PTSD

I have that.

George Carlin made a joke about the renaming of it. The Shell Shock to Operation Fatigue to PTSD, I think it is funny.

I didn't get mine from Iraq. Nope. I got mine from Zaire. Do you know where Zaire is? Didn't think so. It is now called The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Before my experience I became a Golden Shellback, I have both the official and unofficial badges for it. This means nothing to most of you, but it means something to many veterans.

Yesterday at my head doctor appointment, he told me that I am one of the few that can disassociate myself from my experience. Most of the time I can, sometimes not so much.

I hope as I start my life with a future wife and possible children that I can still be one of the few.

2008 Year in Review

I am a little late this year with my review, no fault but mine on this one. So without further ado:

January we came back from Iraq. There was many delays and lots of cluster fucks but by the 31st we were on American soil. I had come back with a lime green cast on my left arm due to an injury I incurred while performing my duties. I was surprised to find my Mom waiting for me with all the other families as we stepped off the buses. This significant since this was a first in thirteen years.

February stated with a few days with my Mom, we had received pedicures and I took many showers. I also started renting a room from some people that I wish now that I hadn't. At the end of the month I went on leave and took a more scenic route to Wisconsin. I had visited three other bloggers in their homes on the way. Very exciting and very fun. Definitely a major highlight of my vacation.

The beginning of March I ended my leave by visiting a few more blogger friends and had a blast. Which came to the end by going back to work shortly there after. By the time April came around "we" found out my original diagnosis was wrong and my treatments and future surgeries would be taking a different turn. The problems in my wrist ended up being worse than original expected at this point.

May ended up being a pinnacle month since I settled on the home I was to buy and started vigorous negotiations. By the end on June, I purchased a home in the middle of Jacksonville, NC. It has a travel time equal to both Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River, so going to work and going to see the doctor is not an evil evolution. Plus the bennies is that everything else is no more than a fifteen minute drive away either. This wasn't the major factor in buying this home, but it was something I carefully considered.

When entering July it was crunch time since moving in and fixing the little things like the shower had to be done before I had surgery. This was my third major surgery since being hurt in Iraq and was going to be laid up for a few weeks afterward. I did okay, the shower did not get completely done until a few days after the surgery, but it did get done.

For the months of August and September I spent mostly in Occupational Therapy and spent a weekly sessions with a head doctor. I was also gearing up for the fourth surgery that everyone knew had to happen. Basically after the third, the doctor discovered that I had three ligaments that were completely destroyed and needed to be replaced.

October was the month that my forth (hopefully the last) surgery took place. I had several major complications after the ligament replacement surgery. One of the big ones was my tolerance to the drugs that I have been taking since the injury. So within the first days of my surgery I had a Pain pump and a needle two feet long sticking out of my chest. I used the pump for about a week and then started taking lesser drugs like morphine and percocet. All of November was spent in the house except for one Friday. I just decided I had to get out and interact with someone, so I went down to a Marine bar close to my home(fifteen minute walk). I was thinking that if nothing else I could get a cold glass of soda and a conversation in. That was the day I met Kim.

December I was back to work. I started seeing Pain Management. I had Kim and her son Alec move into my home. I should really say "we' moved them in since my lifting capacity is till sucking greatly at this point. We spent Christmas in Mississippi and Arkansas. I met her parents,her sibling, and a few other relatives and she met my brother and his family. Other than the driving, I would say the holidays was a complete success. After all I did receive her father's blessing.

Meeting the Parents

The next few days we are embarking on the journey to meet the parents. Not mine but hers. My only hope is too not come off as a dumbass. We are spending about 2 and half days with them and some of her aunts and uncles too. We are getting a day or so with my brother and his family so she can probe him for stuff I didn't tell her or conveniently forgot.

Hope we make it back with cheers and jeers.

And, Everyone have a Merry Christmas!

Rev Gals Friday Five: Christmas Countdown

Tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve:

1) Wrap the surprise gift I bought for my lover
2) Drive to Mississippi
3) Budget gas for drive to Mississippi
4) Call brother to ensure stay in Arkansas is still good for the 26th
5) Make love at least five times

Life, Part II

I realize my absence from the web world may have some of you worried, but have no fear. There are several reasons for this. One, since being back to work the government has set up new firewalls and anything relating to "social networking" is blocked, so I am unable to write posts at work anymore. And the next several reasons relate to one big change in my life, and that is I have found a significant other. A woman that makes everyday a new and exciting day. And while at one point the web was my escape from being alone in this world, I don't need that.

Now letting that sink in, I do not plan on ending my foray of comments and updates about the big stuff. I just might not be floating among you daily along the super highway. I will pull over and stop, from time to time, but I have found a new breeze and I am following it.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XXI

Had my pins taken out today. It was considered minor surgery, it didn't feel minor to me. Pretty much got a script for some more "vitamin P" and some antibiotics. And guess what, I am back to work.

I couldn't drive my truck today, had to borrow an automatic one(from that special friend I talked about earlier). My boss is happy I am back to work, it relieves some personnel pressure for him. It makes me happy to help out my Corporal more than helping my boss.

Looks like I will be doing lots of Occupational Therapy for the next several months to get back in tip top form.

Rubber Ducky

Some of you have noticed next to your comment their is a yellow duck. The icon is know as a Gravatar. The comment site I use has this option for people you leave comments. For those people that do not have one I have given you all one in its absence which looks like this:





If you decide to get yourself one, which this service is free, then it will replace the rubber ducky with yours.


Just something a little extra, a little flair if you will.

Rev Gals Friday Five: Mix and Stir

1) Do you have a food processor? Can you recommend it? Which is to say, do you actually use it?
Is this like my belly?

2) And if so, do you use the fancy things on it?
Always

3) Do you use a standing mixer? Or one of the hand-held varieties?
I did have one, twice, both times the ex-wives felt they needed it more than I. Funny since I cook almost every day.

4) How about a blender? Do you have one? Use it much?
I have a blender, I use it on occasion for drinks.

5) Finally, what old-fashioned, non-electric kitchen tool do you enjoy using the most?
My carving knives. Or maybe my boning knives.

Bonus: Is there a kitchen appliance or utensil you ONLY use at Thanksgiving or some other holiday? If so, what is it?
Sorry to say, no. Why have something that is used less than one percent of the time?

Life

As you may have seen recently, I haven't been around much. It isn't just because of my wrist, but more of life has been happening to me lately. It is far more worth my time than being here. Not saying I don't appreciate everything you have said in your comments and emails, but computers give no hugs.

I am hoping that the person I found will continue to discover me as I have been discovering her.

Possible New Ideas

I was thinking about doing a new thread like "Six for Saturday" or Two for Tuesday's", similar to the Friday Fives I do with the Rev Gals. I would like some topics from you all to help get me started. Nothing to me is taboo.

I was thinking of topics like these:
Childhood toys
Particular years
Favorite accidents
Sensual fruits

Well, you get the idea. Please feel free to give me your suggestions.

Happy 233rd!

ALMAR 042/

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2008

1. DURING THE SUMMER OF 1982, IN THE WAKE OF A PRESIDENTIALDIRECTIVE, MARINES WENT ASHORE AT BEIRUT, LEBANON.FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER, ON 23 OCTOBER 1983, EXTREMISTS STRUCK THE FIRST MAJORBLOW AGAINST AMERICAN FORCES - STARTING THIS LONG WAR ON TERRORISM. ON THATSUNDAY MORNING, A SUICIDE BOMBER DROVE AN EXPLOSIVE-LADEN TRUCK INTO THEHEADQUARTERS OF BATTALION LANDING TEAM 1/8, DESTROYING THE BUILDING ANDKILLING 241 MARINES AND CORPSMEN.

2. EXTREMISTS HAVE ATTACKED OUR NATION, AT HOME AND ABROAD, NUMEROUS TIMESSINCE THAT FATEFUL DAY IN BEIRUT. THEIR AIM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME - TOKILL AS MANY INNOCENT AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE. THE ATTACKS OF 11 SEPTEMBER2001 CHANGED OUR NATION FOREVER, AND OUR PRESIDENT HAS RESOLVED THAT THISNATION WILL NOT STAND IDLE WHILE MURDEROUS TERRORISTS PLOT THEIR NEXTSTRIKE.MARINES WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY - HITTING THEM ON THEIROWN TURF, CRUSHING THEM WHEN THEY SHOW THEMSELVES, AND FINDING THEM WHERETHEY HIDE.

3. ONLY A FEW AMERICANS CHOOSE THE DANGEROUS, BUT NECESSARY, WORK OF FIGHTING OUR NATION'S ENEMIES. WHEN OUR CHAPTER OF HISTORY IS WRITTEN, IT WILL BE A SAGA OF A SELFLESS GENERATION OF MARINES WHO WERE WILLING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR OUR NATION; TO DEFEND THOSE WHO COULD NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES; TO THRIVE ON THE HARDSHIP AND SACRIFICE EXPECTED OF AN ELITE WARRIOR CLASS; TO MARCH TO THE SOUND OF THE GUNS; AND TO ABLY SHOULDER THE LEGACY OF THOSE MARINES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE.

4. ON OUR 233RD BIRTHDAY, FIRST REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND THOSE"ANGELS" WHO HAVE FALLEN - OUR REPUTATION WAS BUILT ON THEIR SACRIFICES.REMEMBER OUR FAMILIES; THEY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES WHOSE SUPPORT AND DEDICATION ALLOW US TO ANSWER OUR NATION'S CALL.FINALLY, TO ALL MARINES AND SAILORS, KNOW THAT I AM PROUD OF YOU AND WHAT YOU DO. YOUR SUCCESSES ON THE BATTLEFIELD HAVE ONLY ADDED TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY. GENERAL VICTOR H. "BRUTE" KRULAK SAID IT BEST WHEN HE WROTE, "... THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT NEED A MARINE CORPS ... THE UNITED STATES WANTS A MARINE CORPS." YOUR ACTIONS, IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, AND ACROSS THE GLOBE, ARE AT THE CORE OF WHY AMERICA LOVES HER MARINES.

5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES AND SEMPER FIDELIS! JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL,U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//

The One Armed Man, Part II

Problems have persisted since my surgery, mostly pain induced ones. I have been on Morphine for about two weeks now and it doesn't help the way the doctors tell me it is supposed to help. Most people can't tell the difference, meaning I seem the same to them. When the pain comes back real strong, I know it is the pins in my wrist that are part of enigma. Since getting the Pain Pump off, I have been able to take showers regularly and make most meals. I did slip out for birthday and went out to a comedy show, which I enjoyed.

The hardest things for me to do are(not limited to):
Tying shoes
Putting underarm deodorant on
Washing the right side of my body
Buttons
Dispensing detergent for laundry
Folding laundry
Falling asleep
Pouring liquid into a glass
Opening bottles
Opening anything with a plastic seal
Socks
Hugging
Reading a book(turning pages)
Putting jeans on
Tucking in a shirt
Convincing people I am not helpless

Rev Gals Friday Five: Location, Location, Location!

Tell us about the five favorite places you have lived in your lifetime. What did you like? What kind of place was it? Anything special happen there?

1) Millington, TN - The town itself wasn't exactly what I enjoyed but the area. Seasons without the extremes. Rural areas abound and are not far from a major city. I was there for about nine months for school and had a blast.

2) Futemna, Okinawa, Japan - I have written quite a bit about it before, so let's just say the good times far outweighed the bad.

3) Newport, NC - The first time I was here in the nineties, lived in nice area not too close to neighbors, so the streaking didn't bother them.

4) Milwaukee, WI - Never can you get enough of the culture (and beer.)

5) Yuma, AZ - While being stationed there wasn't what it was all cracked up to be, living there definitely had advantages.

SIDE NOTE: I wanted to type more but the day would be over with by the time I would have done so.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XX

I am braving the typing it will take to do this today with one hand. According to my doctor the surgery was a success. But not all things went the way I foresaw them.

The night of surgery, after the local anesthesia wore off, the drugs(pills) were not taking care of the pain. So with help from a friend (and for the next few days) I was admitted to the ER. Long story short, I ended up going back to the hospital three times before receiving a pain pump and a needle sticking out of chest.

With this new edition, bathing for myself stopped. I pretty much have taken field showers since the surgery. For those of you who don't know, this is basically cleaning just the important parts with a sanitary wipe. Not the ideal thing to do, but it gets me by for now.

Yesterday, I was fitted for a cast. Unfortunately on two fronts, one I still have the pain pump attached but with nothing pumping into my body. Kind of a trial period to make sure oral medication will take. And two, the cast was not fitted correctly. Last night I went back to the ER because my fingers were turning blue. At the ER, the cast was split and an ace wrap put around it.

Tomorrow, hopefully, the pain pump will be taken off with the needle sticking out of my chest. Also, I am hoping for a refit for the cast.

Mums the Word

I have no idea when it comes to plants. I could tell you a lot about mesquite trees though and its deadly sap and thorns. That is really about as far as my knowledge extends.

Today, I bought two pots of mums. I placed one on either side of my front door to my house. You could called a beautification project if you want. Each are about two adn half feet in diameter and I picked yellow flowers.

Since tomorrow is my surgery, do not be surprised to find even less of me on the web. I will try to update you all as soon as I can.

Politics for a Saturday

I sent out my absentee ballot today.

So I am am done, my vote has been cast.

(I will tell you this, I voted for two Republicans, one Democrat and one Green Party.)

Rev Gals Friday Five: Business Trip

1. Does your job ever call for travel? Is this a joy or a burden?
When the recruiter dropped his experience cards on the table, one was travel. I was to pick three, I didn't pick travel. Since being in the Corps I have stepped foot in six continents and have visited three countries that don't exist anymore by name. There have been joys but I would never call any of it a burden.

2. How about that of your spouse or partner?
Let me tell you a story, one of my deployments I knew of one hundred and fourteen married couples. After about six months of returning, of those couples, twelve were still married.

3. What was the best business trip you ever took?
Hard to say, I had more fun in Okinawa over a longer period of time, but if you at a single stop that highlights a fun and excitement it would have been Valencia, Malta.

4. ...and the worst, of course?
Zaire, Africa There wasn't any one particular city that sticks out. I saw and felt more destruction and pain in that 67 day period than any other.

5. What would make your next business trip perfect?
Use of both arms.

Politics for a Thursday

Here is the problem:
Currently we have majorities in the House and Senate of Democrats. Plus, it is highly possible that after the November election that the Senate with have the "sweet 60". This means there is no possible way to filibuster a bill going through. Layman's terms mean everything goes through no matter what.

Now if we, The People, elect a Democrat for President, then what is going to stop them from doing everything they want?

Nothing.

This is a serious issue. Everyone better be real happy with what Congress is proposing and what the Democrat President will most likely not challenge.

I foresee a possible civil war. A time when America goes into a socialism government and throws the democratic government to the wayside. I see a time when our enemies will take this time to do us the most harm.

I only hope that The People look at all points of every candidate and make a sound decision before voting in this year's election.

Under the Thumb

At work, we are having many new faces popping up. All of which are higher ranking than I am. Only one of the three will technically be my boss. I know her more from outside of work than in. I have already talked to her previous subordinates about how it was working with her and the synopsis is a a fifty-fifty split.

I suppose since I have my surgery scheduled for Tuesday, I really won't get to know her appropriately. It will be interesting to see if anyone from my work, will actually check up on me to see how I am recovering. I say this, since, last time no one did, not even a phone call.

There is only two people I work with that even know where I live and both are Corporals. Not from a lack of trying on my part to get the higher enlisted to come over. I have invited everyone on two separate occasions to come over for a light lunch or barbecue.

One might think that at least a drive-by might be in order.

Moving In, Upgrades Part III

I apologize in advance for the mess in my home in this video. I didn't know when I was going to have another opportunity to do this before I would be chocked up with drugs and would be rather loopy.

I have been looking at several color schemes as well for the living room, the master bedroom and another bedroom that will end up being my "I love me" space. When I get closer to a decision on what colors I am using I will post that as well.