A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-08-02

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute
and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new
word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands
of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett

MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17

BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,

dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony

BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx

MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law

BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog

MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son

BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7,
AlasBabylon.
BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad,
Aomagrat

                     

He Wears Two Hats

Like many Texans who wear a hardhat on the job, in the evening when the hardhat and the steel-toed boots come off, the Stetson and the cowboy boots go on! It's boot-scootin' time...a little "Cotton-Eyed Joe"!

The Eyes of Texas

COB1
Freeper since 08-09-00

I first met Cob about two years ago on various threads on FR, but there was one thread he used to visit almost daily: The Guild. There were a number of men who made up the Men's Auxiliary of the Ladies' Investigative Guild, and Cob easily fit in and became one of the regulars, claiming a permanent spot on the sofa in one of the Guild photos. ;)

Like many of us, Cob lurked for several months before joining FR, but once he chose a screenname and logged on for the first time as a full-fledged FReeper, he was through lurking! He said his very first post was a thread! "...and I didn't even know how to post, much less make a thread."

"I was so angry about the late night talk show host showing a picture of George Bush with the suggestion that he be assassinated that I had to join and post! I called Sean Hannity on his talk radio show and actually did talk to him for several minutes. I told him about the threat on the late night show, but I don't think he believed me. He didn't air it. I posted that on the thread and got lamblasted for it! LOL!"

"NO one believed me - neither that the threat had occurred or that I had talked to Sean Hannity! Everyone pointed to my join date and said, 'Yeah, right!!' Later on in the day someone verified both, and I was off and running!"

Cob is passionate in his beliefs. He is passionate about his friends. Mention CHIEF Negotiator, and his eyes still tear. Cob has been leading the fight on FR to find the truth behind the fire that took the CHIEF's life. He won't give up that fight.

LET'S FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CHIEF NEGOTIATOR!!

AUTOPSY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS ON THE DEATH OF CHIEF NEGOTIATOR

The Cowboy went to California.....

This summer, Cob accepted an invitation that was extended to all FReepers to attend the FResno Rally and TailGate Party, but instead of the warm reception he expected.....he got a rather cool one instead. :)

CoolGuy douses COB
while Chadsworth looks on

I am kidding, of course. The Rally couldn't have been a more rewarding experience, and he came away vowing to return again and again.

Cob receiving an autographed portrait of
Jim Robinson for traveling all the way from
Texas to the FResno TailGate Party this summer.

The weekend also gave Cob a desire to meet other FReepers every chance he gets. Already he is active in the Houston Chapter. He was very active in the freeps in downtown Houston before the election and during the run-off.

"The one I remember the most vividly was the first one, before the election. Humidston is probably the only Houston freeper still active who was at that one. We froze our butts off! It was drizzling rain and freezing, and about twenty of us were in competition with a group of Gorons across the street at the courthouse downtown."

"We outlasted that bunch of wusses! As soon as they left we RAN to the nearest cafe to thaw out with some coffee!"

"The next big rally was during the run-off when we gathered about fifty people to a rally at the Galleria. Those were the fun days of FR for me!"

The cowboy is a Marine.....

"I went into boot camp in 1958 at MCRD in San Diego. I graduated as honor man of my platoon. My picture in our Summer Service "A"s shows me sitting with the D.I.s holding the guide."

"I went off active duty after six months and returned to reserve status. In those six months we had Cold Weather Training at Bridgeport, California; Desert Training at Twenty-Nine Palms, California; Sea Survival Training at El Toro, California; and Beach Assault Training at Coronado, California."

"I served seven and a half years on reserve status serving my last active duty at Camp Pendleton, California, in 1962. The picture of me and my buddy from Chicago was taken at Camp Pendleton."

Yesterday was Cob's birthday. On another thread, he responded to a birthday greeting with the following: "Thanks for the birthday greeting, guys! Like old MGySgt Ed Evans, USMC (Retired) said, 'Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine!' Even at 63!"

Did I say he wore TWO hats? Make that more...much more than that.....but mostly that he wears the hat of a FRiend...a FReeper FRiend!

Thank You, COB,
For ALL Those Hats You Wear!

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-07-02 Remembering Angelique

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[WVNan]

A BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL! Now you're talking my language. We produce Bluegrass festivals all the time. Every third Sat. we produce the River Valley Opry, an evening of good Bluegrass in the old downtown theater. Lots of fun.

[WVNan]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[humblegunner]

Slow learner, huh?

We're talking MATCH here.. and I am not a pistol-person.
I just happened to have made a few lucky shots with some very fine weapons..

... OK, I'm the best, why hide it???

Eaker even looked for my Halo once...

[WVNan]

It's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. Right?

[ladyinred]

I just did not like those Italian Western's that Clint did! I can't tell you how I changed the names of each of those films to better reflect my view of them! LOL!

Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys in Italy!

[JustAmy]

A highway patrolman spots a car speeding along on the highway. Glancing at the car he was astonished to see a blonde behind the wheel knitting. The Trooper saw this, cranked down his window and yelled...... "PULL OVER!"

"NO!" yelled the blonde.

"SCARF!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[LadyX]

You know this tragedy is one close to my heart.
Spending an hour or so in any VA Medical Center is an eye opener and heartbreaker, Cobby.

EVERYONE ought to go there to see for themselves the vacant, resigned eyes and faces, worn out and needing just a simple conversation to make them feel like human beings.

How many of you agree with those kinds of words, and just go back to your routines of living, forgetting the momentary pang??

Waiting for our respective appointments one afternoon, a 50-ish fellow sitting next to me revealed he lives in a VA home in Southern Georgia, transported to Augusta for treatment.
That revealed psychological damage as well as physical, and we talked pleasantly more than an hour.

When he was called first to see his doctor, he was glowing and had a spring in his step.
It costs nothing but a little time and 'normalcy' for him to FEEL like a human being and a man.

Bless you, Cobby, for challenging the audiences.

[humblegunner]

It's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way.

I try very hard. I have learned lessons of humility.
But I am perfect in almost no ways at all.

[COB1]

"I just did not like those Italian Western's that Clint did!"

From that very first one, I guess, "Hang 'Em High", I had this question in my mind, "What in the blue blazes do the Italians know about the Old West of the U.S.?"

[Militiaman7]

Saluting: COB1

[ladyinred]

LOL!!! I am so angry! My settlement with Wallyworld included the guarantee that none of the particulars of the little "accident" I had there would be disclosed.

Be back later, I must go call my lawyer, just as soon as I can remember his or her name! :-)

I just love blonde jokes!

[humblegunner]

The VFW of Katy is having a Blue Grass Festival on November 14.

I'm there.

[Cool Guy]

Thank you for the report.

[Eaker]

Here is the first official photo............

TheMom caught me strolling in the door right after picking the fragment up from Pathology and snapped this suprise picture.

Got ANOTHER damn Dr. appointment tommorrow AM.

See ya old buddy and CONGRATS again!!!

Stay safe; stay armed.

[LadyX]

It's amazing all the LITTLE opportunities there are to help others in VA waiting areas.

There can be 200 persons sitting there like zombies and see some disabled vet in a wheelchair of any age/gender/color struggling to move his/her wheelchair through the mass outside the lab when called for their turn.
Many times I quietly go forward and push them while strong-looking men look the other way.

Okay - back to slow simmer...

[ladyinred]

Black Angus Amy? No, no, no! We need to go to Outback Steak House! I am sure Mtngirl will agree with me and say "yes, yes, yes!!!!" Right Mtngirl?
Chads and I just did a company dinner at BA and it was pretty bad, the service was horrible, and it has just really gone down hill there! Just my opinion!

[humblegunner]

Dude, you need to work on that "concealed" carry thing...
That shoulder holster is obvious as hell!

[antivenom]

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Happy belated birthday Cob...you look great for 63!

[antivenom]

Busting a gut here in the living room...did you see the gernade in his pocket??? LOL...BWWAAHAAHAAHHHAAAAAA!!!!

[COB1]

AND A SALUTE BACK TO YOU, OLD FRIEND!
Thank you for being here!