for those of you that noticed the blank post, that was my attempt to post something via my new droidx (one of verizon's android phones). it didn't work out so well.
anyway, i'm home, and have a lot of free time ahead of me. i was thinking about running around and visiting all the nice people that sent me care packages...or anyone else i haven't seen in a while. i'm leaning toward hitting up jon in budapest in early december, but it looks like all of november is more or less free (absent the very beginning when i'll be voting).
my car's in the shop right now getting all fixed up so if you'd like me to come visit you, just shoot me an email: porcupous at yahoo.
there's also the matter of this blog's future i'd like to ask for some feedback on. i'm still of the mind that the vast majority of people live boring lives, and blogs are an attempt to get people to notice them when they'd be much better off if they just went out and found some friends. it's this attitude that kept me from having a blog for a long time. when i deployed though, it proved much easier to blog than email 50 people individually.
but now i'm back; back to the boring life of one of the 300 millionish people in america. this makes it hard for me to justify keeping this. however, someone did mention that they would like me to keep posting. so...i'm going to leave it up to my readers. pick your favorite option on the poll. this is a simple, majority wins thing. since there aren't many people that read this, it won't take much to make this poll go either way.
anyway, get to voting...and emailing me if you want me to drop by.
2010-10-26
2010-10-10
the end
my journey home will begin soon. as such, i probably won't be checking this as it's rather difficult while in transit. the hotline number for flight information is 1-800-237-2850 extension 4019. they probably won't have any information there for a few more days as getting us back is rather logistically complicated.
they claim there will be a 'welcome home' ceremony on stout field immediately following our plane landing. i think they're a little nuts as i'm sure i'll be too tired then to want to see anyone. if people want to show up, that's fine; just don't be surprised if my responses are little more than grunts of acknowledgment.
anyway, i've gotta go. laterz
they claim there will be a 'welcome home' ceremony on stout field immediately following our plane landing. i think they're a little nuts as i'm sure i'll be too tired then to want to see anyone. if people want to show up, that's fine; just don't be surprised if my responses are little more than grunts of acknowledgment.
anyway, i've gotta go. laterz
2010-10-03
short
well, the time for us to go home is getting really close. everyone's busy packing. i'll be mailing a trunk home as i seem to have accumulated a few more things than i came here with. as for the timeline, all i can say at this point is we'll be back sometime in the last half of this month (october, in case anyone's lost track). the state's going to set up a toll free number to dial for up-to-date information about our arrival. i'd give it out, but i left the number in the office. i'll be sure to post it before we leave salerno.
i apologize for not giving more timely updates. things have been rather busy with packing, and training the new guys. when i post anything else in here before we take off, it'll be something quick and concise as i probably won't have much time.
well, i've got some work to get back to. i'll catch you guys later.
i apologize for not giving more timely updates. things have been rather busy with packing, and training the new guys. when i post anything else in here before we take off, it'll be something quick and concise as i probably won't have much time.
well, i've got some work to get back to. i'll catch you guys later.
2010-09-11
11 September
nine years...on the ninth anniversary of the reason i'm here, it's impossible to forget what day it is. my feelings are mixed when it comes to this subject. i think it's tragic how it took something like this to make america wake up to the threat of terrorism. the signs were there before, but most of us just went about oblivious to the whole thing. they weren't blowing things up in the continental united states so we were safe right? but then...it's amazing how one day changed everything.
we're not at the point many of our friends are. israel's been dealing with this sort of thing for millennia; whether they had their own country or not. i'm glad we're not at there, but sometimes i wonder if people would wake up more if we were.
so now we have soldiers running all over the world seeking out terrorists. while i'm glad we're giving them a distraction to keep them busy, i can't help but wonder if it's the right strategy in the long run. america won't be able to maintain things as they are for long. we've been living beyond our means for decades, and the bill collector's knocking on our door. the united states currently accounts for 51% of all the world's military spending. while we may have been able to afford that at one point, my line of work is now one of the many things dragging our government (and everyone else) further into the abyss. will we have made enough of a difference by the time we go home to make things safer? or will we have merely succeeded in galvanizing the ones that hate us?
the bureaucracy will never understand this though. rather than being our savior, the government is now an albatross around the country's neck. some of the most feared words in the english language are "we're from the government, and we're here to help". i know if anyone ever said that to me, i'd be scared.
there is still some hope left though. a few states are resurrecting the concept of nullification; or even succession. millions of citizens are awaking, and demanding their rights back.
will we be as safe with a smaller government? i think we can be. one thing is for certain though, we'll discover the answer to that question shortly. the government will be forced to shrink as the economic situation deteriorates. it's time to start preparing; big brother's days are numbered.
we're not at the point many of our friends are. israel's been dealing with this sort of thing for millennia; whether they had their own country or not. i'm glad we're not at there, but sometimes i wonder if people would wake up more if we were.
so now we have soldiers running all over the world seeking out terrorists. while i'm glad we're giving them a distraction to keep them busy, i can't help but wonder if it's the right strategy in the long run. america won't be able to maintain things as they are for long. we've been living beyond our means for decades, and the bill collector's knocking on our door. the united states currently accounts for 51% of all the world's military spending. while we may have been able to afford that at one point, my line of work is now one of the many things dragging our government (and everyone else) further into the abyss. will we have made enough of a difference by the time we go home to make things safer? or will we have merely succeeded in galvanizing the ones that hate us?
the bureaucracy will never understand this though. rather than being our savior, the government is now an albatross around the country's neck. some of the most feared words in the english language are "we're from the government, and we're here to help". i know if anyone ever said that to me, i'd be scared.
there is still some hope left though. a few states are resurrecting the concept of nullification; or even succession. millions of citizens are awaking, and demanding their rights back.
will we be as safe with a smaller government? i think we can be. one thing is for certain though, we'll discover the answer to that question shortly. the government will be forced to shrink as the economic situation deteriorates. it's time to start preparing; big brother's days are numbered.
2010-09-05
updates
it's been while since i've posted anything substantial. things have been busy for several reasons, and i'll go into a few of them.
the combatives class i was taking is long since over and my ribs are almost back to normal. they still hurt more than they should if someone hits me, but at least i'm not doubling over in pain any more. i enjoyed the class so much, that i volunteered to be an assistant instructor for the next class they gave. it doesn't hurt nearly as bad if you're not one of the students, and it gave me a chance to get some extra practice in. it looks like there will be 1 more class before we leave, and i'm looking forward to helping out with that one as well. it's amazing how much finding something fun to do can make this place more bearable.
in a few short weeks the advanced party for our replacements will be here. the unit's been busily preparing for their arrival. it's gotten to the point where every last person is thinking about when we'll be able to leave.
unfortunately, may have taken the negative influences of the unit as a sign that the army's not for them. it saddens me to see young disgruntled soldiers; especially when i know it's because of one bad unit. at least i've managed to convince my former soldiers (from when i was a platoon sergeant) that this unit is not like most.
and finally, i've learned the second of six of my grandparents passed away on friday. death has never been the same since my mom died when i was eleven. that hit me so hard, and i spent years recovering from it. months being angry at god, and years being depressed and trying to control my emotions. since then, the death of someone who's time has come and was anticipated holds no pain.
when i saw my grandmother in june, i knew she wasn't long for this world. i was pleasantly surprised she held out for a couple more months. i hope that extra time has better prepared everyone else for her passing. she was a effervescent woman who's passion for life bought her loved ones at least an extra year with her. may she rest in peace, and await the day the rest of us will join her.
the combatives class i was taking is long since over and my ribs are almost back to normal. they still hurt more than they should if someone hits me, but at least i'm not doubling over in pain any more. i enjoyed the class so much, that i volunteered to be an assistant instructor for the next class they gave. it doesn't hurt nearly as bad if you're not one of the students, and it gave me a chance to get some extra practice in. it looks like there will be 1 more class before we leave, and i'm looking forward to helping out with that one as well. it's amazing how much finding something fun to do can make this place more bearable.
in a few short weeks the advanced party for our replacements will be here. the unit's been busily preparing for their arrival. it's gotten to the point where every last person is thinking about when we'll be able to leave.
unfortunately, may have taken the negative influences of the unit as a sign that the army's not for them. it saddens me to see young disgruntled soldiers; especially when i know it's because of one bad unit. at least i've managed to convince my former soldiers (from when i was a platoon sergeant) that this unit is not like most.
and finally, i've learned the second of six of my grandparents passed away on friday. death has never been the same since my mom died when i was eleven. that hit me so hard, and i spent years recovering from it. months being angry at god, and years being depressed and trying to control my emotions. since then, the death of someone who's time has come and was anticipated holds no pain.
when i saw my grandmother in june, i knew she wasn't long for this world. i was pleasantly surprised she held out for a couple more months. i hope that extra time has better prepared everyone else for her passing. she was a effervescent woman who's passion for life bought her loved ones at least an extra year with her. may she rest in peace, and await the day the rest of us will join her.
when we all get to heaven
what a day of rejoicing that will be
when we all see jesus
we'll sing and shout the victory
2010-08-28
quick post
as i'm sure most of you are already aware via the news, the FOB was attacked this morning. i'm can't talk details, but can tell you that i and the rest of my unit are all right. so don't worry :)
i'd also like to state again that no news is good news. if you hear something in the news that sounds bad, but haven't heard anything from me, it's probably because i (and my brothers in arms) are dealing with the situation.
well, i've gotta get going. enjoy the rest of your saturday.
i'd also like to state again that no news is good news. if you hear something in the news that sounds bad, but haven't heard anything from me, it's probably because i (and my brothers in arms) are dealing with the situation.
well, i've gotta get going. enjoy the rest of your saturday.
2010-08-11
stupid ribs
well, i haven't posted in a while so i should probably get to it. the combatives class i was taking is all done, and all it cost me was some bruised ribs. for those of you that have never had the thrill of bruised ribs, they hurt! a couple weeks later i'm just now getting to the point where it doesn't hurt to sleep. i'd do it all again though. i learned a lot, and a little pain (or in this case a lot) was better than spending those nights being mad at people in my unit.
re-deployment (what the army calls going home) is all the rage these days. we've begun planning for the big trip, and it's all some people think about. personally, it's a little early to be obsessing over something that's still 2 months away, but i guess some people really don't like it here. oh well, whatever gets them through.
i got the package dad and mom sent today. today's the first day anyone around here's gotten mail in about a week. we're supplied by aircraft that doesn't fly when it gets wet outside.
and lately it's been really wet. we've had 8 inches of rain in the last 3 weeks. for a place that's not supposed to get a lot of water, it sure rains a lot. and i love it! rain is so awesome...and it has the bonus effect of keeping the temperature down. if the next few weeks have a bit of rain every day like this week's had, i'd be one happy guy. i think the last few weeks have been a fluke though.
oh yeah, happy ramadan for anyone that's watching the muslim holidays. for the next 30 days the locals will either be more aggressive, or less prone to attacking us in favor of getting closer to their god. i'm hoping for the latter, but we'll see.
well, this is getting long so i'll get off here. write you all later.
re-deployment (what the army calls going home) is all the rage these days. we've begun planning for the big trip, and it's all some people think about. personally, it's a little early to be obsessing over something that's still 2 months away, but i guess some people really don't like it here. oh well, whatever gets them through.
i got the package dad and mom sent today. today's the first day anyone around here's gotten mail in about a week. we're supplied by aircraft that doesn't fly when it gets wet outside.
and lately it's been really wet. we've had 8 inches of rain in the last 3 weeks. for a place that's not supposed to get a lot of water, it sure rains a lot. and i love it! rain is so awesome...and it has the bonus effect of keeping the temperature down. if the next few weeks have a bit of rain every day like this week's had, i'd be one happy guy. i think the last few weeks have been a fluke though.
oh yeah, happy ramadan for anyone that's watching the muslim holidays. for the next 30 days the locals will either be more aggressive, or less prone to attacking us in favor of getting closer to their god. i'm hoping for the latter, but we'll see.
well, this is getting long so i'll get off here. write you all later.
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