Syd (aka: Skidro) profile picture

Syd (aka: Skidro)

Where would we be without rhetorical questions?

About Me


My daughter, Caitlin.

Miss Sarah Judge, my first Grand-daughter. Born in Huntington, WV on September 8, 2006, 9:50 p.m. Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz., Length: 19 ½ inches long.

Happy Jack's Go Buggy, a P-51 Mustang restored with the markings of my dear friend Major Jack M. Ilfrey's original mount. I did numerous hours of research for the restoration project to assure the markings were as authentic as possible. It was awarded the Grand Champion Award at 2008 EAA Airventure, and has set a new standard for all restorations that follow.

My Interests

World War II, Aviation History, Art, Music, Autograph Collecting , Militaria Collecting

I'd like to meet:

They say everyone has a twin, I wanted to meet the poor sonuvabitch that looks like me and I did, meet Philbio...!

Just Remember:
"There is no hope for a civilization which starts each day to the sound of an alarm clock."
-- Author Unknown

"Mediocrity is a self-inflicted condition"
"We have to protect ourselves from the trampling and roar of a bewildered herd."
"Those who sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither."
And Finally
"Everyone is NOT entitled to an opinion.
Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion."
-- Harlan Ellison

LINKS TO CHECK OUT:
The Fightin' 79th
U. S. Militaria Forums
The Warbird Information Exchange
Historum - History Forums
The Chet Fields Show

Music:


A real hodge-podge of everything....Thin Lizzy, Type O Negative, Snake River Conspiracy, Lycia, Beethoven, Glenn Miller, Pantera, The Cure, The Smiths, N-17, Tank, Bach, Wagner, Joe Satriani, David Bowie, Robin Trower, Buddy Guy, Stanley Clarke, Staurt Hamm, Jaco Pastorius, Henry Rollins, David and David, Bruce Cockburn, David Baerwald, Tom Cochrane, Early U2, Red Rider, Big Country, Laibach, Rammstein, Concrete Blonde, The Cars, The Doors, Prong, Drown, Six, Blue Murder, White Zombie, Billie Holliday, Testament, Artie Shaw, Danzig, The Clash, Killing Joke, Peter Gabriel, In a Different Light, Billy Sheehan, John Campbell, Chris Whitley, Nathan Hughes....I could go on forever and get a lot more eclectic...

Movies:

Saving Private Ryan, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Memphis Belle, Downfall, 12 O' Clock High, Nightmare Before Christmas, Das Boot, Sid and Nancy, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Bat 21, Red Dawn, The Beast of War, National Treasure, The Blue Max, The Red Violin, Immortal Beloved, October Skies, Patton, Band of Brothers, Tucker, Rudy, The Blues Brothers, This Is Spinal Tap, Forever Young, Gone In 60 Seconds, Hope and Glory, The Iron Giant, The Rocketeer, Animal House, The Hunt For Red October, The Professional, A Christmas Story, Stalag 17....

Television:


All Hail Hypnotoad!
Family Guy, Futurama, The New Battlestar Galactica, American Dad, The Simpsons, The History Detectives, M*A*S*H, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Hogan's Heroes, Combat!, The History Channel, The Speed Channel, The Military Channel, Discovery Times Channel, History Channel International, BBC America, NOVA, Brianiac, Rescue Me, Top Gear, Fraiser, MI-5, Mad Men, Twelve O' Clock High, The Research Channel, Junkyard Wars, Showdown - Air Combat, Numb3rs,
I Dearly Miss:
The Henry Rollins Show, Carnivale, Dogfights, The Discovery Wings Channel, Mail Call, Six Feet Under, The Critic, War At Home, The Sopranos...

Books:

Rocket Boys, Lion of Ireland, Happy Jack's Go Buggy, Catch 22, The Fifty Year Wound, Confederacy of Dunces, Dracula, King's Cliffe, Happy Jack's Go Buggy, No One Here Gets Out Alive... I mainly read historical reference books relating to WWII and college textbooks these days (pretty boring, eh?)

Heroes:

I don't really have any "heroes", as I am in agreement with Col. Greg "Pappy" Boyington's belief, "Name me a hero and I'll prove he's a bum." But there are people whose deeds or work I admire, or whose talents are so far beyond my comprehension that they are an inspiration... Amung them are:
Maj. Jack Ilfrey (USAAF, Ret.), Capt. Arthur W. Heiden (USAFR, Ret.), Col. Cy Wilson (USAF), the aforementioned Col. Greg Boyington (USMC), Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, Philip Lynott, Michael Manring, Patrick Nagel, Albrecht Durer, Jim Fitzpatrick, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Leonardo DaVinci...
But, if I am pressed to chose one, I do have one hero, my beautiful mother, Joann Edwards. Despite the circumstances, she always stood behind me to cheer me on or to catch me when I fell. I miss her, even though I still feel her presence around me everyday. I'm sure that, somehow she knows I appreciated it all, even though I never told her so enough when I had the chance. She deserved so much more from this life, (or from me), than she wound up getting yet never let it turn her cold (or sour) inside. For that, alone, I respect her more than I can say.
MORE ABOUT ME... FOR YOU REALLY CURIOUS TYPES OUT THERE (UPDATED 03-30-08)
Name: Syd
Birthday: May 21
Birthplace: North Carolina
Current Location: In my Dining Room
Eye Color: Blue-Green/Bloodshot
Hair Color: Auburn
Height: 6'3"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right
Your Heritage: Irish/Celtic
The Shoes You Wore Today: None
Your Weakness: If I told you I'd have to kill you, sorry...
Your Fears: (See answer above)
Your Perfect Pizza: Chewy crust, Pepperoni, mushrooms and sausage
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Continue to make the Dean's List in college
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: "Cool" and "True"
Thoughts First Waking Up: "Oh God, I'm sure I am late for something!"
Your Bedtime: When I am tired
Pepsi or Coke: Coke, accept no substitutes unless it's Cafe Du Monde coffee
MacDonalds or Burger King: Mickey D's
Single or Group Dates: Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: That's Nancy's department, I'm the Coke drinker, remember?
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate, accept no substitutes
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee, especially Cafe Du Monde, yet again, accept no subsititute
Do you Smoke: Yeah
Do you Swear: Only at inapproproate times
Do you Sing: Yes, like a fog horn across a swampy bog
Do you Shower Daily: I usually bathe daily.
Have you Been in Love: Love ain't nothing but Sex mis-spelled
Do you want to get Married: No thanks, but I appreciate the offer
Do you believe in yourself: If I don't who will?
Do you get Motion Sickness: No
Do you think you are Attractive: By whose standards?
Are you a Health Freak: LMFAO
Do you like Thunderstorms: Love them
Do you play an Instrument: Bass Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: No, I've been sober since 1992
In the past month have you Smoked: How about in the past five minutes?
In the past month have you been on Drugs: Uh, no.
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Uh, no.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: No and I thank God everyday I don't have to.
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: No, but I made a helluva dent in a package of Fig Newtons, that count? BTW Oreos come in a bag not a box.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: Oh man, Sushi is nasty. That answer your question?
In the past month have you been on Stage: No, my days of that are long over.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: Uh, no.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: Maybe a few jokes or an idea or two.
Ever been Drunk: Uh, yes.
Ever Shoplifted: Yes, years ago, and I'm not proud of it either, just being honest.
How do you want to Die: Quietly of old age, but I don't see that happening.
What country would you most like to Visit: England, Ireland, Germany in that order.
Number of Drugs I have taken: Like I am supposed to remember that far back... On the whole I'm going to say not as many as you might think.
Number of CDs I own: Around 300 or so
Number of Piercings: One, my left ear
Number of Tattoos: None
Number of things in my Past I Regret: Enough to make a list but not enough to be weighed down.
What I Like In A Woman...
Favourite Eye Color: No real preference
Favourite Hair Color: Brunette
Short or Long Hair: Long
Height: No real preference
Weight: No real preference
So, feed him then go and adopt your own damn virtual pet!

My Blog

ON TURNING 45 AND ACCEPTING MY PLACE AS A C.O.M.I.T.

As I mark an X on the square representing Wednesday the 21st, I'm not only reminded that I'm at the 45th anniversary of my birth, but how much has changed in that span of time. The end result of such ...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Wed, 21 May 2008 10:48:00 PST

ON LIFE, DEATH AND BECOMING AN ALMOST GRANDPA

With the pending birth of my "grandchild" (for those of you who don't already know, my girlfriend's daughter is due any day now), I've been thinking a lot about my life and how things are about to tak...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:18:00 PST

On Being Dragged Kicking and Screaming Into My 43rd Year...

I normally don't even acknowledge my birthdays, to be honest I just view them as another day closer to the inevitable and unescapable conclusion of my time on this filthy little rock we all live on. T...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Sun, 21 May 2006 03:02:00 PST

RELEASE OF THE FIGHTIN' 79TH CD-ROM

For Those of you who have been following the progress of my two-year project about the USAAF's 79th Fighter Squadron, the release date for the multimedia CD-ROM is Friday, November 11th. For more inf...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 05:30:00 PST

On Being An Equal Opportunity Offender

Really, this should have been my first blog entry as it serves as a disclaimer to anyone who might stumble across what I have written. I am an equal opportunity offender, quite frankly I dont give a ...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

ON BEING FONDLED BY THE AMISH....

ON BEING FONDLED BY THE AMISH.... I live near an area where the Amish have settled down and started buying up every piece of land they can get their callused and dirt-encrusted hands on. Every time ...
Posted by Syd (aka: Skidro) on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST