My word it is half way through August already.  I cannot believe we are on the down slope of 2005 and my reign is almost over.  The end of the year will bring a new election and the annual Kittyhawk festivities.  I'm already looking forward to another Kittyhawk Christmas..a time of joy and happiness where we gather around a large table to enjoy a wondrous meal, reflect upon the year's past adventures and exchange lovingly selected gifts with dear friends.  On the other hand, we can travel a different route and go to Frickers, shoot tequila and dance on the bar with panties on our heads.  Whether its sipping hot chocolate around a fireplace or horken up chicken chunks behind the bar, I'm ready to let my Yule-tide spirit shine brightly this year and make it one holly jolly Christmas.  I know its only August but it seems just like yesterday when I did my first tank talk in Jan.  Before you know it, diving season will be over, the ground will be covered with snow, and we'll all be in the malls wishing the guy in front of us, who is writing a check and does not realize its the 21 Century and we've collectively evolved to using electronic media for the purchase of goods and services, will just die.  You know what I mean!  That ultra festive, Ned Flanders-like, Santa hat wearing buffoon whistling Joy to the World and taking his sweet old time filling out a check and you are in a hurry.  You're caught standing in line just wanting to buy one damn sweater and as you wait you begin to sense that Christmas, its world-wide commercialization, current lack of cashiers, and the idiot in front of you is nothing more than an elaborate and well orchestrated conspiracy solely designed to piss you off!!!!   Sorry, I slipped off on a tangent.  Sometimes is best not to question why I do such things and just embrace the fact you elected a retard.

Now to the news and events.....   As some of you know, the DAN BBQ took place in the latter half of July.  Representing the Kittyhawk Scuba club was both Steve and I.  We had a few guests along for the festivities to include my kiddos and one of Steve's friends.  This DAN BBQ was not as dynamic as previous DAN events and the weather caused us some problems.  A bit of evening rain chased us to our respective tents and pretty much ruined the visibility for subsequent diving.  The diving was OK for quarry diving but it was no Caribbean reef that's for sure.   We managed to get in three dives over the weekend with the worst vis encountered on Sunday.  Notable highlights included finding the stack of cars and the boat & trailer combo.  Another unexpected highlight occurred in the early morning hours on Sunday.  To this day, I don’t know how neither Steve nor Jeff could have possible slept through the morning events.  It seems a couple in a few tents over decided to perform a series of early morning marital tactical maneuvers.  I know I discussed this at the previous meeting in detail; However, I will have to alter the recap to address the fact that this is a more public forum.  The following paragraphs provide a synopsis in somewhat tactical flavor.   

According to my exceptional skills in intelligence collection, I was able to ascertain the operational profile of this engagement.   This was a pre-dawn, single ship, deep interdiction mission.  The mission commander, call sign Slurpy 21, conducted initial pre-flight check and received mission pre-briefing at approximately 2330 Zulu hours.  Prior to take off, Slurpy 21 initiated voice contact with mission controller, call sign Fuzzy 45 for clearance and target ingress instructions.  Slurpy-21 was instructed to depart home base and fly VFR direct to the northern mountainous failsafe points.  Upon reaching fail-safe point, Slurpy-21 was instructed to maintain a continuous orbit between Northern Initial Point (NIP) A and NIP B until the target area was cleared hot.  Upon receipt of a properly formatted and authenticated go code from Fuzzy-45, Slurpy-21 was vectored to a course of 180 degrees and told to maintain southern heading until reaching target area. 

At 0010 Zulu, Slurpy 21 descended to conduct an initial survey of the target area.   Shortly thereafter, Slurpy 21 indicated he had firm visual contact and was prepared to engage.  Confirmation from mission controller was received, clearing Slurpy 21 to engage target.  Currently I am unable to assess the exact nature of the target but prelim analysis indicates that in may have been a marine target as cover term, man in boat was utilized. Communication from Slurpy-21 was interrupted possibly due to target fixation by the mission commander and/or valley-like terrain of target area preventing reception of communication voice comms.  Audible instructions and mission critique by Fuzzy-45 remained constant throughout the engagement.  Based upon the enthusiasm of the mission controller, Slurpy-21 appeared to meet all mission objectives.  The overall mission is believed to be highly successful with no follow-up activity by mission controller expected.  There were no indications of unauthorized use or premature release of onboard stores not authorized for this mission.  Once communications was restored with Slurpy-21, his initial BDA assessment was that it was best target he had the opportunity to engage and commented this is one licking the adversary would soon not forget. 

Again I ventured off course…Sorry.  OK back to Kittyhawk business!!   I will bring the paperwork to reinstate our good standing with the State of Ohio with regard to being a non-profit corporation.  If Sharon can determine if our check sent previous had indeed been cashed, we’ll have an argument with the Ohio bureaucracy.  If not, we will just send in another check…

There is still an opening for North Carolina wreck diving come Sep.  I still plan on going but….it is starting to look less attractive as we get closer to Sep.  The simple cost effective trip is turning out to be a major exercise in what in Latin is referred to as a Clustorious Fuctatious.  I’ll cover it more detail on Tuesday.

I will bring the video from my trip to Utila as this month’s presentation.