The Dick Van Dyke Show
It is definitely still winter here. The days are quickly getting longer and we are getting some beautiful sunny days. Which bodes well for the community psyche.
During my weekly pilgrimage to Kasilof I stopped in at the Ninilchik beach to look for a good photo of the mountains across the inlet. The sun was low in the East and the Alaska Range was pure white, with the low light angle casting few shadows on the recently dusted slopes.
It was about 15 degrees F and there was a light offshore breeze. I noticed a thin fog bank in the inlet and hoped it wouldn’t extend onshore. Other than the fog, there were almost no clouds. When I got to the beach it was obvious that the fog was not onshore but rather birthing there and building as it moved further offshore. As this was proceeding at a leisurely pace, a light surf was rolling in underneath the wispy steam. It could only be appreciated in motion but I settled for a few stills as I was freezing my ass off (it was on my windward side).
Mt Iliamna 
Iliamna on the left and Redoubt on the right.
When reminiscing old TV shows with a friend the other day, I mentioned that I was an extra on the Dick Van Dyke Show when I was in high school. A good friend’s father was a casting director at Central Casting and he said I could work one day as an extra without joining the union. The second day would trigger the withholding of over two days wages as union dues. If I was interested he could get me a one day gig on the Dick Van Dyke Show.
He was always working in the movies and TV commercials. I remember that he had over $4000.00 in his savings when we started high school. That was a fortune in 1961. He would often miss school to work in a movie; they had teachers conducting classes on the set to keep it legal.
Where was I. Oh yeah, we found a clip of the fight scene on YOUtube, I was in the audience. Just thinking, a lot of you probably won’t be able to pick me out. Hint, I had very short hair and no beard.
It turned out to be a fun day and the money was good but I never had a desire to pursue a career in the cinema.
The world appears to have gotten over that.
Stay safe out there. I feel there will be no returning to the normal we used to know.
That could be a good thing.
So far I've reached acceptable proficiency at the following, in chronological order: Silversmith, infantryman/door gunner, helicopter pilot, fireman, carpenter, residential contractor, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist and crotchety old retired guy. Currently, I'm learning to fly again and that is what this is all about. 7/7/2020 edit: As I have had the opportunity to reflect (old people do that a lot) on my actual proficiency level at the above occupations, I feel adjustments are in order. The term "acceptable" depends on the observer, their own proficiency and experience level. Acceptable to me might be woefully deficient to the master. I think it would be more accurate to claim that I have earned a living wage at all of these occupations but never got rich. Actually, I feel that I have gotten rich at the last one. I have what I need and am profoundly grateful for all of it. The future looks bright indeed, as I have learned to fly again. For that I have all of you to thank. Thank You!
The guy with the square head against the wall 😊
Right as usual Chooch. But you knew me in the day. Do you remember the lederhosen with green suspenders in the Taft ’64 annual?
Why yes I do. Climb the mountain