Sunday Dalliance

Posted May 23rd, 2010 by Claude

Arlington

I never thought that this is where I’d settle down,
I thought I’d die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men,
for a job well done.

There’s a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, ‘We’re proud of your son’.

And I’m proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I’m on sacred ground and I’m in the best of company,
I’m thankful for those thankful for the things I’ve done,
I can rest in peace, I’m one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, ‘Son this is what it cost, to keep us free’.
Now here I am a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I’m proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I’m on sacred ground and I’m in the best of company,
And I’m thankful for those thankful for the things I’ve done,
I can rest in peace, I’m one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us.

We’re thankful for those thankful for the things we’ve done,
We can rest in peace, ’cause we were the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust
Don’t cry for us, we made it to Arlington.

Trace Adkins

Sunday Dalliance

Posted May 16th, 2010 by Claude

If You’re Reading This

If you’re reading this
My momma is sitting there
Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here
I sure wish I could give you one more kiss
War was just a game we played when we were kids
Well I’m laying down my gun
I’m hanging up my boots
I’m up here with God
And we’re both watching over you

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed where it would go.
If you’re reading this I’m already home.

If you’re reading this
Half way around the world
I won’t be there to see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you
I hope she fights like me
Stand up for the innocent and the weak
I’m laying down my gun
Hanging up my boots
Tell dad I don’t regret that id follow in his shoes

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul is where my momma always prayed where it would go
If you’re reading this, I’m already home

If you’re reading this, there is going to come a day
You move on and find someone else and that?s okay
Just remember this
I’m in a better place
Soldiers live in peace and angels sing amazing grace

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul is where my momma prayed where that it would go
If you’re reading this
If you’re reading this
I’m already home

– Tim McGraw

Boys just want to have fun!

Posted May 15th, 2010 by Claude

Time on your hand. Hot topic. Camera available. Music. Action.

Posted notes

Posted May 14th, 2010 by Claude
Rhinecliff Amtrak station

Rhinecliff Amtrak station

Rain on Wednesday revealed why the back porch steps rotted out – they are sitting in a puddle an inch deep. The best laid plans. So I’ll have to tear up what I have done, raise the foundation of the porch and steps, and restart from there.

The rain squashed any chance of working on the porch any more before returning to Columbus that evening. So I decided to spend the rest of the day completing military paperwork.

Amtrak sports spacious seats.

Amtrak sports spacious seats.


As I take Amtrak east to Cleveland, I realize there are a lot more passengers than there were in the past. For years before my deployment to Afghanistan I’ve taken Amtrak. Usually, the car is only partially filled. This trip almost all the seats are taken. I guess people have discovered there is way better seating than a plane and the price is comparable to taking a bus. Of course the other advantage is I can watch movies on the trip, In this case, The Matrix series. The outlets also let me hook the computer up – don’t have to worry about the battery going dead.

Puttering Around the House

Posted May 11th, 2010 by Claude

Dieric Bouts the Elder's 'Demon Hitting the Damned', circa 1450

Dieric Bouts the Elder's 'Demon Hitting the Damned', circa 1450


This week on “Puttering Around the House” Claude is taking a break from working on the back porch of his 1850s Queen Anne home in Upstate New York. He is off to hell to visit the so-called “carpenter” who built the porch addition. Claude figured besides sharing a few choice words for the fellow, he would give the devil a hand by torturing or beating the son-of-a-b****.