posted on September 21, 2003 01:00:24 PM new
Love it ...
got "question to seller few days ago", excerpted here: Greetings from Iraq! My troops and I smoke a lot of cigars over here, and I am trying to get them to stop dropping ashes all over the palace floors, and your ashtray would be perfect, A little culture, maybe??... and match holder too? How old is it, Approximately? Thanks, Paddy"
I quipped to him: "Oh me oh my ... puh-lease don't make us ship this to Iraq!! [we ship to USA bidders only] ... perhaps we can ship it to your PX at your homeland base ... the entire stand ... made of brass, the only cast iron is inside the weighted base, and you can only see the cast iron if you are holding the ashtray upside down, but if you did that, all of your ashes would drop on the floor again. ......... you ask the approx. age ... i hate to guess, because I really have no way of knowing, ... it is old, i think a lot older than me and i'm 50 ... .... bye for now, please find Saddam, and please send me a couple of good cigars ... ~ in O-boy-hio USA
I was just so sure it was someone pulling my leg, TILL he won the auction and said, just send to my APO in New York and they will forward it free of any further charges ... [he added} PS you should be the one sending me cigars, I just had 4 troopers wounded last night by a mortar attack and the nerves are alittle on edge.
Oh brother! ,... I sent him a note apologizing for not really believing his humor as fact in his ? to Seller ... I think I need to find some good cigars to send with this floorstand ashtray! ...
Bless his ever-lovin' heart and all of those of our military still in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all places overseas ...
posted on September 21, 2003 03:02:07 PM new
aintrich,
If you can find or send cigars, there must be something you can put in package! They were running a site somewhere, but now I forget what it was...had a list of things they could use over there. Think batteries was on the list? Anyway, cute a soldier is finding time to shop EBAY in the middle of all that chaos!
posted on September 21, 2003 06:46:19 PM new
Be sure to pack it well for a trip that distance. One way to keep it from shifting in the box is to block it with a bottle of Jack Daniels or Wild Turkey
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on September 21, 2003 07:06:11 PM new
Send him some of those "bubble gum" cigars. I don't think they're real expensive. I'd imagine they'd all get a chuckle outta them and gum and candy should be welcome also.
posted on September 22, 2003 03:07:03 AM new
Awesome ideas you guys ... thanks ...
Here's what he sent while I was on KP duty last night .... how cool is this!!!!!!
"Marcia, I am sending $73.00 so prepare the shipment for priority post [to NY APO]. Enclosed is a picture of the cigar smoking crew, I am the distinguished looking one! (the bald guy on top holding the gold sniper rifle from Udays palace) Thanks for the letter of support, we are winning this thing over here, reguardless what the news says. Paddy"
[ edited by AintRichYet on Sep 22, 2003 03:08 AM ]
posted on September 22, 2003 03:49:43 AM new
Great picture.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to chip in some goodies to send Paddy and the gang. Please let us know if you are accepting such and how much cash we should include to help with shipping.
There are various want lists floating around the Web, but a good one is here:
posted on September 22, 2003 04:22:58 AM new
Please also let me know what they'd like. My family and I don't like this war, but we love our soldiers! Can you post a list on this thread? Will also send some shipping cash. I'm going to a benefit book fair on Wednesday and if they'd like some books, I'd be happy to pick some up there.
posted on September 22, 2003 05:25:11 AM new
Thanks everybody!!!! I just emailed Paddy and asked him for permission to post his APO shipping address and/or his email address here ... I told him about your various ideas and offers and asked him to talk to his crew about making a list of things they would want ....
what a neat person he is! ... like I said, I am just really impressed with his wonderful sense of humor thru the adversity ... and I get the feeling through his messages that he is proud to be there "winning the war" ... I'm just still amazed too, at this coming about, ... at his bidding on ebay on a big ol' ashtray to 'keep his guys from "dropping ashes all over the palace floors" LOL! ...
posted on September 24, 2003 04:47:01 AM new
Yay! I heard back from Paddy and his cigar-lovin' crew ... I had told him some of the things the posters in this thread mentioned and offered ... he writes:
"Marcia, I'm pleasantly amused by all the attention we are getting, and after alot of thought (12 seconds) I have decided to let you release the address for the benefit of the gang. Dont have time to write the loved ones that often, and definately wont be able to answer all the e-mails, so keep that address reserved for just the single women!! If anybody really wants to send us some stuff, Cigars and motorcycle magazines would be nice...yes, I know you find it hard to believe that all those nice lads in the photo ride Harleys and smoke cigars... Enclosed is another picture of us, all dressed up and ready for work. Because we operate various high tech gadgets and machinery, Jack Daniels would probably make us lose our edge over here, so save that stuff till the welcome home party! Take care of yourself, Paddy"
So, without further ado, please open up your hearts, wallets, and cigar boxes to:
CSM Patrick Douglas
HHC 1AD DISCOM
Unit # 92867
APO, AE 09324-2867
......... and since he sent me another photo, I guess that means I can put that other photo back up .. so i'll try to do that in a few minutes ... thanks everyone .. let's "adopt" these guys for just a little while ... the 2nd photo he sent made me a bit sadder than this 1st one ... in the 2nd photo, it was a pic of his crew, in the dark of night, wearing camo paint and dust on their faces and holding their big guns ...
again; bless their ever-lovin' hearts ... they are there, working, whether they like it or not.
Marcia in Ohio
here's edit to add the 2nd photo, .. the first photo he had sent was just named blahblahnumbers [auto numbered by his camera] ... this 2nd photo he sent, he had renamed it before sending it, 6heros.jpg ....
[ edited by AintRichYet on Sep 24, 2003 04:51 AM ]
posted on September 24, 2003 04:57:06 PM new
Hi all ... I replied to StanleyMu as she asked ... just wanted to bump this up for "the guys" in Iraq, so the night-time viewers wouldn't miss this
... cuz I'm still an Easterner 'early to bed, early to rise' .......
and pardon me if I bump this up, just once in awhile, so we can remember Paddy and his guys ... I bought some motorcycle magazines today on ebay, and paypalled that I want them sent to Paddy's address .. I'm SO computer-oriented for my daily work/chores that I shall google for a site for fine cigars too, methinks ... [gosh, we have it easy when you compare with them]
posted on October 19, 2003 04:01:22 AM new
Well, it was a pleasure to send Paddy and the guys their ebay floor stand ashtray along with some good cigars and a USA Flag Bic lighter ... I also easily found some vintage motorcycle magazines on ebay, and paypalled the $ to seller asking him to ship to Paddy's APO address ... an online friend of ours printed out photo #1 here and took it to his local Fine Tobacco shop and told their manager the story ... he'd gone into the back room and came out with a full box of custom blend cigars to donate! ... what a great idea [wished I'd thought of that first LOL ] friend also bought some hard candies, gum, and motorcycle magazines ... Paddy really liked those surprises .... anyone wanting to help keep their spirits up and send 'em a Care Package once in awhile, please bookmark this thread so you can find his mailing address ...
Thanks ...
