Author: Vic Socotra

A Tale of Two Cities – Part Two

Here is the second part of the story about my experiences in dealing with the Russians, this time the return trip in 1995. In the true sense of contrasting the difference between two cities, Part One was more centered on Moscow; the highlights of Part Two center more on St. Petersburg. In that regard, allow […]

A Tale of Two Cities – Part One

Editor’s Note: We lurch into the second day of the Federal Government Shutdown. Days ago, we wondered if anyone would notice if the Feds were not working. It suddenly comes to a dramatic revelation: the Commonwealth of Virginia maintains it historic blue laws on the commercial sale of bonded spirits on Sundays.Naturally, this does not […]

Life & Island Times: 1968

thor’s Note: As an antidote to the daily chaos we have been experiencing, I took a brief look at what I still remember and feel today was the prologue to the End of the World back then. We kids of today will be alright once again, methinks. – Marlow Editor’s Note: That was unquestionably the […]

Japan-gazer Update – 30th Year of HEISEI Era, 1st Month, 16th Day

平成30年1月16日 = (30th Year of HEISEI Era, 1st Month, 16th Day) – – – – – = This week’s poem: The Way It Happens Sometimes the best Things a day can confer, Have no reason, They simply occur, And the rest Is just a blur… { From my Blog: https://carllafong.blogspot.jp } – – – – […]

Postcard from the Swamp #29

Do you suppose anyone would notice if the Government actually shut down at Midnight this Friday? So much stuff flying around this week, including the snow that always panics residents of the Swamp. We got only a dusting in placid Arlington, with the heavier concentration to the east in Maryland. Traffic was predictably awful regardless, […]

Life & Island Times: Dive Bar Vision

The Commodore – Charleston SC dive bar Author’s note: We were lounging in a Charleston SC dive bar — the Commodore — on icy slick Meeting Street two Saturday nights ago, sad that this former jazz bar had morphed into a millenial 1970s music venue. This dilapidated place may not last long, since urban development […]

Arrias: The Watchman

Editor’s note: This one is personal. – Vic The Watchman I used to keep a sign in my office, where the watch officers could see it, a line from the Old Testament: Ezekiel 33:6: “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword […]

Phone Call From Paradise

Well, I suppose it was more like a phone call from Detroit, circa 1960. I was dozing in the brown chair, watching the cable news and watching the new cold air chase away the moisture of the temporary January thaw. 1960 was the year that our Scout Troop (#1032, Methodist Church, Lincoln St, Birmingham, MI) […]

Pick Up Day

It was pick-up day. The on-line auction was done, the winners notified, and man, I was sweating this one- suppose I forgot? That has happened more frequently than I like to admit over the holidays. I treasure my friends, not to mention the rigid professional obligations of the last almost 41 years of service. But […]