US Navy supplied photos of the USS Abraham Lincoln Activity

I thought you land lovers just might like to see a big ship in action.  It is such a great feeling to be a part of this type of action and these photos bring back fond memories of the aircraft carrier I was on in the 50's, the USS Valley Forge.

Launching an F-18 from the USS Abraham Lincoln

Landing an F-18 on the USS Abraham Lincoln

In/on the catwalk by the flight-deck on the USS Abraham Lincoln

The Tower - USS Abraham Lincoln

Close-up of The Tower - USS Abraham Lincoln

Just makes you want to be a part of the fun, doesn't it?  Bud............ ::+)

Kalyn's Poem

Floating Down The River

I feel free

Anyone that I want to be

No acting cool

Or sitting up Straight,

Just Being Yourself

It’s a time to

Get to know

Who you really are

It’s a chance

Of a lifetime

Floating down

The river

I feel Free!

Kalyn Groenewold

5-28-03

This poem was written by my granddaughter reflecting her feelings while floating on the Niobrara.  

USS Abraham Lincoln

Now this is a sharp turn!

What a great look at a clean deck.  I don't know where this is but would bet its a shakedown cruise.  Looks like a group of the flight deck crew in the center of the flight deck.

Life on the Happy Valley

I look back with pride on the seven cruises that I took aboard the USS Valley Forge.  First you have a fear of just getting around on such a big ship, then you settle down to the traffic pattern that you need to use, and develop a timing schedule of how much time does it take from A to B.  The longest trip I took was to go below to the compartment that housed the bails of rags used by the mechanics and metalsmith's to clean up the area and the planes after working on them.

Some more pictures about the Valley Forge

Gitmo swimming pool with the Happy Valley in the background

 Picture I use for my profile page

Refueling a Destroyer from the Valley Forge

The Valley Forge underway during the Korean Crises

The Valley is seen in the middle of the pack

A little walk down memory lane - if these pictures bring back special memories, make a comment here.

USS Valley Forge CV45

I spent a  portion of two years stationed aboard the valley Forge during 1953-1955.  And while  aboard the carrier I was always stationed through the air detachment VC-4.  The Corsairs were our planes and It was our responsibility to outfit this detachment with all of parts and supplies necessary for a full air operations.  Our time frame aboard the Valle Forge was consistent with Keeping the aircraft and crew in top shape for a quick implementation of the operations.  Within this blog, at a latter time-frame I will include excerpts from the 'Seven Cruises"

We took a load of Midshipmen, picked up at the Naval Academy, going from Norfolk Va up to Halifax Nova Scotia.  We had several cruses around Cuba and other areas in the Caribbean, stopping at several islands along the way. 

We then took a cruise from Norfolk VA to Belfast Island, flew to Glasgow Scotland and made a motor trip through the various locks (lakes).The countryside was beautiful and we had the opportunity to meet both girls and boys while there.  From Ireland & Scotland we went on to the Mediterranean and made a port of call at Barcelona Spain.  The return trip was a bit rough and when we were right off the Azores it was so rough that we couldn't refuel our destroyer escorts;  therefore they needed to pull into the Azores for fuel. replenishment. . 

The USS Enterprise CVN 65

The USS Enterprise CVN 65 is recently on a shakedown  cruise and does not have its full compliment of either men nor equipment........................

I inserted the picture of the USS Enterprise to give you a comparison of the old (USS Valley Forge CV 45) and the new (USS Enterprise CVN 65).  An I thought the Valley was big!!!!!

This grand ship has been cruzing in th Atlantic after being in the National Shipyeards for Repair.

“Don’t Let Your Wheels Fall Off”

Introduction

“Don’t Let Your Wheels Fall Off”

“Major problems facing businesses today with Controls and solutions to cover them”

About The Book

By RG Bud Phelps

This is my second book about the managers’ role in business, the first, “Cover Your Nut”, and was an introduction to “practical accounting in plain English for the real world”.  As stated in my first book, I have been involved in accounting and management for approximately 50 years, and luckily have been involved in various different types and styles of businesses.  I worked for a public accounting firm while attending college, and therefore had the opportunity to gain a good mixture of business experiences.  While working for the public accounting firm I was exposed to general business accounting, auditing, and also was fortunate to participate in the establishment of an extensive cost system for a manufacturing company.  This public accounting experience led me to my first accounting job, a candy manufacturer in Colorado, and  from that point in time little did I realize that my business experience would include the following – a candy manufacturing company, a cellophane printing company, a snack food company, an interior decorating and furniture sales company, a camper & trailer manufacturing company, a mobile home manufacturing and sales company, a water well drilling company, an ammunition manufacturing company, and a pet product manufacturing & marketing company.  I have also been involved in establishing accounting and cost system programs for many different types of businesses, from a service business to a manufacturing business and several in between.

Section One – Accounting Controls

We need to understand what is meant by accounting controls, and what is necessary to assure that internal controls are being maintained by management.  Internal controls will make operations more effective and efficient, and will give reliability to the financial statements.  I am starting the book with this section on accounting controls to give the reader a better understanding of what these controls mean, and how to apply tests to assure that they being used. 

Section Two – Cash Flow

We will be looking at the individual accounts making up the “Cash Flow” problems; cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, inventory, accounts payable, notes payable, equipment, and bonuses or dividends.    Cash flow is such a broad area we really need to study each item carefully, and therefore gain a more compete understanding of the individual cash flow problems are.   In all of these assets, having the internal controls in place makes it possible to keep the cash flow problem in check.

Section Three – Cost and Availability of Insurance

We will be looking at the individual items making up the “Cost and Availability of Insurance; the insurance survey, liability insurance, building and contents insurance, health insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance.  This section will cover three of the problems listed in the top ten; Health insurance, Cost and availability of liability insurance, and Workers’ compensation insurance.

Section Four – Energy Costs

We will be looking at the items making up “Energy Costs” problems; fuel (natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil), and electricity costs.  This section will cover two of the problems listed in the top ten; Cost of fuel and cost of electricity.

 Section Five – Taxes and Government Regulations

We will be looking at the items making up “Taxes and Government Regulations” problems; Federal taxes, State taxes, Property taxes, and unreasonable government regulations.  This section will cover four of the problems listed in the top ten; Federal Income taxes, Property taxes, State income taxes, and Unreasonable government regulations

Since the books presentation sections are as stated above I do feel that it would be helpful to list the top ten problems facing businesses today.  I have been involved in businesses for a long time and the first six of the problems listed have been around most of my career. 

                                    Top Ten Problems

1.      Cash flow

2.      Cost and availability of liability insurance

3.      Worker’s compensation insurance

4.      Federal income taxes

5.      Property taxes

6.      State income taxes

7.      Unreasonable government regulations

8.      Health insurance

9.      Cost of fuel

10.  Cost of electricity

The above problems may have a different ranking in the various areas in the country (northeast, southeast, central, southwest, and northwest), but in general will more than likely be classified somewhere in the top ten. When the problems of a business take over, without quick action by the management team, control can be lost very easily and the “wheels of business will fall off”.

                                                                             

Scrapbooks given to me by my father

From the Forward of "Gibbon's Secrets": 

Reg Phelps, my father, started collecting pictures and stories about the war at the beginning of 1940 - thinking that it would be a collection of true to life history for me, his son, Bud.

The pleasure I get from reading about history and remembering the everyday happenings of my youth has prompted me to write this story.  I feel enriched by the heritage of my family and the love that was shown throughout my early years as a boy in Gibbon Nebraska. . .

I therefore dedicate this story to my family and friends.  Read and enjoy my enhanced remembrance of the 40's.