Stryker Brigade News

Our first stop was the brew pub downstairs from Jim's office. Julie and Scott had some home-brew root beer while I had a Daily Pils (as in "Give us this day our..."). Jim had a beer so dark, light could not escape from it. (I know that's not original, but I like it.) We had some excellent burgers, too. Before the food arrived, I got a call on the cell phone from my friend, Tim, who has recently returned from a boat cruise on the USS John C. Stennis, but was calling me from a bookstore in Chicago. (He has to go there and absorb knowledge after every cruise, it seems.) Welcome back, Tim! And thanks for keeping the Western Pacific safe for the past few months.

After eating, we went up the stairs to GHQ Models. Scott went up slowly, but he went up like one usually does on stairs (yesterday's practice makes today's perfection). I've already plugged the website (www.ghqmodels.com), so let me explain briefly how I know these guys. I run into them at a huge game convention in Lancaster, PA every year. They make stuff that I paint and play with to help keep myself so even tempered. You know, the stress relief that comes from having an interesting hobby. I bug them at the conventions between games and pick up cool stuff (technical term: impulse buy) for the fleet or army, as the case may be. I've been corresponding with them about the Stryker and Scott sent them some photos of the variants in case they wanted to make models (other than the one they already have, that is). Jim and the rest of the crew at GHQ were very upset to learn that Scott had been injured and have expressed their very kind wishes for a speedy recovery since learning of it. Anyway, Jim and I thought it would be a fun outing and it turned out to be the case. Julie and Scott had not seen how these models were made while I have been to Musket Miniatures and Game Figures, Inc. outside Denver (By the way, they're great folks, too!) and knew much of the drill already. They happened to be in the process of making new molds and new figures (not sure if the exact types can be revealed, so I'll not mention the specifics here). Jim showed us the entire process from start (master/mold making) to casting (pouring the molten metal into the molds) to putting the figures in the "blister packs" for sale. Jim had some painted models available for our viewing and I learned some neat painting tips from him.

Scott held up pretty well during the tour and even tried on a new type helmet while he was there. Well, actually it's an old type helmet (British colonial infantry helmet from the Zulu War), but it looks more military than that green thing. I took some other photos, but putting them on this Yahoo/AOL thing is pretty hairy, so I think I'll wait until I find some broadband access around here someplace. When the tour of the factory was finished, Scott walked down the stairs (again, like you normally would do) and we got back into the van for a motorized tour of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

We drove around and Jim showed us the sights, giving us the historical significance of them. Jim and Julie, who share an interest in making garments, were also looking for a particular yarn shop. While we were downtown, I noticed about fifteen people neatly lined up with almost exactly equal intervals between them. It looked very military, but it was just a bunch of Minneapolists (sounds much better than the correct "Minneapolitans" doesn't it--"Minneapolists unite!") lined up for a bus! Scott laughed at my commanding them to march, about face, etc. from inside Jim's van (Alas, the windows were up and my commands went for naught).

The yarn shop was found during the St. Paul portion of the tour and Julie went inside for some goodies. Scott noticed a certain coffeeshop on the corner (the one that's on all the corners). Jim and I tried to get Scott's beverage preference out of him, but he couldn't tell us. I suggested a menu and Jim went to go get one. He came back with the nutritional information pamphlet, but we figured it out from there. Jim again braved the nippy afternoon air to obtain the beverage, but returned empty because the espresso machine was NOT WORKING! (This will, no doubt, be on the front page tomorrow!) Fortunately, I know somebody who works for this company and when he reads this, he will say, "That figures. Steve just beat up an Internet hoax about how our company hates the military and then his wounded kid can't get our product on his first trip out of the hospital." C'est la guerre.

Jim got us back to the hospital in time for Scott's dinner. Unfortunately, I had to go get it out of the dining room and put it on his tray. (Maybe if I drew them a picture? Trail of bread crumbs?) Scott was a little tired, but very happy he was able to escape the hospital for the day. Thanks again, Jim! (And thanks, Mrs. Jim, for the use of the van.)

ST