SLO Camper
Junior Ranger
Hmm. That propane tank looks a little too big...
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Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather
- Thread starter Tour 931
- Start date
Sweeney
Administrator
I'm sure -- my travels have only taken me to northern lower michigan, and spending a few hours driving around in the UP heading towards green bay, then back to necedah....of course Oshkosh
So I don't have a lot of knowledge of the area. few people, cooler summer highs, and clear skies --- pretty much sold me though 
But, as my parents just moved to be closer to me, and they are in their twilight years, I sincerely hope I won't be able to go up there for some time. My travels for the forseeable future will be within 150 miles or so of my home-base.
EDIT: Sorry for wet towel. Topic change time.
I'm hoping to get the camper out this weekend and at least take it to the back 40 -- not as nice as going some place, but sometimes you can't get what you want. Firewood is cheaper I guess
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Sweeney
Administrator
I'm curious how accurate George C Scott's characterization of him was. I know he had some strange ideas...he did believe in reincarnation, I know that much is true, and I know he had great respect for Rommel.
Tour 931
Ranger
Your getting to the back 30 is further than I’ve gone. My CI doesn’t even have current plates.I'm sure -- my travels have only taken me to northern lower michigan, and spending a few hours driving around in the UP heading towards green bay, then back to necedah....of course Oshkosh
But, as my parents just moved to be closer to me, and they are in their twilight years, I sincerely hope I won't be able to go up there for some time. My travels for the forseeable future will be within 150 miles or so of my home-base.
EDIT: Sorry for wet towel. Topic change time.
I'm hoping to get the camper out this weekend and at least take it to the back 40 -- not as nice as going some place, but sometimes you can't get what you want. Firewood is cheaper I guess
Sweeney
Administrator
Come on down, I'll throw an extra burger on the grill...
M&L
Ranger
While I'm by no means a Patton expert, my Lt. Colonel great-grandfather did serve with him (Eisenhower, too...I have a letter from him to my great-grandfather); I'm not aware of any complaints about George C. Scott's portrayal in the family lore. Rommel, on the other hand, was an absolutely brilliant tank commander and was implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler...they even have a monument dedicated to him in Germany, something that is (rightfully) non-existent for other WWII German political and military figures for obvious reasons.
Sweeney
Administrator
Interesting Rommel trivia, I was totally unaware of it.
I'm not an expert on either. I honestly think I would have hated the man (Patton) if I had been in his command. That "driven, type 'A'" and I just don't get along. I am competitive - its not that -- But find the 'bull' personality to be completely disgusting.
M&L
Ranger
Ya, making personalities gel even during normal times is challenging. During war, all bets are off. One thing history shows is that personalities like his always emerge when civilizations clash...and you want the 'Patton types' on your side. From what I recall reading, historians and military strategists both past and present, for example, tend to agree that no one else besides Patton could have rescued the 101st Airborne from being completely surrounded by Germans at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Prior to that, the Allies even had Patton stage a fake invasion force with inflatable tanks in a different part of the UK while the real D-Day invasion force was making preparations to land in Normandy; the Germans were *certain* that Patton, who they feared and respected more than any other Allied commander, would be leading that charge. Even after the D-Day invasion started, the Germans refused to move their main body of troops from the fake landing area because Patton was still there on the other side of the English Channel. By the time they realized they'd been fooled, it was too late.
Probably not the guy you want to have over for evening tea...or a morning cup of coffee, to tie this to the title of this thread; but definitely the guy to have around when civilization hangs in the balance.
As a side note, my oldest daughter was an EMT on an ambulance before her current job as a firefighter. She got to transport Patton's main Jeep driver for the last portion of the war, a guy who went by the name 'Jeep' Sanza. He died a few years ago here in town (here's his obituary). Due to the conditions of their meeting for a medical situation, my daughter didn't get to talk about history with him...but at least 'Jeep' Sanza had his stories documented in other places.
Sweeney
Administrator
I could not agree more about needing people like him at times -- my comment was personal 'likability', and diplomacy. Certainly any time you have a a madman is at the door, its not time to play patty cake. Also, and trying not to swerve too far into geo politics, I believe WWII was completely justified. Even at the time without full knowledge of the plans to exterminate the Jews, and if successful, how knows what other religious or ethnic group.
Meeting 'Jeep' and hearing the stories is a rare treat these days. Three are fewer of that generation around every day, and it won't be long before no one is alive to tell the stories. Hopefully we learned from them while they were alive -- Easy Company for example. One of my friends (Whom I havn't seent for years, but at one time was on my "best friends" list) is the nephew of Sobol. Unfortuantely, the book (and subsequent miniseries) did not paint him in the light he deserved.
Profound thought, probably much like Patton. He knew he was training boys to go do horrific things, and hopefully be trained well enough to make it home alive. He was not the prick - but he was tough.
I heard a story last night from a flight instructor. When you start flight school you have 2 bag. A back of luck, and bag of experience. Luck is full, experience is empty. The trick is to move the chips from the luck bag to the experience bag successfully. Thats what Sobol (and to some degree Patton) were doing...moving chips.
Sweeney
Administrator
Beautiful couple days here in Indiana - temps in the high 80s, but the humidity isn't so bad, so we've been able to turn off the AC (at home) I'm enjoying that.
Weekend plans? Not much probably weed and clean off the back porch, which is looking pretty redneck these days. The person who we bought the house from built a cover over a wooden deck, with several posts holding up a roof structure. This sits next to (inches) but does not touch the house --- my guess is he wanted to avoid permitting, and inspection.
We liked the roof at first, but realized that when it rains the deck still gets wet -- you can't sit outside when its raining --- the sides are open, and the gutters clog and just make everything unbearable. Very poorly designed. I think we're going to start preparing to remove the roof portion and replace it with a fabric canopy for shade and better airflow, and drainage. Probably do some painting as well.
We've got a bit of deferred maintenance we need to focus on...
Weekend plans? Not much probably weed and clean off the back porch, which is looking pretty redneck these days. The person who we bought the house from built a cover over a wooden deck, with several posts holding up a roof structure. This sits next to (inches) but does not touch the house --- my guess is he wanted to avoid permitting, and inspection.
We liked the roof at first, but realized that when it rains the deck still gets wet -- you can't sit outside when its raining --- the sides are open, and the gutters clog and just make everything unbearable. Very poorly designed. I think we're going to start preparing to remove the roof portion and replace it with a fabric canopy for shade and better airflow, and drainage. Probably do some painting as well.
We've got a bit of deferred maintenance we need to focus on...
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
There are significantly less mosquitoes at Bellevue State Park in Iowa than there were at Perrot State Park in Wisconsi. Both are beautiful places.
Tour 931
Ranger
As the originator of the thread I would like to say there is no topic here and I’ve enjoyed reading about Patton.
Everyone should feel free to post about anything here.
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Someone stole our broom at our campsite. Who steals a cheap Dollar General broom? We are wondering about the 4 year old next door. He keeps coming over checking things out. Pretty funny if he’s our man, Mason the Broom Thief.
Sweeney
Administrator
I hate hanging those...nightmares about dropping them, especially from 2'nd story windows...
You seen this one? 8,000 BTU U-shaped Air Conditioner
8bitguy (youtuber) just put one of these in his office running of a solar generator rig he set up --- he's in Texas and has had some problems recently. I think homeless-despot sells them...
Sweeney
Administrator
Try Indiana some time
The design of this is interesting...plus, its an inverter based so the surge isn't as high. Its also quiet..My parents just moved into an old appartment building that relies on a window-shaker in the wall. Turn that thing on and you can't hear yourself think....This one is quiet!!!