I did get two big surprises.
1.) Our Materials Center (store where we by USCGAUX uniforms and supplies) has my photo and my paintings on the front page of their online store! I had no idea until I went there to see if I could buy something that I needed. https://d7materials.org/
2.) What I needed is the new ODU uniform (working blue). I have the old one- no longer authorized, and I need the new one (see image) before next Sunday. The Coast Guard will be holding their Innovation Expo in Tampa, and the USCGAUX National Commodore will be in town for the event. We were asked to give him a boat tour of Tampa Bay and I was asked to go as the photographer in the 'chase' boat. I guess winning the national publications award two years in a row is paying off in a small way. I am cheating a bit on my uniform. The boots range between $65-100, and I bought mine at WalMart for $30. They are called "SWAT" boots and look exactly like the official uniform boots- steel toes and everything. I can't imagine that he will be looking that closely at my footwear!
