Edgar Hooper - My Grandpa

It is with a heavy heart, and unsteady hands that I write this post. This morning, I got the news that my Grandfather, Edgar Hooper, has passed away. He was the hero to my heroes, and probably would not accept that moniker if he heard someone say it. I believe it is the duty of all men, women, of each generation, to learn from the examples of generations past. On this day, we've lost a great example. The best way for anyone to honor a loved one's memory, is to keep setting the right example, and carry the fond memories with you wherever you go. With those good times in your mind, and the love you carry in your heart, they will always be alive in us. I will always remember his big smile, eyes glowing from behind his glasses. The way when I was younger, he would light up my day when I walked into his house, and he'd say, "Hey sport!". And it always made me smile to hear him say, "Miamuh", instead of "Miami".

I can remember how excited I was every summer, when I would receive our travel itinerary for the summer trip. Grandma and Grandpa would pick us up in the motor home, and take us (my cousins, and myself) to various, mostly educational, and always fun destinations. To which we kept journals, complete with daily entries, pictures, brochures, and souvenirs from all of our stops. Mom and Dad used to give me $20 for every trip, and every year without fail, he would tease me by asking if I brought the gas money. When my cousins and I would go into a store, he would tell us to "put our hands behind our back.", which I still do, ask my Wife. A lifetime of memories, in just a few summers. That seemed to be the kind of impact that Grandpa had on people. I've heard on multiple occasions from friends, and of course family, that when they would hear the name Hooper, somehow they would refer back to Grandpa. Whether it was one of their elders recalling him to them, or the person themselves, it was always some kind of fond memory, or an amazing story that spoke of his character.

Some of these people knew him as Mr. Hooper. Some may have known him as Principle Hooper. Some knew him as Edgar, a father, an uncle, a husband, or a friend.

I was one of the lucky ones, I got to call him Grandpa.

My Review Of A Horrible Review

My wife and I had a very eventful, and damn fun Saturday night this past weekend. We kicked it off with an Elvis tribute show, featuring the ravishing ladies of Shameless Burlesque, and Randy "Elvis" Walker, followed by a ridiculous birthday party at White Room, which should be a post on it's own. I will start by saying that overall, this show was a ton of fun, and a rousing success from top to bottom. I will not single out any one performer, or performance, for obvious reasons. Let's start by the review that came out in the Miami New Times. It reads like this;

"Living in South Beach -- the world capitol of bad techno music -- it was a pleasant change to head over the causeway to the Vagabond for a night of '50s nostalgia. At Saturday's Shameless Burlesque's Elvis Tribute, twenty-something hipsters jived on the dancefloor to Fats Domino and hugged their darlings to Johnny Cash. As a callow 21-year-old, it made me pine for the pre-digital era before music had all the life compressed out of it. After the music died down, the flamboyant host for the evening announced the Shameless Burlesque, featuring Randy "Elvis" Walker in a tribute to the King of Rock-n-Roll. The host wore a dinner jacket with thin lapels and sported a conk hairstyle. He looked like a cross between Chuck Barry and Little Richard. The first performer to hit the stage was Morgan La Rue, a fiery little pin-up doll who teased the crowd to Elvis's song "Trouble." This petite cutie strutted around the stage, taking off her clothes bit by bit. The audience gasped for more as she posed in pasties, panties, and stockings. She then passed the spotlight to Miss Aurora Natrix who was wearing a tight, black and white, off-the shoulder dress. As "Jailhouse Rock" played in the background, the hollow-cheeked beauty sat on a chair and slowly peeled off her garter. A man dressed as a prison guard approached her, and she tied him up and then teased him. The darling Aurora Natrix was replaced by Audrey Rose Lautrec. The skinny red head, who was wearing Elvis-style sunglasses, took the microphone and tried hard to sing "Stuck On You." Her voice was thin and reedy and did not project much beyond the stage. Rose should have just stuck to dancing and left the singing to a true professional like Randy "Elvis" Walker. Elvis impersonator Walker was amazing. Sweaty and suitably bloated, Walker, who was dressed in a baby blue rhinestone jumpsuit, turned what could have been a tired pastiche into an electrifying performance, giving a taste of what it must have been like to attend one of Elvis's famous Vegas lounge shows in the '60s. Employing a smooth baritone, he sang "Don't Be Cruel," and blew the audience away when he finished the song with Presley's signature karate kick. Song after song, Walker, gave all of his energy to the crowd and unlike some of the ladies from the Shameless Burlesque, knew how to interact with them to the fullest. As he sang "Shake, Rattle and Roll," out on the dancefloor, couples began to jive. Some were pretty good at it. Then, in a smooth Elvis drawl, Walker began warbling "Devil in Disguise." Too bad that Walker's performance was slightly marred by the young woman on stage who was dressed in sexy bridal attire as a young Priscilla Presley. The Priscilla imitator waved a bouquet of flowers but was largely stiff and expressionless and added little to the show. The crowd of people who packed the room started to dissipate as Walker sang his last song "Blue Suede Shoes," which he dedicated to the Shameless Burlesque. Mr. Walker's performance was stellar, Shameless Burlesque not so much."

First of all, way to describe the performances. Can you say, "phoning it in"? Anyhow, without going into extreme detail, every performance was noteworthy. The originality of the Shameless ladies is always top notch, as well as their performances. Randy "Elvis" Walker was amazing. His voice, and his moves were perfect. The only complaint that anybody should have about this show, is that his set went about 3-5 songs too long. Towards the end of Randy's set, the crowd was starting to thin, and lose enthusiasm for the otherwise stellar show. Once the ladies hit the stage for the second set, the crowd magically reappeared, even more into it than the first set. Which show this person was watching, I don't know. I bet if you ask anyone that was there, they would agree with my assessment. Those who know me, will know that I will say something if it sucks, or simply not have made the effort to defend the performers. This person's review was lazy, and hardly painted an accurate picture of how great the entire show was. She spent most of the review praising "Elvis", and spent little time on the dancers. I wish somebody like my boy Omar (http://www.antisteez.com/author/omar/) would have been there to review this show. At least he knows how to make you feel like you're there. Good, bad, or otherwise. Agree or disagree, this is my opinion. This great show was marred by a lazy review.

Here is the link to the original post: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/2010/08/the_performance_which_shook_ra.php

If Ignorance is Bliss, Some People Must Be Brimming With Joy

Let me start by saying that, those who are close to me know I am not perfect, and would be the last person to cast judgement on anybody. This is not meant to call anybody out, it is simply an example of something that in my eyes, is an unacceptable attitude. I do not know this person personally, nor will pretend to know what may have lead to this conclusion. Below is a thread that started from a simple status update, that simply shows how TMZ gotcha journalism takes precedence over our own people dying for you, and me. I will not name names, this is not to finger point at any one person, just an elaboration of my opinion.


STATUS (HOST): Lindsay Lohan-24, gets her name and face all over the news because she went to jail. Justin Allen-23, Brett Linley-29, Matthew Weikert-29, Justus Bartett-27, Dave Santos-21, Chase Stanley-21, Jesse Reed-26, Matthew Johnson-21, Zachary Fisher-24, Brandon King-23, Christopher Goeke-23, and Sheldon Tate-27, all gave their... lives for you this week in military service. Honor THEM by reposting this.

PERSON A: Give their lives for me? I dont think so they gave their lives to the military cuz they chhose to . Besides why would anyone join the service we all know how America sucks when it comes to taking care of our own.

HOST: hey ***** no offense but the liberties we have in the US are because of the people that have sacrificed they're lives and families for our freedom. Some join the army because they need money for education and have no other way. They are still young men and women that should be honored not ridiculed for their choice to honor the country u and i and our children live in.

PERSON A: Belive me im not offended at all u speak your mind and i speak mine. And i wont stop being your friend cuz of that .

PERSON B (I love this): ***** it's pretty obvious what your whole problem is from what you wrote. You don't have the balls to join and should be thankful that your in a country where you can have a choice. It's because of jerks like you that our children may not have a choice and may just get drafted. This is coming from a woman who had the balls to enlist.

HOST: freedom aint it grand lol the freedom of debate, freedom of choice, freedom of speech....the freedom that my parents as immigrant came to this country for. sometimes we forget that.


Can you guess who I was talking about? Look, it is your right to say whatever you what to say, as it is mine. There is something that always bothers me, people fail to realize that there is a difference between your Government (politicians), and the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. While I do I agree that we could use some help in the "taking care of our own" department, to cast aside the sacrifices of others, while you watch your flat screen TV and stuff Cheetos into your face, is as disgraceful an act as simply spitting in their faces. You may not agree with our government, their policies, and even the reasons behind our occupation in an offensive capacity, I know I don't. That's okay, if you ask me, we owe our government NOTHING, but we owe those men and women EVERYTHING. It is because of their sacrifices, not mine, not yours, that we can even think about speaking publicly about such things. We should support the troops, NO MATTER WHAT! Hey, some of them don't want to be out there either, but they are, because they relinquished the luxury of choice. I should introduce this person to my Father, so that they can have a healthy debate on this subject (wink wink). So that he may look into the eyes of a real man, living with the real consequences of his service. I have written once before that it is okay to love your country, but not your government. This country, was built on the blood of those before us. Wasn't always the right way, and it wasn't always a just cause. But it presented us with the golden opportunities we have today, and for that we owe them respect. If America sucks so bad, there are plenty of other places to go. Hell I'll buy your plane ticket, but we all know you won't leave.

Remember The Boys That Made Some Noise

Memorial Day is not exactly a happy holiday, though it is cause to celebrate. Celebrate those who have paid the ultimate price for us to enjoy not just this extra day off, but our entire existence as the people and society that we have become, flawed as it may be. A day to remember those who risked and eventually gave their lives, so that people such as myself could have the privilege to live. I owe such a debt to a man named Joe Don Ramey, K.I.A. - May 21, 1970. Only 10 days before his death, he helped my father from his downed helicopter, touching the lives of more people than he could ever imagine. One act, affected an entire generation, one moment, saved an entire family, and one day I will get to thank him.

Every Memorial Day, if my father is in town, I always show up with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label, and we have a toast. Then another, then another, and another. For years, before each shot he would say, "here's to the boys that made some noise". That phrase resonated with me, I repeated it in my head over and over again. Eventually, last year I wrote a short poem on the outside of the bag that contained the JW Black, inspired by that line, and it still hangs on his wall today. I have expanded it to a longer piece, and wrote some music behind it. Below is the full poem, and I will be sharing the song as soon as I get it done.

they fought in the air, they fought on the ground

they all kept their cool when the bullets rained down

brother to brother, they leaned on each other

ready to die for America our mother

they marched through the day, and bled through the night

from bluecoats on riverboats to those dry desert nights

was it left, was it right, now we won't get home tonight

and those caissons go rolling along

here's to the boys that made some noise

for all of the pains, and all of the joys

aren't we so lucky to be standing right here

we can never forget those in our rear view mirror

they prayed to their Gods, and wrote to their wives

setting their sites on the rest of their lives

dreams and intentions of white picket fences

with family and friends and rekindled romances

so here's a salute to the stars and the stripes

we owe it to all who have died for our rights

maybe one day we'll learn from the sins of our past

to put down our guns, and all raise a glass

here's to the boys that made some noise

for all of the pains, and all of the joys

aren't we so lucky to be standing right here

we can never forget those in our rear view mirror

So enjoy your long weekend, and most of all be safe. Don't take any moment for granted, there are those who never had the chance.

Update: My brother Wayne had found a website dedicated to my dad's unit. The website no longer exist, but he kept some pictures and info from the site. The first picture is of Chuck Poulos, the Loch piolt that carried Joe Don Ramey, and the second is of Joe, followed by his info.

     Chuck Poulos

    Joe Don Ramey

 

    Specialist Five

PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Arroyo Grande, CA
Date of birth: 05/06/1949

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E5
Rank: Specialist Five
ID No: 561663034
MOS: 67N20: UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Length Service: **
Unit: D TRP, 3RD SQDN, 4TH CAVALRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 11/15/1969
Incident Date: 05/21/1970
Casualty Date: 05/21/1970
Age at Loss: 21
Location: Province not reported, Cambodia
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Crew
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land

HERE'S TO YOU BOYS!


This is the report on the helicopter that went down with my father in it.


Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15858
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00001205
Date: 05/11/70
Unit: D/3/4 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0700 feet and 140 knots.
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: XU143119
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size.
Systems damaged were: ENGINE, FUEL SYS, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 INJ . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, JSIDR, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Change Is Slow and Painful

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses........................and we'll give them the finger.

This is the attitude of most people in this country now, on both sides of the line, this is not an issue of right or left, and red or blue.

It's about the red, the white , and the blue.

Freedom of religion and taxation? That worked out great didn't it? How about the separation of church and state? Yeah, right.

I 'm just using those as a broad stroke generalization that humans, like any animal, are a creature of habit. Much like a drug addict, there is a strange level of comfort in things that are familiar, and give you a false sense of security, even if it is harmful.

In a country founded on revolution, it's astounding the level of fear (for lack of a better word) of anything that will shake up the norm. One obvious subject being the Healthcare Reform. Look, I am no expert, and have any of us really read the entire package? If some of you have kudos, that's freaking amazing, you probably really care more than most, and I'm not going to get way into details about any one thing about it, this is just a very topical example.

We have lost our long term vision (if we really ever had it). Something like this reform, on the surface, you may see the good, and you may see the bad. It may not even be the best thing right now, but it could be a step towards something better, dare I say it, a change. Like some of the people that bitch about the people who represent them in their respective office(s), instead of rallying together, and voting them out, choose to sit at home in protest. What gets accomplished that way? The same people end up doing the same things over, and over again. It's okay to love your country, but not love your government. Only we can do something about it.

The problem is that people are okay with this. Addict behavior.

Count me among the guilty here my friends, and I have prime examples all around me in my life as to why we should care more than we do. I have very close friends, and a long line of relatives that have served, or relied on the government to maintain a living. I have become complacent as well.

I wanted this post to be not so much about the Healthcare issue, but all the debate that I have seen has sparked this thought process in me. The passion I have seen from people close to me, on both sides of the argument, have made me realize that it starts at home. Much like kindling, we need to spark the fires of change. Start with your local government, then on to county, state, etc.

It starts, or ends with us.

Hindsight Is Always 20/20

This is the time of year where it seems like every week there's a holiday. With Thanksgiving coming up, I see alot of my friends on Facebook, posting something that they are thankful for everyday in their status updates. That in itself has go to be challenging, and very cool I might add, at least it gets you to think.

Then it did get me to think, and I'm sure most of you have thought this at one time or another;

Why should it take Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc., to become grateful and kind to others?

Let me get this out of the way and say I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to this. In fact, I just wrote a blog for Veterans Day, that kind of outlines my own involvement in such practices, and I'm the son a of a Vet. Also, this is not to implicate anyone of my friends being any different on any given day, I guess it has more of an effect on encounters with strangers than anything.

It's just interesting to see how people show the potential to behave, well, like people because that time of the year says so.

Isn't that just conformity?

Two Flicks One Post

Between all the drinks, working and football this weekend, I managed to squeeze in some sober time and catch a couple of movies.

First up:

This was my first experience watching a feature film at the IMAX theatre. In 3D no less!

I really enjoyed this version of the Charles Dickens classic. It was quite possibly the darkest rendition I've seen, to the point where I thought kids below a certain age would be totally freaked out by it. However, I guess that's kind of the point behinid this story, which is to scare you into changing your ways.

It was beautifully presented in all of it's digital 3D glory, and Jim Carrey always shines in roles such as these. Not only does he play Scrooge, but also the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Present. Accompanied by Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit, who is one of my favorite actors of all time.

In the end I will say that it's my favorite re-telling of this story, also the darkest, and is well worth the extra dough for the IMAX 3D experience.

Next up:

I watched Up at home on Blu-Ray. It was a little more on the sad side, even for Disney. It was not all sad, there were plenty of funny moments, especially with the dogs obsession with squirrels. That last observation is more on the personal side because it reminded me of one of my old dogs, Pebbles (RIP), who had an almost unhealthy affinity for squirrels.

Pixar never dissapoints with their graphics, which seem to getting better somehow, and I wish I would have gone to the theater for this one. I really liked the mid-century America feel that this had, which kind of added to the sense of adventure in the film. Also, I may be wrong but, I think that Disney actaully killed 2 people in this movie, and no animals. That's got to be a first.

Anyhow, I was late to this party, but if you haven't watched it, give it a look, It's a fun watch.