Gen Scout is on leave - temporary commander appointed

[US Scout]

To the GAF,

I am going on leave with my family starting 3 August.  I will return to the Barracks on/about 12 August.

During my absence, I am appointing Bvt Col Jerry "Pitspitr" Davenport, Commander of the Department of the Missouri, as Acting GAF Commander. 

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen
GAF, Commanding

[Drydock]

Don't reckon I'll need my Canadian-American dictionary this time . . .

[Pitspitr]

I am honored by the confidence the General has placed in me.

[Drydock]

Is the General back yet?  'Cause there's cherry pits all over the dang office floor, he keeps missin' the spittoon!

[Pitspitr]

Is the General back yet?  'Cause there's cherry pits all over the dang office floor, he keeps missin' the spittoon!

Complain, complain, complain. Seargent, Grab a broom!

[Drydock]

*grumbling*  Danged occifers ain't gotta clean up their own messes.  It ain't enuff work I gotta keep 'em outer trubble ennyways, now I gotta find a private ta clean this up.   

Not a whole lotta privates in this outfit . . .

[Pvt Hoover]

Yup, and those of us there are figured out along time ago how to hide at just the right time.
Pvt Hoover

[Frenchie]

Sarge! There's a private over here! Hoover spoke up an' said somethin' an' I heard 'im... oops... an' now Sarge has heard me too... 

Hey, Hoover, I was born in Hutchinson! Have they got that statue set up yet? When are they gonna invite me to unveil it? 

[Drydock]

HOOVER!  Git yer kansass over here racht now!  AH SAID NOW.  Ah saw ya run in them stables! CORPORAL OF THE GUARD!  Secure that gate!  Dammit, ya only gots ta pick up the dry ones fer now . . .

Thankee kindly thar Frenchie.  Now all ya gotta do is police around the review stand.  Yeppur, he spits them damn things all over the place . . .

[Pitspitr]

Welcome back General.
As you can see morale is high.

Sgt. Drydock, Frenchie and Pvt. Hoover,
Ain't y'all glad them chokecherries were good and ripe?

[Drydock]

Welcome back Sar!  Yassir, the kernal did a fine job in yer absense I will say sar.  But Sar, iffin ya don't mind, don't be goin' inta yer office fer jist a might spell, Hoover's still under yer desk lookin fer the last o' them blasted pits ya see . . .

[Pvt Hoover]

&^^%%$#$^*((&^&%  Ouch THAT Hurt.  Wouldnt you the General's desk is one of them stout ones.  Yup Sarge, think I got the last one right here.... oh no, wait.. this one id kinda a squishy..... better set a few traps in here....wonder ifn the general  likes cats.  Betcha the Colonel dont practice pitsptn in here next time the General is on R&R,  maybe they wont me find out by the woodpile.  Note to self "out of sight, out of mind"

Hey Frenchie, what statue you talkin about   only ones i ' member any todo about is when we had a unveilin for the new carriages they put the civilwar cannons on about 2 years ago.  Had a big ceremony at 1st and Poplar, complete with re enactors and military ceremonies.  The first Kansas even fired off a salute at the end.  Pretty cool.

[Frenchie]

Sounds cool, Hoover. Is the First Kansas a cavalry or artillery unit, or have they decided to portray real (infantry) men?

There's a Web site where you can look up information on CW cannons, find out where they are, their history, pics, and all. I might see if I can find out more about those guns in Hutchinson. Got to find that Web site again first, though.

[Major Matt Lewis]

Hey Pitsptr,

Have you seen my bowl of hog prarie oysters?  They look a lot like Choke Cherries.....

[Pitspitr]

I thought there was something different about the last bunch

[Drydock]

HOOVER!  Wash them hands!  An' use soap this time!

[US Scout]

I have returned...though after reading this thread I'm beginning to think that perhaps I should have remained in Scotland a bit longer.

Military-related highlights of my trip were seeing the Edinburgh Tattoo - lots of bagpipes and drums!! - and a very short (too short) visit to Culloden Battlefield.  We only had an hour at the latter location, so I was litterally running to see a few select places before having to reboard the bus.  I even ran the charge the Clan MacDonald.

Also visited the regimental museum of the Royal Scots and Royal Scot Fuseliers.  Also Dewar's distillery where I had a free dram ... or four!  the wife and kids don't like Scotch so I got theirs!

Found out that the famous Black Watch was not disbanded, but is now the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Scottish Regiment.  Other Scottish regiments form the other four battalions.

And, of course, I wore a kilt part of the time I was there - and ordered a new one!!

And, I got caught in the terrorist scare that impacted on the airports.  The trip back was pretty rough - we spent 9 hours on the plane without reading material, music players of any kind, not to mention phones, pens, etc.  All we were allowed to take on board was our ticket, passport and wallet.  Prescription medication could be taken on board if we had the prescription.  No duty free items could be taken on board, nor did the airline sell them (US Customs would have confiscated them for destruction).  So much for bringing back some Scotch!

Good to be back and looking forward to the Muster.

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Pvt Hoover]

GENERAL
WELCOME HOME, SIR!
OFFICE READY FOR INSPECTION, SIR!

SGT. MAJOR, TASK COMPLETED!

Frenchie,
The First Kansas is a infantry outfit.  They have provided movie extras and portray the 37th Infantry at Fort Harker http://www.firstkansas.org/
The cannons at the Soldier and Sailor monument were captured Confederate cannons donted to the city by the GAR.  I have pictures from the event and I will try to find some more info out about them
Pvt Hoover