Iwo Jima

So, I recently started reading Flags of our Fathers. The ads for the movie have sort of reminded me of my interest in Iwo Jima. I mentioned something about the book when I was in Raleigh with my Dad and he said he liked it. Though he said he liked Flyboys better. So, I bought both books and am starting with Flags.

Back in the Spring of 1995 my then boyfriend and I were trying to get to Honolulu for Spring Break with my folks. This was before Continental started its Newark to Honolulu direct flight so we had to go through Houston or California. Getting to California was a piece of cake for standby passengers (back when I was a dependant and could fly for cheap all the time), but getting from LA or San Fran to Honolulu was a nightmare. After trying for a couple of days to get out of LA my Dad hit town to fly a charter flight from LA to Honolulu. The policy is to not allow standby passengers on charter flights, but Dad asked one of the organizers if it was okay if his kid and her boyfriend could get on the flight in any open seats (with our promise we'd be the most polite and well-behaved travelers ever). The group kindly allowed us on.

The charter was for marines, veterans, going back to Iwo Jima for the 50th Anniversary. My boyfriend and I weren't seated next to each other, but I got to sit next to a lovely man named Milt. And it was probably one of the best flights I've ever had. He was a sweet guy and offered to be an adopted grandfather of sorts if I wanted. He had a video camera and filmed me. At one point they opened the cockpit and allowed the guys to chat with the pilots so he filmed my dad. He filmed my boyfriend and the flight attendants and the movie screen showing the flight stats. We exchanged addresses and kept in touch for a little bit. He even sent me a copy of the tape he'd made. With the flight. And then with the ceremonies on Iwo Jima.

At the time I didn't really know much about Iwo Jima. History wasn't a strong subject for me back then, much my to my father's dismay I suspect. But these were interesting guys on this plane. And the battle seemed to bring back powerful memories for them. And then the more I heard about it, the more it fascinated me. The large number of casualties. The large number of American soldiers, the hold the Japanese had on the island. The battle strategy. Just amazing to me. But beyond watching Milt's tape and the occasional quick internet search I didn't really do too much to find out more. And I want to.

So, for now I'm reading Flags. And rewatching Milt's tape again knowing more about the battle than I did back when I first saw it. And while I'm liking the book, I'd like to read more. I'd like to read something that looks more at the battle as a whole, as Flags focuses more on the six individuals in that famous photograph. They certainly deserve their stories told. But so do all the other men who were on that island and involved in that battle. Let me know if you have any book suggestions. Or if you ever want to watch Milt's tape of the trip back and the ceremonies. It's a home movie, not some fancy edited documentary. But I'm glad I have a copy. And like most people who've become a part of my life, I'm glad I got to meet Milt.

Turnip Comes to Town: Day Five

On Saturday we dragged our asses out of bed and headed out for a nice long walk. Turnip and I are both trying to get into better shape so I told her she and I would have to walk to and over the Brooklyn Bridge while she was here. Which is what we did on Saturday. And it was lovely. It was GORGEOUS fall day with a clear blue sky, bright sunshine and weather that was perfect for walking around in the sun. We made it to the bridge and over into Manhattan and back without too much fuss. And all the while taking pictures of the bridge and various skylines and each other, like the big dorks we are. One woman stopped us as we were almost to the bridge and asked if we were walking. She seemed nice so we bit back the smartass responses and said yes. She wanted to know if we'd be up for being walking buddies with her as she was looking for someone to exercise with. Turnip lives in LA so she couldn't. I would've liked to, but my walking & Y schedule depends on what else is going on with me and is hardly regular so I said no. Though maybe a walking buddy would've gotten me out more. Who knows. Too late now. Alas.

After that we hit Bagel World and then tried to make another Yoga class but didn't manage it in time. So, Turnip ran some errands and then we went to get our nails done. Which ended up taking far longer than it should have. After that we headed home to get her ready for her wedding and then she headed off for the NYBG.

She came home after I was in bed and then headed to the airport very early Sunday morning. A lovely visit, but exhausting. So I spent the rest of Sunday just being a slug for the most part. Relaxing.

Turnip Comes to Town: Day Four

Friday we got up and headed to Park Slope for breakfast with Turnip's friends from Wednesday night. And that was lovely. Good food and nice people and all. Plus it was a lovely fall day.

After that we headed back to my 'hood for our treatments. Turnip wanted to be all waxed and sexy for her wedding on Saturday so she scheduled that. I figured I'd so something as well. Since I don't have enough hair to make ripping it out worthwhile I went for a massage and scalp treatment. And it was awesome. An hour and a half of massage and scalp massage plus soft & pretty hair. I think I'm going to have to do that more often. Maybe Muffy & I need a mini spa day soon.

After that we got all dolled up and headed to Macy's to buy complicated underwear to go under Turnip's halter dress for the wedding on Saturday. Complicated underwear shopping always seems to be an ugly process. It's not like buying fun undies, the pretty & sexy stuff. This has a purpose (beyond getting one laid) and is usually a pain to get into and out of and just sucks. But we found something fairly quickly and headed to Lush to treat ourselves to fun smelly stuff. And then met JCN downtown to try out s'mac. And s'mac was GOOD. So good. Heavenly. We split four smalls so we could try more things. Manchego, Goat Cheese, Gruyere (I didn't get any of that as it had bacon) and 4-Cheese. Happy, happy.

After that it was off to the West Village for drinks with a few of my friends and a few of hers. We met at Corner Bistro, but it was packed so we wanted to head for a dead bar to just be comfy and drink beer. The one we picked ended up not being so dead in the end, but we got some seats, had some beer and a good time was had. By all, I think.

Turnip Comes to Town: Day Three

Thursday was a mellow day. We headed to the Y to take a Yoga class. Turnip is a big fan of Yoga and I've always kind of avoided it. But she wants me to try it so I figured I would. Sadly we had the times wrong and missed the start of class. So we hit the machines, worked up a sweat and then headed home where she did some work and I futzed around the apartment. She headed out that night for dinner and drinks but I decided to stay in and clear some TiVo, pay bills, answer emails... wildly sexy stuff like that.

Turnip Comes to Town: Day Two

On Wednesday, Turnip and I got up and walked to the Brooklyn Promenade to check out the view and get some exercise. Then we treated ourselves to Bagel World deliciousness. We needed to fortify ourselves before heading to Queens in the afternoon to prove our love and devotion to Pumpkin. She's trying to decide on bridesmaids' dresses so we headed out to David's Bridal to try on everything we could fit into and take photos for her. So she can have a better idea of what to put us in. There is a lot of horrible stuff out there for bridesmaids, but we saw some things that weren't so bad. And Pumpkin claims that our efforts were helpful. Of course, she's also threatening to put butt bows on us so lord knows. But, she's the bride, so butt bow be damned, I'll wear what she tells me and smile about it. I think it's in the contract you sign when you agree to be a bridesmaid. Along with a bunch of other things Pumpkin claims I'm now bound to do. Though I am starting to suspect she's making some of those things up.

After a couple of hours of taffeta and satin and zippers and snaps and petticoats we headed to the other less dismal shopping plaza across the street and treated ourselves to cute things from Old Navy, like old man boxers and soft tops. Of course, when we left the Old Navy the skies had opened and drenched us on our walk to the train. And drenched us some more on our walk from the train to Caffe Carciofo for dinner. Though the rain & puddles reflecting the street lights was kind of pretty once we were inside with tea and steamed artichoke and pasta and bread.

After dinner we headed home to dry off and warm up before hitting (don't click the link, Daddy) Toys in Babeland (now called just Babeland, I think) for a little shopping. After which we met up with two of Turnip's friends at the Slipper Room for a little burlesque and music. Her friend is a burlesque dancer these days and that seemed the best way to see her and her husband. I didn't really dig the band, though they weren't bad or anything. But the go go dancing and burlesque was more fun than I thought it would be. Though none of the dancers were my friends. Turnip might have a different take on the performance. Judging by the dancers there and one we saw at Forty Deuce in Vegas I'm thinking burlesque dancers these days are a little less well-endowed than the ones of days of yore. Not that I'm any kind of burlesque expert or anything.

After that we headed home to crash and hide from the rain. Wild times. Petticoats, boobies and vibrators all in one day. You want my rock star life. Don't lie.