Calgon's Past -
Well, Let's see ... I'm a 58 year old, retired U.S. Army Captain, born in Tokyo, Japan to a military family. It would probably be something of an understatement to say my family tended to relocate. Heck, until I was 12, I thought a duffle bag was another term for a soldier's child, not some kind of suitcase! I lived in 2 countries, 11 states and 1 territory (that I know of) before I turned 18. Although many folks would find the prospect of leaving everyone they know and setting out for a new part of the world every fifteen months a bit daunting, I found it exciting! I learned, early on, to make friends quickly. The trick is understanding what "diversity" really is and how to live it ... It's really very simple. Keep an open mind to differences in cultures and people; and actively seek other's insight as often as possible.
Following high school, I joined the U.S. Army. This was the end of the "swinging 60’s" and we (the United States) were rather thoroughly involved in the Viet Namese civil war (not that there is anything "civil" about war). Selective Service was a fact of life and the draft lottery was in full operation. My number was '120' (which I thought was pretty low). Some folks were dodging the draft by seeking deferments, others were fleeing the country. Running off to Canada really wasn't a viable option. You see, I didn't speak Canadian very well ... So, I figured that the only sure way to "beat the draft" was to volunteer. At least then I'd have my choice of jobs and not end up stuck in some "dead-end, infantry-grunt, cannon-fodder" position. You guessed it ... Infantry (and eventually, Intelligence and Special Forces)! But hey! It was MY CHOICE. Guess I sure showed them, didn't I?
Well, one thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had survived some combat tours, assignments in a few other countries, over 20 states, and a few "training missions" in some very strange places. I had a two and a half year tour of duty in a military research and development lab and had opportunities to work closely with some very interesting folks at NASA. Additionally, I was a military (diplomatic) courier for around 3 years. That gave me a chance to visit just about every country in the world (many of which don't even exist anymore) at one time or another. In short, after 23 years of "Fun, Travel and Adventure" (FTA), I finally "pulled the plug" and retired from active duty.
I suppose that, in the words of an ancient Chinese phiolsopher ... one could say that I lived in "interesting times".
Calgon's Present -
Following my retirement from the Army, I didn't retire from life. I've had a series of jobs. Let's see ... warehouseman in an aluminum smelting plant, electronics salesman, desk clerk at a 'no-tell motel', gas station assistant manager, prison cop, "farmer" at a petting zoo, dispatcher for a cable TV company, operations manager of an import firm, car salesman, security guard, store detective, delivery driver for a car dealership. Although some of them had "potential", and many were with excellent companies, none of them were really challenging. They were/are just something to do to keep busy, bring in a couple bucks to pay for cruises and (maybe) stay in shape.
Currently, I'm a Lay Eucharistic Minister with the Episcopal Church, an Ordained Minister with the Universal Life Church and a hospital Chaplain at the local VA Medical Center. Those ministries are limited to assisting our Vicar with the conduct of services, visiting the sick and shut-ins and administering the Holy Sacrements. I've been fairly active in my local American Legion Post, having served as Commander, Judge Advocate, Chaplain, Sergeant-At-Arms and District Representative for the Sons of the American Legion. A couple years ago, I was honored to have been invited to be inducted into 40 et 8 (an honorary organization in the Legion). In my spare time, I'm a member of the local volunteer fire department. I served my "probie" time as a dispatcher (fancy title for radio operator). Then, I went on to Medical First Responder training and the Fire Academy for my Firefighter I and II certifications. Those courses were followed by assignment to the County Technical Rescue Team. We preform high- and low-angle, collapsed structure, trench and confined space rescues/recoveries. A couple years ago, I was selected to serve my brother and sister firefghters as their Department Chaplain. Last year, I recertified and was licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic and have just completed specialty work in Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and CPR/AED. Currently, I'm taking an 18 month course, through the Michigan State Police, to become a Pofessional Emergency Manager. In addition, I'm also taking the Healthcare, Hazardous Materials, Emergency management, FIre Science and Emergency Medical Services series of Homeland Security courses at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, down in Alabama. All in all, I'm just trying to stay off the streets, out of trouble and give a little something back to the community.
On top of all that, SunFlower and I purchased what we thought was a 110-year old Queen Anne about ten years ago. Under SunFlower's supervision, the house has certainly become a home. Later, we found that the original structure was built around 1834. A portion of the basement is all that's left of that. The main house was put up in the 1890's. Each owner has added something. Not sure what our main contribution will be. We recently had a new roof put on, extended the driveway and had the pool re-lined. Thankfully, the house is in excellent shape, so the majority of my labor consists of cutting the grass, raking billions of leaves, playing with the pool, fighting with the snow-plow drivers (I swear, I KNOW they wait at the end of the street until I've finished the driveway, and then plow me back in!). Oh, on occasion, I get to kill bats. Venus Williams be warned ... I'm developing a really nasty backhand! I keep promising to build a photo page and show off both the light of my life and our home. Gonna' have to do that ...
Calgon's Future? -
Well, we've we've finally had it with the economy (or lack thereof) in southeastern Michigan, and I hate shoveling snow. So, we recently put our house on the market and when it sells, SunFlower is going to submit her retirement paperwork an we're moving on. Right now, the Ol' South is looking pretty good. No snow, and we're within reasonable driving distance of many of our favorite cruise ports.
I suppose thst brings us to what is truly one of my great passions in life. Pleasure Cruises. Perhaps it's just a means of satisfying the wanderlust in my blood. Although I had opportunities to travel by ship while in service, comparing military sea transport to a vacation on a modern cruise ship is rather like comparing taking your brother (or sister) to the prom, vs. a week in Paris with the rich and famous. For most of us, it’s a no-brainer. For the rest of you out there ... get your butts on a cruise ship now, before it's too late!
Whatever my future holds ... It WILL involve cruising. For right now, it's building this web site, participation in different chat rooms and bulletin boards. I usually lurk around the following:
Why Cruise? -
OK, let's do a little comparison shopping here ...
We’ve all been there. Get up early, pile into the family car, bungee the trunk closed. Join a few thousand other families sitting in the highway construction zone. Fast food wrappers up to the window sills. The cat is hiding under your seat, hacking up hairballs the size of a small dog. Baby is screaming, "Pee-Pee Potty NOW!!!" The older ones are asking the eternal question, "How much longer?" Your loving spouse has given up trying to speak coherently and is now staring straight ahead, or, as any husband can tell you, she's "in the zone"! As the temperature gauge (both your's and the car's) continues climbing into the red, you begin to ask yourself, "Are we having fun yet?"
Finally, you pull into WallyWorld; but, before you start paying, answer the cell phone. Now, go on, get in line with the rest of the herd. Stop by the ATM. Pray that the Super-Duper-Upper-Chucker roller coaster is not "temporarily down for maintenance this week". Answer the cell phone. Endure "Billy-Bob", and the rest of the local-yokels pretenting to be Carribbean pirates (in the middle of Las Vegas?), while you watch the robotic hula manikins dance to taped music, and pretend you're on a tropical island. Get to know the ATM maintenance technician on a first name basis. Pay outrageous prices for cardboard food. Answer the cell phone. Find out the ATM is out of cash ... but that's OK, by now, SO ARE YOU!!
Oh, and you better hope the weather holds out. Remember the commercial? "It was our honeymoon." ... "It rained." ... "We played tennis." ... "It rained." ... "We ..." Well, I'm sure you get the picture.
Life on a cruise ship is a world unto itself. Every day of the year, on all seven seas, and in more than 1,800 ports of call from Alaska to Zanzibar the friendly, attentive, caring staffs of more than 180 cruise ships are pampering, entertaining, wining and dining tens of thousands of vacationers. Cruisers have the opportunity to experience things which other vacationers only dream about. On top of it all, the best reason to cruise has nothing to do with all the wonderful points I’ve made above. It has to do with money. Dollars, Lira, Rubbles, Francs, Pounds, Yen.
When you cruise, you pay one set fare for everything. It’s all included. Airfare, ground transfers, your room, meals (between eight and twelve per day, plus 24 hour a day snacks!), entertainment, room service, nightclub and Broadway style shows, dance lessons, parties, sports competitions, and travel to a multitude of exotic ports of call; and all of this with someone else doing ALL the work! The only thing you have to do is - NOTHING!!!!
That's right. Here's your chance to do abso-freaking-lutely nothing. It's all taken care of. Your cabin steward will clean your cabin (twice a day), have your laundry done, polish your shoes, turn down your bed and leave those imported chocolates on the pillow. Room service will deliver your breakfast in bed, continental breakfast to your balcony, a picnic lunch for your excursion, a tray of extraordinary deserts for that surprise party, and even that lobster-on-rye snadwich you crave at 3:00 am. Relax pool-side while a real-live band plays your requests. Take your time and enjoy the company of your new friends, because the appointment for your massage and spa treatment isn't for another hour. The dining staff remembers your preferences, has your cofee and chair waiting. The chef has prepared another of his fantastic specialities, but, *sigh*, it's just a bit too spicy, so back it goes; only to be immediately replaced by another exotic entree. Hmmmm. This is good. You're thinking of ordering seconds (and maybe thirds). Why not? As I said, it's included. You dance the night away, every night, serenaded by string quartets, under a canopy of stars! You're transported overnight to some of the world's most interesting places, awakening to the smell of fresh vanilla and allspice in the air. You'll be entrtained, pampered, spoiled and coddled. You'll be treated in the manner to which you've always wanted to become accustomed! In short, you'll experience things the folks back home only dream of.
Oh, two other points. 1), cell phones don't reach out here. And 2), if the weather turns to @#*&, the ship sails around it. There are always alternative ports of call waiting.
It's your choice!
Here's a great outfit for fantastic prices, because you never, ever pay 'brochure' for a cruise. Vacations To Go offers between 20 and 80% off brochure and are completely reliable. SunFlower and I have used them numerous times and have always been very satisfied!
Calgon's Family -
SunFlower Star - Absolutely my BEST FRIEND and my partner in life! We "met on the net"! A few years ago, I found myself single (again). The town I was living in was somewhat lacking in prospects for the dating scene (most of the local family trees had no branches) so, I figured I’d give the internet a try. I posted a profile at MatchCom. I figured that if nothing else, perhaps I’d at least make a few pen-pals and have someone to chat with. After a few months of exchanging e-mail with a lot of strange people (yes, there are people who are even stranger than me), I received an e-mail from some gal with the handle SunFlower Star". She very politely opened with,
The Calgon Links:
Please bear in mind that some links may be under construction. I know. I hate that just as much as you do, but I still have to work for a living and don't have all the time I'd like to keep on top of everything.
Recent efforts have been centered on developing links for the
Ports-of-Call. Yes, I realize it's not done yet. I'm working on it. Will get more done as time goes on. Thanks for bearing with me! As with
The Ultimate Packing List, I'm going to need your help on this one. If you have favorite ports-of-call, write me and let me know about them. Why they're a favorite. What's the best thing to do there? What should be avoided? Best buys? I started with the Caribbean, but will gladly accept information on any port, Arrival and departure ports included. Come on folks. I know I'm not the only opinionated person out here.
The Ultimate Packing Lists
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Calgon's Nautical Dictionary
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Pre-Departure Checklist
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Cruise Reviews
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Internet Info:
Email:
