The 10 Percent Rule

Over the years of being in the military I have "lost" many things. Somewhere along the line I discovered it was surprisingly enough to be about 10% of my belongings. There was a year or two in there where it wasn't a material thing, it was social or emotional. ( Heart rippings)

One year it was like 40 CDs out of my 400 CD collection. Another was about 50 DVDs out my 500 DVD collection. Just so you can get an idea.

The material things tend to wind up in someone else's possession because they think they bought it. An example would be "LA Story" one of my favorites movies. I have bought it seven times. I don't know anyone who has bought this movie.

So now, being in this deployment, I was wondering what was going to be lost. It may end up being a combo. Heart rippings, CDs, my truck jack and the tire iron, that is about 10 or so.

Rational Thoughts

I paid another Marine 5 dollars for the grape kool-aid singles box that he had. I have no idea what this sort of thing actually costs to buy in a store and send to Iraq, but it was worth five dollars. The silly part is I probably would have paid more for it.

I have had the same twenty five dollars and sixty-two cents in my pocket since I came back from leave in June. For me really to spend it, I would have to get up two to three hours early or stay awake for four to five hours extra. Then I could go in the "exchange" for the item needed, problem is there is nothing in there I want or need. The items I need are always gone, because there a shitload of other people that need the same thing. As I stated earlier I would need to stay up or get up early, to find out the items I need are not there. Kind of seems like mindless banter, doesn't it?

I noticed since summer has pretty much come and is going, the number of care packages has gone down significantly. I am not complaining, just an observation.

Times when we can't call or visit the Internet, tend to blur together. The only one I have called is my Mom, since being back in country. I was thinking of calling a few others but I have been making excuses on why I should not.

My roommates and I have finally come to some sort of agreement on the temperature of the room. I think they are leaving soon, so they probably don't care as much.

What is wrong with orange, grape and cherry flavors? Why can't we get normal flavors? I mean the kiwi-banana-avocado is interesting but it doesn't taste very good.

Dragonflys, Part II

An Iraqi Dragon Fly.

I figure this one has a wingspan of about six inches. Could be hell itself, right there staring at me with those compound eyes. Then again, maybe not.

Deployment, Part II

The next wave of divorces are starting again.
There are many "Dear John" letters and "Oh by the way" conversations in the last few days. That is the way it goes, it comes in waves. Some couples were seen by others as "rocky" and it was expected, some were "perfect for each other" and no one saw it coming.

A Marine or two have come to me for advice. I figure it is for one of two reasons or both. One I am a senior enlisted and two I have been through before. Probably the latter. It is always hard but you plan for the worse and hope for the best.

Dragonflys

I have written a few letters back today and yesterday. I must really admit that I have nothing to say. Nothing much changes from day to day.

There is a dragonfly about the size of your average Frisbee that hangs around at night. I can't figure out why the bats haven't eaten him yet.

There are a few mice that I think have been attracting the snakes closer to our work areas. Haven't seen too many evil snakes, just the bad ones. Like if they bite you you will get sick but not die right away.

Yesterday, I saw what looked like a coyote, but I didn't go closer to verify. I think it may have been the first 4 legged creature that I have seen out here.

Reality on an August Afternoon

Today, while the sun was passing over the horizon and the blast furnace seemed to go down a notch, I realized "I really hate this place."

I know 'hate' is a strong word, but the only real benny out here is the tax free part.

I can see me now, (dreamland) sitting on my back porch on my rocker with a plush pillow seat, rocking to the beat of Hair of the Dog, drinking a frothy beverage in an iced mug, on cool afternoon talking with some friends with some 2 string, one string, no string guitars.

Then suddenly, it all comes back to me, with the dust cloud surrounding the base, I am still in Iraq and I can not give blood today since I gave last week. So I look at it in sorrow that I cannot help that soldier or Marine today.

My Off Time

I had just finished another book (Gates of Fire) today and started reading Broken Prey. So far so good, it seems to be a murder mystery type book.

I have been increasing my PT and have been riding the bike for about 45 minutes extra every other day. It probably wouldn't be difficult but I have a 100 pound pack just for riding on my bike during this time. The bike ride isn't as bad for my knees and feet, and i still get the workout.

I have been watching Oprah on AFN (Armed Forces Network) for about twenty minutes prior to going to work. Today had Jon Stewart was a guest, which was the highlight of my day. I am not saying that I enjoy Oprah and I am not saying I like to watch Jon Stewart. I am saying it was the highlight of my day.

Lovable Furry Old Grover

I miss it.

Having fun.

The laughs and jeers.

The Search for Mae West

(Truly, you would have to know all angles of me to understand the title.)

The woman of my dreams would be:
Lady like
Aggressive
Tactful
Athletic
Intelligent
Refined

(B cup breasts or larger are definitely a plus.)

My Given Name

My first name is not Staff Sergeant, it is my rank.

Couldn't tell though. I have been answering to that now everyday for the last 200 or so days in a row. I miss my name being called.

I am not talking about just my last name either. Most (about 99.9999%) get my last name wrong. Switching letters around, adding letters, just complete butchery. Every once in a blue moon someone will get it right, but that is neither here nor there.

It is the little things, you know?

Female Friends, and Friends of Friends

(While this post might have been better for another blog or maybe even personal thoughts amongst closer friends, I have decide to go public with this one.)

My ex wives and close female friends whether they be girlfriends, lovers, or just friends may have had PCOS(Poly cystic ovary syndrome). It makes sense. It would explain a lot. This is just a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess) so if I am wrong so be it, but if I am right. Then, this would be a larger breakthrough.

I learned of this from a political web blog Blonde Sagacity.

Maybe this is it, then reason. The thing I couldn't figure out. then maybe I am pulling straws.

Poly- Tick- ing

Being in the military it is very hard to get away from politics, since the sole purpose of the military is to be an arm of politicians and the government. I was looking at the use of the left and right terms and how they translate into what I do, and unfortunately, that would take away too much space on the Internet and is really not worth it.

The part that really gets me is these terms come from the French then in the 1800 the Spanish used the terms in their Constitution. I figure,HG Wells, can be blamed. He was one of the first to openly use left and right.

I am ambidextrous.

Saving the World

It seems like everyday there is some "crisis," which we then save the world from unknown destruction. How many times can we do it and who is counting?


While I know there are "bad people" constantly doing bad and unmoral acts everyday, there is also a high number of Marines doing what is right and moral every minute.

A Happy Fourth

For the most part everyone here had a happy Fourth of July. Some shops, if work load permitted, "cooked out" with the best that could be found. The line for the phones is almost ungodly, but manageable non the less. Some watched patriotic movies and some even decorated a little. I saw some flares and tracer rounds which is almost like fireworks.

Comments

2000
I am aware of the problem. I am working on fixing it.
2100
I lost Haloscan commenting, so you will have to bear with the default. Hopefully, I can get it restored and have done seamlessly.

0145 July 5th
Fixed.

My 2 Hour Window

Everyday I have a two hour break when nothing happens. It is not exactly the same time everyday but it happens everyday. This time I generally use to walk about the work areas or talk to some Marines about home. The last few days I have been using it for my blog and read other blogs of interest for me. (All are morally safe.)

This one group of blogs that I have been following are by a group of pastors(one term for all types, for simplicity) for churches all over the US. The one that caught my interest first was "Cheesehead in Paradise" , for obvious reasons.

One thing, of these blogs, is most of these pastors seem to like Monty Python's Holy Grail. I always thought this movie was exactly the opposite of what your spiritual leader was supposed to like. Maybe I have been wrong all these years.

What I should be doing in my 2 hour window is write some letters back home. So I decided that I will do one a night instead of writing all of them at once.

Peanut Butter Cookies

My Mom is definitely a veteran cookie packager and it shows. I can't remember when I received cookies that didn't make the journey to me.

I have been eating about 2 a day since the package arrived, so that the cookies will last longer. I can't eat chocolate, so most people get so confused and dumbfounded that I don't receive that many packages with cookies in them.

Not much beats a good peanut butter cookie and some flavored water after a twenty minute sandstorm trek.

Okay, there are a lot of things that do.

For here and now, that cookie is the best part of my day.

June Full Moon

This evening as I was starting my shift I noticed the moon. It is a rare to find the moon so large near one of our working spaces. I thought what an excellent photo op. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't see like my eyes do.

Hope you all enjoy!

Behind on Letter Writing

I really need to apologize. I am really far behind on my letter writing. Normally, pre-Iraq, I would never write a letter. Now, I have been writing a letter a bout once a month to several people and couples. Most are probably our(shop or work center) biggest benefactors, with supplies that tend to be essential. Hopefully in the next few days, I will a have a letter in the mail for these people:

Mom
My Brother and his wife
Julie Boutwell
Lori and Ron
Rena J's
Mark and Dorothy West
Judy Schleicher
Ken and Dorothy Fackina
Sheila Faul
Lauri Hansen
and
Faith Lutheran Church

Reading

I have been reading 3 books lately. Some of the Marines I run into ask how I keep them apart. I think of it like this:

Semper Fi in the Sky : is like the History channel, but better.
Gates of Fire : is like the SciFi channel meets discovery channel.
and Whispers : is like late night Cinemax slash Oxygen slash Spike wrapped into one.

Unfortunately, I am almost finished with all 3 of them so I will have to find a new channel soon.