"Got a Whale of a tale t'tell ya lads..."

Well Sir, here be a true sea story about sumthin that Cookie experienced back in 1965 while standing "Port Topside Lookout" on the Submarine USS Piper(photo in the sidebar). We were running on the surface heading south on what was affectionately known as a "Rum Run" down to various Caribbean Islands. The enlisted crew called these sojourns "Rum Runs" because while down there we would purchase as much Rum and other alcohol spirits as we could afford at "Duty Free", and inexpensive prices, and sell the booze when we returned, usually making a hefty profit.

At any rate, it was very nearly sundown and the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Long Island was roughly 10 miles to our starboard (right side) stern. As a lookout, my duty was to report just about anything I see to the OOD (Officer On Duty) who was on the Conning tower bridge with us. The setting sun was behind me and I was basically looking easterly out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Then I noticed two roundish shapped objects about 20 to 30 feet away from the "Boat" that appeared to be glowing. Remember, the sun was behind me a few degrees above the horizon. I immediately informed the OOD of these objects. As we all looked to identify what they were, the OOD said "Holy Shit! Look down!" We all looked and there were two long tentacles with large pads lightly feeling the side of the submarine as we passed. It then became clear that we were all witnessing a Giant Squid who was probably checking us out as a possible meal. The two round "glowing objects" were the squid's eyes reflecting the setting sun. Holy Shit, shades of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

We continued on and the squid was left in our wake, the entire incident only lasting less than a minute. Now Sir, at the time of this occurrence Cookie was only about 21 years old and did not realize that what we had just witnessed was something very unusual and rare. To this young Sailor, I thought it was something that probably happened somewhat regularly but it would make a great story to tell my kids and grand kids.

Over these past years when watching the Discovery, History and National Geo. channels about marine biology or giant squids, the narrator almost always made the statement "No one has ever seen a giant squid on the surface alive." Well Sir, this man did, along with two other shipmates.

TRUTH, I swear by my tattoo!!

If'n y'all don't believe the Cookie, watch this video!

Be Prepared mates, a Tip fer y'all, and a musical lookback fer "Squids", "Bubbleheads" and "Boomers".

First off, just about anyone capable of posting a blog on the Internet is also intelligent enough to have some degree of forethought regarding current world events and situations.

Some of you, like myself were Boy Scouts in our youth, and what was our motto.... BE PREPARED!

Well Sir, the below video is of a generator self destructing as a result of an Internet Cyber Attack. More and more of our infrastructure power, water, air traffic control grids are connecting to the Internet, thus making them more and more vulnerable to Cyber Attacks.

Lets be honest. if you make sure to stock up on non-perishable staple, water and food supplies,... Just In Case, and nothing happens, then nothings lost. BUT, your gonna be kicking yourself in the ass should there be a natural disaster or infrastructure attack and your not ready!

Just say'n!



Now Sir, the following ain't no advertisement fer Cabela's, but a tip to whomever might be interested regarding some affordable Emergency Meals. Cookie hasn't been able to afford the better Military grade MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), but I found this Emergency 60 Meal Food Kit supply for a very reasonable price ($129.00). If'n yur interested, ya might wanna check it out.
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Now Sir, on a lighter note, here be a musical lookback fer all you old "Squids", "Bubbleheads" and "Boomers" who enjoyed Petula Clark....

Obama Billboard, "Change Me, I Stink!", and, A sign of the times!!

I'm sure there's more than a few of y'all out there who feel similarly.
What'cha all think about this???



Incompetence!. You can only hide it for just so long!!
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The book "Understanding Women" has finally arrived in book stores. I think this is the condensed version ... or it may be Vol. 1.

Gotta Thank me buddy "Patrick" from over at "PRH...A Day in the Life" fer this one.



















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This ad is GREAT, and a very real sign of the times!!!

"A Torch with No Flame." and some humor.

My good amiga frum down Eagle Lake Texas way, Susan Gertson sent me this commentary by Charlton Heston regarding our 2nd Ammendment.

IT IS SPOT ON and very well done

If you value the freedoms you have, please, take a few minutes and watch. I know many of us old "Geezers" from the 40's, 50's, 60's and early 70's will definitely relate. I know I'm going to begin talking with my grandchildren yet again about this topic.

We have to begin teaching our children and grandchildren about respecting firearms and how to safely handle them, just like many of us were taught by our fathers and big brothers. If you live in an urban setting and don't hunt, after you yourself learn about firearm safety, then take your child to a range and practice with him/her. There are two benefits to this, one, the child is learning gun safety and having some fun, but mostly its time together with your children.
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HEADS UP MEN!! An important Public Service Announcement!!!



Gotta Thank "Upstate Nikki" fer the last one. Thanks Amiga!!

If'n yur ever in West (BY GOD) Virginia don't......

Well Sir, yesterday I had the opportunity to meet a few new folks in the blog-o-sphere, and one of em was originally from West Virginia. During our conversation I was reminded of sumthin that happened to Cookie about 20-25 years ago when I was visit'n some friends down around Logan, WV (about 50 miles frum where the Hatfields and McCoys are frum).

I was drive'n on roads I wasn't familiar with and look'n fer the house of a good friend of mine who, at that time was the Police Chief of Logan, WV. He'd give'n me directions but I accidentally took a turn up the wrong "Holler".

I knew sumthin was wrong after I had driven for about ten minutes further up into the holler than what I should have driven accord'n t'his directions. As I neared the end of the Holler, me and my car with New York plates (and Police PBA stickers on the side window) were greeted with a scene that looked somethin like all of the below photygraffs.....

Now Sir, this was a real "Awww Shit!" moment t'be sure. I told them I was lost and I'll be leaving immediately but they weren't satisfied with that and a couple of them stood behind my car. They spotted the Member PBA (Police Benevolent Association) on the side window and asked if'n I was "Law". Well Sir, obviously lie'n wouldn't have wurked at this point so's I answered "Yup, up in New York".

After a couple a more questions one of em finally asked, "Well, who ya look'n fer?" At this point I didn't know if I should tell them the Police Chief of Logan or not. Finally, figure'n out I didn't know hardly anyone in this area at all, I told them, "Police Chief So & So, he's a friend of mine". After a few seconds went by, one of em finally said, "Well why didn'tcha ya say you was friends with So & So in the first place. He's in the next holler over". They all became visibly more relaxed and in no time I was head'n back out of that holler as fast as I could. WHEW!!

I found out later frum my friend the Chief that these here folks had a few "Stills" operating a little further up into the holler. He also told me I was pretty lucky to be in one piece as these here folks definitely didn't cotton to strangers, specially "Law" folks. The Police Chief had lived his whole life in the area and was known by everyone and he had a good relationship going with this particular clan.

So, if'n yur ever down in the lower part of WV, careful which hollers ya drive into!!!

Y'all gotta love this video and song !!

Well Sir, t'day, I was made aware of a blog called "The Scottcarp Dream", and it came well recommended from several sources. I stopped over to see what this blogger was all about and while there I just had t'steal this here version of "Obama's Prison Blue's"!!

Now Sir, I gotta say that cause of some health problems I took a great deal of time off from both the computer and blog'n throughout the Spring & Summer months, and this here video could be an old one that I'm just not familiar with, so's, if'n y'all have seen it already, well....watch it again cause its true!!




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Wednesday Wanks.....

SOME ADULT CONTENT AHEAD!!!

Well Sir, most of y'all know Cookie lives on Oneida Lake in upstate New York, and as such, I'm an avid fisherman. I've got a 19 foot Sea Nymph Great Lakes Special fer my fish'n boat, and it happens to be equipped with a 115 HP Johnson, long shaft outboard motor.

Now Sir, when my good old Gyrene buddy The Chief sent me this here video early this morn, I just couldn't stop laff'n fer quite a spell. Here t'is....

"I got a Big Ol Johnson"


A Big Cookie's Place HAT TIP to "The Chief" fer send'n this along t'me!!
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Me old Submarine mate "SubVet" recently recommended this below listed blog to me, and after peruse'n it yesterday and t'day, I also VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND folks to make it a daily read,

ESPECIALLY HIS POST FER SEPTEMBER 26!!!

WoodsterMan

On Eternal Patrol.....

A few days back at a private function, I happened to meet another Bubble-Head (Submariner) who had served on "The Boats" about the same time as I had. As it turned out, both of us had served out of New London, Conn. during the 60's. We introduced ourselves, bought each other a couple of "Toddies", and as will happen in meetings like this between two "squids", we got to reminisce'n, remembering our service time and tell'n each other lies about our experiences.

After a bit, we began talking about the USS Thresher (SSN-593), lost with ALL HANDS in 1963, and the USS Scorpion(SSN-589), lost with ALL HANDS in 1968, two Nuclear boats lost at sea during our service time.

We discovered that both of us had served on "Diesel Boats" that had been built, and in service during WWII. Both our boats had distinguished war records of sinkings.

The below video is a moving Tribute to all the 52 Submarine Officers and Enlisted crews who gave their lives protecting our freedom and families during WWII, and to all the brave men who have since gone on ETERNAL PATROL.

Lest We Forget........

Commenting will be easier!!

Regarding "Commenting" in this new blog.


First off, I've disabled "Word Verification" as this has dissuaded many folks from leaving comments. Too much of a pain in the ass.

Secondly, I've opened up leaving a comment to ANYONE, including Anonymous folks.

So, if'n fer some reason yur have'n problems leave'n yur comments, post it "Anonymously" but sign your names in the body of the comment so's I'll know who ya are!

All "Comments" are moderated by me before they are published, so you "Liberal Trolls" who like to leave nasty and inappropriate comments, those remarks will never see the light of day!! If'n however, yur viewpoints/comments are written appropriately and have merit, they'll be posted for discussion/debate. 

Sumthin t'ponder....

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."

Gerald R. Ford
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A great analogy!!!




"The "entitlement psychology" of many Americans not only affects our pocketbooks, it may truly be the downfall of our way of life. It's time to do something about this!!!

The folks who are getting the free stuff, don't like the folks who are paying for the free stuff, because the folks who are paying for the free stuff, can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff,


And,


The folks who are paying for the free stuff, want the free stuff to stop.and the the folks who are getting the free stuff,want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting!


Now... The people who are forcing the people who pay for the free stuff,have told the people who are RECEIVING the free stuff,that the people who are PAYING for the free stuff, are being mean, prejudiced, and racist.


So... the people who are GETTING the free stuff, have been convinced they need to hate the people who are paying for the free stuff, by the people who are forcing some people to pay for their free stuff, and giving them the free stuff in the first place.


We have let the free stuff giving go on for so long that there are now more people getting free stuff than paying for the free stuff.


Now understand this. All great democracies have committed financial suicide somewhere between 200 and 250 years after being founded. The reason? The voters figured out they could vote themselves money from the treasury by electing people who promised to give them money from the treasury in exchange for electing them. The United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 231 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff.


We have one chance to change that in 2012. Failure to change that may spell the end of the United States as we know it.

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING

A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!

Let’s Take a Stand!!!


Borders:   Closed!

Language:   English only

Culture:   Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!

Drug Free:   Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!

NO freebies to:   Non-Citizens "

Use your vote wisely, Vote Principles, NOT Party!!! 

Gotta Thank "The Chief"  for send'n me part of the above post.

Gotta get this new blog started on the right foot.

As many of my old readers know, there's a cantankerous old Gyrene out there known as "The Chief" who is forever bust'n Cookie's balls in a typical Navy Seabee/Marine Corps good natured way.

Well Sir, surprisingly, he asked me rather nicely to put a Marine Corps emblem somewhere on this here new blog, and since he was so polite about it, I decided to ablige his sorry ass by putting one in the sidebar, as a Tribute to all the great Marines I worked side by side with in Gitmo and a few other Hell-Holes around this earth.

However, the above photygraff really says it all!!!

"A Big Black Submarine" by Tommy Cox.

A great Irish Lamb Stew fer the upcome'n Fall months.

Irish Lamb Stew Recipe

Ingredients
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-1/2 pounds lamb stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon dill weed
• 3 cups water
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
• Hot biscuits
• 8 pearl onions, peeled

Directions

In a large re-sealable plastic bag, combine 4 tablespoons flour, salt and pepper. Add lamb; shake to coat.

In a Dutch oven (preferrably Cast-Iron), brown lamb in oil on all sides. Add water and dill; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is almost tender.

Add the onions, carrots and potatoes. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the meat and vegetables are tender.

In a small bowl, place remaining flour; stir in cream until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with HOT biscuits. Yield: 6 servings.

Although I would like to take credit fer this recipe, I got it about a year ago from "Taste of Home", and after making it for my wife and myself(with some minor changes), enjoyed it so much that I decided to re-post it.

Well Sir, I'm back, fer better or fer wurse!!

As most of y'all already know, sometimes ya just gotta take a break from certain things and attend to more important things, like yur family and health. Thats kinda why I let the old "Cookshack" go t'seed, not know'n that "Blogger" would claim the domain right after a period of inactivity.

So, as the next few weeks progress, this old "puter illiterate" war-horse will be attempting to modify and design this new blog format from time t'time, so expect some mistakes and minor changes, more so the mistakes!

With our country in almost complete disarray thanks to Obama, his cronies, and politicians in general (Republicans included), some of the posts will be regard'n the upcomming elections. Most of the posts however will be bout food & funnies so y'all will have a place to take a break and have a laff or two!

OK, nuff fer now, so please drop by frum time t'time and say hello to the old Cookie.