tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post4327481513962764127..comments2024-03-28T01:33:22.764-04:00Comments on The DiploMad 2.0: The Popeil Pocket Fisherman and the CrocDiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-69967350332333572612013-01-02T20:10:20.707-05:002013-01-02T20:10:20.707-05:00Could have, I lived on Albrook for about half of t...Could have, I lived on Albrook for about half of the three years and then moved to Howard. I crossed the Thatcher Bridge every day and will never forget when the traffic police went home early (I assume) and both ends of traffic started to cross-anyway all the traffic met in the middle of that damn bridge... no accidents that time. I also remember that the students protesting at the University would conveniently stop protesting at around 3 or 4 o’clock…. Thanks, JackAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-12945649768772592962013-01-02T00:26:45.078-05:002013-01-02T00:26:45.078-05:00Ha! Great story. Having now spent many years in pl...Ha! Great story. Having now spent many years in places with those beasts, I leave them alone in the hope that they will reciprocate.DiploMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-1683134073491926962013-01-02T00:25:33.411-05:002013-01-02T00:25:33.411-05:00We overlapped. I might have run into you at the PX...We overlapped. I might have run into you at the PX or the movie theatre on Howard.DiploMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-26042836121421815712013-01-01T23:54:58.154-05:002013-01-01T23:54:58.154-05:00I was on a TDY with some civilian engineers to vis...I was on a TDY with some civilian engineers to visit two bidders in Florida, one in Melbourne, one in St Petersburg. We flew into Melbourne, had our meetings, next day rented a van and drove to St Pete.<br /><br />Halfway across Florida we stopped for lunch by some big river, don't remember name now. We had lots of time to make the trip, so we decide to take an airboat tour down the river to see alligators.<br /><br />Airboat, complete with huge bubba-type airboat driver with butt-crack and everything. He was good with the boat, and spotted a very large alligator some distance way. He pointed the boat, cut the engine at just the right moment while turning, and we just drifted right up next to the 'gator, literally inches away. <br /><br />He was a BIG boy, maybe 12 feet long and about three feet wide in the middle, it looked like. The airboat provided about a foot of freeboard and maybe a quarter-inch or less of aluminum between us and Big Green Death Machine, who just laid there quietly floating in the water, just the middle of his back, his eyes, and his snout above water.<br /><br />One of the engineers was a bit different, very smart and curious, but not necessarily on the same wavelength with human beings. He reached right over the side and with his bare hand TAPPED THE GATOR IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BACK.<br /><br />Mr. Gator FREAKED (he was not alone) and very violently swept his nose and his tail from side to side, which carved out a huge gator-length trough about three feet wide and deep right in the river. It exposed the entire alligator all at once, feet, sides, end-to-end, and he looked even bigger than he had earlier. Before we could finish the first round of curses we were hurling at the engineer, he vanished below the water, thankfully, instead of coming over the side of the boat.<br /><br />Bubba said, "Gators don't like to be touched much." Yeah.<br /><br />I told the engineer that if it wouldn't have had such a hassle explaining how I lost an engineer on a TDY that I would toss him over the side so he could get a better look!<br /><br />Keep the stories coming, love reading them.<br /><br />EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-46527706791947326362013-01-01T11:14:31.802-05:002013-01-01T11:14:31.802-05:00I lived in Panama for three years while in the Air...I lived in Panama for three years while in the Air Force (95-98)and it costs the three of us about 20 dollars total for a guide and an old alumimun john boat as well. I tell you it is no fun watching one of those canal tugs tugs come straight at you pushing about a 2-3 wake in a john boat with 4 guys in it..anyway the pilot pulled back on the throttles in time but we all thought we were going for a swimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-50314092009287567502012-12-31T19:30:44.628-05:002012-12-31T19:30:44.628-05:00Well Mr. Mad happy new year. Let's go get them...Well Mr. Mad happy new year. Let's go get them in '13!Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13642228725661059539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-9055057238386120952012-12-31T18:55:46.097-05:002012-12-31T18:55:46.097-05:00Diplomad, before I turn in for the night, I wish y...Diplomad, before I turn in for the night, I wish you and your whole family a happy new year. <br /><br /> *<br /> *<br /> \-/<br /> _Y__<br /><br />My best attempt at a glass of bubbly!<br /> <br />Kephahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00999385775493831638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-80542072367390123192012-12-31T18:34:30.832-05:002012-12-31T18:34:30.832-05:00I have moved my lazyboy to the reclined and comfor...I have moved my lazyboy to the reclined and comfortable position. Back to mac and cheese. Saving the C-rats for later.<br /><br />Merry New Year.STxRynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-24504522738874661522012-12-31T14:44:22.647-05:002012-12-31T14:44:22.647-05:00Diplomad, I live in Panama. Love it and a good fri...Diplomad, I live in Panama. Love it and a good friend does fishing tours out on the lake. Turned your blog onto a few good Conservatives at the Embassy. I am sure they can relate to your stories! It is still a good place to visit.<br /><br />By the way, the first post I read of yours was version 1's story on the US response to the tsunami of 2004. Please reprint that series if you can. Wonderful insights. Very well written.<br /><br />Keep up the great work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-37081367368826064172012-12-31T12:36:00.434-05:002012-12-31T12:36:00.434-05:00It is no safer than it was before the apocalypse. ...It is no safer than it was before the apocalypse. However, it doesn't appear to me that safety is a position you have ever sought or advocated.<br /><br />Is it possible to have an off-comment, email discussion? Good Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450047870207371309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-6737647629324350672012-12-31T11:45:42.123-05:002012-12-31T11:45:42.123-05:00Yes, I guess I should come out of my bunker . . . ...Yes, I guess I should come out of my bunker . . . you're sure it's safe? DiploMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-26795711482427457612012-12-31T11:39:09.354-05:002012-12-31T11:39:09.354-05:00A buddy of mine from Seattle had a neat story. He...A buddy of mine from Seattle had a neat story. He and his best friend were going fishing with their double throw down super expensive rigs. His wife went too. She had the Pocket Fisherman. They fished in Pungent Sound and she caught fish all day right over the side of the boat. The super rigs didn't score once. <br /><br />Glad you survived the apocalypse. STxRynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-73307823992206296962012-12-31T10:54:21.710-05:002012-12-31T10:54:21.710-05:00Wonderful story well told. Wonderful story well told. Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981706601001285694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-76839914685612577292012-12-31T09:13:51.500-05:002012-12-31T09:13:51.500-05:00And in other news... Hillary Clinton is making no ...And in other news... Hillary Clinton is making no attempt to reel in the croc on the end of her line...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724327052654657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-33097181617419271652012-12-31T06:49:12.876-05:002012-12-31T06:49:12.876-05:00" to see these guys following your boat just ..." to see these guys following your boat just waiting for a snack" I thought it was against the law to fish in D.C.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13642228725661059539noreply@blogger.com