Things have been awfully intense around here over the last couple of days (Post-Dispatch), so here’s some photos of crap and stories about them. Sure, it’s a break from the regular fare but what do you have to complain about? I promise it will be just as typo-ridden and droll as everything else around here.
Archive for August, 2009
Some fun things I’ve taken photos of recently.
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Part 3: You’re a heartbreaker, dream taker.
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009In previous installments you’ve gotten to read about what a great guy I was when I was on Active Duty and get a glimpse of what it’s like to receive recall orders to Active Duty from the Individual Ready Reserves.
Continuing on the same vein, I’d like to tell you about how my least favorite holiday was made even worse: Getting to tell my family about my recall to the Active Duty Army from the Individual Ready Reserves – at Christmas!
Sometimes I draw.
Friday, August 21st, 2009I spent time on a CQ (charge of quarters) desk last deployment. Technically, it was an ECP (entry control point) but considering no-one but people who were authorized to enter were entering, I really just kind of hung out and hit people I knew up for smokes and food. Upside to this: I drew a picture a day and sent them home to Sarah. Here’s two that I sent back recently. (more…)
Here there be flying, stinging things.
Monday, August 17th, 2009It’s true – even in the beautiful vacation country all the travel agents are RAVING about there are bugs. Evil little bugs. Horrible, biting miserable little gnat-like bugs that will eat you. They’re called sand fleas. They are the devilish flying equivalent of fire ants, but far more terrible. Fire ants will bite you and itch like hell and generally ruin a couple of days, but these things can FLY UP AND DO THE SAME THING TO YOUR FACE and then DO THIS TO YOUR FACE!
Some recent fun stuff that I’d like to share with you.
Friday, August 14th, 2009Things never cease to be exciting around here. A couple of days ago, I decided to post to the IAMA reddit and see if people were interested in asking me questions. Four hours later, I knocked it off at 11 PM my time. People were interested, and the majority of them didn’t ask me if I’d fragged the shit out of anyone.
Once again my family makes me stand a little taller.
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009I did not know Pvt. Bregg. I didn’t know he was at Baghdad – we could have walked past each other when I was there for a week or so. I was clueless there was someone from Wright City, Missouri here in Iraq with me. All the things that should have given me a grip to home were lost without me even knowing it when Pvt. Bregg was killed due to non-combat related injuries.
Help out two soldiers – for free!
Monday, August 10th, 2009SGT Salcido and I are both E-5’s – and we both ETS at the end of this year. We have an incredibly strong bond – we both want to be Honorably Discharged from Active Duty (again) when we reach our Military Service Obligation dates at the end of this year. You can be a vital part in making that happen. (more…)
Brendan turns older, I am a craft god.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009My friend Brendan turned old yesterday, and I wasn’t there to see it – or smell it. I’m actually really bummed as it was at Brendans house, where me & my friends played our first ever game of Wizest Wizard. Since we all reek of nerd it only makes sense – but goddamn it was awesome. Like, epic hats awesome. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Sarah took 500+ photos that night, so it’s pretty well documented should you ever care to see them.
(more…)
Part Two: Uncle Sam says, “I want YOU… back!”
Saturday, August 1st, 2009So, this is probably my third or fourth attempt at writing this in the hopes that I can help another soldier out someday, that my story will become known to the world for exactly what it is, and that the American public knows at what costs they’re continuing these wars.
Previous attempts were too biased, too jaded, and generally too angry to be anything but the most nonsensical rants. I’m hoping that I can break this down, evaluate, step back, and write a factual story intermingled with my feelings and emotions from the time of the events. In reality I should have been doing this in more of a real time capacity, however this wasn’t feasible. I hope that this finds my readers well, and that you’re able to understand what I am and who I have become over this time.
(more…)