Grits...

[BrokenolMarine]

I flew a lot in my 13 plus years, mostly in helos, always in the back, and not always as aircrew. Lol. When I was part of the crew, it was as a door gunner, or as a safety observer for training gun runs. I got air sick once and it was because the pilots got a short notice launch order and we hadn't loaded the ammo aboard, or set up the guns. We had installed them.

After leaving the ship, the co-pilot cleared us to load the guns... we opened several new cans of fifty cal ammo, three or four for each gun, then linked the belts then laid them along the seat accordion style so we had about 400 rounds ready to go on each gun... When you open each can, there is a square of cardboard on top of each folded belt you toss. Never paid it any mind. This was a cold weather hop and everything was closed up except the two gun ports. Those eight cans... each contained a square of cardboard, soaked in ether, to prevent corrosion.

Made everyone in the back a little queasy, and a first for me... I used the zip lock I kept in the leg pocket of my flight suit. We opened the ramp and vented the aircraft, and continued the mission. The fumes hadn't reached the cockpit. I did a write up for the flight safety officer, and it went up the chain. Policy came out later requiring you to vent ammo before taking the cans on the aircraft.

[daytime dave]

I made quick grits this morning. I put two fried eggs on top. They were better than I remember. I wish I had read this bit about the cheese before I made them this morning. Cheese would have made them even better. Butter, salt, pepper and the eggs made them pretty good.