300th Comment of the January

Magdalene of Magdalene's Musings* has given me my 300th Comment of the month.

Congratulations! You are now entitled to my virtual collection of jackalope ear warmers.

Roar for Powerful Words

Evil Twin's Wife has presented me with this award.
`

In order to pass on the award, I am dish out some advice:

1) Write what is familiar to you.
2) Add humor, because life is humorous.
3) Never forget the little things.

I present this award to (not in any particular order)

distributorcap NY
Blonde Sagacity
Seeking Authentic Voice*
LadyBurg*
Beyond Assumptions

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part VII

It looks like I am in holding pattern with my messed up tendon. My last visit with the Doc, the drugs were downgraded instead of refilled. Vicodin for pain and Benadryl to help with sleep. It has been a few days and neither work as well, if they work at all. It is definitely not cool. I am going to give it another day and see (feel), then I may go back to the Doc. Everyone has said I have been more of a prick lately(not necessarily that nice). I have no doubt the pain/drugs are a factor with that.

Global Warming Here? Part II

It has been in the twenties eight straight nights here. The highest daytime temperature in that time period was 41.

I am sorry, I do not believe that global warming is the cause of the 140 degree heat in the summer and the chilling 20 degree nights in the winter in Iraq. This is a dessert. There is very little vegetation to keep the warmth in the winter and stay cool in the summer.

I do believe the Earth goes through its own temperature shifts. To say the maybe 200 years, being generous, of data suggesting that man has created a warm shift significant enough to change the temperature to extremes out of a planet that is 4.5 billion years old is asinine.

Was man here to create the Ice Age? No.

Maybe TRex was polluting the Earth with his SUV. (I know I am being silly here.)

I believe the Earth will correct itself, no matter what man will do it. I believe the Earth can survive without us. And it will.

Death and Taxes, Part II

It seems lately in the blogosphere(made up word) people have been posting about aging, looking older, mistaken age, or even death.

"You look well, it is better than the alternative."

What is the alternative? I don't remember someone giving me that choice. Where is the ACLU, there must be someone we can sue over this. Maybe it is my parents fault, maybe they made this choice for me, maybe there was this card with four choices on it like Choice A was football star; Choice B honor grad; Choice C poster child for "this is your brain on drugs" commercials; or Choice D live a life making lots of mistakes on the way. It must have been something like that. It was probably tucked away in all those forms at the hospital.

I get reminded constantly of my age, well, I am all banged up. It hurts to walk and lift things, I must be old. I get the finger pointing a lot. I am assuming they are looking at my nice ass. (Well, I think it is nice.) I do ride a bike to and from work and to and from the chow hall (DFAC) everyday. Most of the young guys and gals, skip eating lunch, probably because it is pretty cold outside lately. Wacky.

I thinking I will feel like a twenty something was I get back to the states. Lots of dancing, lots clubbing, lots of fun I have been missing.

RevGals Friday Five:Books

1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why?
The Odd Thomas series, it is very good, by Dean Koontz, unfortunately I still haven't read the third book yet. Captures the imagination and a spice of suspense and mystery and there you go a good book.

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?
The answer should be obvious, The Monster at the End of This Book. Most children books are read to the children, this one is no exception, a good reader is required.

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Do tell!
Nope, I have read Genesis and Revelations the most, but that is about it.

4. What is one book you could read again and again?
I am kind of bending the rules of the answers, but Tolkien's series on the Lord of the Rings.

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?
I don't really understand anything about "Lenten" because I am a heathen.

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent?

In theory, I have been writing an autobiography for some time now. I have way to many pages and need to edit to be able to publish. I hope I won't need a blurb to expound on my talent when ever I do publish, we shall see.

Belly Growth, Part IV

I weighed myself today for no particular reason. To my surprise, I lost ten pounds since the last time I posted about my weight. (Yea!) I still need to work at my physique. I am still looking a little soft around the center. This injury is preventing my from doing some the types of exercises I need to be doing. (To not alarm anyone, I got in a little bike accident a few days ago which caused some bruising on the other side of my body.) The exercises that I can do I haven't been doing to regularly and not at all the last few days. So in a nutshell, I need to exercise some more when I get back.

Into the Looking Glass

Realistically speaking, in the near future, I may not be posting as often as I have been on this blog. Sometimes blogaholics get worried if there seems to be an abrupt "stoppage" of posting. Just so no one is alarmed, that is exactly what is going to happen. It won't be tomorrow and it won't be the day after, but sometime in the future there will be a break in "communications."

I have, for some darn reason or another, many different things going on with my life. Some good, some great, and some bad. Hopefully, I didn't lose my mojo while I have been out here. One of my priorities deals with opposite sex. I have some financial stuff to take care of. Living arrangements are always important. And a few things, that crazy as it may seem, I don't blog about.

Flag Etiquette

I have been asked several times about flag etiquette. So, I thought, I would post something and give you all a link. Most people would be surprised what the dos and don'ts of the US Flag Code (link is via the American Legion) actually are.

The following are excerpts from the US Flag code:

Time and occasions for display:

- It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

Respect for the flag:

- The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.

- The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.

- The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Position and manner of display:

- When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak.

- When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.

Top Dollar

I am thinking about buying a home when I get back to the states next to the base where I am stationed. I have been emailing back and forth with two different realtors. I have told them very specific on what my top dollar is and what type of home I am looking for. For some darn reason or another, they keep sending me lists of homes above my top dollar. It is my top dollar for a reason. They don't call it "Top Dollar" and mean it can go up twenty thousand more. Really.

I already figured in my escrow, extra insurance, maintenance, driving to and from work in comparison to renting for the estimated period I will be stationed here. I know what my top dollar is and when my break even point is. Why are these people trying to set me up for failure?

In the year 2000, The Correction

I know everyone has been reading all my posts especially the ones saying I have been taking percocet, right. Well I have been reading every one's comments all night and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why everyone is so interested in my September 10th post. The reason why I can't figure it out is because all night I have been thinking September 12th, in my mind.

You have to find the humor in that, right?

Wacky. So, wacky.

Here I am thinking you all are impressed by the length of the car line, but it was because I mistyped the date and I didn't realize it.

So, to be correct, the line should read:

On September 12, 2001, only military (and very high ranking government employees) were allowed to enter the base.

I am so sorry for the mistake.

In the year 2000

I could have sworn there was a song with either this title or phrase in the chorus. Regardless, Mathman has tagged me in a meme to recollect the year that I was twenty-five. I was twenty-five from mid October of 2000 to mid October of 2001. Wacky. (If I had used the Martian calender I would be only be seventeen, right now.)

1. I had been out of debt the first time in my life a the age of 25, every dollar (after taxes) was "blow" money. It was very exciting for about three months.

2. I had told myself, that I met the woman of my dreams. September 9th of 2001 was the beginning of the end of that marriage (Blog fodder for future). She was the woman who divorced me later and took most of my money and future money for the least amount of time. (Wife number 2)

3. I was at home, which was odd(taking wife to the airport that day), when I recieved a phone call from work to tell me to turn the TV on. About ten seconds later after turning the TV on , a second plane stuck the smoking building. Everything changed after that.

4. I remember thinking gas was expensive, I was just stationed at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Yuma, Arizona. It was $1.22 a gallon on base. It was not as bad a the cigerettes which were thirty two bucks for a carton on base. I was paying 89 cents for gas (off base) and fourteen bucks for cigerettes in North Carolina earlier in the year.

5. On September 10, 2001, only military (and very high ranking government employees) were allowed to enter the base. I remember being in line of cars and being across the Nissan dealership and not moving, waiting to get on base. This traffic was the same for serveral weeks and we didn't know if it ever was going to different from that.

I tag Diane, Presbyfruit , Magdalene .

This was hard and I am young, seventeen by Martian years. So if you feel you can't do this I understand.

Why do this?

Why do I stay volunteered, enlisted in the Marine Corps? I ask myself that question every time I re-enlist.
It is not the money, even though lately the government has been trying to keep us by throwing a few grand our way.
It is not the sacrifice, at one point last year I went twenty seven days without a shower. Not because I wanted to, because there was not enough water for extras.
It is not for the glory, because unfortunately, other than some family and a few friends, there is no recognition.

I told myself one time that I would "quit" after the Marines' Hymn didn't mean anything to me anymore. That when the National Anthem played my chest didn't swell up with pride.

No, I joined for different reasons, but cannot deny what I have done and cannot imagine what life would be with out the Marine Corps.

3 Sides to Every Coin. Part III

Well, the "they" got me. Do to situations not in my control I am unable to make anymore "alterations" to the site. The file types that make this blog so user friendly is now being blocked my big brother.

I am still able to post though. As you can see.

I will have to make those changes when I get back to the states. Still on the teeter about putting up naked pictures as suggested. I did add a the rating of post before the shut down of such fun things. Little things to make the world go round.

The Daily Grind

Even though going to work has not changed from yesterday other than it has gotten colder, the anticipation of leaving is in the air. I have witnessed some discomforts by people and then hear them replying what the count down is and live with it. That is a good sign and a bad one. While most of are going through the motions of daily life, some are letting things slide. Things that should be corrected. I do my best to correct the things that need correcting when it presents itself to me or around me. It is not a hard task.

In essence the daily grind is going to change soon, and that is a good thing.

Cheesehead Victory

Looking Forward

I am looking forward to:

North Carolina pines
Driving
Going to a store
Buying anything
Drinking some frothy adult beverages
Sleeping In
Jeans
Soft toilet paper
Having a choice for lunch
Being able to drive to no where in particular
Women
Tanning
Going to a beach with water
Watching cartoons
USO
Flannel
Fresh cut lawn smell
Hearing Harleys on the highway
Hugs
Fast food
Good coffee
Friends
Golfing
Weekends
Hump Day
Mountains
Ice Cream
Captain and Cokes

Norman Rockwell's Homecoming Marine

RevGals Friday Five: Las Mañanitas

Mother Laura over at RevGals hosts today's Friday Five. It's birthday time in her family and she asks:
1. When is your birthday? Does anyone else (famous and/or in your own life) share it?
October 22nd
1907 - Jimmie Foxx
1938 - Christopher Lloyd

2. Do you prefer a big party or an intimate celebration for the chosen few?
Small party with friends.

3. Describe your most memorable birthday(s)--good, bad, or both.
Good - 9th
Bad - 29th
Both - 32nd
(You will have to ask me in person for details.)

4. What is your favorite cake and ice cream?
White, New York Vanilla

5. Surprise parties: love 'em or hate 'em?
I like surprises, brings spice to life.

1st Snow in Al Asad

Because it is night time, I tried taking this one straight up.

The side lights help a little to see the flakes.

This snow is the wet clumpy type snow. The type that makes great slush.

For Fun, Part II

Something different and fun, I saw this on BAC's Blog, Yikes. It looked like something different than the norm lately.

Let’s Make a Band:

1. Wikipedia

The first article title on the page is the name of your band.


2. Quotes

The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.


3. Flickr

The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

( FLickr is now blocked from us, as a nudity site, so I picked a picture that was twelve from the right sixty second down from my collection. It seemed random enough.)

You then take the pic and add your band name and the album title to it, then post your pic.
Here's mine:

3 Sides to Every Coin. Part II

While I have been applying pressure, ever so slightly in a kind of circular motion, I have not witnessed any excitement.

I cannot decide on any changes, structure -wise to the blog. I didn't get a whole lot of suggestions, when I asked.

Still looking for suggestions.

Social Studies

I had this class in school called social studies. We learned about other countries, our country and geography was included. There were lots pretty pictures of a variety of culture.

I have to blame my job for knowing about several different cultures first hand. As well as, knowing different and varying political views of different countries. The one thing that seems the utmost important is the history.

Let's learn from our mistakes.

On Being Me, Part II

I admit I tend to be "pessimistic" at times, which I relate to realism. My comments as of late may seem to be on the down turn and they are. I haven't had coitus since May. ( I have masturbated regularly, normal every day stuff here.) I have not had a meaningful conversation with a woman since February. (Talking, writing, poetry, whatever) I am in pain everyday for a stupid injury. Even with drugs I haven't had a good sleep in more than a month. Homecomings in general are depressing. (See this post.) My living situation has not been resolved as of yet. I fear the worse for my truck I bought two years ago that I have only driven for three months. ( This falls into the theory that if I fuck up something that is mine, I will be upset, but if someone else fucks up something that is mine I will be irate.) I don't think I believe in "love" anymore. I have been searching for a god and have not found one yet. My job by the general population is under appreciated. There tends to be no respect for the "elders" anymore. I really don't want sympathy, I just want "you " to fix it. I want America to fix themselves. I just don't see it happening, not in my lifetime. I try to fix something, then another will undermine that fix. It is truly a sad world we live in.

Bible and a Gun, Part II

I am all about saving the world. I mean look at Superman, he has saved the world at least a dozen times now. (What, he's not real? Say it isn't so.)

Why can 't we save ourselves?

Why don't we have a charity to "Save the US of A?"

What is the point of being the world's greatest super power, if we have no super powers?

How come we don't cut the hands off of thieves in this country?

Why don't we burn an "A" into the hands of adulterer's?

Why are insurance company buildings so large and pretty?

When are we going to be equal?

When there are equality discussions, how come the tests are not the same, that give the results which are discussed?

Why do keep bad people and drive away the good?

Pictures of Marines

http://www.mcnews.info/mcnewsinfo/marines/gouge/marines.htm

One of my favorites is 26.

Global Warming Here?

Somebody, much smarter than me, needs to explain this global warming thing to me. I mean warming is the opposite of cold right?

It has been in the mid to high twenties the last three days and it is expected to get worse. I am actually hoping for snow. I think it would be a great photo opportunity, snow in Iraq.

I can't recall if if was this temperature last year, but I do remember it being cold. Now that I have been "climatized" it should feel warmer than it has.

Bible and a Gun, Part I

I have had the gun for some time now.
I have been wandering this earth.
I have been looking.
I have not found what I am looking for.

30 Days in the Hole

Today I forgot my towel when I went to the showers. Normally, this would be not a big deal, but the showers are a good distance of about 40 yards from the building in which I live. Also it was been in the mid to low thirties outside. I used my "old" shirt to dry off and placed my head near the heater to " air dry". I made due. This is the first time I have forgot something when going to the showers in the 360 plus days of being out here. Wacky.

For Fun

The Recipe For The Wyldth1ng

3 parts Laughter2 parts Difance1 part Passion Splash of Moxie Shaken, not stirred

What's" the Recipe for Your Personality?

I Want a New Drug

I could have sworn there was a Huey Lewis tune titled that. I am currently sick, the doctors were right Ambien gives me hallucinations and the Percocet leaves me loopy. The pain is still there, I just don't care about it. I feel that I need to eat something, but wen I do eat I feel nauseous. I feel that my brain still works as fast as it did before but my body is slower. I think I am starting to be an Eeyore.

RevGals Friday Five: Resolutions

1. Do you make New Year resolutions?
No, and constantly improving myself.

2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun?
My new year starts February 7th which I take seriously.

3. Share one goal for 2008.
To be able to sleep comfortably next a reciprocating female without any pressures of society.

4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008.
See number three.

5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be?
Shouldn't this be for 2007? I think that this book title might end up a being a parted book or series, since there is never a dull moment. Maybe, "The Best of Times". Or " The Worst of Times."
We shall see.

(Side note by author: Not my usual thought process, refer to previous posts.)

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part VI

I had written something elsebut I seemed to have misplaced it somehow. Wacky. I had to look up the Finkelstien's test. I didnt' remember the test just the doc probing and and saying things like "does that hurt?"

I slept for a rock solid two hours today. I am pretty happy about that.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part V

I personally feel I did pretty good, healthy wise, for this deployment. I didn't go see any doctors for anything until November, eleven months into the deployment. That is good right? I haven't been getting much sleep lately. My non broken wrist that I have a splint for throbs with a searing pain for most of my day. Yesterday, my "cocktail " has changed a bit to get me back to the states without crying. I am not a big fan of crying. When I eat I take two (seven and half mg) tablets of meloxicam (mobic). Every six to eight hours I am taking percocet( I can't read the dosage, it is worn off since I keep this my pocket at all times.) To help get me sleeping I take zolpedem (ambien). The crappy part is I still fucking hurt. It pisses me off, you can't even tell visually that I fucked something up, what kind of stupid injury is this? In my mind's eye, I think that if I can just get "home" everything will be better. But will it?

Military Airfare Reduction

Since I will be returning to North America here shortly and vacation plans are in the mix, air travel is an option. I pay the same as J.Q. American, did you know that? We in the military do not receive any benefits while traveling commercial air.
None.
Zip.
Zero.
Nada.

Well, there is a petition to change that and if adding a link here is going to help others like myself in the future then I am all for it.

Yes, I signed it.

The Last of the Grape Kool-Aid

I mixed up the last batch of Grape Kool-Aid today. (Not that I was planning on doing a plug for Kraft, but they are the owners of Kool-Aid.) The grape Kool-Aid will surely be missed. It is okay, do not fret, soon I will be able to buy my own mixes from the store. ( I also couldn't find a Kool-Aid Man in purple.)

It is the little things.

Planes, Trains, and Rowboats

After seeing it on Mathman's blog and Distributor Cap's blog, I felt I had to follow suit. So how does one get here?

Here are the popular keywords that were used to get to this site:

symbol of athank you

symbol greater than hundred - This is in reference to adding links to a website.
rena j in jacksonville,nc - This a bar near where I am stationed.
wyld man work ? - This is via Australian Google.
something quick

and

Wyld women

Cloak & Dagger

Mystery and deceit. Paper and scissors. A play on words in which the loser rarely realizes the loss. And there is no winner. Many of the parts this dumbfounded repository eludes even the masters of words themselves. Teddy bears and chains bind this thought, which appear strapless to all that bare witness.

(Note from the author, this is the explanation to the below post. Again, if you do not understand anything in the above paragraph, may your deity have pity on your soul.)