[Gathnet] Comments from Pilgrim Rest

[stuart g gathman]

Dear Gathnetters,
Another week has flown by.  I really don't know how time can fly by so 
fast.  I remember my younger years when time seemed to drag by.

One of the neat things this week is that we got an invitation to the 
pinning of Chief Petty Officer ceremony of a certain QMC James Gathman 
of the USS Paul Hamilton [DDG 60] to take place on 16 September at 
Cedar  Cabin,  Nimitz Beach,  Barbers Point, Hawaii.  Needless to say we 
here are very proud of Jim and wish we could be there for this 
ceremony.  Unfortunately he is undergoing a lot of hazing during this 
time and would have no time for a visit before the ceremony and will be 
coming to San Diego for training just after the ceremony.... so we will 
postpone our visit until later.

The trimming of brush is going along with great gusto these days 
especially since Tomaz can help on one day a week.  I am especially 
concerned about the fire season and am getting rid of a lot of brush 
down below.  We are still leaving scattered  sumac trees but are 
trimming them up so there are only a few trunks of them   The oaks of 
course are left intact.   I think that the place would be defend able in 
case a fire came our way.

The doctor was very pleased with Anne's procedure.  Apparently the  
procedure worked this time.

I was able to finally get a copy of "Unfit for Command"!  These books 
are really hard to get around here.  There are plenty of Bush bashing  
books on the shelves of book stores but this one is extremely hard to 
get.  It was written by a democrat who of all things voted for Gore in 
the last election!  It is the book by the Swift Boat Vets who are now 
being personally attacked by Kerry s' goons.   The impact of this book 
is very strong.  I just can't imagine why the democrats put a guy like 
this up for  president of the US.  What ever happened to the strongly 
patriotic democrats like Zel Miller?   Bush has plenty of problems  (the 
open border just 20 miles to the south of us for example)  but I agree 
with Zel completely.... Our future depends on this election.  I am 
afraid the reliance for our protection on the UN by Kerry just doesn't 
hack it in these days of Islamic Terrorists!!!

Perhaps the sin which is so prevalent in the US...  will be punished by 
God by the election of a guy like Kerry.   What would he do with (God 
forbid) we had a situation  like we have seen in Russia the last few 
days where the Islamic Terrorist were bravely killing school children?  
Ask the UN for a vote?  

I am sorry for politics,  I just had to get it off my chest.

love der altgrossvater