| Author | Message | ||
     Stingaroo |
I apologize it has been so long since I have visited this board, thought I would provide a quick update... We got back from Iraq Sept 2009, then I was laid off from my civilian job November 13th at BAE Systems. It was a Union job, and my number came up. USERRA said there was nothing I could do even though I was deployed for a year, so I becaem unemployed. I applied at 23 different places, from mechanic, to historical archivist (I have a BA in History). Nothing panned out, I was either over qualified, or just did not quite make the requirements. I collected unemployment to make ends meet, and finished up a number of WW2 vehicles we have been restoring. Finally in May, I talked to my old friend I was deployed with who works for CTHX. They do cooling towers and heat exchanger maintenance, installation, start ups, etc. I landed the job and started June 8th. The bad part is I travel 75 miles one way to Laurel MD for training. The good news is once I am trained up I will be doing work here in PA with a company van, gas card, and cell phone! I am trying to think in the long term mind set to keep me motivated throughout my drive. As far as the National Guard goes, I am now promoted to E-7, and am the Fire Support Platoon Sergeant. We are currently refitting and getting things back into motion. I just found out a few minutes ago my Stryker vehicle that I had since new and deployed with will be coming back to our armory refitted and in new condition! Can't wait to see her again. Just to add to all the confusion, we found out this past week that my wife Kate is pregnant!!! One chapter ended and another one begins! Brian Cessna PS I will not be able to make it to homecoming due to being basically broke. Take lots of pics please! | ||
| Brumbear |
Great to hear from you good luck hope all pans out perfect  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Brian, thx for the update. Glad things are looking up in the job dept., and congrats to you and Kate and the baby!!! Thank you for your service. You are a man among men, and we consider it an honor and privilege to know you. Ride to lean, FB&D  Stingaroo, JB2, Prior and FB, K-Vegas, North Carolina, USA November 2009 - photo by Denise  Stingaroo at the helm of his Stryker, somewhere in Iraq | ||
| Treefrog |
Congrats to you and Kate. Congrats on the rank too. SFC isn't an easy thing to obtain. Glad things are starting to turn around for you. Keep the faith. See you next go around. | ||
| Whatever |
Save up some $$$ for the baby... you will need it... Like I said before... congratulations... | ||
| Bartimus |
Congrats on the job, and the baby, brian! | ||
| Xb9er |
Brian, congrats brother! Your going to make a awesome daddy. rocking the little one to sleep to dropkick murph | ||
| Augustus74 |
Congrats on everything! Isn't it obvious to take the bike to make the commute faster/easier/more fun?!  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
a big congrats on everything brian and kate. baby will change your life forever and hope the job pans out for ya the most. you'll need it for the baby. | ||
| Prior |
Congrats bud! So happy for you guys and I know you'll make great parents. Enjoy the job, learn lots! Prior | ||
| M2statz |
Brian, great to hear that things are going your way! Sorry we never had a chance to meet this spring when you were at Ft. McCoy. Congrats again!! Michael | ||
| Court |
Brian: Wow . . .where to start this list?
We're sorry you can't be at Homecoming but I suspect we'll be raising a toast to you and all the Badwebbers who have stepped up and served our nation. We'll plan on seeing you next year with the entire family. All the best and continue to be amazing, Court | ||
| Ulywife |
Excellent news all the way around! Congrats on the job and to you and Kate as you begin a new chapter in your lives together as you become parents. It's truly the hardest job you'll ever love! Thanks for your service! | ||
| F_skinner |
Brian (SFC Cessna), wow, you have a lot going on and in the right direction. I am sorry that I will not see you at Homecoming but there will be more in the future. I have a feeling, from briefly meeting you at the 25th, that Kate and you will be fine no matter what life throws at you. I love the pic FB posted and believe my name is on that banner somewhere. What an honor. Thanks for you past and continued service. Frank | ||
| Prior |
The pre-Iraq banner signing was one of the highlights of the 25th for me- that and finally being back in the wind with my brother! Brian and Erik  The always Lovely Kate and Brian  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Alex, care to tell the story about how Stingaroo almost got to have lunch with Erik during FBRAT? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I love the pic FB posted and believe my name is on that banner somewhere. What an honor. Frank, just minutes before that photo was taken, me 'n D and JB2 had also finally gotten the opportunity to sign Brian's banner. An honor, indeed. FB | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Welcome back and thanks for your service People like you and products like Buell are what make America great, together ya'll are unstoppable  | ||
| Prior |
Alex, care to tell the story about how Stingaroo almost got to have lunch with Erik during FBRAT?}} Of course... Ferris was doing his FBRAT tour, the first part of which was hanging with DaveS, the wizard, so we could kick the trip off right with a visit to the factory and have Erik scribble all over Madduck's brand new motorcycle and spank it on the ass and send it off to California with Ferris on board. Ferris, of course, got me roped into the trip and I placed a call to Brian, hoping he could make the trip out to meet Erik and just hang for a few days. Brian managed to make it almost to Chicago, to one of my friends's homes who we were to stay with for the night (which is another story in itself). He was forced to U-turn just south of Chicago and burn back to PA after he got a call from his then master sargent, saying he needed to get his butt back to mobilize his troops and head to New Orleans to help clean up after Katrina. Nothing like a 12 hour trek on an M2 just to turn around and do the same ride all over again. He got so close, but didn't meet Erik on that trip. I did call Brian the next day when we were all at Gus's and handed Erik the phone so he could at least say hi. I think Brian was pretty surprised to have Erik on the line as they were pakcing deuces to head down to Louisiana. So the 25th anniversary homecoming they were finally able to meet in person- and my sincerest apologies to whomever didn't get autographs that day- I know we took up quite a bit of that time. Erik on the phone with Mr. Cessna... And yes Ferris, yer #1...  Prior | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Alex, I chuckle every time I see that photo and the look on Bruce Champion's face. I think he's thinkin' that a guy with stumpy little legs like mine is gonna get the vapors piloting Madduck's new Uly across the country. He was so right. ************************** Brian called me one night while D 'n me were still in Cali. He had survived his surgery, and it was looking good for his recovery and for gettin' on with his life. We talked for prolly an hour. He was so thankful to be alive, but he kept making ME feel like some sort of hero out of the deal. Well, Brian was (and is) the hero, and I did my best to convey that sentiment to him on the phone. We had a wonderful visit, and from then on I looked forward to the day we'd finally get to meet in person. Re: FBRAT, Erik and Flick had asked to keep the circus small when we invaded East Troy, just to keep things a little more manageable. I purposely didn't advertise our visit to the factory for that reason, but asked Dave if he thought it'd be appropriate to invite two friends to come join us. Of course, he said. I invited Alex Prior and.......Brian Cessna. Stingaroo got so close, but duty called, and Brian is, among many other notable attributes, an honorable man. I'm pleased to say that I finally got my chance to meet Brian last November at Prior's beautiful North Carolina home. We laughed, hugged, sat around the campfire, drank mas tequila and smoked fine cigars. And...it turns out that Brian is as cool in person as he is on the phone. Stingaroo, thank you for your friendship, for your service, and for your inspiration. FB  Stingaroo and Prior, Twin Sons of Different Mothers | ||
| Daves |
Congrats Brian! See you at next year's Homecoming | ||
| Stingaroo |
Wow! I never wanted to be anyone's hero, just making my way one foot in front of the other haha. I greatly appreciate all the comments! It is people like you that helped me get through some rough spots and and for that I am forever grateful. Alex and my wife really helped me get through the funk after my brain surgery in '05, talking to Erik on the phone made the crazy ride worth it! Everyone here helped make life for Chris (XB9er) and I a whole lot better on our little JSS in Iraq. I still have every letter, and I saved the Thomas the Tank Engine pillow case Christy sent! Jerry I get a kick out of that picture in my Stryker. I ducked down inside to switch over my radio during a pretty hot mission and my buddy Jimmy Larson took a picture. I think I see your little pin there on the bottom left above all the switches. Right now I am trying to figure out how to balance my job at CTHX, my commitment to the National Guard (being responsible for a couple million in equipment and 12 soldiers well being), my family in the making, sleep, and my little side business with WW2 vehicles. Right now I have it as family, soldiers, job, sleep and the side business (or "hobby"). I hope to have a little bit of time every couple of weeks to relax with some friends. I really wish I could make it to homecoming but never the less we will try to be there next year. Brian PS Frank the banner is hanging up in the soon to be baby room  | ||
| Stingaroo |
Oh yeah quick story, I got an email from my fellow soldier and friend Jimmy who was wearing a Buell Racing T-shirt I had given him while deployed. He was up near Altoona and just by chance ran into Dan Baker!(Toona) Once Dan told him how the shirt was pretty rare, he shot me an email thanking me again and remember some funny moments we shared over there haha. Buell community is a small world. Brian | ||
| F_skinner |
the banner is hanging up in the soon to be baby room I cannot think of a better place to hang it. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Jerry...I think I see your little pin there on the bottom left above all the switches. Brian, my little Buell pin looks like it's been thru a war! It's one of my most treasured mementos. Thank you, brother.  | ||
| Ocbueller |
Brian, Congrats to you and Kate. You have a big change coming your way. I am familiar with the employment or rather unemployment issues you have been facing. After owning my own bicycle business for 17 yrs., I am now servicing swimming pools. Who Knew? Your new career direction sounds promising. I hope to be at the West Virginia Buell Ride at the end of August. Not too far from you or that Prior guy. SteveH | ||
| Court |
The shirts were an absolute hoot and the pictures of all you brave souls wearing them was priceless. I tried . . . with no success . . . to convince the HD marketing folks that they should park the Buell Demo Truck right here next to the pier during fleet week, bring the umbrella girls and 5,000 shirts . . . . and give each soldier a coupon good for $500 off a Buell. My "plan" . . . which was accepted like an envelope filled with white powder at a federal building . . . was a program called "well be waiting" whereby deployed soldiers could "custom" order a Buell prior to returning CONUS and when you got here your Buell would be waiting with your name, rank and service emblem on the fly screen. The funnier story that you'll have to share is that of the Private First Class Victor Pellegrino Cinema . . . . that has had some folks laughing their asses off. We'll be thinking of you and your GROWING family at Homecoming . . . mark your calendar for next year soldier! | ||
| Toona |
Jimmy has been stopping by my shop and getting me up to speed on my "new to me" Haas CNC milling machine. I met him thru Chris/XB9er. He couldn't believe that I knew you! Small world indeed. Once again, congrats on the adventure that is "Parenthood"! Maybe we can get together and ride again sometime this summer, Chris and I may be planning a ride to the Flight 93 Memorial on 9/11. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the honor you gave me by allowing me to sign your Buell flag. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Funny Court... I can undestand that but HD couldn't? I put the XB9SX up for sale on Craigslist (can't afford to keep it and the Uly forever). I got an email from an interested guy currently deployed who had done his research and wanted a Buell, and immediately went into a four corner stall with every other interested party until he can finish the deal. I expect his Dad will be picking it up for him this week, and meeting him with it in SC by the end of the month. I can't think of a better place for it. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Brian, A VERY sincere congrats on both of your promotions! First the E7 one, that is a big deal. Once again, thank you for your service to our fine country. Most don't seem to answer the call, you did and still do. Thankyou. Second, this is the most important one. You have been promoted to Dad. Any guy can be a father, it takes someone special to be a Dad. You sir will be a FINE one, even though we've only meet twice I know that to be a fact. Congrats to both you and Kate. This is the start of the REAL adventure of your life. Enjoy the ride, every twist, turn, bump and hill. It's the best one you can imagine. Brad |
