Robert’s Famous Burgers
Yesterday, I went over to my mother’s place for our first cookout of the season. They always make the best burgers. My mother adds her secret seasonings into the meat and makes the perfect patties. Robert, my stepfather, has his technique down with the grill. After he warms it up, he puts the burgers on and sets a timer for 12 minutes. He only opens the grill once at the 6 minute mark to flip the burgers. When the buzzer goes off, they’re done. Sounds simple, yet Jennifer and I still can’t make them like they do. Even after we have figured out some of the secret ingredients.
Charge Book
Here a Navy Chief inspects the charge book of a CPO selectee at a weekly training event during the 2006 initiation season.
Charge Book: “During World War II, Commanding Officers were authorized to advance and promote deserving and qualified sailors to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer. The determination of ‘deserving and qualified’ could be difficult for the CO. The situation also presented
challenges to the Sailor who aspired to attain a Chief rating. From these dilemmas sprang the original charge books. Chiefs began to direct PO1’s to prepare themselves to assume the additional responsibilities. Ship’s professional libraries were nonexistent or poorly stocked and much had to be learned directly from conversations with the Chiefs themselves and taken down to be studied later. In addition to the technical aspects of the various ratings, CPO’s also talked to the PO1’s about leadership, accountability, supporting the chain of command, and other subject matter often using personal experiences to illustrate how something should (or should not) be done. The collection of notes and study material eventually came to be called a ‘Charge Book’ perhaps because those who kept them were their ‘Charges’(entrusted to their care) for professional development or perhaps because the entries included ‘Charges’ (authoritative instructions or tasking of a directive nature).”
Phone Talker
This is a photo from last year’s CPO initiation season. I finally started to go through the hundreds of photos I have from these events. Here, MMC(SEL) Cabral is using a sound-powered telephone for drills.
It’s Our Struggles That Define Us
I found an old CD today of pictures from the Special Olympics I volunteered at back in 2004. There I am on the far left. I was a spotter during the powerlifting events. These games are something I will never forget. The guy in the picture had to be strapped to the bench because he does not have use of his legs. This was his first attempt. He went on to bench well over 300 pounds!I think there is a significant difference between these competitors and a lot of other people out there. These competitors believe they can do anything they set there mind to. Maybe it’s the obstacles they’ve had to overcome.We all have obstacles to some extent, but I think most people use them as excuses. I hear more excuses about why someone can’t do something rather than why someone can: I don’t have any time or this hurts or they say I can’t. It’s these obstacles that can be called upon for strength. It’s our struggles that define us.
