Letters to Grandma: 4 August 1991

[Note: Read this post first for an introduction.]

This was written at the start of my last deployment. It turns out I never made it anywhere near Egypt nor the Red Sea. Word on the street was that my second skipper didn’t have the friends in high places that my politically-connected first skipper did, leading to the choice ports being given to other ships.

In this letter I finally sound comfortable with the Navy. I had finally figured out how the system worked and could have probably made great strides at this point in a Navy career had I chosen that path.

During this cruise I was spending my off-time taking college courses. While I really got into it and did well, my success there didn’t translate to success at N.C. State. My classmates were much more attractive at State, I have to say.

I do still sail, of course, whenever I can. Though I sail on a lake now, I’ll never forget the feeling of freedom and adventure I get from being on the water.

August 4, 1991 4 AM HDT, 10 AM EDT [age:22]

Dear Grandma,
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Raleigh council seeks solution to goose overpopulation

Speaking of the N&O, I was quoted earlier this week in the Midtown Raleigh News.

The ever-growing Canada goose population in parks throughout Raleigh has caught the attention of the City Council.

The council passed a Waterfowl Management Resolution last week, calling for city parks to put up signs telling people about the trouble caused by feeding ducks, swans and especially, geese. The plan was one of many presented to the City Council by the Raleigh parks and recreation board.

“I think it’s a good first step,” said board chairman Mark Turner.

via Raleigh council seeks solution to goose overpopulation – Raleigh – MidtownRaleighNews.com.

N&O online site to switch to paywall

McClatchy announced that will soon be locking up its content behind a paywall, including the News and Observer’s website:

The company also announced that it would install metered pay walls at its newspaper websites, including NewsObserver.com. It did not disclose specifics of the plan, which will begin later this year, but in general readers will get certain number of page views free each month before being required to pay a subscription.

I’ve never thought paywalls were a good idea. Opinions differ about their effectiveness. Poyntner says 52% of media professionals leave a website when encountering a paywall. Other newspapers’ efforts to establish a paywall resulted in the opposite of their intended effect:
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Twitter Updates for 2012-07-26

  • Happy to see so many people out walking and running near my East Raleigh home. Healthy neighbors, healthy neighborhoods! #
  • Eight days past, is not too early, to take down signs, for @tonygurley #burmashave #ncpol #
  • On how I love thee, Haveli Indian Cuisine. Great buffet, super-attentive staff, and unbeatable prices. If only you were in Raleigj mot RTP #
  • On how I love thee, Haveli Indian Cuisine. Great buffet, super-attentive staff, and unbeatable prices. If only you were in Raleigh not RTP. #

Twitter Updates for 2012-07-26

  • Happy to see so many people out walking and running near my East Raleigh home. Healthy neighbors, healthy neighborhoods! #
  • Eight days past, is not too early, to take down signs, for @tonygurley #burmashave #ncpol #
  • On how I love thee, Haveli Indian Cuisine. Great buffet, super-attentive staff, and unbeatable prices. If only you were in Raleigj mot RTP #
  • On how I love thee, Haveli Indian Cuisine. Great buffet, super-attentive staff, and unbeatable prices. If only you were in Raleigh not RTP. #

Letters to Grandma: 21 January 1991

[Note: Read this post first for an introduction.]

This letter was written while my ship was in the midst of a three-month overhaul in San Diego’s NASSCO shipyards. My Desert Storm experience consists largely of me watching it on TV and supplementing that knowledge with the secret knowledge shared on the intelligence wires. I did return to the Gulf to serve in the combat zone but only after hostilities had largely ceased.

During this time my uncle Jimmy passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Many more heart attacks would come to afflict the Turner clan (though I intend to take good care of my ticker – and have so far).

C.J. was my parents’ Golden Retriever, still a puppy at the time of this writing.

My dad did end up visiting that March. We spent a few days and nights sightseeing around my ship and around San Diego. It was a weekend spent with my dad that I will never forget.

21 January 1991 (my 22nd Bday!!) [age:22, duh]

Dear Grandma,

Sorry it’s been sooo long since I’ve written – I’m just taking the bandages off my writing hand, so to speak. As you know there has been a whole lot going on since you last heard from me.
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Lonely front porch

Jupiter the cat


I’ve been fighting this sense of dread ever since Kelly and I returned from our weekend at Hanging Rock. You see, Saturday morning I left out a bowl of food and water for Jupiter, the feral cat who adopted our front porch as his home. Upon returning Sunday evening the food was still there, completely untouched.

I haven’t seen the little orange fuzzbucket since Friday and now I’m seriously wondering if we’ll ever see him again. Though he’s always been a wild cat and only adopted us late last fall, the cat has become part of the family. The enthusiasm he always shows when he comes tearing across the yard to see me really brightens my day.
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