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Saturday 29 November 2008

Days 68-83 Been in another place mentally

Chili is concentrating on chewing Lucy's toe off..."How dare she try to tickle my KITTY TITTIES!!!"

Note it was the COURTESY CAR... Shame on you Matt

1985 was obviously a good year for Defenders...check out the wave of mud


When GPS fails....My bro in law and his mates trying to figure out how to read a map. I have to say my map reading skills found our way around.



What the fuck is this fad about...thanks germany.
haven't felt like blogging much lately. I am in limbo ...job wise. We are completely broke...well let's just say we are suckin a fat one currently.
So to kill time in between jobs... I have been doing alot of personal writing. Went out on the Salisbury Plain with my bro-in-law last weekend and some of his mates. Had a good time...got incredibly muddy, found a ton of military training areas. I even saw a bashed in old tank that obviously is used for target practice. I would have taken a pic but I just didn't think about it at the time. Mostly cause I accidentally drove on a road that warned us to stay on the road..due to UXO(unexploded ordinance). So I wasn't too keen on stopping for pictures.
For the most part I have just been missing doing a job that matters. what I mean by that...I was/have been a paramedic for 12 years...and now I might have to take a job stocking shelves for a long while..until I can save a crap load of money.
So that has been me in a nutshell.
Check back later...maybe I'll wrote more.




Thursday 13 November 2008

Day 67 sites of the army/military...

See at the cemetary for allied forces in Normandy France.

The Old Guard .....changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.....Washington D.C. 1998

I think the sign reads...Come see ramadi...Hottest vacation spot in Iraq.


Hohenfels, Germany I'll never forget this field exercise....Feb-Mar 2005....It was completely miserable. While we were supposed to be repelling the impending attack from the locals (OPFOR)...all we did was work on our vehicles.... We were constantly wet and frozen. One of my favorite memories is... myself, Moura, Milton, Appler...and I think Andersen....possibly Riley huddling in the back of a M113...all trying to get alittle more heat....from Milton's little propane heater....eating MREs....smokin and jokin....



A foto I took...something the mainstream media will never show you. You see the ball....the smiles....
Grafenwoehr Germany...June 2005..... Calling in a chopper to evac a casualty

Making friends Ar Ramadi Iraq...June 2006

Camp Bhuering Kuwait...Our mortar platoon got real fuckin bored while we were in semi-perm limbo.... I like this, cause it illustrates the geographical diversity of the military.
This was Tower Gate...at FOB Ramadi....not a fun place for anyone to do duty...








Wednesday 12 November 2008

Day 66 Friends I served with....

TF 1-35 AR Nov 16th 2005....This is the day before we deployed to Iraq... OIF 3. To be honest...not my favorite duty station...but they were a great bunch of guys.

Doc Garza....out with the Marines and ICDC troops.... Doin a lil' house to house I imagine. He is in his 6th month of his second deployment. This guy is one of my heros. aside from the fact that he saved my bacon more than a couple times over the years. He has had a tough life...and always comes out on top..through hard work, determination... He is simply put the bravest person I know.
C. Hochstetler....My HO...Not the best mechanic I have ever known...but if you are down in the dumps at all....This is "the cure".....he has a wonderful sense of humor...and is almost never without a smile. He would run up to me...well anyone really...and give us all a hug.
Docs Andersen and Moura....right after Moura made Seargent. 2 of my best friends in the desert. I miss them everyday. Moura got out....and went back to Puerto Rico with his family. Andersen os also in the same boat as Garza...'cept...Garza re-enlisted...Andersen is in a stop loss.
Taken right after we got back from a field training exercise...or FTX. Doc's Boyd, Appler, myself, and Henley.....




Tuesday 11 November 2008

Day 65 Veteran's Day/Rememberance Day

I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where other did not want to go, and did what others feared to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness---should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror, felt the stinging cold of pain, and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.
I have cried, pained and weeped. But most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say I am proud of what I was......
A Soldier.
My Dad....981st FA Bn, 40th IN DIV Korean War 1950

Veteran's Day has always been very special to me. My dad served, his dad(Army WW2)..my mom's dad(Navy WW2)...my uncles(Don Navy (Corpman)and Army (Medic) Vietnam) and Tom (Army Vietnam)...and my cousin steve(USMC), my cousin Heidi's husband(Army Vietnam)..... They were all my heros growing up. I knew they all joined to make the world a better place...to do something for someone else's cause that was greater than their own causes. None of my family who served, I am proud to say, was drafted into service.
But that isn't the only reason today is special.
On Jan 1st 1995....I joined the proud ranks of my family.
I was young....I wanted to do something more for myself generally....I didn't fully grasp the significance of the choice I made. A little more than a decade later...I now truly understand what it means to Sacrifice for the greater good.
Today reminds me of alot of people. People who are still serving in Iraq, Afganistan and many other places...in many aspects. I am proud of everyone who has served in the military. I don't honestly care what service or what country. we all share a common bond. Whether they have been in combat or not...the intention is there. If they didn't, more power to them....

The next 7 days I will be posting pics of my service...people, places...etc....

I am proud to be a veteran.

Monday 10 November 2008

Day 64 Did a temp job today....


Today I swallowed some serious pride and did a job that I definately didn't want to do. But I need some money..and the current job search is shit.
I worked in a wharehouse...unloading a massive truck. It wasn't the worst thing ever, but it was pretty boring to say the least. The entire truck was packed with small cases of licorice. I used to like eating it...I think after having to smell it all day.... I won't be enjoying it anymore. it was raining fairly hard this afternoon....so all the colors on the boxes were bleeding on us. My arms turned bright blue...as did my boots, face and hair. It was SMURFTASTIC!!!!

Sunday 9 November 2008

Day 63 random photos for the day

Lucy smokes....my addiction is redbull.... and little cakes from Mark's and Spencer's....

They finally made toy replicas for Lucy and I.....

Mulled wine ingredients...
Lucy and I went to Salisbury for the day. Walked around...had a drink...just killed some time.

Saturday 8 November 2008

Day 62 Africa.. Any advice????

Been doing quite a bit of research on what to expect medically for my expedition to "The Dark Continent".....been asking lots of question of various people who have A. Been there for travel or B. Live there.....
Usually the only form of advice I get is...Don't get sick...and if you do.... find the Quinine...
Yay.

Friday 7 November 2008

Day 61 Fall....my second favorite season



Kind of a shit pic....but oh well....that is why it is my second fav season....

Thursday 6 November 2008

Day 60 Guy Fawlke's Night

Lucy won Chili a new toy...by losing 2pds on a game....

If you look close...it is supposed to be the Disney house minus the Y


You're supposed to be 18 to play this game.....we saw 14 yr olds playing.....Throw the hoop around a bottle and get the prize....


Because some dumbass went into the House of Parliment and tried to burn it down....The King at the time declared yesterday...a holiday!!!





Wednesday 5 November 2008

Day 59 The Presidency

(note: this picture has nothing to do with the blog....I just wanted something lite on my page)

I have more or less kept my mouth shut about the election. Pretty much because I think both guys are equal on the playing field. Mr. McCain… I respect the fact that he served his country during a time of war, and paid a dear price. I cannot fathom how terrible being a POW was. How tough his life has been personally.
I just don't honestly like his politics.... They call him a maverick to his party. To me that says he is a maverick to the people who would vote for him. Meaning....his party votes one way...he votes the other. I don't want a guy in office who represents a party, a certain way of thinking...but does his own thing all the time. I am not saying I am against freedom of speech or the right to vote....how a person sees fit to. I am saying that when you represent the masses. As a politician does...you understand that...your vote isn't or law making ability isn't just your's anymore. I honestly know he understands that concept, but votes how he sees fit anyways. Hence the Maverick. Palin...She has many admirable qualities....getting rid of the kitchen staff in the Governor's mansion in Alaska, doing her own dishes.....GREAT. Her son is serving in the war....I appreciate her family's sacrifice. She appeared on SNL and she has a great sense of humor… She introduced herself to the nation as a hard nosed hockey mom roughing it up with power brokers. She was Mc Cain's sexism card. Honestly, before he made her his running mate…did anyone outside of Alaska know how she voted, how she stood on any issues…or even hear of her before? Well I looked up her previous history for how she has voted. Fairly conservative, partially libertarian. Ah….Could she possibly be John's saving grace….Not this election. Personally, I don't want this to be the last we see of her. In any case, she has definitely peaked my interest.
Mr. Obama…. It doesn't matter now how anyone voted for him…yes or no…..for or against….He is the new President Elect. He is the man. And apparently…he is the BLACK man. I don't say that out of being a racist…but after hearing him say "Today I am proud to be a BLACK American"….It made me a little unhappy. You see…He is just that…but he is also…JUST AN AMERICAN…Like everyone else. Imagine if any politician got up on a pedestal and proclaimed…."Today I am proud to be a WHITE AMERICAN." Instantly they would be ear marked as a RACIST. Mr. Obama is a proud BLACK AMERICAN…and he should be. He is after all the first black president!! That is a major victory for black Americans. Think of how far our country has progressed in the last 45 years…. Since MLK's "I have a dream" speech, Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat and the Woolworth sit in….. That is some major progress…and America should be proud. I am proud.
However….Mr. Obama has some serious thinking to do. He promised a lot to a lot of people. CAN or maybe I should ask…WILL HE LIVE UP TO IT?? During the entire campaign I rarely heard either candidate talk about the important issues….or even more importantly…How do we move forward? I say."WE"….cause that is what it is…their decisions while in office affect the collective WHOLE. It is one thing to say… " I will pull the troops out of Iraq and end this war"…but logistically how exactly does he plan to do it? Considering we are able to put about 15,000 in or out a month right now. Who do we leave behind? Will they be safe? I think we need a battle plan.
How does Mr. Obama plan to "reform the healthcare system?" I am certain it is not as easy as you would think. Clinton tried….and he did help….but still fell short.
And then there is the most important issue…THE US ECONOMY….How will he keep our heads above water? I know I am going to hear people say …"Well George Bush put us there.." " It was the republican's fault….BLAH BLAH BLAH…."….It doesn't matter you assholes….I agree….GW…dug a huge whole…and didn't have a plan of how to fill it back in. It is still Mr. Obama's responsibility to fill it up. For those of you who don't understand what I am saying…it's like George Bush is the starting quarterback at the Super Bowl….It absolutely matters how he played the first half…but Obama is taking over the second…..He has to finish it. He has to be in top shape, have a battle plan…know when and who to take coaching from. This isn't a fucking photo shoot anymore. This isn't he said-she said…I think we are going to see his jovial face deteriorate into something a little more crestfallen as time goes on. The job he has taken on won't be all puppy dogs and sunshine. I think he will do good. Change is a good thing…I believe if he can ride the wave of good hope for a while….We will pull out of this together. The first 2-4 years he will still be riding Mr Bush's coat tail's. Anything good…just might be because Mr. Bush already had it in place….Anything bad…Same deal. Mr. Obama has an enormous amount of pressure to deal with. It isn't just from the American people. The US Economy controls how most of the world's economies prosper. Currently the Democratic Republic of Congo is in turmoil, Sudan is starving…they will be looking towards the US for help. Does he send aid and workers? Does he put a military presence in place… How does he sort this out? He can't turn his back on them…The WORLD IS WATCHING!!
What about the major issues within our own borders? Does anyone care anymore about immigration? Child Homelessness? Taxes? The Dollar vs. Oil? Will Mr. Obama and his cabinet be able to curb the amount of jobs being outsourced to other countries? Social Security? EDUCATION? Gas prices? AIDS? How about making sure our returning soldiers and their families are properly taken care of…..Where will he draw the line? How does he triage our own citizens? Do the most good for the ones he can do the most for? Who will fall by the wayside? Will it be you? Will it be your 80 year old mother who lives in an old folk's trailer park? Will it be your son or daughter? Your next door neighbor? The UPS guy who drops off a package every Friday at your work? Will it mean budget cuts to those who protect and serve? Will you get another $600 check next year just for paying taxes, as an economic stimulas? Will it actually stimulate anything?
I don't envy his undertaking. I do applaud his appeal for change though.
I do fear that if he fails the walls of racism will be built up again. ( I know they are always there..but when was the last time you heard of a public hanging?)
So after all this….. All of my ramblings…. I will say this… I have exercised the right not to VOTE for either candidate.
I didn't hear any of the issues I feel are important spoken of by either candidate to any degree. In my eyes..it was a presidential election with only one question being offered. Should Americans put the first "black man" in office, or "white woman." I have been utterly disgusted with how Americans…my friends and family included….have acted during the entire election. There will be assholes out there who tell me I have "no say" since I didn't vote for anyone…. I feel that my silence is equally as important

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Day 58

Found in the local area.....

Monday 3 November 2008

Day 57 the Ninja Kitten strikes again

Notice the little nugget she left us on the floor.....Ah kitty gave us a pressie!!!

Couldn't find NINJA tonight...had to look everywhere for her...was a little worried, thinking we locked her out while it was freezing outside...then low and behold...a meek little meow escaped from the shoe rack. Ninja kitten was incognito....

Sunday 2 November 2008

Day 56 Pinched a loaf

Our first attempt at meatloaf..... It tasted great...and it looked just as good in the toilet 6 hours later!!!!

Saturday 1 November 2008

Day 55 Guilty Pleasure

Today was shopping day...and we didn't go... We had Tescos delivery. yeah it was lazy...but oh so easy.
well every month I get crispy seaweed.....I developed an addiction for it when I was working at Whole Foods. This stuff is great!!! It's crispy, sweet..alittle salty.....better than chocolate.
Ok that's a lie.....