Parking In Australia

Well it is a brilliant idea from my friend Stacy Artis. At least women can feel safe now in Australia.


Another New Law:

With the high rate of attacks on women in secluded parking lots, especially during evening hours, the Brisbane City Council has established a "Women Only" parking lot at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Carindale.

Even the parking lot attendants are exclusively female so that a comfortable and safe environment is created for patrons.

Below is the first picture available of this world-first women-only parking lot in Australia.

USS Frank E Evans DD754 Video

Those of you who have been visiting me for awhile know the story of my ship and her sinking and the loss of the 74 young men. One of the people in the Evans association has a cousin to was at our Milwaukee reunion and made a video from interviews with two Australian sailors who were aboard the HMAS Melbourne that night and were decorated for valor in their efforts to save our guys and with some of the survivors. There will be a DVD coming out, soon, but this is a snippet of what the video will be like.

Also, there is a book out about the sinking. The book, Unsinkable Sailors, came out a couple of months ago. Look it up and read it.

Understand, these survivors have PTSD. They wake up at night feeling like they are falling out of their racks. Some cannot stand to be in cold water and some wake up from hearing the sounds of men screaming. All feel survivor guilt and wonder why they are still here.

My bff from Chicago, Chuck, was at the Australia reunion this year. He served with me and was not part of the incident. He is, however, a deacon in the Catholic Church and works in a jail and prison ministry, which mostly means that he listens to the inmates. He is an awesome listener and as such the men of Australia talked for hours with him. One guy is having nightmares and was crying to Chuck because he only saved two men. He said there were many more in the water but he couldn’t get back to them. They either drowned from being sucked down by the suction of the front half going down, or from hypothermia from the cold water or from shark attack. He is a decorated hero, too, but he cares nothing about the medals. He morns the ones he couldn’t get to. Aren’t you glad and proud that there are men like these guys walking among us? The Navies of the world are full of men of courage like these guys. I am just proud that I got to be associated with them in some small way.

Anyways, this is the video:



Lest we forget…

Baggage Handling Complaint

I have seen this before - think I even e-maild it out at one point, but it is still funny and close to true.

AUSTRALIAN SINGERS TRIBUTE TO THE USA MILITARY

***Okay peeps. How do I make the comments section show up at the bottom?***

I was going to post another of the jokes I found in an old file while cleaning out my filing cabnet. But my buddy from Chicago, Quarter Master Chuck, sent this tribute to our guys and gals in the military. It is just too powerful not to pass on, so if any of you wish to do it, be my guest.
AUSTRALIAN SINGERS TRIBUTE TO THE USA MILITARY

This is about US servicemen and women:

So A Big THANK YOU goes out from me to the people down under. I'll have a pint of FOSTERS in your honor tonight.

Friday is the day of wearing of the RED in support of the troops. I have on a Red Shirt today, and having a ‘Thank You’ drink in appreciation and respect seems appropriate. Goodday, Mate!