Daniel Blakeslee

Happy birthday, Albert #Einstein and happy #Pi day to everyone else. #piday #314 #march https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxU-AFuZdD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here are the workers at #Stonehenge moving it forward one hour. Yes, it’s that #time of year again. #SpringForward or show up at #church late! #timechange #timechangesunday #endoftimechange https://www.instagram.com/p/CpqeFuMSNBe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#championsofmagic #datenight (at Downtown Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cplz1VosSj5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! #christmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CmjvzN3On60/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I found my favorite bank. I felt right at home. My friend Ebenezer Scrooge used to work here. The #Tightwad Bank was originally opened in the town of the same name in 1984 as an offshoot of a larger institution, realizing the impact its name could have. However, after an initial period of success, a large deal fell through and the bank fell into decline, further suffering from multiple robberies in the 1990s. By 2006, the bank had shuttered its doors, only to open for a few more years before COVID-19 hit. #scrooge #banking #cheapskate #pennypincher #missouri (at Tightwad, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cme8GijvjFT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

For my shipmates deployed all around the globe... Merry Christmas and God bless you and your families! A Sailor’s Christmas: 'Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived in a crowd, In a 40 man berthing, with shipmates so loud. I had come down the exhaust stack with presents to give, And to see just who in this rack did live. I looked all about, and a strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, just boots close at hand, On the bulkhead hung pictures of far distant lands. He had medals and badges and awards of all kind, And a sobering thought came into my mind. For this place was different, it was so dark and dreary, I had found the home of a Sailor, this I could see clearly. The Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in his rack, dreaming of home. The face was so gentle, the berthing in such good order, But not how I pictured a US Sailor. Was this the hero whom I saw on TV? Defending his country so we all could be free? I realized the families that I've seen this night, Owed their lives to these Sailors who were willing to fight. Soon ‘round the world, the children would play, And grownups would celebrate a new Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of the Sailors, like the one lying here. I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve, on a sea far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The sailor awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, for this life is my choice." "Defend the seas this day, the peace do I keep." The sailor then rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours so silent, so still, And we both shivered from the night's cold chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night, This guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the Sailor rolled over and with a voice soft and pure, Whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas ... All is Secure." - Unknown #submarine #sailor #navy #Christmas (at Undisclosed) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmebBBUuFpp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ran into this old friend at the #Starbucks in Manhattan a couple years ago. I went there today hoping to run into him! #grinch #grinchmas #Christmas (at Manhattan, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmccXqSPWfE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

USS Lapon (SSN-661) launching on December 16, 1966 at Newport News Ship Building. #submarine #usnavy (at Newport News, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmQ03jBOoP5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A Japanese Type A midget #submarine is beached on #Oahu after it went aground following attempts to enter #PearlHarbor #Hawaii during the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack. The photograph was taken on or shortly after Dec. 8, 1941. (Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl7o11oMKCd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We decided to kick off the Christmas season in a traditional holiday fashion. Watching an old Christmas movie, Die Hard, traditional holiday fare, Chinese food. I always get in the holiday spirit when I think back to Nakatomi’s Christmas Party of 1988. #nakatomiplaza #diehardisachristmasmovie #christmastree (at Nakatomi Plaza, Century City, Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl7gTX_sHNb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy," President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed. Therefore, we must teach our children. Just before 8 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese planes made the surprise raid on Pearl Harbor. During the attack nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, were damaged or destroyed, as well as more than 300 aircraft. 2,008 Navy personnel, 109 Marines, 218 Army soldiers, and 68 civilians were killed. Of the dead, 1,177 were from the USS Arizona, the wreckage of which now serves as a memorial of the attack. #pearlharbor #ussarizona #december7 (at USS Arizona Memorial, World War II Site, Pearl Harbor) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl2hZpArBWH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

6 DEC 1941: President Franklin Roosevelt makes a final appeal to the Emperor of Japan for peace. There is no reply. Late this same day, the U.S. code-breaking service begins intercepting a 14-part Japanese message and deciphers thefirst 13 parts, passing them on to the President and Secretary of State.The Americans believe a Japanese attack is imminent, most likely somewherein Southeast Asia. #ussmissouri #pearlharbor (at USS Missouri -Ford Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1CSZFOhwy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Have a magical Thanksgiving! Our family has so much to be thankful for this year. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. #thanksgiving #thankful #magician https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWYuTWu5_i/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here’s a later #veteransday post that I borrowed from a #submarine group. Blessings to my submarine brothers and other veterans who couldn’t be #submariner’s (at Submarine Pier Norfolk Naval Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3WqlrOTs9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The mess-up isn’t where you end up.⁠ ⁠ Unless you quit and stop right there. ⁠ ⁠ Caveat: This isn’t about never giving up or quitting anything. I completely and wholeheartedly agree with quitting when things are no longer serving you. ⁠ ⁠ 🙅🏽‍♀️That toxic relationship? Quit.⁠ 🚭Smoking? Double quit. ⁠ 💸That idea that hasn’t seemed like any fun at all since 2014? Let ‘er go. ⁠ ⁠ What I’m saying is:⁠ ⁠ If you really want something. If you’re working hard toward a goal that lights a fire under your coffee and has you so excited to get out of bed every morning. If you have a feeling you’re on the right path even though the climb’s been a little steep as of late… ⁠ But you totally messed something up and have a major (or minor but still deflating) setback?⁠ ⁠ Please don’t quit. You messed up. But this isn’t where you’ll end up. ⁠ ⁠ The only way out of the muck is to get out of it, and I’ll be cheering you along all the way through. ⁠ ⁠ You never fail unless you stop trying. ⁠ ⁠ #dontquit #perseverance https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckosp2OvX27/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here are the workers at #Stonehenge moving it back one hour. Yes, it’s that #time of year again. #FallBack or come to #church early! #timechange #timechangesunday #endoftimechange https://www.instagram.com/p/CkmtK_IDbco/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I cooked breakfast on the #Blackstone griddle and we ate outdoors on this beautiful 60° morning. #backyardcamping (at Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjdRZ1tuUOD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=