It was Marine Week here in St. Louis. We went downtown, along with I don't know how many thousands of others. There is also a baseball game this evening so traffic, mixed with the road closures for the activities, was quite a spectacle. I didn't get nearly as many pics as I'd hoped as the camera batteries started fading and nobody thought to bring spares. But I did get a few to share.

Me and TurboKittie... the only kilted people among several thousand in the area. I'm wearing my Leatherneck SW (of course) with claret hose and she is wearing a Navy sportkilt recently acquired from our own Nighthawk (thanks Nighthawk, she loves it!)


A nice pic of the Old Courthouse


The V-22 Osprey was a big hit


A really sweet hummer


I believe this is a 155, with the ballpark in the background


A CH-53 in front of Busch stadium (My favorite helo.. Always loved this bird)


A CH-46 on the arch grounds


CGR perched on a podium while the girls took a "rest stop"


CGR enjoying some trigger time in the rifle simulator range


And there's nothing like letting a tough Gunnery Sgt. put your kid through some paces... especially after he stayed up all night long playing video games.


We left as they were starting the amphibious landing demonstration on the riverfront, everyone was getting tired, and we just beat the rain. I never had a single comment, although I'm told I got a lot of smiles from girls. I did get a wave and respectful nod from a rastafarian outside the ballpark. I did however, unintentionally answer "the question" to oh... maybe about 100 people or so.

Walking back from the arch grounds on the sidewalk, the wind suddenly picked up. There wasn't even a hint of breeze all afternoon. Then out of nowhere a very large and long gust hit. Everything started fluttering. I'm holding a bag in one hand and my daughters hand in the other, and TurboKittie decided that since she was at least wearing a thong, she would dump what little amount of modesty she possesses and try to save my own butt (literally) in case things got worse. Unfortunately, it was too late.

A massive squall blew in and there I was... In the middle of downtown, on one of the busiest intersections, on one of the busiest days, surrounded by vehicles and pedestrians everywhere, many of which, mainly girls, who were already focused on me as it was because of the kilt, and because they were all walking towards me.... doing a near perfect imitation of Marilyn Monroe on the grate.. though I didn't have hands to hold anything down. I'd like to say that nobody saw anything, but it was a very warm day. A Very warm day. Anybody behind us who had turned around got a shot of TK's butt.

It left as soon as it came in so all I could do was brush the pleats back in place and continue walking along as if nothing happened and smile back at folks. I'm sure there will be many stories later among the city folk... not to mention many wonderful dreams tonight too. (I don't buy it either, but it's gonna help me sleep better tonight).