Ya know, when it comes to playing Poker with D, T and Jacob... Conventional wisdom just flies right out the door.
Not much else today. Laundry, PX, Chow. Sense a pattern? 97 days... 97 days.
John 3:3
Posted by Stu
at 5:08 PM CDT
Behind the Wall of Sleep
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Geez...
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Since it already Sunday...
Here in Iraq, I'd like to point out that I now have 98 days left. Time flies when you're having fun.
Well, not much here has changed... Except one. Our internet is on the fritz again and it appears we'll be looking for a new provider soon. So, until then please do NOT send me multiple mb files.
The C-130. A more uncomfortable airplane does not exist. I'd rather fly coach for 3 hours than spend 30 minutes on a C-130.
I just read a really good book. While I was at Ali I stopped by the MWR and found it in the "free book" section. It's called American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day by Robert Coram, fantastic book. I read the entire thing in just under 6 hours. I only put it down to eat or find a cooler place to sit. If you don't know about Bud Day, do a Google search; this post would stretch a mile if I tried to write anything about him here. This book will make you laugh and cry over the span of two pages. A truly amazing man.
That's all I got for you tonight. Tune in tomorrow, same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel.
Psalm 37:4
Posted by Stu
at 6:28 PM CDT
"Back to Mosul, back to Mosul..."
Think Billy Madison and you'll get it.
Anyway, I'm back. I'll write more later.
Exodus 6:2-3
Posted by Stu
at 3:53 AM CDT
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Back in Kuwait
Ever had a double-edged sword shoved into your heart? That's what it feels like having to say "goodbye" again to my wife and boys.
I'm here at the apartment in Kuwait. The innarweb is jacked. Outlook doesn't work, Skype doesn't work and it took me 30 attempts to get logged into this blog (the things I do for my fans). Once/if we get it worked out I'll be able to have a little more reliable C2.
I'll tell yall all about the flight later... My food just arrived.
1 Samuel 2:30
Posted by Stu
at 2:15 PM CDT
Monday, 14 July 2008
Packing... Again
It still sucks. Two weeks just in NOT enough time to catch up with everything that you've missed for the past 5 months.
CW's Birthday was yesterday. He wanted to go to an Express game, so we did. It was nice to be back at the Dell Diamond but I just couldn't stay focused on the game (two guesses why). But we all had a good time, even though RR lost. CW got some new Express swag and was very happy about that.
I leave tomorow at 1420hrs. Killeen to DFW to DC to Kuwait City. I'll post when I get to the apartment.
Peace out, yo.
Jeremiah 6:16
ps. I finished the website for my sis and BL's church... check it out here: http://newhopebaptistchurchandschool.org
Posted by Stu
at 5:27 PM CDT
Saturday, 12 July 2008
The Killer "B"eagles
Biggio and Bagwell are making themselves at home. Bigg is still recovering from the drive back from Dime Box. He yakked on Mike on the return trip.
We got a gate to put across the arch between the living room and the kitchen but, at 0600hrs this morning they had managed to crawl under it and wander into our room.
Pictures will be posted soon on the main page.
Job 37:23-24
Posted by Stu
at 2:07 PM CDT
Monday, 7 July 2008
Headin' Home
Tab, the boys and I will be heading back to the hizzle in a couple of hours. We won't be picking up our "Killer B's" until Friday. Once we get them and get their official Astros gear I'll post pics here or on the main site (they may even get a page all to themselves).
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Posted by Stu
at 12:22 PM CDT
Sunday, 6 July 2008
The Past Few Days
Tab and I did a book signing at Deerbrook Mall and sold 4 books. Today we did one in Webster and sold 16.
Pop cooked a brisket and pork shoulder and we got back around 6ish, man it's good to eat great food again.
On the way to Humble the other day we stopped in Dimebox and bought 2 Beagle pups. Their names are Biggio and Bagwell. So, hopefully by the time I get back in October they'll be completely trained (Mike and CW have their work cut out for them).
John 6:27
Posted by Stu
at 2:14 AM CDT
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Thursday Night at Mom and Pops
On the back porch, drinking cold beer with Mom, Pop and Mike (playing guitar, go figure).
Pop grilled Bratwurst. We also had real sauerkraut! Awesome.
Judges 2:2-3
Posted by Stu
at 11:50 PM CDT
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
"Home again, home again. Jiggity-jig."
Tab and the boys met me at the airport, right on time. My wife is still beautiful, CW has gotten bigger and Mike needs a haircut.
I splurged on the way home. I bought an M4 carbine. Been wanting one for a while, thought about it on the way home and stopped at the gun shop on the way back from the airport and bought it before I had a chance to talk myself out of it.
I grilled steaks and zucchini tonight. Man! It's so nice to be able to eat real meat again.
James 2:18
Posted by Stu
at 3:55 AM CDT
Monday, 30 June 2008
Addendum...
Kuwait Airport has "somewhat" free internet access. "Somewhat" meaning only for one hour. So, here I sit, waiting to board my plane.
The lady at United screwed up. She was supposed to get me Business Class for today, she put it into the computer for tomorrow. So, guess who's gonna be real umcomfortable for the next 14 hours...
Matthew 5:1-2
Posted by Stu
at 1:41 PM CDT
"In Through the Out Door"
I leave for the airport in 10 minutes. If the DC airport has free internet then I'll let yall know when I get there.
I leave for the airport in 10 minutes. If the DC airport has free internet then I'll let yall know when I get there.
Posted by Stu
at 11:55 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 30 June 2008 1:37 PM CDT
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Back in Kuwait
Justin and I arrived at Ali late Saturday afternoon after a nightmarishly hot C-130 ride from Mosul (he's going on leave as well).
Ali has not changed, it's still the armpit of Southwest Asia. Only now it's hotter than Satan's butthole after a Tabasco Margarita. Geez, I thought Mosul was hot. Mosul was like a nice Spring day compared to Kuwait. Plus they have something here that Mosul doesn't... Humidity. Not much mind you but just enough coming off of the Persian Gulf to make it just that much more miserable.
Beverly picked us up around 1000hrs this morning. A quick stop at McD's then here to the apartment. I took a long shower (I had dust and sand in places that aren't supposed to have dust and sand) and then went to sleep since I had been up for over 40 hours. And now, here I sit.
I'm gonna order some Sushi from the local Japanese restaurant and then hit the pool. It's 2043hrs here, it's dark and it's still 118...
Galatians 6:2
Posted by Stu
at 12:47 PM CDT
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Without Further Ado, I Give You...
The official website of Free Texas: http://www.showandtelltexas.com/
To borrow a line from my wife (who borrowed it from a Mr. Elwood Blues), "Tell your friends..."
Job 1:1
Posted by Stu
at 10:30 PM CDT
Movie Reviews
Secret Window
Secret Window
Horrible. Horrible movie. Two minutes into the credits I almost turned it off when I saw it was a Stephen King story. I figured it all out in 15 minutes and it was all downhill from there. Not even John Tuturro could save the movie because it was just Pete playing a bad guy. Lame.
I'm completely convinced that King is a hack. The only movie ever done based on one of his stories that was any good was The Shining; and he didn't even want his name associated with it because he thought that Stanley Kubrick ruined it. Now granted, I've never read a single book of his but I have seen most if not all of the movies. I suppose it could just be all of the filmmaker's faults...
Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool
I love Harry Callahan. But I gotta tell ya, you get used to watching these on TV and you forget just how much full frontal nudity (male and female), bad language, and blood are in them. Not that those are bad things (well full frontal male nudity is bad), you just forget it's all there. Trivia time. What do Dirty Harry, The Dead Pool and Star Trek: Deepspace Nine all have in common?
Diary of the Dead
Now I'm a big fan of Romero's zombie movies but this was crap. I think ol' George is just that... Getting too old. Even the special guest voices didn't help this movie. "Guest voices?" you ask. Figure it out for yourselves.
War
Jet Li and Jason Statham. How can you go wrong? Great movie. Nice twist.
Flash Point
A great Donnie Yen movie. It's all in Chinese so you have to read the subtitles (and get past the grammar) but it's a really good cop/action/Kung Fu movie.
Posted by Stu
at 3:55 PM CDT
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Addendum...
It's been a long time but sadly, it's happened again; We lost 3 soldiers from 3rd Squadron today, as well as one of their interpreters. Please say a prayer for them and their families.
John 14:1-4
Posted by Stu
at 6:22 PM CDT
Over the years...
I have heard many variations on my name and it's been used in many pseudo-references. Examples:
Studini the Great, Stu Manchu, Kung Stu, Egg Stu Yung, Stu-Man, Stu-Pendous, Stuey and so forth. References alike: Hey Stu (to the tune of "Hey Jude"), Love Me Stu (to the tune of "Love Me Do"), More Stuman than Stuman ("More Human than Human"- White Zombie) and so forth. Did I mention that I do not like The Beatles?
Well today I was hit with a new one. Steve (Chad's replacement) walked up and said, "What's up Stufish?" Now I immediately thought that this was a reference to the Jewfish AKA the Goliath Grouper. I gave him points for originality but he said it was a Beavis and Butthead reference. The kid in the Winger shirt on B&B was named Stuart and B&B sometimes called him that. Whatever the case, it was a new one to me.
Everything here is samey-same. I've been working on websites more than anything else. If I can get the rest of the information from my sister for the church that one will be done, hint, hint. The other is one I'm doing for Free Texas. Once it's done I'll share it with all of you. Uncle C gave me a great idea and it has already been implemented. >:)
2 days and a wakeup...
Matthew 18:33
Posted by Stu
at 1:58 PM CDT
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
"Tuesday's Gone"
Another uneventful day here in sunny Mosul.
Check it out: http://www.ccatexas.org/CCATexas/2004_Leader_Board_Standings.asp?SnID=1460779586
Scroll down to the Ling/Cobia Division. My little sister is in the lead. If she wins she can give me the boat as payment for the church's website. ;)
3 days and a wakeup...
Philippians 1:12
Posted by Stu
at 4:15 PM CDT
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!
This Sunday was just like all the other Sundays... And Mondays and Tuesdays and etc, ad nauseum...
I finished the groundwork for my sister and bro-in-law's church's website. Once I hear from her and Brother Bobby I'll fill in the details and then post it so everyone can take a look.
And congratulations to her for kicking some serious butt at the fishing tournament this weekend.
4 days and a wake-up and I'll be on a plane to Ali.
Luke 22:27
Posted by Stu
at 4:47 PM CDT
Saturday, 21 June 2008
The Temple Daily Telegram
The TDT is the local newspaper for the greater Temple area. They recently interviewed a certain author you all may know...
http://www.temple-telegram.com/story/2008/06/22/50264
Posted by Stu
at 3:39 PM CDT