(T. Boone Pickens in the doorway of his ranch. Photo Pickens Army.) “A fool with a plan is better than a genius with no plan, and we look like fools without a plan.” -Mesa Oil founder, billionaire and unlikely environmental activist T. Boone Pickens Ack, it’s Monday. Hate it. I looked back on the weekend […]

(ENS Socotra at left, having received his certificate of completion from NIOBC in accordance with NETC regulations. Photo Socotra.) It was a huge weekend. It cascaded from bright sunshine at the beach on Friday morning to dark clouds on Sunday. I woke Friday to the sound of a Jodie Call from a formation of naval […]

(AOL is hosed up this morning, gentle readers, so imagine that attachment 1 goes here for important foreshadowing.) It was so delightful a day yesterday that it was hard to believe that the market had lurched into near panic again. I wasn’t panicked; I was preoccupied with sending frantic e-mails about some rare new business […]

(Butter Poached Lobster Tail & Lobster Ravioli with Creamy Fennel Gratin, Savory & Sherry Lobster Sauce. The Lovely Bea and Jon-with -no-H’s cocktails, courtesy of Big Jim complete the tableaux. Photo Socotra. It did not look like this for long.) Well, the Government did it to us last night. A “request for proposal” dropped on […]

(Big Jim the phlegmatic Willow bartender whipped these fish tacos up personally. Photo Socotra.) My associate was beaten up from proposal work. The crazy gyrations of the Government this year- continuing resolutions, course changes and policy uncertainty- have made this a weird season. There are supposed to be Task Orders coming out this week, first […]

(Image courtesy the American Laundry News) “Hard day in Afghanistan yesterday. We lost a special forces helicopter carrying our amazing Navy SEALS. They are the best of us all. Everyone’s thoughts and prayers go to their families.”  –  Admiral James Stavridis on his Facebook page Sunday morning I was deeply saddened about the loss of […]

The news of the Chinook crash in Afghanistan is depressing. 25 Americans- SEALS, apparently- and a half-dozen Afghan soldiers perished in the single most deadly event of a long war filled with them. Crap. That was unexpected. The other crap, well, I don’t think this is surprising. IN fact, it fills me with a certain […]

(Masters of Industry, with Tiara. Photo Socotra.) I needed to take a break from the merriment, but it just wasn’t in the cards, even though everyone was dragging a bit at the office yesterday due to the team-building cum birthday celebration at the bar Wednesday night. A good time was had by all, from what […]

Kurt’s father Bob, an old shipmate, edited and approved these words. I can add no more. Vic 28 July 2011 CAPT (S) Kurt William JUENGLING, 46. Ashburn, VA Kurt was born to a Navy family on July 9th, 1965. His parents, Bob and Anita Juengling, were a model Navy couple, and they raised a Great […]

There is a traditional toast to those departing a seafaring command. It is akin to the Irish landsman’s blessing: “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet […]