How Much OCD Can You Handle?

Have you ever known anyone who had to have their desk in a certain order, before they could sit down and work? Personally I have always taken that as a challenge to re-organize their desk for them. I once worked with a Senior Chief named Larry, who had to arrange his work area and desk drawers every morning before he could begin work. It didn't take long before all the other guys picked up on this fact, and started to take delight at messing up his desk when he wasn't around, causing him to have melt down moments upon his return.

I spent 32 years on active duty in the Navy, as almost everyone knows. There is a lot of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in the Navy. We were trained that way from day one in boot camp. Every uniform item must be a certain way, your under wear must be folded a certain way, any form of individuality must be stripped away. I have been assured that I may have a touch of OCD, because I do like some things, just so. I do still fold my tee shirts in just the same way as I was taught in boot camp, but other than that. I think, I have bucked the system pretty well. Hey its my story and I'm sticking with it.

I have been re-arranging book shelves, and the young adult males that happen to co-habituate here with me between the swamp and the sea, are starting to accuse me of OCD. OK, so, I have lined books up tallest to shortest, left to right, that is just the way they need to be, no OCD there. Music Cd's are on shelves with titles outboard, in alphabetical order, no OCD there, right?

When it comes to my fishing gear, my knots must be tied correctly, that just ensures that they hold properly, no OCD there. I like my hooks, sinkers, swivels, and other accouterments to be stowed in just the right order. That just makes it easy to find the right size that may be needed, right?

Now the way I see it is this, we are not suppose to be judgemental of our fellow man, and his organizational habits. So my true question is this, is it our own OCD that bothers us or, is it that of others. I think if we are letting others bother us, we need to re-focus our priorities. As my old friend Captain Tony of Key West always said, "Look for the good in people" and let the criticism of others go.

I have to admit though, it is a lot of fun to re-arrange someone desk when they suffer with an extreme case of OCD. So you are forewarned.

Old Captain Sends.

Happy Birthday, Puddle Pirates!

Happy Birthday Coast Guard, the oldest sea going service.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President at any time, or by Congress during time of war.
Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Marine first, and later as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, it is the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton headed the USRCS, and the branch was involved in every war from 1790 to World War I.^[5] As of August 2009^[update] the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women on active duty, 7,500 reservists, 30,000 auxiliarists, and 7,700 full-time civilian employees.^[6]
The Coast Guard's legal authority differs from the other four armed services: it operates simultaneously under Title 10 of the United States Code and its other organic authorities, e.g. Titles 6, 14, 19, 33, 46, etc. Because of its legal authority, the Coast Guard can conduct military operations under the Department of Defense or directly for the President in accordance with Title 14 USC 1–3.
The Coast Guard's enduring roles are maritime safety, security, and stewardship. To carry out those roles the Coast Guard has 11 statutory missions as defined in 6 U.S.C. § 468, which include enforcing U.S. law in the world's largest exclusive economic zone of 3.4 million square miles.^[7]
The Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus ("Always Ready").

22 Inches of rain, Shark Week Is Coming, and Vintage M&Ms

 

 

 

We have had 22 plus inches of rain here between the swamp and the sea, and needless to say we are a little saturated. I don't mean to complain, but when we got a break in the precipitation action it was good to be fishing. On our latest inshore expedition, sharks were the order of the day. Maybe they know it's almost shark week on the Discovery channel, I don't know. My intrepid fellow captain, did mix things up a bit, by scoring on a very rare form of inshore slam, he caught a shark, a stingray, and even a mullet, all on rod and reel. Very rare indeed, just not quite sure where to rank it,

 

I have also spent a lot of time cleaning house while it is so hot, and so rainy that one does not want to be outside. Today I took a break from cleaning and talked to an old friend of mine, whom we shall just call Dufus. Ole Dufus and always pick up a body's mood and in general make one feel better about ones self.

 

Dufus told me he had been kind of down because of the weather himself, but was keeping busy, by cleaning house as well. He also related to me the following story. I n the midst of his cleaning, he had opened a box that had most likely not been open for a large number of years. At least 30 to 40 years, to be exact. It was in this particular box that the astounding discovery was maid. Amongst the dust and the clutter, he found a very faded blueish orb shaped object, a bit smaller than a cats eye marble, and clearly displayed upon it was a very legible black M. Dufus then deduce that it was a vintage M&M candy. Zowie, he thought! Must share this treasure with someone, and once again I present the following exchange as it occurred through text messaging with his girl friend.

 

Dufus: "I found a vintage M&M"

Girlfriend: ?????

Girlfriend: LOL

Dufus: "Yep, must be 30 years old"

Girlfriend: "Lol, Keep it if you don't want it I do"

Dufus: "I already ate it"

Girlfriend: Lol

Dufus: "I mean, how many people can say that. WOW!"

Girlfriend: Dufus!

Dufus: Why?

Girlfriend: Cuz

Girlfriend: " It would have made a great intro for my math class"

Dufus: " Have you ever seen a 35 year old M&M?"

Dufus: "If I find another, you can have it."

Girlfriend: :)

Dufus: "I don't think they are like wine"

Girlfriend:" I am sure I have seen one, I used to eat them all the time. Dufus"

Girlfriend:  "Tasted the same?"

Dufus: "Again with the Dufus"

Girlfriend: "Tee Hee"

Dufus: "Tasted like shit! I nearly pucked!"

Dufus: Puke, dang phone!"

Girlfrien: LOL

 

Just the way I heard it from the source, I kid you not, and the moral of this story? Well there isn't any.

 

Old Captain Sends.