Comments for Opening my wings...

Comment on wanderings by Marion

Marion — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:20:06 +0000

Wow, that’s so weird. It’s a small world!

Comment on new and old by M.D. Scruggs

M.D. Scruggs — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:24:06 +0000

Now that’s beautiful to see: Thomas Wolfe, to whom Asheville owes some of its fame, stayed with my great grandparents (as the legend goes) near Turkey Creek in Transylvania County, south of Asheville. Apparently he had written many pages worth while staying with them- but he was sort of a freeloader while he was there with them, so my great grandmother threw his writings into the fireplace and evicted him.

Or so the legend goes.

Comment on wanderings by Mark Laichena

Mark Laichena — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:32:07 +0000

Yes it was!

Comment on wanderings by Marion

Marion — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:57:11 +0000

Mark!

I was randomly procrastinating and reading your blog and I have a question. Was the guy you met who used to teach at UNC Doug Crawford Brown?

Marion

Comment on by jds

jds — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:09:07 +0000

Really, Mark, your proof reading is slipping.

I expect it was very late after a day at the office, not counting the trauma you relate in para 1.
para 2 line 1 stray apostrope in associates
para 2 line 3 , should be ;

para 3 line 1 insert ‘read’
para 3 line 6 esoteric use of apostrophe after paratheses
para 3 line 8 insert ‘couhtry after ‘any’
para 3 line 11 split infinite!

para 4 Excellent cheeky thought!

Even in chattey style blogs, standards much be maintained.

I have just started my major book which I have named PITOR (Playing in the other room). So far I have designed the cover.

Keep writing
jds

Comment on part-time warrior by Mark Laichena

Mark Laichena — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:28:57 +0000

Well, the main difference in standards (for the 1.5 mile run, as an example) is that officers are expected to meet the set standards at the selection board, whereas soldiers are expected to achieve the same standard later on – after army-organised training. Like anything else, the officers are expected to be able to motivate themselves to a standard to which the Army will try to train the men.
The example which springs to mind is the 30-miler component of Royal Marines selection: soldiers must complete it in 8 hours, led by NCOs; officer candidates have only 7 hours, and must navigate themselves.

And, well, I was coy at times about my prior involvements. During the “Ice Breaker”, it seemed a perfectly fair aspiration for me to “want to be an officer after completing studies”, but I didn’t point out that I already had a pass to do so.

Comment on part-time warrior by jds

jds — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:55:01 +0000

You seem indeed to have jumped in at the deep end. I would not hold that against you. It would be good to know what the physical demands were that squaddies are expected to cope with as opposed the RCB officer expectations. It would appear that it did not put you off anyway. Did the other TA blokes know your are were already an officer cadet? jds

Comment on City boy by sectsonthebeach

sectsonthebeach — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:28:33 +0000

The title is appropriately dramatic. Enjoying your blog.

Comment on So what do you do? by Grandpa

Grandpa — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:55:43 +0000

Well done Mark. Looking forward to more instalments! Hope to see you before you go back to UNC. Love Grandpa

Comment on Back in the warm by Grandpa

Grandpa — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:52:37 +0000

I take it that “looking west” means that you are meeting UNC friends – or does it? Grandpa