tom Hanks) was killed in the 9-11 terrorist attacks. As he explores his fathers things, he finds a key, and sets off on a journey of discovery, looking for the lock it will fit using a single clue. This little premise holds the movie together well; his journeys each week kept my interest throughout. Sandra Bullock does an excellent job portraying a patient, loving mother grieving over the loss of her husband, while worrying about her son and his activities. One might think that this movie would feature both Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, and in many ways it did. However, the film centered around their son Oskar, played wonderfully by Thomas Horn in his first movie role, and he steals the spotlight. His quest to find the lock that fits his father's key is the main focus of everything. Another key character is simply known as "The Renter", (Max Von Sydow). He does not speak, but communicates in other ways; his interaction with Oskar sealed the deal for me. This is a movie that is well worth the money you'll spend on it, and one that I will buy on DVD once it is released.





Jim Dorrell
 

Was back in Los Angeles this week with the Los Angeles Unified School District, and had the chance of a lifetime. One of their radio sites is on Mt. Lee, the mountain that houses the famous 'Hollywood' sign, and since I wanted to show them a few things about their remote sites, we thought we'd go up to this one. Unfortunately, the road is washed out about 1 mile from the site, with a chain link fence around the washed out area. If we'd gone to their site, we'd have been right above the Hollywood sign. This was as close as I could get, while about 1 mile by road, we were about a quarter mile from it at our closest approach. I snapped this picture since I knew I'd probably never get this close again. Arrived back in Chicago, and snow, tonight, wind blowing, temperature of 15 degrees. And to think it was 70 when I left Los Angeles!