rlfj: Blog

Researching and writing Chapter 12 proved one of the most humorous of the entire book. Norse wedding rituals came up, specifically the negotiations involved in a marriage. Why so amusing? For one thing, the negotiations were between the two families, and my parents and my wife’s parents despised each other. We kept them apart as much as possible for over thirty years. For another, ask yourself just how many goats your spouse is worth. Then discuss that question with her (or him) and try to keep a straight face! Then you can talk about the reasons for a Viking divorce, and we haven’t even discussed how to ask your wife about her morning-gift!

Enjoy!

In Chapter 11 I mention the Runic alphabet. I know there are several, but I just couldn’t figure out which one would have been used, and I just couldn’t get WLC to display them properly. I don’t think it’s that critical, but please don’t complain. Thank you in advance.

Enjoy!

For those curious, the Red Arrows are the UK version of the US Air Force Thunderbirds or the US Navy Blue Angels. They belong to the RAF.

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For those curious, it seems that Yanks and Brits really do speak different languages. What Americans call sheetrock and lumber, the British call plasterboard and timber. There are a few other instances like that throughout the story. One of my English editors pointed this out. Interesting!

Enjoy!

Chapter 8 looks at military medicine. Until I wrote this story, what I knew about military medicine was based on MASH, a 1970s TV show about a 1950s war, where Hawkeye and BJ performed ‘meatball surgery’ in tents by the light of a kerosene lantern. Modern military field hospitals are vastly different. They are modular and palletized. When they are airlifted or driven to the site they are expanded and unfolded and then linked together in a variety of configurations by an engineer detachment. The engineers will probably take longer leveling the site than bolting the pieces together. If you need a dental office or an OB/GYN suite, just bring in the correct modules. And for those curious, yes, they have laparoscopic capabilities, which was the most astonishing thing I learned.

Enjoy!