Now that I (temporarily) have innarweb I have a bit of time to say Happy Birthday to Tab and Mike.
All's well over here. It's steadily getting cooler and it helps that I have only 33 days left in this lovely country.
1 Peter 1:13
We still have no internet. The backdoor I found through our lovely military ISP was shutdown. However (as you can tell by reading this) I found another. Don't know how long this one will last so allow me to let you in on a few things.
"G" got a Royal Flush.
Derrick got another Straight Flush.
I have 34 days and a wake up.
We probably won't have internet the rest of the time I'm here (so, this could be my last post for a while).
The nights are getting cooler and cooler. It was actually 80 degrees this morning around 0300hrs.
Proverbs 1:32-33
I think that Fall is "officially" here. It rained today. And I don't mean a little sprinkle. We had a good ol' fashioned thunderstorm drop in on us. That, and it was only 82 degrees this morning at 0600hrs. Of course it quickly rose to 112 but hey, at least it wasn't 130.
Luke 5:5
So, I get this knock on my door around 1900hrs or so. I say, "Yeah!" No one answers. I get up, walk to the door, open it and who do you think is standing there? It wasn't "G" (which is who I thought it was). It was the 3d ACR Regimental Command Sergeant Major, CSM Burns. I was startled and immediately thought to myself, "WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE?" He said, "Hey Stu, do you know where Pete is?" He was of course refering to Safety Pete and my response was a quick, "Right this way Sergeant Major."
Oh and by the way... 47 days.
Luke 19:5
Everything here is normal.
I am bored.
My sleep patterns are hosed.
The PX is a blackhole.
I have 48 days left in country.
Romans 8:35
And it's going to keep dragging on and on...
Still nothing new. And can you beleive we haven't had any straight flushes in over 2 1/2 weeks?!? I know... Weird, huh? We're dancing all around them but still coming up empty.
2 Chronicles 31:21
And that's about all there is to say. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is going on around here.
Bored.
Seriously.
1 Samuel 12:23
Read this instead: http://writeon-psg.blogspot.com/
Here's a pic of Marvin and me taken with his new camera.
Exodus 18:14
Nothing new.
I just watched Hellboy II: The Golden Army and now have "Can't Smile Without You" stuck in my head and it makes me angry.
We have traded intense heat for a plague of flies. Seriously, I'm talking Old Testament here.
That's not to say that it's not hot any longer (it's still in the 110+'s) but at least we aren't roasting.
Justin's ankle seems to be mending nicely.
Derrick, T and Jacob make me want to pull my hair out on occasion. They're my bro's and all, but sometimes...
The PX is worse than it has ever been. We haven't had any new stuff in well over a month and a 1/2.
Nutter Butter's are the bomb-biggity.
The Astros and the Express are killing me.
There's a new pic on the Show and Tell site in the "Reader Pics" section that yall may find amusing.
Mail is arriving only so often now.
2 Chronicles 15:2
John McCain has a remarkable record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982, John has led the fight for reforming Washington, eliminating wasteful government spending, and strengthening our nation's armed forces.
John McCain's reform agenda to reduce federal spending and lower taxes quickly elevated him to statewide office and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1986, after serving two terms in the U.S. House.
In the Senate, John continued to demand that Congress put an end to loopholes for special interests and fix the broken system in Washington that too often allows lobbyists to write legislation and members of Congress to waste taxpayer money. In November 2004, Senator McCain was overwhelmingly reelected with nearly 77 percent of the vote.
As the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain deeply values duty, honor and service of country. John attended college at the United States Naval Academy, and launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator upon his graduation. He continued the McCain tradition of service to country passed down to him from his father and grandfather when he asked to serve in the Vietnam War.
On July 29 1967, John narrowly survived the first of many near-death experiences during his lifetime while preparing to take off on a bombing mission over North Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal. A missile accidentally fired from a nearby plane struck the fuel tanks on John's plane and created a deadly inferno aboard the ship. John barely escaped the fiery disaster that killed 134 men, injured hundreds more and destroyed 20 planes.
Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster, Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country, for five and a half years.
During his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck John's plane and forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten by the North Vietnamese. John spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement, aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally released and able to return home years later, John continued his service by regaining his naval flight status.
Senator McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the United States Senate. John retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator McCain has seven children and four grandchildren, and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cindy.
Sarah Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.
Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.
Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Finished Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Great show. Season 2 starts in about a week, if you haven't watched it before get season 1 on DVD and then check out season 2. I'm all out of series until NYPD Blue gets here from Amazon. Of course only 4 seasons are out right now so, I guess that will have to do until Smallville Season 7 gets here in September.
I actually "worked" today. I got a call that our friends at 1-2SCR were having some issues with their AIC (which I doubted). So, I went over there, spent 2 minutes looking at the systems and realized that my stuff was working perfectly. So, I called Dee and turned it over to her.
Oh, and Mitch? You're my hero, I love you man. Better?
Luke 14:11
I finished Witchblade. It's a shame they canceled it, it was a really good series. But, I guess when the lead actress goes into rehab because she's an alcoholic, there's not a lot you can do.
I picked up Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles today at the PX. I just finished the pilot and man, this is pretty dang good too. I was a bit confused at first but a quick check on the innarweb straightened it out for me. It takes place directly after Terminator II: Judgment Day. So the events of Terminator III have yet to happen (and most likely won't). Don't ask... Freakin' time travel. ESPECIALLY freakin' Terminator time travel... That whole timeline is holier than swiss cheese blessed by the Pope.
59 days. I am beyond ready to go home. These past 10 months have flown by but I have a sneaking suspicion that the next two are going to drag on and on and on ad nauseum...
Ephesians 5:15-16
But who's counting, right?
Of course it may end up being 64 days but hey, I've broken the 70 day mark either way.
We had a bit of excitement here and once I know I'm cleared to talk about it I'll let yall know what went on. All I can say for now is that it was very loud and I felt the concussion rock my CHU from 10 or so km's away.
Everything else here is pretty much hunky-dory. It was 90 this morning and I swear I thought I got a chill. Seriously. Right now (0245hrs) the dust is so thick you can barely see 20 feet. It's downright choking out there.
John 10:10
It "rained" tonight. "Rain" meaning a few drops of water fell out of the sky for about 5 minutes and evaporated on contact. But it does mean that the season are changing.
Ok, so I finished the Birds of Prey tv series. It was ok. It started getting interesting towards the end but I guess it was too little too late and that's why it was nixed. Smallville is much better.
I just started Witchblade and it seems to be pretty good. I just don't like the fact that Pez is coverd head to foot in armor as opposed to the "sleek and sexy" armor that she wears in the books. You can say it's the "fanboy" in me and you'd be right.
I'm still bummed that the Lonesome Dove tv series was so lame.
Isaiah 11:2
No straight flushes though. Weird. D and "G" had a helluva night. Congrats, they were long overdue.
The temperature is dropping steadily. Of course it's still in the 110's+ but hey, at least it's not 130.
October cannot get her fast enough. I am ready to go home. Seriously.
I watched about 3/4 of one episode of the Lonesome Dove tv series and turned it off. Horrible. So, if anyone wants it, it's all yours. Just send me an address and I'll mail it to you. How you can make such an awesome mini series and then follow it up with a lame tv series is beyond me... Leave it to Hollyweird.
Deuteronomy 7:22
As in, not much going on here.
Some people call Lonesome Dove "the best Western ever." I'll give it number two on my list. You can't have a "best Western" without John Wayne. So, my vote goes to McLintock. However, Lonesome Dove is freakin dang close.
I just picked up the tv series as well. I guess I'll start that one once I'm done with Birds of Prey.
Larry McMurtry originally wrote Lonesome Dove as a screenplay and it was to star John Wayne (Woodrow) Jimmy Stewart (Augustus) and Henry Fonda (Jake). The Duke passed it over and the others dropped out as well. McMurtry bought the rights back and then expanded it into the full blown novel that it is today. Now, get this; Jon Voight was offerd the part of Woodrow first and turned it down. James Garner was then offered the part and had to decline to health reasons. Then Tommy Lee Jones got it. Then the "of course we have to do a" sequel (Return to Lonesome Dove) came out with Jon Voight as Woodrow. It didn't fare to well because McMurtry was kept out of the loop. Then they did another sequel The Streets of Laredo and guess who played Woodrow? James Garner. It did much better and kept to the book quite faithfully (from what I hear, I haven't seen it yet). Soon though...
Matthew 5:5
Nothing of any importance going on yesterday or today.
Under Armour makes the greatest underwear in the world.
My back is in a million knots and I want to cry like a little girl.
Matthew (SSG Blakemore) is trying to quit smoking.
We may or may not have internet today or tomorrow.
Last night's game yielded no straight flushes.
I grilled spicy-peach pork chops the other night.
SGT Briddell's phone rings to the tune of the Batman tv series.
Matthew's phone barks.
It's cooling off. It only got to 116 yesterday. I may need to break out my Winter gear.
Sondra- You lived in Barstow? I'm so sorry.
Sean- Thanks. I'll let Tab know.
I think I'll watch Lonesome Dove tonight...
Providing we don't play cards.
Bet you never thought you'd see those two names together. Well, I just finished Jack of All Trades (tv series) and George Herbert Walker Bush (a book).
It's a shame that Jack of All Trades only went one season. This was a great series. I laughed quite regularly while watching it.
GHWB was a very good read. The writer tells the story straight down the middle; giving praise and criticism equally. I actually learned a few things from this book, which is always a plus.
Matthew 6:10
The first hand of the night last night, THE FIRST HAND and "G" gets a straight flush. Oh and we had two Friday night. Two in the same night. One for T and one for Jacob. It makes my brain hurt...
Justin broke his ankle yesterday evening playing football. Straight-up bonehead. I tried to tell him to stay here and play a nice SAFE game of Poker. But noooooooo, he had to go play ball with the kiddies.
Ephesians 4:29
Was a lot of things throughout his life but the most important thing he ever did was take part in bringing Tab into this world. We lost him yesterday and below is what Tab had to say about him:
My dad died today on my way to Houston for the weekend.
In his lifetime, he was a high school dropout, Eagle Scout (with palms), car racer, a member of the air force, a nurse, a weight lifter, a musician (banjo, drums, flute and keyboard instruments), a mechanic (working for various people, and owning his own shop), an explorer, the owner of a gold mine, a mercenary, a fish monger, a parrot exporter, a member in every pyramid scheme you could name, the owner of a napkin business (pretty nice monogrammed napkins), a canoe instructor, an airport security guy, an inventor (specialized weep holes) and various other things that I can't remember or don't know about.
He has given a man the shirt off his back and to this day was still friends with him.
He has been put in a Honduran jail, escaped, and paid off their government so that he could return to the country with his wife to visit her family.
He has survived blood sugar over 660--walked himself into the hospital for that one (because he couldn't quench his thirst), high blood pressure, and breaking his back. Oh, and he fell off a horse during his escape from jail and still has the scar on his arm where he tore through the skin when he landed on a stake.
...and he died doing the lawn.
A firefighter neighbor found him in the front yard and asked another neighbor to call 911. The firefighter did CPR on him until the paramedics arrived, but he had no pulse. His wife was babysitting their grandchildren at the time, and so the firefighter also thought to use Dad's phone (that he luckily had on him) to call Sandra to tell her to come home.
I was about 40 minutes away from his house when I got the call.
Hard to believe all the things he's done, and he died trying to get the edge straight in his yard. Somehow, I knew it would be something simple that would take him away. None of the extraordinary things could touch him.
I told my stepsister (whom he adopted), that it was a good thing that none of those other things took him. There was no way he could have left this earth at any of the periods in his lifetime before now knowing he was loved as much as he did today.
Lucky for him that he could leave in peace. Lucky for us we could share his life with him.
Vaya con Dios Dennis and thank you for the greatest gift a man could ask for.
1 Corinthians 15:55
