John's Strange Experiences
If It’s Pizza, The War Must Be On
So what does it mean when the Pentagon starts putting in pizza orders? Well, for many years John had a permanent Pentagon pass and traveled there frequently. Mid-afternoon on January 17, 1991, John noticed that there were an unusual number of pizza deliveries taking place. For John, this was a clear indication that Pentagon workers would be burning the midnight oil, and from this he surmised that the Gulf War would begin within hours. A quick call to his broker assured that his interests were covered. At 7 P.M.. Eastern time, Operation Desert Storm was launched. And John’s broker? Why, he thought John was a mind reader.The Time Machine
When most travelers want to save time and avoid hassle they try to book the most direct flight possible. When John has to conserve time he travels across it. Sound impossible? Not really. In fact, it’s simple. Board the Concorde in London at 10:30 A.M. and enjoy a first class travel experience. To make your flight more interesting, sit near the rear of the aircraft and watch as the plane’s fuselage flexes in flight, (it looks like a giant serpent traveling over uneven ground). A good meal, a short nap, and you are across the ocean. And when you finally arrive at New York’s Kennedy Airport at 9:25 A.M. that same morning, you will actually have broken the time barrier. topDesert Tank Warfare With SANG
Imagine...the hot sun beats down on the desert sand. There is a deafening roar as an armored tank blasts away. At your side, stands the senior general of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Seem like a bizarre dream? For John this is just another day on the job.
Some years back, John was using his international expertise in assisting a Textron Division and the U.S. Marine Corp. in a sales program for a light armored tank. Part of this engagement included tests on a desert firing range. Undaunted, John endured freezing cold in the morning and evening, and blistering heat during the day, as the tank cannon blasted away. Evenings were more enjoyable as John found the Oxford and Cambridge educated Saudi general to be a very intelligent and amiable guest. There were even a fair share of humorous occasions, such as when a Saudi colonel took a turn as gunner and bested the American gunner who had been firing for two days straight. topLand Ahoy
John loves the water and always enjoys the experience of sailing. However, his first deep ocean sailing experience was one of which no captain would be proud. Sailing five miles out from Key Biscayne, he was enjoying good company and warm sun on a beautifully clear day, paying little attention to water depth. After all, they were miles from shore in the Atlantic ocean.
Suddenly, the boat ground to a halt as a disconcerting scrape was heard from the direction of the hull. John and his experienced “crew” jumped into the waist-deep water to free their stranded sloop. While her crew had been basking in the calm of a sunlit sea, the boat’s keel had struck the drifts of a hidden sandbar--five miles out. Yet another priceless addition to John’s personal experiences.
Ignorance isn’t always bliss. topAll Stop For Tea
Almost everyone knows that the British love their tea, but most people don’t realize just how fond the Brits are of this revered tradition. When John first began working with British companies he was slightly taken aback by their insistence on this diversion. Although John’s wife, Sally, is of British descent, he was unprepared for the extent of the Brits’devotion to this ritual. Tea times were formally observed in private, within corporations and even at major international industry exhibitions. However, it was when John was with a British army tank crew and learned that their main battle tanks were fitted with a “tea coil,” that he finally became a believer.
Over time John has learned to enjoy and appreciate the civility of tea time. Unfortunately, today many British companies are forgoing the time honored tradition in their pursuit of their American counterparts’ pension for nonstop work. A pity. As an old saying states, “It is the pause that refreshes.” Without the pause there is no refreshment of the spirit. topIsland Adventure
Ever wondered what it would be like to purchase a magnificent $15 million oceanfront property on a warm tropical island? Sound nice? How about a little more adventure? Imagine posing as a buyer for this oceanfront property in a foreign country, traveling under an assumed identity and being wired with two tape recorders to preserve every word being spoken by your host. And what if your host, the owner of this beautiful tropical paradise, was actually an international criminal who had hidden his true identity behind a series of offshore corporations and trusts spanning several nations?
Sound like a James Bond movie? It’s not. We told you John was unusual. In fact, his international experience is so broad that on past occasions John has been recruited by international corporations to help with some rather unique assignments. For instance, posing as a wealthy businessman interested in purchasing luxury properties in order to recover stolen funds.
John doesn’t just think outside the box, he lives outside the box. After all, life on the edge is always a challenge. Sometimes such a life-style can prove to be rather unique, especially when the bad guys get upset and protection in the form of a 9mm automatic is necessary. Life for John may be unique, challenging, even stressful at times, but it is never boring.
By the way...
The next time you see John, check to see if he’s wearing his RCMP lapel pin. It was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in appreciation for his assistance in a Canadian bank fraud case. top
