The Wann

THEWANN 2.0!!!!!!

2007-07-12T22:14:00.000-06:00

Well finally I have finished updating the long awaited new version of "TheWann"!!! It is 100% better than the current one with one minor or major set back, depending on your point of view I guess. I can not move all the post from here to there. Soo...that really sux! But I think the interface is so much better not only on the eyes but also on the features. For one thing I finally have a REAL photo page! I also have a movie page for those deployment movies that I have been making and of course a blog.

I am using my Dot Mac account instead of the good 'ol Blogger, and oh how I will miss the Blogger cause it does have some features that the blogs on the Dot Mac accounts do not such as.... the labels... I freaking love those things, I am not too sure how often you all use them but I like 'em. Both a set back and a blessing on the dot mac account there is 100% no code to know! But I wish there was a code feature from time to time to add little cool things such as the "Donate" Button up above that everyone has left alone :-)

But over all I am pleased and I hope you are too!
So if you have been coming to the blog via
thewann.blogspot.com
update your bookmarks because this may never get updated again :-(
The new address is
http://www.thewann.com

And always much love to you all and meet you at the new spot!
Farewell....

--TheWann 1.0

Update?

2007-07-01T14:24:00.000-06:00

Hey ya!
Well what the heck have I been doing lately now that I am back? Just a bit of nothing. Lately at work I have been doing this Records Management thing where basically I take all paper dosuments and put them into an electronic database. Wow this is already so much better than being in Afghanistan! Then I found a pretty chill place to live with an Army roommate. Its much bigger than my last place and 25 bucks less a month. Hey if I invest that 25 bucks for the next 50 years I will be a millionaire! LOL. Went to Church today off base and I think its good so I will most likely keep going to this one. Abit big for my flavor but hey...whatever.
Oh and now I am trying to get to S.Korea (N. Korea is the bad one FYI) and hopefully after Korea I will head on over to the UK, Germany or Okinawa. We will see I guess in due time.

But thats about it for me at the moment sooo... I will start my rants on things soon enough since my life at the moment is fairly boring.

Good Day to ya!

TheWann

Finally back!

2007-06-20T08:31:00.000-06:00

Finally made it back home and can access the good 'ol blogger with out alot of hassle!! Been back now around a month or so. Spent a few weeks with the family back in Missouri and now back in New Mexico and started work Monday. Things are always different when you come back, the home life and work...work is very different but thats just the way the cookie crumbles.

Bought a macbook recently and will be making a small and not too fancy of a web page with loads of pictures on it. I will post the link to this once I get it done. I think ya'll will like it. Other than that not much has been going on. No big stories, drama or wacked out people giving me a hard time but lets hope I am not talking too soon.

Glad to back in the states, but I do miss the Afghanistan mission and the great realtionships I had over there already and would love to go back. But that is doubtful in the near future anyway.

Much love to all and catch ya later

---The Wann

Just a small note...

2007-04-13T11:19:00.000-06:00

Hey ya'll just a small note to let ya know I am doing good and am still alive and safe. I found someone that let me bumb her laptop and I went to the USO to use the free internet over there (or here really).

Amazing how many people come out of the wood works when one gets deployed! Thats all I am going to say about that for the moment.

Lots has happened, some good some not so good. I wish I could have kept you all informed while I was here, but the Army is just WAYYY different than the Air Force when it comes to certain things, like accessing ANYTHING on the internet. Anywho... Much love and shall catch you all soon enough, can't wait to get back!! Its been good....but man am I ready!

Love--

The Wann

Hospital Stuff...

2007-01-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...what to post about...what to post about. I had been thinking my supervisor if he reads any of this he is probably freaking out over the type-os and the horrible grammer that I is been using.

The hospital has been...ummmm....interesting lately. For the sad news, we had an eight year old little girl die earlier today. She came in with massive head trauma. The family said it was from a pressure cooker. With that kinda damage to her I am sure a pressure cooker was used...but nothing we can do about that in this country. We worked on her for about a week and when her brother called the parents (who by the way never came to see her) to see what they wanted to do about the situation the father told the 17 year old son, her brother to make the decision. Hard core! Pretty freaking sad, it really tore some people up. He of course wouldn't show it. But it was kinda obvious when he went out side for 5 minutes every 10 minutes. Just interesting how this society really value life and family.
Oh and then the better good and sorta morbid because it makes me happy news. We had a 19 year old guy (sad he is only 19 though) come in with no legs, one arm missing and only 2 digits on the other hand. What happened to him? He was making one heck of an IED (bomb-ish thing) and he had no clue what he was doing and bamm-o! Irony at its best game!
Getting ready for another humanitarin aid mission here soon-ish. Lots of volunteers and not enough slots. But thats better than not enough. Really getting to know the hospital staff here and things are going pretty good. Just making time go by the best I can and call people when I can. Oh yeah that reminds me I still need to call my brother and sister...hmmm....I will try to work on that later.
Alright ya'll (yes SSgt Cat thats a w0rd)
Till next t ime...
TheWann

Some info:

2007-01-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

My work email address is:
Lowell.Wann@afghan.swa.army.mil

and you can finally find some fotos on Yahoo:
http://photos.yahoo.com/binarypunk

Other than that... We finally have full control of everything at the hospital chapel now. Took a little while longer than expected and for reasons I really don't know but we have it and that is good. My Chaplain is a little goofy, but a good man. He likes to eat...a little bit more than I do believe it or not. But we don't really go to the American DFAC (chow hall) too often, our poison of choice is the Korean DFAC or the Korean snack bar! That is some good eating and a lot healthier than the grease filled and fat laid yet great tasting stuff at ours.
Yesterday we got dumped on with the snow! I loved every minute of it! Good God I miss Alaska sometimes. Although New Mexico got dumped on pretty harsh right before I left...but thats not very normal, not to that degree anyway.
Our Chief here gets boxes like nothing I have ever seen. I think he has even out done the priest I was in Iraq with and he got alot of stuff about every day it seemed. but anyway to the point... he has this guy back in the states who has a good sum of money from his business that he is now retired from and he is a Vietnam Vet and because he remembers how sucky it can get (though it could always be worse) he spends an unknown amount of cash money on the troops over here and in Iraq. He will a dozen TVs at Sams and send them, he will send Krispy Kreame (I miss those) he sends all sorts of things to the troops or to one of the higher ups to give out to the troops. The Chief and him are good friends so of course the Chief gets a good amount and we were talking earlier today and he was telling me he got some coffee in and I could have some of I wanted (knowing that I do love my coffee) so I was like "Yeah!" Next thing I know I get 10 bags of Starbucks coffee! What is that 100 bucks!?!?! Being the good Chaplain Assistant that I am, I am sharing it with the people in my hut and with some of the other fellow coffee addicts in the hospital. So its good to hear of those that make big cash money in their life and remember still what it took to get there, hard work and freedom. The Secret Santa from Kansas City was alot like that also... often time we never here of these people just of the Donald Trumps who fight with other multi-millionares.

That was alot of rambling but really I don't care just wanted to type something since I am still kinda fighting with myself trying to decide if I should write about anything going on at the hospital, non-military of course I wouldn't ever report of another US military member. Their familys need the report from some one else other than the news first. It is interesting...and pretty different!!

much love to all...
--TheWann

staying bored...?

2007-01-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

**Update**
sorry no pic, blogger isn't letting me upload it either that or its this ISP I will figure something else out don't worry...you know I will

Sorry dad so far not being too bored but I will continue to work on that and see what happens :-)
The Chap and I helped about 200+ locals in getting supplies, everything from clothing, school supplies, toys/stuffed animals and a small bit of candy. We went to the Korean Hospital where locals go to get free medical care and then as they were leaving we handed them a bag and walked them through the line to get a few things. We really didn't have the time or the manning to let them pick and choose but that was alright because just on the other side of the fence they started trading with one another and that was good stuff. The kids begged for balls and a good number of the others begged for some shoes. We did what we could and I think they were all pleased in the end. Some had some crazy big smiles. Feel good stuff right? Well here is a pic with a little boy and his little sister, he loved getting his picture taken and he didn't want all the stuff jsut a stuffed animal for her and shoes for her and for him, pretty cool considering everyone else wanted everythign they could get there hands on. I shall hit this up again later...
Oh the work computers won't allow me to post so I have to keep using the chaplains laptop :-(

Left seat, Right seat

2007-01-14T09:34:00.001-07:00

Left seat right seat is nothing more than army terms for "this is how we have done it, now show us how you will do it and we will tell you how wrong you are, AIR FORCE!" Ya good times right. So most of my time has been that kinda thing and I still have no internet access at work, should be worked out by tomorrow though. There is just so much confusion here about the AF taking things over and the Army running things and blah blah blah. Good times, I guess. Everyones attitude seems to be "just wait till the Army leaves then we will do it our way." Joint Service has a long way to go.
Oh I have the mailing address now...

Lowell Wann
TF-MED
APO-AE
09354

Sorry it took so long but..well thats that. Oh hey for those that know her (and I just had to put it in but please no comments on the subject) Ashley....a ummm..old...ummm...well this person named ashley fouund me on MySpace although I go by a different name on there on purpose. Something about how she found something in a box that I and or my mom would want and wanting my address to send it to. I of course responded with a "what is it" and signed it with my alias. *Head hurting* nothing I am going to get into on this forum, too many kids and family members read this and my most dark thoughts of evilness may come out.

More about this place--- Hooters hooked us up with this killer free calendar, that is border line porn...god bless hooters! I love their... buffalo wings. Oh and the Chap and I are heading outside the wire tomorrow near the Korean Hospital (they are on this base, not in korea lol) to hand out clothing, school supplies and other little goodies for them. But nothing we do helps the locals, just ask CNN or most any other big name news network. They are getting free health care provided by the Koreans and the Egyptians. but thats not helpful is it? Sarcism at its best huh? Well I should be able to start putting up pics soon enough. The chaplain is letting me use his camera from time to time. Oh I just found out I can only update this thing from the local afghan network or from the MWR tent where they have computers, movies, telephones and stuff. Well...Much love to you all and catch back at home soon enough...
--TheWann

BAGRAM!!!

2007-01-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

So I finally got here!! Everything went pretty smooth...for the most part anyway. Bagram is certainly a different place than Balad! The good, we can get internet connections in our huts, cell phones to call the states and everything we really need including work is with-in a few blocks of this place. The bad, living conditions are very different 8 to a building with our own little corner to make home (I will upload pics of it later) the DFACs are a bit different but I haven't been here a full week so I do not know how that will go as of yet. Overall its real nice just different is all. Oh again I will upload some pics later but killer view of these mountains! Not sure what mountains these are but they are just beautiful! We still haven't really started work yet. The higher ups of the Air Force are still trying to get everything situated for the take over for the Army hospital. Oh and I live with my chaplain 4 docs/nurses and a couple of enlisted people from the hospital they are all good people. The chaplian I am with is a real cool guy. Outgoing just enough yet not so much that we are going to be outside the wire soon...if ever :-)

Ok now for the bad news... I LOST MY FREAKING DIGITAL CAMERA!!!! AHHHHH!! So I lost my pics of virgina beach, and the museum we went to over there. Whatever!! Jsut kinda pisses me off just a bit. 400+ bones gone! So I am going to purchase this little crappy 88 dollar camera that they have here and then upgrade to something a little better once I get home. Thats that.

So for now much love to you all and I will see ya soon enough. At the moment there seems a bit too much confusion on our mailing address...people just seem confused over all :-) but I will post that as soon as I can. Much love to you all!!

--TheWann

Never enough time...

2007-01-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

So I just got back from visiting the family and a few friends back home in Kansas City. Good to see the family but wish I could have spent a bit more time with some old friends but bad time of year to expect that. Christmas and all of that ya know. Went to Arkansas to visit my brother and his family for Christmas and jsut hung out till it was time to leave. I left my Ford Escape there and took a train back to Albuquerque. Trains are Punk Rawk! Planes are...well just suck!
Got the good ol iPod shuffle second generation! I like it, I like it alot! :-) and...well thats really about howz it goez. Crazy snow here in Albuquerque, leaving for my second tour but first to Afghan pretty soon, hope I can hit this thing up while over there and all ya'll better stay in touch (you know who you are!) or else!!!

Ok--alright--gotta go--PEACE!

--TheWann

My White Hat

2006-12-09T00:37:00.000-07:00

Again from my favorite blog, postsecret! I may not own a white hat or have the money to go to the movies, (ten bucks is too much but maybe that kinda thinking is why I am still single) but hey my blog is white...does that count for something?

---The_White_blog_guy_with_no_white_hat_guy_guy (or thewann)

The Story goes like this:

-----Email Message-----
Sent: Sunday, December 3, 2006 8:22 AM

This Saturday evening I will be waiting for you too. This invitation does not mean that I want to do anything or talk during the movie. But when the darkness leaves the theatre, perhaps we will look into each other's eyes, smile, decide to get a cup of coffee and share a conversation over what we just saw.

-waiting with a white hat

-----Email Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 8:10 AM
Subject: movies/white hats

i have a white hat that i don't like very much. but i'll be wearing it every saturday night i happen to be at the movies (alone). spread it around; if you're going to the movies alone, wear a white hat. if you see someone with a white hat, ask them how they are, and if they visit postsecret.

-----Email Message-----
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 4:34 PM
Subject: The White Hat People

Hi Frank,

I will be wearing a white hat to the movies this saturday. I was so intrigued by the responses of others who plan to do the same that I thought it would be great if we could have a place to share our stories, thoughts or pictures. So I made up a spot for us.
http://thewhitehatpeople.blogspot.com

In Baltimore

2006-12-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty cool city, other than some of the crazy crime, but thats that with a white hat (if you get it you know). I am here doing some training at the University of Maryland Medical Center and it has been interesting thus far and I am hardly half way through my first night! At the moment no one is needing a chaplain so we are taking a small break and snacking on some chips. Already been a bit ummm...exciting? Not even sure if thats the word but it has to do in this environment.
Anywho away from that, I bought two paintings by this killer guy Larry Stevens who is pretty cool. We just started chatting and making fun of my ex and his ex and all the BS excuses the ladies give when it is time to depart but they have no reason other than I did this and that to someone else. and of course he was also in the military back in the day and went through some of the same crap, funny. But I bought the "Color Me With The Blues" and another one that I can't seem to find on his page at the moment so maybe it is pretty new, I dunno! but it rawks! But "Just Breeze In", "Decisions" and "I can Still See You" are a couple more I were looking at. Maybe when I come back from this deployment. Or maybe he will make me one as a coming home present...riiiight! LOL

Well much to you all and can't wait to get back to the good 'ol Kansas City soon, baltimore rawks but it just ain't no KC! :-)
Much love!
--TheWann

a couple of updates....

2006-11-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Just to keep some of ya in the know, still working that stupid accident thing. They won't have it done before I leave for training of course but I am hoping they will have it done before I take off to visit the family and friends in Kansas City Missouri (Go Chiefs!). If not I don't really know where I am going to store the Ford. But Whatever! Things will fall into place work out just right...right? Well, I will be in KC during the Christmas time and is now looking like I will be on leave from 18 Dec to Jan 2 most of that time of course will be in Kansas City with family, friends and my favorite city Kansas City! I am heading to Baltimore between the 7th and the 11th for some training. So some good stuff and and all the bad stuff is just life and it will all work out in due time. Oh and we just got our first snow here in Albuquerque! W00t, w00t!
Alright then...well I will see most of you people while I am on leave and for those of you that read this and I don't really get to see anymore...well I probably don't like you or most likely you live in Alaska and I just can't visit :-)
PEACE!!

back

2006-11-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back the other day and it was a real good funeral. Remembering some great memories and learning things I didn't know from before. But real good stuff. The trip was way longer than I thought it would be. The way up there was very windy, I would be driving at 45 MPH in a 70 and my wheels would be screeching from...well I don't know. I would be going strait, the stearing wheel would be going over 45 degrees into the 50+ MPH winds crazy...but kinda relaxing. Met a girl at a bar in the little Iowa town, I was drinking and kinda sorta forgot her name when I was putting it into the cell... yeah I am sure someone in Iowa and someone in New Mexico was going to work out anyway.
Then I came back and got into a wreck, totaled the other guys car and mine is jacked but not totalled. everyone is alright though..no worries. So I have to deal with that in less than a week and a half...oh and I still need to get my out processing check list finished up, AND pack my crap out of the house. Anyone have a good solid wall I can slam my head into around here? Anyway...other than those little things... all is going to plan I just need to make sure it all gets worked out before I take off. I am hoping to be spending the Christmas back in the Kansas City area but they are trying to make me work 2 of those days... I understand, but doesn't mean I am not going to keep fighting it till those two days roll around or until they give in :-)
Alright everyone...till next time.............

To my Great Grandma Shelton, Dortha...We Love You!

2006-11-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

My Great-Grandma died last night. I really don't have any details other than that at this moment.
Yesterday Golden Corral (a restaurant) gave a free meal to all active duty military in honor of veterans day. There was a long line that I was in for a little more than an hour with a co-worker/fellow service woman. We joked and had a lot of fun, messing with her kids and all of that...sometime during all of this would be about the time she took her final breath and died. She died, and life stills goes on. I was joking and laughing it up with some friends while she died, thats how it goes, sudden.
Her death is sad but I don't know why it is because it really shouldn't be. She didn't have a short life, she didn't have many if any regrets. I mean just think about it my killer great-grandma lived through both world wars (real young with WWI) a depression, civil rights movement, a recession, a gulf war, Sept 11th the latest Afghanistan and Iraqi war against terrorism. Oh and most all of this while living on an Iowa farm being a farmers wife and a farmer herself. What have we done in our life?
My best memories and most vivid memories of her is her sitting at the head of the table "Grandma's spot" while 30+ family members ate Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners around the table, in the living room, in the basement and outside and of course there was always the "Kids table" and we just couldn't wait till we were old enough to sit at the big table with grandma and all the other grown ups. Trying to get to her hand made noodles that no one can duplicate no matter how we tried through the years before everyone else ate 'em up and grandma would bring out the other batch of her famous noodles because of course the first batch wouldn't last much past the 8th person.
There was a picture I took of her that I wanted to throw up on this post but for the life of me I can not find it and I really have absolutely no idea what I did with it. If I do find it I will put it up. I took the picture the last time I saw her on my way to New Mexico from Alaska. My mom, the one person who really understood my grandma Sheltons craze for flowers and all thing plants (not saying my other family members didn't just that I am bias because she is my mom :-) )got her some flowers, and of course my lack of knowledge with anything to do with flowers I have no clue what but I know she loved them, planted them outside and my sister, me and my grandma who was sitting were watching my mom plant this flowers. So I took some pictures just like in the years past never really knowing how much time I really had with her. I am just glad I am old enough to realize these things because as a kid you just want to watch TV or play outside and usually want to be left alone. I never did spend enough time with my other grandparents who have died in the past, but I am happy with the last few visits I have had with her.

--I just got done looking something up but I am wrong on the name, I thought it was called a funeral march but I guess I am 100% wrong from the sites I was looking at. The idea I remember reading about sometime ago was people getting together at a funeral and walking around town singing and playing music in celebration of the departed life rather than mourning their death. I think in this specific instance that is something I would love to erg my family on, not the walking around town playing music per say but to celebrate her life, it was long and wonderful and I only hope to God I can feel half that full when I go.

Post Secret

2006-10-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

I have just purchased the second book by Frank Warren called
My Secret: A Postsecret Book and just like the first book its crazy awesome! And a must buy for everyone!

I already have his third up and coming book The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book on stand by at Barnes and Nobles but it comes out Jan 1 2007 and I just hope I will get it before I take off.

For those of ya that have no clue about this book or about the website PostSecret let me tell ya, it is by far my favorite site out there and is ranked as the third most viewed blog on the net. Well let me just quote from the site:

You are invited to anonymously contribute your secrets to PostSecret. Each secret can be a regret, hope, funny experience, unseen kindness, fantasy, belief, fear, betrayal, erotic desire, feeling, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything - as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before.

(PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.)

You will have to check the site out or go and buy the book, or just look through it while shopping for other books at your local book store, but its well worth the look and I can't wait 'till his third book, I am addicted!!

Going back again!

2006-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Well looks like I will be going back to the desert! I obviously can't say where or when yet but it is kinda soon-ish. I can't wait, its a whole nother place with a whole nother mission different than last time but just as rewarding if not more so. I assume it will be for about the same amount of time. It seems like no one knows for sure yet though. But this will make it so I am debt free (other than my car), get out of doing the same ol' office type of stuff and really get into the entire reason I signed up! It will have its moments again but all in all I see it being a great oppertunity again. I know what my mission is but I don't really want to say yet, its nothing big and bad, nothing classified by any means but just to play it safe for the moment I will let you all know when ever it gets to be closer to that time frame.

I am thinking about making this a private blog while I am over there that way I can express what is going on a tiny bit more so than I could if it was 100% public. Directed to my family and friends of course. There was alot of things I wanted to blog about last time I was over and didn't because of how public this was. If it was just the family and couple of friends checking it once a week I would have put more down which is what I am planning on doing this time. I ahve found websites recently that will allow you to make your blog into a book slash printed version of a journal. So that is something I may just do for my own personal keepsake.

Well....stay tuned and I will give updates as they happen, and if you are one of the lucky few that get to see what I write... well then you must be special in my book LOL.

My name in Google

2006-10-23T16:07:00.000-06:00

Someone just recently contacted me that I haven't heard from in a long while and I got interested in how she found me on the internet, granted it isn't hard to find someone on the net if you know just a little bit about the person but for fun and for curisoty sake I decided to type name into the Google and see if it was that easy... well I guess so! I didn't know this but I was in Iraq during last Christmas and like most people did a Holiday greeting back home for my family and friends. well that was the first thing that popped up, Google has it on Google Videos. That is pretty cool and exciting...and scary, watch out ladies... any vids made can and most likely will be found on Google Videos or on the YouTube :-)

Oh and of course some of my posts from this are on there as is an article written about some of the people I worked with in Iraq from the base paper showed up as well.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22lowell+wann%22&hl=en&lr=&pwst=1&filter=0

My Week Long Trip

2006-10-23T15:09:00.000-06:00

Well I just got back yesterday from a little bit of a trip thang! Drove to Utah to visit an old friend who was back on her way to Alaska. Wasn't able to spend but and hour and a half with her but that was really the entire reason behind the trip and that was the highlight, yes even more so than the beloved Blue Man Group show in Vegas. Vegas, you say?!?!??! Calm down my friends, it was only a day(Saturday, so a weekend and a night hehe) and thankfully, or not depending on your outlook, I had a friend with me that was able to keep me out of trouble. But after hanging with the friend at the airport, and seeing her off went and hung out at my other buddies place in Utah for the week. Getting caught up on my Jericho and my Battlestar Galactica shows (and the nerd comes back out).
Then went to the Vegas down in the Nevada. Stayed at the Circus Circus, DO NOT ever stay there. You will be better off sleeping in your car.
Rating- Worst hotel EVA!!
So we headed over to the Venetian and ate a killer meal and I took a shot of well...I'll just come out and say it, Vanilla Vodka with Scallops chopped up in it. Good but I will never mix vodka and seafood again. Then went to see the Blue Man Group and the Venetian. There is a reason why it is the number one act in Vegas! But sadly it isn't a show that is easy to explain. But it is the best thing I have ever seen, beating out even most concerts that I have been to and every play. So if you have the chance, just fork over the cash money and enjoy. Worth every penny.
Well than my friend got tired, it was around midnight-thirty. and took off for the hotel, well that was when I thought it would be a great idea to drink even more! **DumbAss** Well not ever stepping foot into the place called Sin City...and then being 'a bit' drunk... I got pretty lost and ended up in some apartment complex, shortly there after was "offered a good time" got scared and ran away like a twelve year old little boy. (I am sure she didn't cost much) got back to the Crappy Crappy, I mean Circus Circus, and fell asleep around 0300 had to leave around 0800 cause I was trying to get to the Albuquerque by 1800 but to no luck I got here a bit later than that. Oh well good stuff, good times and glad I met up with two of my close friends....
Well 'till next time.........

Mitch Albom's "For One More Day"

2006-10-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

This is my book of the moment. This guy keeps coming out with some of the best material I have read. I am only half way through it and will most likely finish it up tonight, but I jsut had to blog abit about it and give it the prop that this thing needs.
From the books website:

“Every family is a ghost story . . .”

Mitch Albom mesmerized readers around the world with his number one New York Times bestsellers, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie. Now he returns with a beautiful, haunting novel about the family we love and the chances we miss.

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

As a child, Charley “Chick” Benetto was told by his father, “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.” So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.

Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.

He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother -- who died eight years earlier -- is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.

And a conversation companion that I found at starucks but couldn't locate on-line:

1. In the first Paragraph of the novel, and repeated several times throughout the book, is the line "every family is a ghost story." What do you think that means? Who is the real ghost in the Benetto family?

2. Which scene resonated with you the most, and why?

3. How does the true identity of the narrator effect your view of chick's story?

4. Is there someone in your own life with whom you'd like to spend one more day?

5. Why do you think Chick tried to commit suicide? Was it for the reasonshe statee or was there somethign else behind it?

6. On page 4, Chick says "Mothers support certain illusions about their children." What did he mean by that statement? What about fathers?

7. Consider the passage on page 6 in which Chick talks about missing his daughter's wedding. Given the identity of the book's narrator, what do you thinkis happenign here? Is it manipulation, guilt, pride or something else entirely?

8. In the novel, Chick's father tells him that you can either be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but not both. Do you agree?

9. Chick believe's strongly in the power of words: "divorcee" (page 67), "Mom" (page 49), "She died" (page 172). What makes these words so powerful? Is it the context of the story or are they just as powerful in your life, too?

10. Throughout the novel, Chick outlines various times when he failed to stand up for his mother and was often quite cold to her. Is there a special cruelty that children inflict on their parents? Is Chick cruel to other characters?

11. Novels about mother mother-son relationships are relatively rare. Can you think of any others you've read and enjoyed? How did their portrayals compare to For One More Day?

12. Discuss the significance of the Old Timers' Game--its timing, Chick's deception, his father;s involvement. How is it a turning point?

13. Chick learns a shocking secret about his father's life on page 181. How does it change his understanding of his parents' relationship? How does it change your understanding of Posey, Leonard and Chick as characters?

I like getting with friends and discussing a good book and if any of you are like that then maybe that little guide above will help stir a good talk. If you haven't got this thing yet its a must own, along with his other books!

Terrell Owens, 'Accidental Overdose'

2006-09-29T11:59:00.000-06:00

Well I sure am glad Terrell didn't try to kill himself instead of a "Oh my life is soo horrible, I want to die" story it is now a "Hey look I am a multi-million dollar football player who doesn't know how to read the label on a bottle of pills" story!!

FREAKING MORON!!

More presidential blame!

2006-09-27T14:38:00.000-06:00

Not going to say much on this because I have said enough on this subject, but it still pisses me off and is really getting old--on both sides! But as this Fox article shows with the Clinton interview the other day the entire 9-11 tragedy is all the fault of Bush, and Clinton rocked and did a great job. Well if you ask most Republicans Clinton could have avoided that whole terrible day, but what do we end up with? More finger pointing, more party bashing and more political crap that frankly (I am assuming here) most Americans are just sick and tired of! It has come clear that no matter how much evidence you provide to show that one person or one party is more at fault for one thing or another, the other party can show just as much showing that the other party is at fault. I know this is a cliche but can't we get along, or try to get along or hell even pretend and fake like we are!!??
I'm telling you even if I opposed most of someones ideas as long as I agreed with a few of them, I would vote for the person who ran the cleanest presidential campaign!

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15618281.htm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215607,00.html

A different 9-11 movie (9-11 5 years later)

2006-09-26T11:43:00.001-06:00

Memri.org has just made a short film on 9-11 but unlike my rant sometime ago about how I hate and can't stand all these new "9-11 docu-dramas" , this one takes a look into what the Arab world has been saying and talking about since September 11th 2001. Some excerpts:

“When the twin towers collapsed… My lungs filled with air and I breathed in relief, as I had never breathed before."

'Ali 'Uqleh 'Ursan, <B< span>r>Syrian Arab Writers Association chairman
Al-Usbu' Al-Adabi (Damascus)
September 15, 2001

"Were the hijackers American Robin Hoods who developed because of America's racist 'class' and 'geographical' rifts...or American 'workers' of Satan who trained in the violent cowboy culture of Hollywood."
---Kayhan (Iran), 09/13/01

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Nayef Ibn Abd-Al-Aziz:<;;BR< span>>“Who Committed the Events of September 11… I Think They [the
Zionists] are Behind These Events… [Arab] Mass Media Should
Condemn Terrorism, Warn Arab Nationals Of It, and Let Our Voice
Be Heard by the World… It is Impossible That 19 Youths, Including
15 Saudis, Carried Out the Operation of September 11”

It even shows telecasts trying to prove that Pearl Harbor and 9-11 were both planned attacks by the United States government in order to go to war. They try to dis-prove that there was any involvement by Muslims, specifically Al-Queada, and one of my favorite theories is that the free masons were involved!! That got me chuckling a bit.

Then at the end of the piece he shows those that are standing up against the conspiracies with-in the Arab communities. This little short film might be an advertisement for the website, but it is a great little something when it comes to trying to know and understand what they think of us. I am not going to break down the movie piece by piece and say why I think what their media is saying is wrong, kinda defeats the purpose of what the movie is trying to accomplish. But I do highly suggest it!

http://www.memri.org
http://www.memrifilms.org
http://www.watchingamerica.com

Make everyone rich, no wars?

2006-09-21T12:49:00.000-06:00

Here is an interesting little artice that tries to show that if everyone in the world was rich we would no longer have wars. A side note for you all first is that it is a PDF file so you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it which is a free download

What the author tries to show is that in times past the rich has been able to get out of wars. He sites examples such as,

...parents of U.S. politicians who pulled strings to keep their kids out of Vietnam,

In Kosovo, the rich nations would not let their children get any closer to the sharp end than fifteen thousand feet.

And then he says something kind of illogical

A world full of rich people will obviously be too wussy to go to war, so war will die out.

Another one of my favorites:

Genocide, so appealing to poor people, will be counterproductive in a rich world because it will amount to one less cultural tourism venue.

First we have to look at the past and look at history. Rome was by far one of if not the richest countries in the world at its prime. Yet it was in the middle of more battles, more bloodshed then just about any other country or poor tribe around it. Rome wanted to concur the world. The Inca empire was certainly not poor by any stretch! They made everything out of gold, and to this day we have people looking for city of gold and all the artifacts that were hidden, they were in control of a good portion of western South America, because of war. France with Napoleon, again not what I would call a poor nation, tried to take over the world. Then we move to 1930s Germany, by this point in time for Germany Hitler had exploded the economy, and they were part of the rich nations, and well we all know what happened from there huh? Actually till just a few years ago only rich nations started the big nasty wars.
Why do people go to war? Power! Not money! Actually the richer they are the easier it will be. People go to war over religion, control, land, world domination but not so much for money. Now I guess the theory could go that the rich control the poor and thus if everyone was rich there wouldn't be any control. Still a stupid idea! First what is rich? It wasn't explained. If I lived in Sierra Leone and was able to keep my bank account that I have now, well I am one rich guy over there, and let me tell you I don't have all that much in there. But I could multiply my bank account by 10 and I still wouldn't be considered rich in America, just well off. if I have Millions I will be rich but there will always be someone richer still and before you know it greed pops in and I want all of that countries money and they go for it, that is IF money was the root of war.

Bush slanders

2006-09-21T08:20:00.000-06:00

First we have Chavez making such remarks as

"I think we could call a psychiatrist to analyze yesterday's statement made by the president of the United States. As the spokesman of imperialism, he came to share his nostrums, to try to preserve the current pattern of domination, exploitation and pillage of the peoples of the world."

Not forgetting to mention the whole devil, and sulfer type of comments, calling us imperialistic and pillagers of the world. The worst part of it all is that after saying these things he received an applause from the U.N.!!!

We then have Mr. Ahmadinejad of Iran lecturing

“Some seek to rule the world relying on weapons and threats while others live in
poverty. Some occupy the homelands of others, interfering in their affairs and
controlling their oil and resources, while others are bombarded daily in their
own homes, their children murdered in the streets.”

Well I will atleat leaste him a pat on the back for not playing the child-ish name calling game, but as usual he sees it as the left sees it; occuptional, controlling, and baby killers WE ARE NOT like that! But thats how he feels.

And lets not forget Rosie O'Donnell comparing Bush to Hitler and that Christianity is like Islamic fascism, Sean Penn comparing President Bush to a Fascist and we all know I could go on for awhile about big Hollywood and their idea of America and the President but those are the two recent ones.

I am sure I could find many many more examples of this type of crap slander. If you are against Bush fine, if you are against the war in Iraq fine, hell man if you hate America whatever we can't keep everyone happy, but atleast know what Hitler was really all about, atleast know what the hell the term fascism is all about. Make real points when condeming America, President Bush and anything else. Name calling is something I stopped doing in the third grade for crying out loud!!

As the pole above shows 61% think comparing the Iraqi war to the Nazi's is not appropriate and 32% think it is appropriate. A majority is way against it which is good but holy crap man 1 in 3 Americans think that this is acceptable??!!??! I don't know what is going on here being strongly aganist something is one thing but being hateful to the extreme of saying your leader is like Hitler, the War in Iraq is like the Nazis is something to a whole new degree!!

The Pope and his comments

2006-09-15T11:43:00.000-06:00

This in just one example of some the crap that just really gets to me. Ok sure I can see part of the problem when the Pope said

Such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

talking of Mohammed, or even when he said

Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.

--Really I don't see anything wrong with that last one, but maybe its my narrow minded Christian view coming out again.

Then we also have Muslim Party Officials saying stupid stuff such as

Benedict's remarks will align him in history with Hitler and Mussolini.

Is that the new cool insult of the day? I mean when I was in school some years ago it was the "you are gay" before that it was the "Yo' Mama" jokes. But what is this anyone and everyone that isn't Muslim, or is apart of the Iraq war is now compared to Hitler??!!

Anyway with all that to the side, what I would love to see the Pope do is not appoligize and tell the Muslim leaders he will apologize when they apoligize for not doing anything about their fellow killing machine Muslims. Not saying all, but we know who needs to be condemened. and until that happens I would love to see other leaders take a stand and not bow down to people who kill over cartoons bad mouthing the Muslims (because we all know that doesn't happen with Jesus or anything huh?), and get upset over some comments like what the Pope had said. Go ahead and ask these same muslims what they think of Americans or Christians, should we then go kill people and freak out becasue of what they think of us? No we are abit more mature for that.

--EDIT--
Well...he apoligized, but did anyone really expect anything else? Hitler was a bad man, maybe I should go out and about killing people b/c I was told the Pope or that my President was like Hitler, or maybe b/c SouthPark and hundreds of others poke fun of Jesus...yeah...that should get a good rise out of the Muslims...or whatever it is we are supposed to call those people...I can't really keep up :-(

Mileage Tax, Big Brother and GPS Tracking

2006-09-10T13:20:00.000-06:00

First I am not sure if this is old news or what. I am not from Oregon but either way this bugs me. The great state of Oregon has just become a test site for this new idea of the Mileage Tax. This is how it works; Hybrids, Fuel Cells and other alternative fuels are becoming increasingly more popular and becasue of this government officials are starting to think about all the tax cash money they make at the gas pump. So what do we do, they must ask, when all of a sudden people start getting 3, 4, 5 times the gas mileage that athey are getting right now? They won't be going to the pumps as often and we won't be getting the taxes we need to fix our roads.

Well its a simple solution, atleast according to Oregon. How about we put a GPS system into your car and tax you for the mileage you drive with-in our state when you are at the pump (Fossil Fuel or Fuel Cells)....wait what? I get taxed on the gas and on my driving? They figure its a fair tax because its even across the board. But wait SUVs and a electric/hybrid/fuel cell...or even a fossil fueled civic hands out the same wear and tear on the roads, they are also in common in places like pollution and blah blah blah...you get the point. So now there is no incentive for me to get a hybrid, in the end I will be paying the same...for the most part. GREAT!

Oh and I haven't even started on the privacy concerns of the government tracking you on the GPS... forget about the stop light cameras, everytime you go over the speed limit the GPS system generates a speeding ticket and mails it to ya... you just know that is around the corner. Oh or how about, I am a smart computer guy and I figure out how to hack those things and track the people that did me wrong... boss who fired me... ex-girlfriend... use your imagination, this is jsut a bad idea and there is no way it will ever get to far...people will remove them! I sure the hell will.

Israel, racial profiling?

2006-09-10T12:21:00.000-06:00

An article from The Jerusalem Post talks about a different way of catching terrorism. Instead of looking through every single person possible and giving the occasional random search (though I am sure they do that also), the airport security are trained to pick people out of a crowd that have certain behavioral patterns. Something that may make them more terrorists like.
Really nothing that bad with all of that if you ask me, as the article says most people are let go after the first minute or so of confrunting them. They look for people getting nervous, sweaty all that stuff that I really don't know much about but I guess they are looking for tells. I do consider myself a conservative on most of the issues. But what gets me is at the very end of the article there is a bit of a stab towards Bill O'Reilly and Mike Gallagher on their views on the issue. one believes we should "talk" to each muslim between certain ages and the other thinks we should have an airline just for Muslims. Oh and wait everyone including these guys think the Ratical Islamic groups hate us because we are free.

Blogger Beta!!

2006-09-06T14:56:00.000-06:00

Well I was thinking about going to the new Beta of Blogger, but in order to use their super great awesome new features I have to use one of their templates and well I will not conform!! But I have been keeping an eye on it and I made a test blog just to see how things would work and look. If I think the test blog is worth my time I may merge this one into the beta blogger.

EDIT--
Well...I guess when making my test into beta it merged all of my blogs to the beta version cause now I can make labels!! Soo... umm yeah... the only problem I have ran into thus far is uploading pictures, its kinda being a pain and not always actually uploading them. We will work with it for now I guess...
PEACE

chuck palahniuk book list

2006-09-05T15:17:00.000-06:00

My favorite author (for the moment anyway) just came out in the BlackBook magazine with his current top ten book listing. Since I am a pretty big fan of Chucks and I have read/own all of his books to date, I am going to go through this list of his as soon as I can :-)

Here's the clear list. Each one is linked to its Amazon page. If you decide you'd like to buy the actual book, a small commission goes to The Cult.

Death In Yellowstone by Lee Whittlesey

Into The Wild by John Krakauer

Slackjaw by Jim Knipfel

House Of Leaves by Mark Danielewski

The Brutal Language Of Love by Alicia Erian

The Contortionist Handbook by Craig Clevenger

Ill Nature by Joy Williams

Lexicon Devil by Brendan Mullen

Obscene Interiors by Justin Jorgensen

The Collected Stories Of Amy Hempel by Amy Hempel

If America wasn't the Worlds Super Power

2006-08-31T16:23:00.000-06:00

Here is an interesting article out of The Korea Herald, South Korea
'Anti-Americans' Ought to Ponder the Alternatives ...
It points out 5 thought experiments on what would the world be like if America wasn't the Worlds Super Power. With out reciting the entire article here are the 5 points it throws out, keep in mind though that this is from the mind set of South Korea, this is not an American newspaper.

First, imagine if the United States and allied powers had not won World War II.
-- For example, if imperial Japan had managed to stake its claim to the Asia-Pacific region and entered into a nonaggression pact with Nazi Germany, I think it quite obvious that Japan would continue to treat Korea as it did from 1910-45.

Second, imagine if Nazi Germany had won World War II, didn't sign a nonaggression pact with Japan, and later controlled the Korean Peninsula.
-- I think it's just as easy to surmise that they would treat Koreans not much differently than they treated the Jews and other races viewed as unequal to their own.

Third, imagine if China were the world superpower, hypothetically, following the 1950-53 Korean War.
-- In fact, China has also had expansionist tendencies, with colonies up and down the African coast, along with the Philippines (before the Spanish), Indonesia (before the Dutch), and Malacca.

Fourth, imagine if Korea (yes, Korea) were the world superpower today.
-- How would it treat Japan, China, and its European and American counterparts, if it had both the military and economic dominance to strike anywhere, anytime, with little or no repercussions?

Fifth, and finally, imagine if the same level of anti-American sentiment in Korea were matched with a wave of anti-Korean sentiment in the United States.
-- Keep in mind that in the 1980s, a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment erupted in the United States, leading to Japanese radios and cars being smashed in Washington as a sign of anti-Japanese hostility.

Like I said this is a really impressive article, atleast for me in the sense that even with this massive flood of Anti-Americanism if every country asked these questions, replacing the word Korea with such and such country, I think it would be beneficial to most, and at least a good thought experiment.

What do YOU see?

2006-08-31T12:40:00.000-06:00

I found this study forever ago, and just ran across this picture again here recently. If I am able to find a link to the study again I will update this post to give you a link to it. The study showed (from some kinda Ivy League college I assume) that when shown to adults they see a man and a woman doing...ummm...man and woman stuff :-) but when shown to a child they see 9 dolphins since they do not associate adults doing these kinda things.
Really interesting I thought, to see the dolphins invert your focus and concentrate on the darker areas and ignore the lighter ones. Took me a bit but I got 'em all :-)

Sept 11 and WTC Movies

2006-08-28T17:22:00.000-06:00

Now please do not get me wrong and send me hate mail or something crazy but I personally have a problem with all of the Twin Tower/Sept 11th type of movies that have been coming out lately. There are a few people that have agreed with me but most actually get down right mad about it. I understand this was a hard time in our lives and a lot of emotions are still there over that terrible day. But that is my main point on all of this, emotions are still very high and there for it is hard to have good dialogue about it unless you both agree on everything. Now to be honest there are a few of these movies that I don't have a problem with for 2 reasons. One, the movie uses real footage, recordings and people that were there to create the movie, most of these fall under the documentary genre, I like those. Second, they in one way contributed a good portion of the profits to Red Cross, the 911 victims and whatever other aid organizations that are out there. The ones that have been coming out lately just put a sour taste in my mouth, why? Well, they are starting to have big name actors, big money is then involved. Now if these actors are working for a lot less or throwing a good portion of what they make into one of these organizations, I am fine with it but I would think if that was the case it would be all over some sort of Entertainment magazine or something in order to promote the movie just that much more. The Second and the biggest reason I feel ill from some of these newer movies is that its more "based on real life events" in other words it is fictious. This "might" have happened, there is a "good chance" this is real...but hey it makes you feel good, right?
Now there is the argument that it is awesome that these movies are made that way we don't forget. I agree...but lets make it real not another "story" that people start taking in as fact.

Below I listed a few of these movies that I found off of IMDB. Now I by no means have seen all of these or even over 50% of them to be honest, but there are 72 that I listed (I am sure there are more) out of the 72
8 were made in 2006
8 were made in 2005
17 were made in 2004
10 were made in 2003
24 were made in 2002
and 5 were made in 2001:

--Wait WHAT?!? 5 were made from Sept 11 2001 to Dec 31 2001??!! 24 were made the year following the event!!?? Am I the only one that sees a problem with this?

1. World Trade Center (2006)
2. 11'09''01 - September 11 (2002)
3. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
4. Fahrenhype 9/11 (2004)
5. Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at Which the Brain... Begins to Die (2004)
6. United 93 (2006)
7. Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 (2002)
8. September 12th (2005)
9. 16 Days in September (2006)
10. The Cross and the Towers (2006)
11. Brothers in Blue (2003)
12. Class of 83 (2004)
13. Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11, Fear & the Selling of American Empire (2004)
14. 9/11 (2002)
15. Parallel Lines (2004)
16. Camp X-Ray: Ghosts of GuantÃ¡namo Bay (2004)
17. The Flight That Fought Back (2005)
18. Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero (2002)
19. 7 Days in September (2002)
20. America Rebuilds: A Year at Ground Zero (2002)
21. Land of the Free (2004)
22. Afghan Stories (2002)
23. The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon (2002)
24. Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in the War on Terror (2003)
25. 911 in Plane Site (2004)
26. Telling Nicholas (2002)
27. Yasmin (2004)
28. Loose Change 2nd Edition (2006)
29. The Man Who Predicted 9/11 (2005)
30. The Hamburg Cell (2004)
31. From the 104th Floor (2003)
32. Up from Zero (2003)
33. 911: The Road to Tyranny (2002)
34. Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable (2004)
35. Flight 93 (2006)
36. Answering the Call: Ground Zero's Volunteers (2005)
37. WTC View (2005)
38. WTC the First 24 Hours (2002)
39. The Concert for New York City (2001)
40. September (2003)
41. America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001)
42. Aftermath: Unanswered Questions from 9/11 (2003)
43. The Time We Killed (2004)
44. Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story (2003)
45. DC 9/11: Time of Crisis (2003)
46. United States of Afghanistan (2004)
47. Let's Roll: The Story of Flight 93 (2002)
48. Distance (2002)
49. 9-11: American Reflections (2001)
50. 9-11: The Teens' Perspective (2002)
51. From the Ashes: 10 Artists (2002)
52. Witnessing (2003)
53. Brothers and Others (2002)
54. Stranded Yanks: A Diary Between Friends (2002)
55. Under: Elegy (2002)
56. "Middletown, America" (2005)
57. Wonder City (2004)
58. One Year: The First Anniversary of the WTC Attacks (2003)
59. Being Osama (2004)
60. Attack on the U.S.A.: Canadian Service of Remembrance (2001)
61. In My Own Skin: The Complexity of Living as an Arab in America (2001)
62. Ellen et le terrorisme (2004)
63. Site (2002)
64. Loss (2002)
65. Pentagon 911 (2006)
66. Dark September Rain (2005)
67. The Narrow Gate (2006)
68. New York Diary (2002)
69. American Dreams 3: Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness (2002)
70. Late for Work (2002)
71. Grounded on 9/11 (2005)
72. Covered Girls (2002)

Ford's new weird ad

2006-08-28T12:08:00.000-06:00

The ad begins with ho-hum familiarity. The stock shots of the smiling family; the artfully filmed vehicle; the announcer's cheerful pitch about fuel efficiency. We're waiting for the lease/buy figures to pop up on screen when Â BAM! With no warning, we find ourselves in the grip of a stern domestic drama. The music goes quiet. Dad gazes wistfully at mom, thanking her for this time with his kids. Mom looks back with wet eyes, barely able to muster a reply. The camera pulls out and we see Dad standing alone, with his sad little duffel bag, in front of what one reader termed the "Recent DivorcÃ© Condo Complex." And we're left wondering: Why did this SUV ad turn into Kramer vs. Kramer?

At the end of this commercial I just kinda catch myself scratching my head going "huh?" You just need to watch it to understand the type of huh I areferringng to. I really don't understand the point of such a commercial. People are saying its Fords attempt with falling stocks and people looking for other cheaper/morreliablelvehiclesls, to try and be apart of the "nuclear family", the average and neAmericanan "norm" of broken homes, but even if that is the case...I still do not understand how a commercial like this will motivate someone to buy a new SUV. But I will hand it to Ford, maybe all they wanted people to do is go "huh?" and then go "Hey I remember Ford made that crazy weird commercial back when...maybe we should buy a Ford."...yeah OK!

iPods at war

2006-08-24T12:38:00.000-06:00

An interesting article on the ways the military stays occupied while in Iraq. Just my short 2 cents on the subject in the article: Times have changed, drinking and doing whatever immoral yet fun things of previous generations just cannot be done in a hardcore religious state such as the Middle East. Unfortunatly the article makes it look like everyone over there has TVs, XBox's, PS2s and whatever electronic device is out there. This really isn't true to the vast majority and those that do have it a good portion of them recieved these items from the previous rotations. I had a mini fridge in my room that 5 guys shared and was bought 2 rotations before me. When you do have free time more people go to the rec tents, on base movie theater (usually a VCR/DVD player hooked up to a big TV) and hang.

Hello World (again)

2006-08-24T11:07:00.000-06:00

Alright I had another blog I started, thinking that since my time in Iraq was over I woudl just start a different blog and go from there, but I like this one and I like how this one has been laid out and the following that it has had for awhile. So I am just going to go back here and hopefully not confuse to many of you all with the "this is no longer an Iraq blog" atleast until the next time I go. Sooo...once again I am back and you can ignore the last few posts that say something along the lines of "Hey I am gone, PEACE" :-)

The End

2006-08-24T08:47:00.000-06:00

This is the end and last post for this blog, thanks for those that read and stayed with this goofy little blog and the support you all gave me and the others I was stationed with while in Iraq. I was really wanting to add more postings onto this thing but I have decided to not get the internet at my new station (Kirtland) to help save some cash money and finally become 100% debt free. With out the internet I have to go to the library to do the few things I need to do on the net and I just can't keep this blog going. Sorry for the lack of postings, but I am hoping to go back some time this year, we will see though.

Much love to all and keep supporting the troops, no matter your stance on the political world!

---Airman in Iraq (now in kirtland)

Just another Title

2006-07-09T08:43:00.000-06:00

Well... this is my first duty weekend. We do things a bit different here than at the previous base...but not really complaining. Met with the First Sergeant, Wing Chaplain, Supervisor, NCOIC....all of that good stuff. People just letting me know what they expect...ususlly common sense stuff, but I guess it really isn't too common to some people :-) The question all my friends my previous base and even some friends that I had made in Iraq keep asking me if I am going to stay in, get out or what. Alot can happen in the next 2 and a half years (I signed for 6). But at the moment I am about 90-95% sure I am going to get out and my ultimate goal is to be a counselor of sorts to troubled teens/youth/kids. I think I would like to work either at a treatment center, one of those youth camps or maybe even for the law enforcement with some of their city programs. At the moment not 100% sure on what direction but at least I have an idea. Finally going to go to college in August to help give me a head start on all of that. So that is certainly an added bonus! But ummm yeah.... all is well and just trying to do the whole meet people thing

--PEACE

FINALLY!!!

2006-06-30T09:56:00.000-06:00

WOW!! What a trip! Lots of stuff and lots of people. Every library I went to had blogger.com blocked! Then I tried the ol' mobile blogging thing, well I guess that didn't work very well...whatever! I am finally in New Mexico. A whole 'nother world compared to Alaska. I am really wanting to make a site full of my pictures! I got some killer ones I am wanting to make into prints and frame up for my new place. I am right now checking out of billeting (and I guess they had a computer here the entire time AHHH!!!) It took longer than expected to find a place to live around here. Every apartment complex is full of college kids. (LOL kids like I am old or something, 24 haha) Well signing off for now. Now that I am more accessable to this computer thing again lol....I have almost forgot what its like to have one in front of you, I will be able to make more posts and keep the family and everyone else back up to date...PEACE

PCSing

2006-05-19T15:08:00.000-06:00

I am PCSing (military move) in June so I have been busy trying to get all of the stuff done. Sorry once again for the slow posting. Been trying to find a new place in New Mexico, pack, clean all the stuff that is involved in moving. I wish we did a 5 year tour instead of 3 year tour that way we only move 4 times in a career. Well...the parents came up to Alaska to visit me. We are going to Seward by train and then hitching a ride on a cruise ship and coming back on the train...that is something I haven't done yet. I have been on a couple cruise ships but haven't hit up the train rides yet. Should be some good times. Then on Monday we are going to see the Aces game. The Aces is a hockey team up here in Anchorage. If they win tonight there maynot be a game on Monday. So either way these are the best tickets of the year. Either we have the game that decides if we go to the Kelley Cup or I have the first game of the Kelly Cup. Can't wait for that...though I am not sure if my parents are at all fans of the Hockey. They will still have a good time. I am wanting to set this thing up to keep everyone infored on the road trip because I am driving from Alaska to New Mexico. Going to take some pics and upload them via the cell phone. I haven't done the mobile blogging thing before so I shall see how it goes. I am pretty sure I will be doing alot more blogging then since I will have the time. But at the time of the trip it will be more of a "hey whats going on on the road trip" rather than a "hey I think this about this in the news" kinda thing....Well till next time....

Life is interesting...

2006-04-24T20:10:00.000-06:00

Sooo... here I am just trying to set my life straight and do thingss right for once (atleast more right than normal), I am geting ready to PCS ( move duty stations) to Kirkland in New Mexico about June 1st is when I will be leaving, and what would happen other than someone stealing my wallet!! I mean come on what kinda low life do you have to be to come into someones home and swipe their wallet!! Well I don't know this guy but its a friend of the roommate that has since disapeared. What da ya know!!?? Anyway, lost 80 bucks in cash, drivers license (remember I am leaving for New Mexico in about a month!!), military ID, bank cards but better yet (stupid stupid stupid!!) lost my Social Security Card! Wow wanna talk about wishing you listened to others when they said you shouldn't carry that mug around huh? AHHHHH!!!! Anyway got the local cops on it along with security forces and I think OSI (military investagators) on the job oh and lets not forget the banks are on it also, nearly 600 bucks gone! Rat Bastard! Yes the banks are covering it but they need this form and that form and blah blah blah.... I still don't have anything back yet. I had to bust out a bit more than 200 to get an IM test and my registration done, a couple plus grand to fix my car because I hit someone right after I got back from Iraq and I guess my insurance expired while I was in Iraq.... Doesn't make sense but hey, thats what makes life interesting, right?

--Till next time ya'll.........

'What We [Mexicans] Can Do to Help the Migrants'

2006-04-17T08:53:00.001-06:00

Here is a story from Mexico titled 'What We [Mexicans] Can Do to Help the Migrants' this is a story telling them that it is ok to leave their country and live with us...this crap is crazy! But here are a few quotes from the story. Read the story itself, good read just to know what the Mexicans are reading.

"Resistance in the United States has been constant ever since half of our territory was stolen by the U.S. government."

The thing I love about this one is how it is often forgotten how the US conquered Mexico in the Mexican/American War and we allowed them to remain a country if they handed over much of the Southwest. alot of people have forgotten just how good we have been in the past with giving Europe back to its people, Japan and yes even Mexico, but we stole the land that they gave us funny how that works.

"What can we in Mexico do to show our support? One proposal is to boycott all U.S. businesses. There is talk of a suspension of immigrant labor in the U.S. on International Workers' Day [The Great American Boycott, 2006] as a pressure tactic, to make it widely recognized that Mexican immigrants should have the right to work, an education for their children and medical services."

Its Mexicos problem that you can't work for good wages, get a good education for your children or even good medical services. But I have no problem with these services to legal immigrants to the United States. I do have a problem with these services to people who come here illegally thus not making them an immigrant but people from other countries using our countries services because their country won't give them any services.

New Name....

2006-04-17T00:57:00.000-06:00

Well.. I figured even after all this time I still get about 30-40 people that visit this blog a week. Most don't stay very long but I figure if I am still getting that many maybe I should keep this thing going. I am obviously not in Iraq anymore, and really didn't know what all to blog about. I thought about it for awhile and even thought about getting a new one but I have decided to keep this one and just blog about EVERYTHING. Heck why not. Most of my blogs from this point on will be current events for the most part. But every now and again I will chime some light into my life for you all and talk about other things that may interest me, but for the most part it will be about current events.

I hope you all will keep coming, I have a couple of articles in mind already. So good day to all and Happy Resurrection Day and for the none believers, happy easter.

Finally Back!!!

2006-01-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

I am finally back!! YIPPIE! Sorry I haven't been able to call anyone lately, my phones have been shut-off. And as luck would have it the stupid CellularOne didn't cancel my account like I told them to and now I owe them a load of money and they sent this crap to collections so they "can't help me" whateva! They don't have my social so we shall see how that all works.

On the way back we got "stuck" in Ireland. Three kids were running around at the hotel asking for everyones autographs. That was pretty cool. Then all the Irish guys were buying rounds left and right, I have no clue how much they spent but it had to be in the hundreds! I recieved 5 genuine Irish Guinness drinks!! Couldn't tell the guy no, what choice did I have LOL!! Not sure if it was b/c I hadn't ate anything in a while or what but normally in the states I get full from 2. What a place!

JAWS- You actually enjoy Quatar? I would go out of my mind there!

The friends back here were going to have a huge party for me and alot of ppl were here, but because of the Ireland thing I got back a day later. so no big hello, just some co-workers...yippie.

I will be getting the phones turned on shortly...hopefully, I just want to get all this in-processing crap done first. Then I should be able to hit it up. I don't know how much more I will be updating this thing since it is all over with, I will be putting up one more post some time before I go back to work, about my views on a couple of things. but other than that hope you enjoyed this, and if you aren't apart of my family and friends, I hope you had a good time reading my rambblings about nothing :-)

Much love and see ya in another life when we are both cats.....

Letter to Muslims

2006-01-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

Here is something that was emailed to me, I have no clue how this person got my email address, I don't even know who it is but either way I like it. I had often wondered if this religion of peace (Muslims) taught peace so much then why aren't these peace speaking people in an up-roar with what is being done to their religion? This is apperantely from a Muslim to all the Muslims out there on how is he/she is sick and tired of the hate filled Muslim community. Its about time, now is anything going to be done about it or is it just something that will be pushed to the side and forgotten about?

PRESS RELEASE:

AN OPEN LETTER TO MUSLIMS ONLY
(Read And Circulate Message For Peace)

Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters,

God forbid if any one of our near one and dear one is killed then the killer is evil, a beast and what not and should get penalty but if one among us kills anybody then he is not evil and we start lying, denying or even justifying the killing.... double standards?

Being Muslims, many of our brothers and sisters are not working for peace. They are misguided, mistaken and spreading the virus of hatred and revenge through telling deliberate lies, disinformation and false accusations, which is resulting in death and miseries for number of innocent people living around the world at the hands of merciless KILLER MUSLIMS and also bringing bad name to Mohammed (PBUH) who never killed anyone in his life time.

Instead of teaching about Good & Evil, certain Radical Muslim Clerics are only "Trading in Religion". They teach us about accusing, abusing and killing the non-Muslims. They try to hypnotize us to Hate and Kill the non-Muslims and brethren of other sects or be killed and without using any common sense, we readily believe in whatever is being said by these Hate Mongers. Actually, they are "Agents of Satan" who is paying them heavily and in return they are cutting at the very roots of the Ummah. Instead of "Mourning" most of the Muslims are rejoicing on the brutal killings of the non-combatant innocent civilians and "The Murderers" have always been "Our Great Heroes".

Before it is too late and the Curse Of God falls upon us, we should use common sense, find out the TRUTH and must change ourselves to save Muslims from becoming the most "Hated, Isolated, Discredited and Suspicious" people in the world. We must start working for promoting "Sectarian Harmony and Religious Tolerance" in the society and should prove to the WORLD through our deeds that Islam is not a religion of Zero Tolerance and Mohammed (PBUH) teaches "Love & Peace"
and not Gangsterism, Terrorism, Barbarism, Extremism, Sectarianism, Cruelty, Inhumanity and "Hatred & Killing" of the innocent civilians.

Islam is a religion of peace. Islam teaches respect and love for all even the animals. But many narrow-minded Muslims have so far failed to learn anything good from the teachings of Mohammed (PBUH) who preaches love for the peoples of all religions. We are far away from the basic principle of Islam i.e. "Enjoining the people to do Good and forbidding them from Doing Evil" and thus, possess no quality of the civilized society. Unfortunately, many of us show Zero Tolerance towards others and have wrongly learnt few thing to be called as good Muslims and those are "hate" the non-Muslims and “Accusing, Abusing and Cursing” the non-Muslims. ...act of madness?

The killing of others in the name of religion is a Sin. Can a FATHER ever teach his Children to be the permanent Enemies of each other?

The time has come for us to stop readily believing in whatever is being said, read and written by the LIARS / Hate Mongers. Unfortunately, some misguided-Muslims believe that the Holy Koran and Holy Prophet
(PBUH) both have instructed Muslims that the opponents be KILLED and that they are simply following the orders. We should use our own common sense and only believe which is logical, convincing and in the best interest of the humanity.

Why do we hate others so much, may be they are better humans then what we are. My feeling is that the Muslims should unite to discredit and deactivate the fringe mullahs (Preachers of Hate) who promise a quick trip to paradise to people who have little and sacrifice themselves with bombs strapped to their bodies. If the mullahs (THE LIARS) thought that it really was a way to paradise they would be strapping bombs to themselves! Their followers are kept too ignorant to see this for themselves and enlightened Muslims should educate them. We must promote understanding and peace. We are all watched by the same God and need to help one another, not Hate and Hurt.

Our contention is that the WORLD should resolve the conflicts facing the Muslim World to stop the terrorism. Unfortunately, all the disputes facing the Muslim World are our self created. The root causes of all the disputes are based on the Muslim Philosophy of Hate against the non-Muslims. The Muslim literature, teachings and preaching are spreading and injecting this hatred in hearts and minds of the Muslims.
Our intolerant behavior is further proved by the root causes of all the pending conflicts that we (Muslims) cannot live side by side in peace with the non-Muslims. All the disputes facing Muslim World can be resolved easily, only if we (the Muslims) are able to condemn the “Philosophy of Hate” created in us by our past and present elders who have divided the peoples of the world in the name of “Religion, Cast and Creed”.

Fellow Muslims! if God is one and he loves mankind, we should value each others life and strive to protect each other than thinking that if we kill we shall have reward. God looks at human beings not as belonging to different religions, that is why the rain falls to all, the sun shines to all and we all breathe the air freely. We are all created or given life in the very same way- whether Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jew etc. Let us learn to love each other sincerely.

The change of heart and mind is possible to achieve if we keep up our relentless efforts for a violence free and peaceful world. We need to preach love, kindness and humanity with extremist devotion and mission. The mullahs (THE LIARS) and the preachers of HATE must be excommunicated at every level and we should stop giving them donations as it is our money which is being used by them to spread HATRED for killing of the innocents.

We must also stop dividing the World into Muslim and non-Muslim blocks. Our political leaders and religious teachers must offer positive ideas. Without the ability to imagine a better world, we cannot build anything together. Tolerance of the beliefs of other peoples in the world, warmth and friendship across racial cultures MUST be the objective of all peace loving people worldwide. What is being offered today through religion is “Death, Destruction and Sufferings”.

MY PRAYER FOR PEACE:

Merciful God, please give to peoples of the world, the required wisdom and determination, to Forgive and Forget the bitterness of the past and learn to live in peace like brothers and sisters, by condemning the divisions and hatreds created in us by our past and present elders.
(Amen)

Please Read And Circulate this Message For Peace. Thank you.

S.A.Rehman
Peace Activist
PAKISTAN

Rain, rain go away, come again some other AEF!

2006-01-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

In Alaska during the winter the snow seems to never go away because it hardly ever gets above 32 degrees, here in Iraq the water from the rain seems to never go anywhere since the ground is made of clay instead of real dirt. How do these people farm anything!!?? We have dubbed the "Lake" in front of the chapel The Tuskagee Lake. I am just glad they put the sidewalks in before it got like this, imagine this pic and going to the back of your dorm without a sidewalk? Either that or walk all the way around and hope the other side isn't like this. I have more pics up on the fotoblog you all should check this water!Well sorry about the slow updates again, growing a bit short here. I obviously am not allowed to give out dates but to be honest I have no clue when I am to be back just that I should be ready. Which of course I am not. I am a guy we pack the day before we go on a trip! But things are coming to a close and all to happy to get back to AMERICA! Hang with some good 'ol friends and have some good fun before it is time for me to PCS (move to a new location). Then it would be time to start all over a meet new people for another 3-4 years before it is once again time to move. I have started to ship things back to the ol' AK, should take about 6 months before it gets there, joking...I hope. Much love to all and talk with you all later, hopefully when I get back.

Too Funny!!!

2006-01-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help I just had to link to this blog!! I actually thought about doing this sorta thing as a side project shortly after I got here, and let me tell ya there are some great ones here but this guy has a good amount of funny ones also. To see what the *crap* I am talking about check out:
http://latrinelovin.blogspot.com/

The Rose Bowl

2006-01-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! I got up with Ch McDaniel who is a huge Longhorns fan at 0330 to watch the Rose Bowl. Wanna talk about an impressive game all around! Every play kept you on edge, I don't think I have ever seen a game that great! In any sport! This is a picture right after half time of most of the Longhorn fans giving the "Hook 'Em" horns.

The highlights from the 41-38 win

2005 in review

2006-01-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

So its a new year and as so many other places have done I will try to look at the year 2005 from my point of view. If you want to see the death toll and the lovely things that people want you to know so you will be against the war, democracy and people like me go some where else, I will be bias because I can be! This is the good stuff for once, enjoy.

Jan. 30: In a major political milestone, millions of Iraqis turn out to elect a 275-seat National Assembly. Shiite parties win 48 percent of the seats, Kurdish parties win 26 percent, and Sunnis largely boycott the vote.

March 29: The Iraqi National Assembly convenes for the first time.

April 6: Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, is elected president of the new Iraqi government. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite, and Ghazi al Yawer, a Sunni, are elected vice presidents. The next day, Ibrahim al Jaafari, a Shiite, is appointed prime minister.

May 27: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division, announces it has completed its 1,000th reconstruction project in Iraq, a school in the town of Zahko. In all, some $8 billion would be spent on reconstruction projects through 2005.

July 17: The first charges of crimes against humanity — relating to the killing of 148 people in the village of Dujail — are filed against Saddam Hussein.

Sept. 18: In a historic vote, Afghans turn out in droves to elect their first representative parliamentary government.

Oct. 15: Iraqi voters turn out by the millions to approve a national constitution. A December vote on the makeup of the government is set.

Oct. 19: The trial of Saddam opens, and after a brief few hours, adjourns for five weeks. The trial continues in fits and starts through the end of the year.

Nov. 11: Secretary of State Rice inaugurates the first Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq, while on a visit to Mosul. The concept, which began in Afghanistan, combines military, diplomatic and engineering efforts to help in rebuilding efforts.

Dec. 15:Millions of Iraqis go to polling places to elect their first full-term government since the 2003 American invasion. Early voting results show Shiite parties in the lead; by late December, Sunnis and other groups were protesting the results, which had not yet been finalized.

Dec. 20:The Pentagon announces a troop cut in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of forces down from 19,000 to 16,500 for the year 2006.

Some 200,000 Iraqis have been trained for the Iraq military and police forces, amajor part of the plan to leave Iraq.

As of Dec 15th we are keeping under 138,000 troops in the AOR

In October, troops deployed to Afghanistan were called on to help with earthquake relief missions in neighboring Pakistan. The quake killed some 80,000 people.

Iraq has been handed over some 2 dozen bases that were controlled by the US and other allies.

Cindy Sheehan is still alive.

PEACE (0900 here is midnight in Kansas City!)

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The Chap and I brought in the New Year like any good geek would, watching Battlestar Glactica! And then at midnight drank some good 'ol alcohol free Dublin Dr.Pepper that is made from Imperial Sugar rather than corn syrup. Not bad stuff. I will make a post tomorrow morning that will give a review of 2005!

PEACE and LOVE to all!!!!!!

I WON THE ELF WAGER!!!!!

2005-12-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

After being scared from the previous week when the Chargers beat the Colts and knowing the chiefs only had two games left the Chargers and the Bengals. I was pretty excited when we won, I wanted to make a post right then and there. But figured it would be better if I waited for the demise of my SSgt!! All I have to say really is 20-7 against a team destroyed the only undefeated team was all sooo sweet!! So I am sorry for everyone that wanted to see me wearing that Elf outfit but you just don't bet against the Chiefs! We are famous for pulling out at the last minute when everyone thinks its all over!!!! Well here is a pic of the poor guy and for those that can't read the sign it says

I love the Kansas City Chiefs!!
I lost a bet to the best team of all time, they just had an off-season this year
I think the Miami Dolphins suck!

He is a fan of the Dolphins, I know how pathietic!!

Complete Military History of france

2005-12-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

I found this on the net and loved it soo much I had to share it with you all. Here ia a link back to the site I found this at though. Its funny because its true!!

- Gallic Wars
- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.

- Hundred Years War
- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

- Italian Wars
- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

- Wars of Religion
- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

- Thirty Years War
- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

- War of Revolution
- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

- The Dutch War
- Tied

- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

- War of the Spanish Succession
- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

- The Napoleonic Wars
- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

- The Franco-Prussian War
- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

- World War I
- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

- World War II
- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

- War in Indochina
- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

- Algerian Rebellion
- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

- War on Terrorism
- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."

With only an hour and a half of research, Jonathan Duczkowski provided the following losses:

Norse invasions, 841-911.
After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple (really!) who gave them Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the only positive military bonus in France's [favour] for next 500 years.
Mexico, 1863-1864.
France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition, non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after arrival.
Panama jungles 1881-1890.
No one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.
Napoleonic Wars.
Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the French on many occasions.
Haiti, 1791-1804.
French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt, send an ally.
India, 1673-1813.
British were far more charming then French, ended up victors. Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.
Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.
Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone. America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli"). [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.
1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.
French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S. fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.
Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.
Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind Pyrennes until the modern day.
French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories too, just to be fair):
1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.
When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful, response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.
St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.
Once again, French-on-French slaughter.
Third Crusade.
Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for Richard the Lion Heart to finish.
Seventh Crusade.
St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.
[Eighth] Crusade.
St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.
Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France, entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort into these defenses.

Thomas Whiteley has submitted this addition to me:

Seven year War 1756-1763
Lost: after getting hammered by Frederick the Great of Prussia (yep, the Germans again) at Rossbach, the French were held off for the remainder of the War by Frederick of Brunswick and a hodge-podge army including some Brits. War also saw France kicked out of Canada (Wolfe at Quebec) and India (Clive at Plassey).

Richard Mann, an American in France wants to add the following:

The French consider the departure of the French from Algeria in 1962-63, after 130 years on colonialism, as a French victory and especially consider C. de Gaulle as a hero for 'leading' said victory over the unwilling French public who were very much against the departure. This ended their colonialism. About 2 million ungrateful Algerians lost their lives in this shoddy affair.

Funny French

2005-12-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

The french make me laugh, thats why we should keep them around, they are funny!!

Funny quotes--

-At least, the French remain consistent - you can always count on them to be available if the price is right.
-- Emanuel A. Winston

-The last time the French asked for ’more proof’ it came marching into Paris under a German flag.

--David Letterman

-I don’t know why people are surprised that France won’t help us get Saddam out of Iraq. After all, France wouldn’t help us get the Germans out of France!

--Jay Leno

-French troops arrived in Afghanistan last week and not a minute too soon: the French are acting as advisers to the remaining Taliban, to teach them how to surrender properly

--Jay Leno

-France announced today that it plans to ban fireworks at Euro Disney, following last night's display that caused soldiers at a nearby French army garrison to surrender.

-- Anonym

-What do you expect from a culture and a nation that exerted more of its national will fighting against DisneyWorld and Big Macs than against the Nazis?

--Dennis Miller

Q. How many soldiers does it take to defend Paris?

A. Nobody knows, it has never been tried

-I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me.

--General George S.Patton

-Yoy know why the French don’t want to bomb Saddam Hussein? Because he hates America, he loves mistresses and wears a beret. He is French, people!

--Conan O’Brien

For 60 years, America has protected France and we’re tired of their anti-American attitude.

--Rep. Stephen Barrar

-A frenchman’s home is where another man’s wife is. There is nothing lower than the human race except the French.

--Mark Twain, 1878-1879 Journal Entry

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion."
--Norman Schwartzkopf.

"We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it."
--Marge Simpson

"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure"
--Jacques Chirac, President of France

"As far as France is concerned, you're right."
--Rush Limbaugh

"The only time France wants us to go to war is when the German Army is sitting in Paris sipping coffee."
--Regis Philbin

"The French are a smallish, monkey-looking bunch and not dressed any better, on average, than the citizens of Baltimore.

True you can sit out! side in Paris and drink little cups of coffee, but why this is more stylish than sitting inside and drinking large
glasses of whisky I don't know."
--P.J O'Rourke (1989).

"You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940s who was still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it."
--John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona.

Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada.
--Ted Nugent.

War without France would be like ... uh ... World War II.

The favorite bumper sticker in Washington now is one that says 'First Iraq, then France.'"
--Tom Brokaw.

"It is important to remember that the French have always been there when they needed us."
--Alan Kent

"They've taken their own precautions against al-Qa'ida. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house."
--Argus Hamilton

"Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on eBay the other day -- the description was, 'Never shot. Dropped once.'"
--Rep. Roy Blunt (MO)

Raise your right hand if you like the French... raise both hands if you are French.

Q. What did the mayor of Paris say to the German Army as they entered the city in WWII?
A. Table for 100,000 m'sieur?

"Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining."
--John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv.

The elderly American gentleman arrived in Paris by plane.
At French Customs, he fumbled for his passport.
"You 'ave been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked
sarcastically.
The old gent admitted that he had been to France previously.
"Zen, you should know enough to 'ave your passport ready for inspection."
The American said, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible. You Americans alwayz 'ave to show your passports on arrival
in France!"
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look.
Then he quietly explained, "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach in
'44 I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to!"

A Different Christmas Poem

2005-12-26T04:21:00.000-07:00

A Different Christmas Poem--

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my
breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't
too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled tohear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing
watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts... to the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Merry Christmas!!

2005-12-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

A bit early on the Merry Christmas thing but we will be a bit busier than I had originally thought, more on that after Christmas though.

Well let me see... I am horrible at keeping up on this and doing it frequently! Sorry! That's why I do this instead of writing letters, I just suck at that and never get around to finishing them. But we had a "Dining-in". It was alright. We all dressed in our best DCUs :-) (No Mess Dress here) and the Grog Bowl had no alcohol AHHHHH!!! But it certainly had near beer... just as near as a blade of grass is to a tree I guess. But it was good stuff. The Chief went around as Santa and dropped off some candy canes, and then a LT (mighty fine if I may say so myself) went around in a "Ms Santa" outfit. I have been here too long or she really did look pretty good in it. Of course we all tried to do the whole tradition of the rules, but no one really got called out to drink from the Grog Bowl since there wasn't any alcohol in it. Ah well, good stuff anyway!

A few days later we had out Christmas party which was real good fun! We all ate Popeye's chicken (just opened up YIPPIE!!) and did the White Elephant game. For those that don't know what that is, its basically where everyone buys a present and wraps it without their name so no one knows where it came from. Randomly pick a number from a hat and you go after a present from one to eight. Well the catch is one picks, then two can get one of the wrapped presents or they can take number ones and the one can get a new one, three can pick one or twos or get a new one. A present can be traded three times. White Elephant is basically a gag gift. I got a disposable camera. I already have three digital ones and trying to sale two of 'em. Ah well good stuff, good times! One of the chaps did parodies of Christmas carols of our staff. All of 'em were funny. But I can't upload them here. The Comm squadron won't let ya, something about taking too much bandwidth, BLAH.... we are the govt we should have all the bandwidth we need!! LOL ok slightly joking there :-)

Ah yes I can't forget the recent flood of care packages that have arrived for me here. The mom and dad hooked me up with the best ever Bottlecaps candy! yum yum! Already killed one of those boxes! Got a good 'ol Kansas City Chiefs hat! (we aren't going to talk about their performance 'till they win again! Then we can bring them back up... we will win again and he will wear the Elf outfit! I just know it!) An old neighbor (see what I meant about people just doing back alive, I love it) sent 4 boxes of goodies for the troops and for myself. We here at my location have plenty of toiltries but there are some out in the middle of no where that don't have as much as we do so we are able to make sure they are able to get their hands on it. Got some Alaskan Salmon from an old friend (thanks a bunch) and sorry mom the bottlecaps rock and are the best "candy" but one of my friends moms sent "puppychow" the best snack food on the face of this planet or any other planet!! YUM YUM!! Sadly its pretty much gone after only a few days. :-( but I got her cookies which are amazingly soft. But for those that don't know what puppychow is, (I don't know how you couldn't know of such a delight!) it is chex with chocolate/peanut butter and powdered sugar! I also received "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. Reading is always a good thing when you are bored, and remember kids reading is gooder for you than that there tele!! *the More You Know* LOL Na I love to read.

Well

Spreading Christmas Cheer

2005-12-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Well hello once again from the land of the sand! Got in the paper once again! Not really an article though, just a little blip but here it is.

Anyway, got some rain today! Very nice, even if it did turn everything into mud/clay :-( I miss a good thunder storm, the calm before a good storm. Its always the little things you miss the most in life. Oh and for all you Star Wars freaks out there, I FINALLY watched all 6 movies! Just a few months ago I didn't know a thing about the series other than the "Luke I am your father" gag. Not a bad movie but I am sorry I must say The Matrix Triliogy is far better. It is just soo much deeper. But yeah I will concede and say it was a good movie :-)

Just a bit more than a week 'till CHRISTmas!!! It will be fun even if it will be busy. From the USAF Chaplancy view point I am happy it lands on a Sunday, makes our work just that much easier LOL.

Well PEACE to all... and hope all is well!

Reminder...

2005-12-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

I guess that last post got me some extra visitors, I hope it was to take advantage of the program!! I have had about 1,100 visits and about 3,500 page views! Thanks to everyone that finds this little blog interesting. Please rememberto leave a comment if you enjoy this, especially if you are not from the family. Someone from Canada has been spending a lot of time here and thanks for checking this out. There are people from Indonesia, Baghdad, D.C. (do you like it big brother? :-) ) and of course all over the states (those are the people that spen more 2 minutes here). If you actually enjoy reading my...ramblings about whateva let me know, I may post more often. At the moment this is one of those mediums for the family and the friends back home. Or just shoot me an email.

Well I am getting ready to send out some actual hand written cards/letters. I never do those things, cards aren't me. I have often wondered if it is a guy thing. If women/wives weren't around Hallmark would be out of business! Guys send cards a month after the fact... really bad when someone dies or they have already recovered from the flu LOL. Women on the other hand anticapete the flu and get the card ready! But I figure I might as well giv eit a shot, I mean hey we do have free postage here! I have recieved some emails from old friends and other people lately, thanks for those that have shown your support. I tell everyone about the good emails that come in. Man when you get deployed old friends and what not come out of the wood works huh? I love it though! Keep 'em coming.

Christmas season is coming around. There are a load of things going on here. Services of course, bon fires, some USO show with some people coming that I have never heard of and some guy that everyone hates and no one can figure out why he is coming... Al Franklin...whateva. I don't care. We have had crap for USO shows here, although Aaron Tippen came. I am not into him but he is big.

Oh and for anyone wanting to make care packages (not for me though since I doubt I will get it before I leave) I found the best thing on earth to put in the packages!!! Crystal Light on the go drink mix! Put two in your water and drink all day! I hate drinking that bland water day in and day out! Jsut something for whoever out there to think about. Well eeryone have a good one and PEACE

Immediate attention required!

2005-12-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

Attention all military members who've been wounded in OIF/OEF, there is an organization called salute America's heroes that wants to give you $500 for the holidays. This money has been approved by the DOD for receipt and is approved through the DOD office of General Counsel Standards or Conduct office.
Salute Heroes is the site to visit. Registration takes only a moment (5 minutes at most) the cash is yours free and clear. You gotta hurry though, from what I am understanding it will be ending here in a few days to a week. From what I understand a member of the American Legion will hand deliver it to you if requested, or it can be sent through the US Postal Service.
BUT maybe you aren't a wounded military member during OIF/OEF, if you know someone that is and doesn't have access to a computer get their info from them and register for them. But it has to be done NOW. Its a nice thank you Christmas gift at a bare minimum.

Who is this Tyler??

2005-12-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

Some of ya'll that know my name isn't Tyler are wonderig where and how I got that nick. Well its stupidly funny. When we first arrived here for some reason we all decided we needed nicknames. Only 2 have survived this long, Tyler and DP. One of the chaplains last name no one can pronunce so since it has two words in his last name that start with a D and a P, that was just natural. Mine came from my friends from back home. Its a Fight Club thing. The main character's name is Tyler Durden and I love the movie. Well most of us back home go by fake names when we first meet people, don't ask me why because I still don't know why we do that, its just something we do. Well when I first got here I decided it would be funny to tell my NCOIC that my name was Tyler. Well when she made all the paper work with everyones name on it she never looked at the papers with my real name and put Tyler Wann on all of them, I felt bad and then I laughed. She had to re-do them with my real name. So it kinda stuck, LOL.

And now you know the rest of the story :-)

Interesting thought for the day:

2005-12-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

Interesting thought for the day:

If you consider that there have been an average of 160,000 troops in
the Iraq theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total
of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000. The
rate in Washington D.C.(among others) is 80.6 per 100,000. That means
that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our
nation's capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in
the nation, than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: We should immediately pull out of Washington.

What John Glenn said

2005-12-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

I am not one to put political/military commentaries on this but I recieved this in an email and thought that I would share it.

There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January.
In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the
month of January. That's just one American city,
about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq

When some claim that President Bush shouldn't
have started this war, note the following:

a. FDR led us into World War II.

b. Germany never attacked us; Japan did.
From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ...
an average of 112,500 per year.

c. Truman finished that war and started one in Korea.
North Korea never attacked us .
From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost ..
an average of 18,334 per year.

d. John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962.
Vietnam never attacked us

e. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost ..
an average of 5,800 per year.

f. Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent.
Bosnia never attacked us.
He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three
times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on
multiple occasions.

g. In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush
has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled
al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya , Iran, and North
Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who
slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

Democrats are complaining
about how long the war is taking.
But ..
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno
to take the Branch Davidian compound.
That was a 51-day operation.

We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons
in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find
the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the
Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard
than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his
Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick

It took less time to take Iraq than it took
to count the votes in Florida!!!!

Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB!
The Military morale is high!
The biased media hopes we are too ignorant
to realize the facts.

But Wait. There's more!!

JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR)
Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13

Some people still don't understand why military personnel
do what they do for a living. This exchange between
Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum
is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive
impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one
man's explanation of why men and women in the armed
services do what they do for a living.

This IS a typical, though sad, example of what
some who have never served think of the military.

Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn):
"How can you run for Senate
when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn (D-Ohio):
"I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps.
I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions.
My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different
occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my
checkbook, Howard, it was my life on the line. It was
not a nine-to-five job, where I took my tie off to take the
daily cash receipts to the bank."

"I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day...
to a veterans' hospital and look those men ...
with their mangled bodies in the eye, and tell THEM
they didn't hold a job!

You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go,
as I have gone, to the widows and orphans
of Ed White, Gus Grissom , and Roger Chaffee...
and you look those kids in the eye and tell them
that their DADS didn't hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day , and you stand in
Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends
buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch
those waving flags

You stand there, and you think about this nation,
and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job?

What about you?"

For those who don't remember ..
During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney
representing the Communist Party in the USA.

Now he's a Senator!

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.

Steak dinner

2005-12-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

After Mass the priest took off for a meeting that he had and I got invited to another cook out with those guys that did that pig roast awhile back. Holy crap can they cook a steak! We had steak, 3 differently cooked shrimp, lobster tails, rice, their killer sauce that they make, and a breaded shrimp with peppers inside, whatever that is called but that was almost as good as the steak. They were haveing a cook out for a special event for someone from their unit. But again, these people know how to treat visitors. Anytime you all want me to come visit let me know =) But thought I would share this pic with you all and let you know it isn't always horrible here, really its what you make of it and these guys make it great for everyone in their unit. The guy in the pic with me is Scorpion. Well thats his nick name I have no clue what his real name is. Great guy! Does a lot to help out with all the Mass we have.

PEACE

Broncos-27 Chiefs-31

2005-12-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Soooo....the Chiefs have to win one more game before I win the bet and we are playing the Cowboys, Giants, Chargers and the Bengals. I ould see us beating 3 of those teams. But I am slightly biased. Sorry you all most likely won't being seeing me in that elf outfit, but you will see the SSgt I work with in one MUUHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really not much else needs to be said My team is... how we say the best eva!!

**Arrow Head Chop**

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!

2005-12-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Once again hello to all! Tonight at 0015 my time the Chiefs play the Broncos, my most hated team of all time! Well I guess I will see tonight what the likely hood of the bet shall be =)

Haven't done anything yet as far as Sundays go. Just got to work a litte bit ago and we have services starting in a few hours, so I figured I would write the blog. I finally got the other project done that has kept me busy for awhile. Its another blog, but one I hope ALL military members will really enjoy looking at. You should check it out, its basically another fotoblog but certainly different than the one linked to this site.

Getting ready for the CHRISTmas services that will be coming up. Too much fun! Oh yeah I have decided to use all caps on the first part of CHRISTmas since I want to see if I can offend anyone. You offended yet? It makes me laugh the stupid crap people get all pissy about these days. I am sure people are soo offended that they just get sick to the stomach...yeah right, Ok anyway... just been doing some visiting with the chaps. They have this little Mic Night thing going next to the coffee shop, not too bad really. There are some good talents out here playing the guitar, reciting funny poems or parades about being deployed. Sipping on a cup of joe and listening to amateur poetry... great times =) Well I will sign off for now, enjoy the new site.
PEACE

Stupid Bet

2005-11-30T03:39:00.000-07:00

Alright so I may have made a stupid bet, not too sure yet just how stupid. I was bad mouthing that Miami team...who are they again? Oh well back to the story, so the SSgt starts to bad mouth my and pretty much everyone else's most beloved team, the Kansas City Chiefs... ya I know, really I understand your frustration. So I had to inform him on just how much BS he was full of. Well after a few minutes (45 minutes really) on this subject we decide to make a bet. He believes the most beloved team eva!! Will win only one more game. I said, in the heat of passion for my most beloved team, that again he was full of it, and it was certainly alot that he was full of. So we decided who ever was wrong gets to parade around the Rec tent in a Elf costum that will have a sign that says "Kansas City Chiefs Suck" Or in his case "Kansas City Chiefs is the best team EVA!!!". Please do not ask why or how we have an elf costum because I still have no clue why we do, but we do. I will post the results of my I mean his demise when it happens =) If you look at the schedule.... well...I am screwed! But I have love for my most beloved team, the Kansas City Chiefs! There is no way they are going to lose that many games! Just no way! (And I will keep trying to convience myself of that till someones demise)
PEACE

Oh and for that don't know... we beat the crap outta New England.... but I guess everyone is this year.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2005-11-26T20:04:00.001-07:00

**In a singing voice** Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to meeee from Iraq!!
Well today was my birthday, the team here hooked me up with this cool flag, a did up my little corner of the universe here with balloons and ribbon-ish stuff. They really spent some time doing this and had to have woken up early to do it. So Big Thanx to them! It was cool.

Well thus far I have recieved 5 care packeages from people or organizations. The parents of course sent me my first, and then my killer awesome Uncle Tim, I have recieved two from Operation Gratitude and Liberty Hill Baptist Church from Moody Texas. Thank you it has been fun to get these when some of the other enlisted hasn't MUUUHAHAHA!!!

Well for the moment all is well and the birthday was pretty cool, PEACE!!

update

2005-11-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

The FotoBlog has been updated today, PEACE

Happy Thanksgiving from Iraq!!

2005-11-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

Good day to all!!!! Sorry about the not posting I am in the middle of a new project that I just started. Basically a new site with a load of pictures, but it has nothing to do with me or this blog. but it does have to do with Iraq... I will give you more info on all of that later though (not in this post, sorry).

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!Well we had a thanksgiving service and I read "George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation" It ended up being a very nice service all in all. Many people told us it was the best thanksgiving service they had ever attented. That is a huge complament! After the service we all walked to the DFAC (dinning hall) and got our food to go and ate in the fellowship area together. Its nice to have a good realtionship with everyone you work with, it makes those moments well worth it. Of course shortly after all of that you always have that guy that just MUST play Christmas music. Well I guess its time for me to settle with the idea that there aren't any more holidays between now and Christmas so I will listen to it, reluctantly though. Oh and as we now refer to Christmas in the Chaplancy as the Holiday Season. So I will now refer to it as the Holiday Season as to not offend anyone. YEAH RIGHT... like I will ever be afraid of THAT!!! LOL

That has been the jist of my Thanksgiving! Oh just so you know because I am sure there are some out there that want to know what we ate over here for Thanksgiving, I had Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef ( I like my meat LOL) with Pumpkin Pie, some kinda rice shrimp salad thing that was awesome, yams, taters, rice pudding but as luck would have it there wasn't any of my Great Grandmas homemade jelly or noodles!!! But what can ya do? =)
Well much love to all and I will try to make more posts my other project is almost done, atleast 'till I get home to upload it all to the web. I would tell ya but someone out there may take my idea and run with it.
PEACE

Oh and by the way the very first Thanksgiving in 1789 was on the 26th of Nov which is my birthday!!!! 24 Saturday 24 Saturday 24 Saturday... LOL

The Game of Risk

2005-11-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

There was a Risk tourney last night and the Chap and I went down to the rec tent to do some serious whooping! Well I was the second person out trying to do the back fill for him. We got ahold of the Australia and I blocked it with my guys so know one else could get in there, well I split my men and lost. I stepped out for a bit and then I came back around 2300 and someone else was needing to head for bed so I took over for him and won the game... honestly I don'y know how since he was so spread out but oh well...The chap stayed a bit after midnight and went to bed then I and the other guy just battled it out I had way more men and won...the game lasted 'till about 0200 and started at 2000. The winner is supposed to get a shirt but since the three of us stayed so long we all three got one. The other game was done in two hours!! I don't know how that happened! Oh and the pic was not posed for the camera, that is us really playing. Oh and just for the sake of arguement... anyone here think Green should have taken Europe as long as you could guarantee red didn't attack? TTYL

New Foto-Blog!!

2005-11-15T22:21:00.001-07:00

Hey ya hey ya!! Well I just got done TRYING to re-do this template for my new fotoblog. I lost the original code and I still wasn't able to do the comments section 100% correct on the new one but you can still make comments just click on the thing that looks like it isn't supposed to be there and I will ask around to see if anyone knows how to fix it.

But anyway...check it out at the moment there aren't any but one pic I will upload more when the servers aren't so sluggish. The link can be found in this article (above) or in the links section... for right now much love and peace to all...'till next time!

More PR Time...

2005-11-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

I think I have got more PR time here than Paris Hilton has...ok maybe I am over stepping it there but here is another article written in a paper that reasches more Americans than any other outside the United States. Its not about me though. Remember that entry I made some time ago about us chill'n and kicking back some cigars? Well this is from earlier that day when our Wing Chaplain pinned on Lt. Col.

Hmmm...what else? Well more of this that and the other, really. Recently I have been getting into a lot of religious conversations with some people. December is now just around the corner. After that we will start the count down! I have been volunteering at the hospital on my days off here recenly, so I will volunteer there again. Doing just about anything from cleaning to putting up new tents and moving everything around to new rooms. Not that bad... good experience ya know. I bought a leather jacket the other day...freaking hand made! Real nice, maybe I will post a pic of me wearing it some time. Well...that is about all I am going to talk about on this post... much love and talk with you all later! PEACE

The Chiefs on the other hand....

2005-11-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

So my team did it once again!! Although they have always been a bit famous for scaring the living crap out of an entire city, they come on top with some freaking crazy plays! Right here is the recap from the Raiders game. But basically, down by 3, 5 seconds left in the 4th on the one yard line. What do you do? Make the field goal and go to OT or go for the TD and pray for the best. Well holy crap! We went for the TD and won!! As of last week we are the 15th ranked team in the NFL...oh well. The God awful broncos were freaking 3rd!!!!!!! People say hate is a strong word to use...well I freaking hate that team!!! That denver team... yeah whoever that is had a bye and we won. The Chargers were 10th and won this week and the raiders were 19th and they lost. So we shall see after Monday night football who is what in the rankings for week 9. I'll post them soon after the ranking come out.

...and then not so good times...

2005-11-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well in my previous post I wrote about good times, man that was fun! and it hardly seems like it happened that long ago.
When a squadron comes to Iraq its not like us where I am the only one from my base, they all come here in good size numbers. Often times they have worked with each other for several years if not their entire military career, which can often times happen to those in the Guard and the Reserves. Most everyones biggest fear of coming to Iraq usually isn't that they die but one of their good buddies that they have worked side by side with for so long may die. Then often you think about you getting hurt. But one thing that almost never comes to mind is someone back home getting hurt or dieing. Recently one of our squadrons had someone back home die suddenly and this person had been with this squadron for over 25 years. Everyone was effected but as they say the mission must go on. So after a great service and some words and some time to reflect it is time to dust yourself off, get up and think about it back home. Unfortunate but if not no one would be getting anything done. So when you keep all the service members in your prayers and thoughts please keep the spouses, friends and other family members back home in them also. It is a hard time for them also.

Promotion Ceremony

2005-11-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well last night was one of those great days where you nearly forgot you were in Iraq. The Wing Chaplain went from Maj to Lt. Col I helped pin him on, no blood though LOL. Some great speeches by the General. After the ceremony stuff, we all went to the reception area and had some cookies and gatorade (no beer LOL) We all gave the Wing Chap a killer shadowbox thing and went upstairs to the roof and everyone hung out smoking some Medal of Honor Cigars that his brother sent him from Geremany. The General had to leave early but great fun. We had to of stayed up there for close to 2 hours talking about whatever. Great weather, great night all around!!

Over 50,000 Iraqi insurgents dead, caught / 2000 soldiers dead...

2005-10-26T10:49:00.000-06:00

Alright once again I am just sick and tired of it all!!! "Hey CNN you wanna play the numbers game look at my title!!!" According to Washington Times we have caught and killed 50,000 of these punk arse little... AHHHHHHHH!!!!! We have lost 2000 American military members as you can see if you watch CNN, which really hurts. I hate the idea of losing any American lives!! But there is sooo much good stuff going on here. Of course the insurgents are trying to hurt us but really they aren't doing that great. Here check it... how many people know that the constitution passed? Well it did and CNN...at least what we have seen from eating at the chow halls haven't gave that a second thought, barely a 4 minute blip before going to the big story, the 2000 deaths. If you look at CNN.com it is flooded with stories and photo galleries on the deaths. None on the front page talking about the consatution passing. How do you think that makes several thousand American Service Members feel while eating breakfast? Forget all the good stuff, right? Or how about the military training we are giving these Iraqis? Oh and for anyone out there that wants to tell me about how we just did that in the recent past with several other countries that eventually turned their backs on us and used our training and weapons against us... well you are right but we didn't help change their government 10 fold, we didn't free them and in the new Iraq the vast majority of the attacks are coming from non-Iraqis! Here is something to think about; the Iraqi constitution is the biggest historic event since the Berlin Wall coming down! Yet we are lucky to see it on page 3 with more than 100 characters to explain what happened while we have the front page and half the back page filled with how bad things are going, which they aren't!

Sorry I am not near as articulate as my chaplain...I get pissed and annoyed and let it be known. We have Army Soldiers and AF Airmen most likely going out side the wire today, as they normally do, and this is the first thing they see in the morning. Do you know how rewarding it would have been to instead give the death toll a small blip and all we heard was about the passing of the constitution! It would have helped everyone say "Yeah! We are making a difference!" But instead CNN is helping in the de-moralizing of our troops,

Thanks CNN!!!

Here is a link to my Chaplains comment on it, he can hold is anger back a bit better than I LOL. He has also sent his post in letter format to several people. Rush, white house, Aaron Brown, his local paper and local govt officials.

But finally just to say this because I know someone will say something... I have no prob with the telecasting of the deaths, non-at all!! I do have a problem with not telling both sides and not letting the American people know ANY of the good things going on over here!
'Much luv...'till next time,

Good weather, no computer

2005-10-24T20:41:00.000-06:00

Well hello once again! Wow! The weather here lately has been awesome. Around the low 80s possibly high 70s for a high every now and again it gets into the low 90s again, but wow it feels great. Sometimes you actually need a jacket. The good thing is the weather feels great right now no more 120+ degree temps the bad news is the rain season is around the corner and I have seen pictures that just look horrible. As for the pic I know I am not in the Army but....hey its Alaska! So Holla to everyone at Fort Rich from Iraq!

Again the chaplain and I had some free time to talk about weird stuff. The topic the other day...? My generation and future generations and how we rely on computers/electronics and mainly the internet. How did this come about? Well the internet went down along with email meaning if you were logged off at the time it went down you couldn't log in either. The base was doing some major upgrades on the security of the servers and all that... of course I can't get into it ;-) Well I guess I was pacing around the tent and my chaplain just thought it was the funniest thing ever. With out the internet/computer what was I going to do? Funny...yet sad. It was true my life along with so many others totally relied on computers. I honestly doubt I could remember how to use one of those fileing cabinets that the libraries used in the day. Or how about the good 'ol journal or diary our parents wrote in? Now we have blogs and e-journals and so many other services to post our deep thoughts and have millions of other people access to them, Or even meeting people? We have E-harmony, chat rooms, MySpace, Tagged and so many other services to meet people. Forget trying to leave your house to get human interaction. Or how about spell check... the good 'ol dictionary. I remember getting all pissed off at my dad cause I would ask how to spell something and he would tell me to look it up in the dictionary. And how about books? go to amazon.com and look for some E-books, they are a lot cheaper than the good 'ol turn the page type. I actually bought some while here b/c I don't have to wait for them to get shipped here. Email has taken over the postal service. I chat all night with people over email. Soo...take all that away when you have been doing it for so long and what do you have? A generation lost and if forced outside to play probably walking around outside in a daze not knowing what to do. But off course I love it all and I may complain and wish for the "Good 'ol days" but I love my tech just funny...sad how much we rely on it. My chaplain made a crack and said now you know what its like to be in the military back in 1980. I laughed and said it must have been hard to look busy LOL. Well now I am off to be a hypocrite and see if I can find a PhotoBlogging service so I can upload more pics, I will let you know if I find one and I will link to it

The Challenge Coin

2005-10-20T16:05:00.000-06:00

--- Taken from About.com

Like so many other aspects of military tradition, the origins of the challenge coin are a matter of much debate with little supporting evidence. While many organizations and services claim to have been the originators of the challenge coin, the most commonly held view is that the tradition began in the United States Army Air Service (a forerunner of the current United States Air Force).

Air warfare was a new phenomenon during World War I, when the army created flying squadrons and manned them with volunteer pilots from every walk of civilian life. While some of the early pilots came from working class or rural backgrounds, many were wealthy Ivy League students who withdrew from classes in the middle of the year, drawn by the adventure and romance of the new form of warfare.

As the legend goes, one such Ivy Leaguer, a wealthy lieutenant, ordered small, solid-bronze medallions (or coins) struck, which he then presented to the other pilots in his squadron as mementos of their service together. The coin was gold-plated, bore the squadron’s insignia, and was quite valuable. One of the pilots in the squadron, who had never owned anything like the coin, placed it in a leather pouch he wore around his neck for safekeeping.

A short while later, this pilot’s aircraft was heavily damaged by ground fire (other sources claim it was an aerial dog fight), forcing him to land behind enemy lines and allowing him to be captured by the Germans. The Germans confiscated the personal belongings from his pockets, but they didn’t catch the leather pouch around his neck. On his way to a permanent prisoner of war facility, he was held overnight in a small German-held French village near the front. During the night, the town was bombarded by the British, creating enough confusion to allow the pilot to escape.

The pilot avoided German patrols by donning civilian attire, but all of his identification had been confiscated so he had no way to prove his identity. With great difficulty, he sneaked across no-man’s land and made contact with a French patrol. Unfortunately for him, the French had been on the lookout for German saboteurs dressed as civilians. The French mistook the American pilot for a German saboteur and immediately prepared to execute him.

Desperate to prove his allegiance and without any identification, the pilot pulled out the coin from his leather pouch and showed it to his French captors. One of the Frenchmen recognized the unit insignia on the coin and delayed the execution long enough to confirm the pilot’s identity.

Once the pilot safely returned to his squadron, it became a tradition for all members to carry their coin at all times. To ensure compliance, the pilots would challenge each other to produce the coin. If the challenged couldn’t produce the coin, he was required to buy a drink of choice for the challenger; if the challenged could produce the coin, the challenger would purchase the drink.

---
In reference to my count on the most asked questions for a Chaplain Assistant, I quit alittle after 10. but the good news of all of that is its been awhile since I was asked anything like that because I see the same people over and over for the most part!But ut certainly was and is over 10.

First Package

2005-10-19T20:55:00.000-06:00

I gotta give a special shout out to the parents for the new/first and thus far only mail I have recieved. LOL, I know my brother is going to say "Where were your letters while I was there!" I am not good at sending things either. So no worries everyone! But donated the books to the library but I kept "Case for Easter" and "The Cross and the Switchblade" hard to turn down some classics ya know.
Well... my Chiefs won and they are now 3-2. There wins have been WAY too close for me though. They really need to do something with that defense! Anywho, bought Season 1&2 of "Sliders" one of my favTV shows! Fox killed them but what can you do, a great idea can easily be killed with management and bad writing but even the worse idea can be awesome with just the opposite.
I have about 12 weeks to go. I am not counting but we were talking about it today for whatever reason so I just remembered. Not much to say on this just wanted to say thanks for everything in the package. Oh and we are going to air up the blow-up catcher and play B-ball with him in the office. Even the bible study people thought it was kinda fun! LOL
Love ya and talk to you all later.

Comment

2005-10-13T09:38:00.000-06:00

--- Da Dad said...

????expand and restate your last few sentences. I'm not sure I understand yoursears statement, and what's the grousing about????

October 12, 2005 9:25 PM

LOL Sears... I used to always say on this side of Sears, or their side of Sears etc etc, just some stupid thing I either heard or made up along time ago. The grousing (good word by the way) is all about me getting tired of all the bs! Soldiers come to OUR services and visit OUR chaplains because we listen to them, and try to help them out. They are always complaining that their chaplains are never there for them and the Army chaps out number us by...well enough! When I hear 2-3 army soldiers say the things they say are happening to them per week it gets old and no matter how many incentives you offer the Army recruits, people will not join if this is what civilians hear when the soldiers come back to tell their stories. Bottom line is treat them like they mean something and they will stay after awhile even 30K isn't appealing. BUT of course they have been here a while and most likely exaggerating what is going on just because they are pissed off to be here as long as they are. And there is always two sides to the story.
Well now if what you ment by "what's the grousing about???" is why not talk about something else? Well like I said I am bored which is good. I hear things and want to talk about what I think on what I hear if nothing new is to be reported. Sooo... ummm yeah thats that oh gotta love the art the Iraqis drew for one of their premere bases and the base where Iraqi Olympians trained, with this kinda art work surrounding me I can't help but laugh each time I see them!!
Well much luv to all,

Smoking...

2005-10-12T10:05:00.000-06:00

Hey ya, hey ya!! So in Alaska a pack of smokes can run you any where from 6$ up to 9 or even 10$ no joke. Here in Iraq I can get a carton for 21$!!! Do the math. This isn't the place for me to stop smoking at these prices!! But the way I figure it, if I kept quitting and then re-upping on the amount I smoked and blamed it on the annoying and stressfulness behind the Ex (just another military tale) and I am able to stop here all should be well when I get back. Well thus far I have not had a smoke in a week from today! We will see how far this keeps going, I may have one every now and again but the problem is I can't buy the packs thats when it gets bad again. Oh I finally got the pix of the Pig Roast, BUT for whatever reason I only got two pix soo... this is the good one. You can see me and my chaplain is the tall guy, LOL. Let me tell ya something, those boys can cook!! Anywho... whatelse the listing of where I am supposed to go after Alaska jsut came out, but I don't think it is up to date since it only has one base and its Andrew's. Not a bad place but DC isn't my kinda hang out. We will see soon enough though. The road trip is being reconsidered. The price to rent an RV is mad expensive! From AK to MO its over 10K with out gas and food!! So ummm...yeah. hopeing to find a decent used one for around 5-8K if not we will buy a used camper to haul around. Those you can find real cheap. but the prob with that is now you have people stacked in a car. I most likely am not going to be selling the Escape for whatever reason. So atleast that is better than a car. Here? Not too much of anything really, watched some good movies, hanging with the roommates every now and again, been hitting the gym but I really need to work on my run more! Working on a few CLEPS. Just going through the days, I am lucky and here for 4 months. On the AF side of Sears everything seems to be doing good little things back home causeing stress, but on the Army side of Sears people are just freaking out. 'Till the Army wing dings get their shit together no one will be joining. The get treated worse than second rate citizens, no one cares about them not even their own people! At least the AF helps their own! Really sick when you think about it. Anyway... everyone have a great day. I am sure I will be posting alot more once the American Holidays start to roll around... much luv to all!!!

Rant Session...

2005-10-04T00:58:00.000-06:00

Alright first I am just going to give an update on whats been going on then I will do a little rant about this Blog...

Nothing too much to be honest, Sunday was Sunday. My football team lost by 6 points!! The Kansas CityChiefs, its alright boys still love ya. But we aren't going to talk about the games of the past lets talk about the future winnings, there will be lots of 'em! Anyway... did a patriot detail the other day. Here is an account of one not the one I did but very little was different. It is very moving and I think it should be mandatory for everyone to do atleast one patriot detail while they are deployed. Not all of us see combat from day to day like the people that go outside the base and sometimes it escapes us just what is really going on here. While you are at home people just forget the realness behind everything in Iraq, its too far away and easily brushed to the side, sadly.
Anyway didn't play Texas Hold 'em on my day off today. I stayed up real late last night watching the game and talking to some people on the internet so I slept in and was late for the Texas Hold 'em oh well. Volunteered to help out at the hospital, they really need it sometimes. So I may or may not report on how that all goes. Oh and the picture is of some plane ( I am not a big plane person) that the Iraqis recieved from the Russinas (I know this because its a Russian model I heard) and we blasted it and put our own little remarks to everyone back home on it. We can't add anything to it anymore but... I still got my picture on it.

My rant...
If none of you have noticed I have a little square in the upper left hand corner of this blog. If you click on it, it will take you to a site called sitemeter. There you and I can see how many people have visited here and where they are from and what site took them to my blog. Its alot of fun to see people from all over the world looking at my site. I would have never thought about my blog being used in a newspaper article but it has and I will link you to that in a sec but first I found it used on another site. FirstCoffe on the Sep 30th edition was talking about soldiers/airmen and other military service members geting free phone calls while deployed. FirstCoffee brings up alot of good points, they reference my site when I was talking about care packages and what people could put in them. I sayed “I was talking to some of the chaplains about care packages. We have tooth brushes, toothpaste, shampoo, razors and all of that stuff. At this moment the only thing we can think of would (be) calling cards. I don’t think we can have too many calling cards!” Then they referenced another site where Chris Whong was talking about the phone companies screwing the soldiers with high rates.
Well now let me do my two cents here, FirstCoffee I understand the argument and you do have alot of good things to say and I believe you are all about helping the service members in Iraq and the rest of the AOR, than you. But we do get free phone calls. The way it works is we call our base operator and ask them to connect us to such and such base, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, Coast Guard Active, Reserve or Guard. Doesn't matter and once they do that we ask that operator to connect us to such and such local phone number and its free. Granted we are only allowed to talk for 15-30 minutes but its free and there is no cost of making a contract with a phone company. Also that covers ALOT of land but like I said it has to be a local number so what if you have family not near any of those bases? AT&T offers super low cost calling cards to AAFES where military members can purchase them to call home. Again this helps because the govt. isn't shelling out buck'o bucks for a contract and spending the money where its really needed on the war! AT&T is making out like a bandit on these calling cards and still getting there name noticed by all these service members. Well... thats my two cents and I know you are looking out for us and thank you I would just like to see people with better equipment and go home safely rather than not shelling out 15-30 bucks for a calling card.
I was also mentioned in n AAFES article here it is. It is titled "What do Deployed Troops Want? Check their Blogs..."
Well 'till next time much love to all! And feel free to make a comment on the calling card thing I would love to hear other peoples side maybe we should have a contract to offer us free calls that aren't local or I may just be wrong...

Newsweek!!

2005-09-29T11:32:00.000-06:00

Well good morrow! Sorry its been awhile since I have updated this thing, I just kept putting it off for whatever reason. Well as you can see from the picture on the left here Public Affairs contacted us saying that Newsweek wanted to do an article on Global Ministry w/ chaplains in the combat area. I didn't get interviewed but either way this is pretty cool huh? Check it out. Anyway Checked out the pool the other day, very nice I must say...but as expected the girls must wear a one piece no lovely 2 pieces :-( but what can ya do ya know? LOL Been going around with a couple of the chaplains meeting people and all of that good stuff. 2 Airmen asked me how they could cross train into this field... so I told them how great it is and all that stuff that they wanted to hear. Told them the proccess. Lets see what else... had a dorm room inspection, I passsed but she said my area was fair! FAIR??? I don't have anything there!! pillow blanket (made) and freaking shoes in a row under the bed! Thats it! clothing is in the locker locked up There is nothing else there! I would like to check out this First Shirts room... give her a fair! LOL Ya ok I think she was just trying to play all hardcore and stuff but whateva, I have seen it all before lets look tough and see what this little E-4 does, good stuff. hmmm...Did the holiday greeting it will be in Kansas City sometime so if you know the mom and the dad and you are in that area ask 'em and they will tell you when it will be aired, ---mom and dad, they will call you with that info.
I found the "Black Market" on base, its a place where you can buy these terrible quality movies for about 5 bucks but there is usually 3 movies on the disc so thats cool been buying a couple of those. Just watched "Ill Fated" a little B-side, sundance movie from them... I liked it. Weird but sundance movies are always weird. I'll try to keep this ball moving sorry for the delay in posts, I just put it to the side sometimes.
Much love to all and by the way for anyone that did read this far that pic is a fake pretty cool though huh? LOL

Fun times...

2005-09-20T10:40:00.000-06:00

Well...much fun in the last couple of days. Sunday was Sunday of course, I set up two of the Masses and after the second one we were invited to come chill with some of the Army folks in the back. This specific group are from some islands (I can't say what group or what islands though...secret blah blah blah) but they had a pig roast! Boy oh boy can these guys cook!! They don't even go to the DFACs (Chow Halls) They cook there own food because it tastes better. If they do go to the DFAC they bring it back and spice it up with their own spices. So they got this 195 lbs pig. cooked it for about 15 hours or so made this awesome sauce to go with it...I am going to get the recipe and share...maybe you will need a Top Secret though :-) But when I was there it was so fun, like you weren't even in the war zone! All of them related in one way or another. I think there were 5 sets of brothers many cousins, nephews, uncles, no son and father though...that would have been pretty cool I think. I got some pics of it and will hopefully get them soon and post it. Well after eating two piling plates of pork and rice (lots of pork) the Father and I went to the Air Forces Birthday party. I am the youngest in the chapel and he is the oldest so we were selected. It was alright, nothing too special really, but I couldn't stand the site of meat! Turned my tummy all crazy like! Way too much grease and fat with all that pork I had. Oh yeah I even ate some of the skin...didn't think it would taste good I mean hell its skin, but man that had a lovely little crisp to it! Anyway the B-day party was whatever I guess...
Hmm... yesterday was my day off. Played Texas Hold 'em again. made to the final 6 people out of 32 not too bad really. but my chip count wasn't near high enough and the blinds were 30/60 I only had a few hundred left. They had several hundred if not 1-2 grand so I went all in blind got 6-7 suited everyone folded but another guy he jsut didn't want to give me the money like that so we fliped he had 6-Q off suited and the community cards didn't do a thing for us so he won Q high!!!!!!!! oh well it would have only lasted another hand or two. If you win you get a 25$ gift certificate at the local PX (military wal-mart). My E-5, not my supervisor decided to move my desk while I was off and switch my desk with his. I thought that was very nice of him to do on my day off, and not ask or anything like that. Whatever if thats the wrost thing to happen while I am here then I had a good deployment! Just rude thats all. Well here is the pic to go with the one below... I just hope I get the ones of the pig roast soon.
Till next time...LATE

The Predator

2005-09-17T15:42:00.000-06:00

Well hello once again from the land of the sand! Today was pretty cool we went to the Predator squadron again, something we will do once a week, and I got my picture taken with this bad boy as you can tell. While there we watch some killer video feed made by the Predator and watch two A1Cs work the Predator. They do work alot and their hours aren't that great and we really can't talk to them when they are doing all of this they need to consintrate on what they are doing. I was talking to the Major in charge of it all and funny enough even with all of his pilot experience he says flying that thing is just one of the hardest thins he has done, BUT for these younger pilots and for that matter these Airmen around my age its really second nature. Instead of push/pull a button/lever kinda thing its more of a type on the keyboard and play a VERY REAL video game. Its just our generation I guess. But this is the future and I only wish I could tell you what this beast is made of. I am thinking about cross-training into something else and I just don't know what yet, I love computers and I don't really want to work with the troubleshooter guys maybe something like that would be good? I'll talk to them a bit more about there actual AFSC and what all it entails.
Yesterday another AF chaplain assistant came over from the other side of the base (the Army side) telling us how they really have nothing! They aren't getting the support that they need for a bunch of BS reasons I am really not going to get into on this but I told him that I would pass it on to you all. If anyone has ANY christmas stuff (lights, miniture trees...etc etc) that they would really like to pass on to us over here that would be great! Also as bad as our collection of books is... atleast we have some, over there they have Bibles and thats it. So any books would also be nice for them. But all the other stuff would still be great for both of us (calling cards, gift certificates to hand out to the troops, etc) if you have a preference let us know in the care package and we will give it to those you prefer. Again the mailing address is:

SrA Lowell Wann
332 AEW/HC
APO AE 09315-9997

But thanks ahead of time for anything sent. I hope you all enjoyed the pic I have another one I will upload tomorrow its of the same thing but a close up of me rather than of the entire UAV. Much love to all!
LATE

Running out of clever titles....

2005-09-15T11:15:00.000-06:00

Hmmm... today wasn't much but I did have that DV luncheon which was pretty good I think. It was with Lt. Gen. Buchanan. There were 3 tables with about 15-20 people per table. He sat across from me and one seat to my left. So he was pretty close which was pretty cool I thought. After talking and eating a little bit about this and that nothing really too big and bad just where I was from and all of that he got up gave his little speech about how great we are and important we are, which we are but its always something you expect them to say. He opened it up to questions and I was the only Airman (E-4 and below) to ask a question next was an E-5 and everyone else was a First Shirt (E-7 and above) I'll tell you my question but I don't know how many people out there will understand what I am talking about...
I asked since our annual clothing allowance only pays for two PT uniforms and we are required to have 4 sets while in the AOR (Area of responsibility) and the uniforms get very worn out while we are here because they are substituted over civies are there any plans for reimburstment or are we out of pocket...and as a follow up I suggested that we get rid of the clothing allowance all together and just issue all uniforms including the PT gear on a trade by trade basis. This would save the AF money by not giving the clothing allowance out to everyone that doesn't actually buy new uniforms every year and would help out the airmen (all ranks) by us actually getting the uniforms when we need them instead of going out of pocket and getting reimburst months later on our birth month.
-- As half expected I saw people roll their eyes but I honestly don't care I think its a good move in every aspect and would love someone tell me its not and why its not.
-- But his response...in a nutshell was that no there wasn't a plan for remurstment at this moment, it has been talked about but thats really about it :-( He also added that he liked the idea and suggested that the Command Chief here bring it up at the next Chiefs meeting. I plan on meeting him on one of our "Chapel Visitations" and explain it in further detail since I really didn't want to explain it up there in great detail. But that could have easily been a "blow this airman off and make him feel important" stratagy. I don't know, either way it was fun.
Thats really about it at the moment. Here is a Pic of me just a few moments ago, I just got out of the gym about an hour or so ago.
Oh I think I am going to start keeping a log of all the famous questions that a Chaplain Assistant gets asked. You wait and watch one of them will be over 50 by the time I leave! Here are the numbers so far...I am serious I get this all the time!!

--Is that a real job? 3
--Soo... are you like in training to be a chaplain? 2
--Oh you are like the body guard for the Chaplain right? 5
--Wow, how did you get that job? 3
--Thats gotta be easy, huh? 3
I think those are the big ones, oh and in order from top to last the answers are:
yes,
no,
kinda but no, not really but I just say yes because its too complacated to explain
Cause I am that freaking cool, aight
really depends on your defination of easy huh? Perception is everything!

Well everyone out there in Cyber Space have a great morning/day/afternoon/evening/night...PEACE

Tuskegee Airmen

2005-09-13T23:17:00.000-06:00

Ok now I think this picture just sux, the sun was right in my face and I was squinting all crazy like! But oh well its with out the hat and some of you expressed interest in seeing my face better. Our chapel here is the Tuskegee Chapel and if you don't know about the Tuskegee Airmen you should read up on it, its a big milestone in US history!!

At the moment I am listening to some good 'ol Dave Matthew, what a way to kill a eventuful/fun day. Well got up early ate some breakfast with the chap, light breakfast really. Had some fruit that I threw out since it wasn't rip at all! cereal, warmish milk, and some juice. Trying to eat a bit lighter and better want to get back hella healthier than when I came here. Well after that went to some meeting and almost feel asleep with all these seniors/chiefs and Lt.Cols and Cols. Man that was a terrible meeting I had no clue what it was about but they like to have a chaplain there and he wanted to bring me...that will be the last time LOL! We visited the North side maintance people, saw the predator. Check out this article on the machine and its work over here. That is one killer machine and it has so much potential for the future of air combat and spy war-fare!! Watch it terrorist punks! While we were out got a call to visit someone at one of the fire stations. So we went and he did his chaplain thing with this guy (they are also counselors) and I chilled out with some army guys and made fun of the horrible job the Army football team was doing on the T.V. Man did they get smashed apart! Do those guys ever win? Not like the Air Force has much room to talk either, man our team sux too. The Navy is alright they have a killer half time show with the marines doing all sorts of weird stuff in this formation! Then we went to the hospital to visit someone that had surgery earler this week. She is doing good and will be leaving soon, not because of the surgery though. She is just at the end of her tour. ummm... set up Mass and ate some Subway. That will be the last time! the bread sux, the chicken terriyaki isn't terriyaki sauce! It looks like soy sauce. I will just stand in line at the chow hall for some of the cold sandwiches, now thats fine eating! Really that was my day. Oh how the crap could I forget! My first shirt a SMSgt (E-8) picked me to be part of a DV luncheon comine up this week!! I get to be the airman from my squadron. they also pick one NCO and SNCO. So that is just AWESOME! But I will leet you go for now, LATE

First day off

2005-09-12T22:22:00.000-06:00

Well today was my first day off, YIPPIE!! I didn't do everything I wanted to unforuntaly. I slept in 'till 1000. That was nice! Played at a Texas Hold 'em tourney. Lost! First one out at my table! Its ok I played good though. I got busted on two bluffs almost out bluffed them both times and then I went all in with 3 Jacks! Me and one other player and this cat had a full house!! 2 jacks and 3 10s!!!! Boy was I pissed. but thats alright I will get him next week LOL. Then I went to the gym for a bit and watched Phone Booth with my supervisor. Killer movie!!! soon after that went with all the enlisted to watch Black Water at the main theater, that movie sucked and isn't even worth watching on Fox in another 5 years! But that was today.
Oh and yesterday I broke my PSP (Play Station Portable)!!! Thats something someone can send in a care package :-) Only kidding cost too much. Its pretty bad when 90 degrees seems too cold to wear shorts! In AK ppl freak out over 80 degrees LOL. We used to drive around in 80 degree weather just so we could have AC on. But with gas prices now a days I doubt many people are doing that. Speaking of the terrible gas prices I was planning on having a road trip on my way to the next base after I left AK in the June time frame but if they stay this high I don't know what we are going to do. But we are still going to put the money to the side and see what happens. We may rent an RV instead of buying one that we can trash. We will have to take better care of it but that may even be outta the question if its 3 bucks a gallon. And hey if you are wanting to be a part of the road trip email me and I will give you more info we are looking for about 5-6 all together so about another 2-3 people would be keen.
The pic on the side is of me the night before I took off. It was liek 3-4 AM after hanging with the crew. If the send me a group foto which I am sure we have, I will post it if they wanted me to. But as you can tell I was a bit tired and I will post another pic of me so everyone can see my killer smile killer smile and killer eyes LOL. Thanks mom and the person in secret who liked them, LOL. Well going out to do some more visiting tomorrow, should be fun! Hopefull y we will see the Predator! That would be just too awesome!! Oh on Sunday went visiting with one of the chaplains and we went to one of the hangers and you could actually see the hole where we droped bombs inside. I would have hated to be inside at that moment! But it is patched now. Just thought I would say that before I signed off. And one last thing before I take off, if anyone wants to send and Kansas City Chiefs stuff since I am missing most of their games here that would rock!! Flags, blankets, games, whatever...just some food for thought LOL.

Forgiveness....

2005-09-11T19:38:00.000-06:00

So today is Sunday and we had our services we went to of course. I help the Catholic Priest out even though I am not Catholic. I enjoy it because of the places and the ministry done seems greater. At least to me that is. Well today he spoke of forgiveness, and let me tell ya that speaks to me crazy mad like ya know? He was mainly speaking on 9-11 and forgiving all of that, not forgetting but forgiving. It was a darn good message! I thought I would go on a tangent and use a mix of his thoughts, my thoughts and some of the more in depth stuff I will talk about here is actually from a little book I picked up called "When Forgiveness seems impossible".
You forgive when you have been hurt. I know from my past it’s something surreal. Like it really isn't happening, some sort of real bad practical joke! You feel hurt, betrayed and then you are just over combed by anger. The pain is like you had been stabbed. You start to get that whole vengefulness side coming out. A person you trusted has stabbed you in the back and all that consumes you is that revenge! Of course forgiveness is the last thing you are thinking about.
Well what the crap is forgiveness? Forgetting? No more pain/anger? Let bygones be bygones? Letting 'em off the hook? Unfairness? Injustice? Many believe that forgiveness requires us to unconditionally release others from past wrongs. Others have the "I forgive you for my own sake" mentality and let me tell you I have had a ton of people tell me that. "Just let it go" they say. The prob with that attitude is it advocates forgiveness as a means of releasing ourselves from the cancer of bitterness and the fire of anger in many different ways, forgiveness is therefore seen as an unconditional offering of pardon that says, "No matter what you have done to me, I forgive you."
Think of a wife offering forgiveness to an unrepentant alcoholic husband who has privately beaten her and publicly humiliated her with his sexual affairs. Is such forgiveness the kind of love her husband needs? Is it in his best interest for her to release him from accountability for shameless violations of their marital vows? Well...what does Christ like love require? Sometimes love requires us to say, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" - Luke 23-34. Sometimes its an again and a again kinda thing - Matthew 18:21-22.
The Greek word often translated "forgiveness" was used to indicate release from an office, marriage, obligation, debt, or punishment. In biblical terms forgiveness is "the loving, voluntary cancellation of a debt". In Luke Jesus talks about this "forgiving" of a debt where two guys owe this other guy money one of 'em owed a lot more than the other but this guy forgave both their debts and Jesus asks who will love the forgiver more? Simon says "..the one whom he forgave more." and Jesus said you are correct (basically me condensing it of course) So the more we are aware of how much we have been forgiven the more love we have for those who have forgiven us... right? Well what if they never become aware? I just don't know, that was something I wanted to throw in there.
But basically to hopefully sum all this up and hopefully you are still reading all of this...
To offended the cost of forgiveness is to relinquish the demand to seek revenge now, canceling the debt owed, and seeking the restoration of the repentant person.
The offender the cost of forgiveness is humble confession and repentance, refusal to hide what one did, taking ownership for what was done, accepting full responsibility for one's actions and the consequences of those actions, making restitution where possible, refusal to make excuses, and brokenness that plead for mercy and receives, grace with gratefulness.
That’s how the book put it and I loved the way it worded it so I threw it in. A verse to go with this that I just loved Gen. 50:20 "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good" I just hate waiting that’s all LOL.
For a last word:
Imagine that you are given the choice to:
(A) torment for all eternity those who harmed you the most(the one that sexually abused you, and unfaithful spouse, the date rapist, drunk driver that killed your child, your abusive parent), or (B) see them brought to brokenness and to their knees before the God who has been so kind to you and I. The answer you choose will expose the direction of your heart, and sometimes its a hard decision although its not supposed to be. The obvious answer is just too obvious sometimes. "Let 'em burn!!" or not....

I mainly wrote this to preach to myself since the Chaplain went off on his little thing about forgiveness I decided to go off on my tangent. It helps me to stop and reflect for a second. There are times I hate what I just wrote, but I need it more and more sometimes and posting it on this will help me by getting it off my chest in a good way and possibly making others keep me in check when I get pissed off and let my mind wonder into the past... sorry it was so long but I will have other good stuff here tomorrow. Ya know, what’s been going on here and all of that rather than another novella.

My Chaplain and I (Care Packages)

2005-09-10T17:17:00.000-06:00

Here is a pic of Ch McDaniel and I right in front of our chapel entrance. Hand to Hand Combat... What a way to put it, I love it! We work with the Maintance and Ops side of the base really. The two together is alot of people and ground to cover! Today we went to the tower which was alot of fun. From up there we could see where some of the older attacks had landed, where we dropped some of the bombs on our way in here. Very cool! Yesterday was a nice cool day, I think it was around 104 or so... Nice drop in the weather :-)
Thanks everyone that has left comments on here I think its great because then everyone that leaves one can read others and so on and so on.
I was talking to some of the chaplains about care packages. We have tooth brushes, tooth paste, shampoo, razors and all of that stuff. At this moment the only thing we can think of would be calling cards. I don't think we can have too many calling cards! ummm...non-melting candy (bottle caps are my favorite!!!), disposable cameras maybe they are kinda cheap and not everyone brought a camera here. I know the chapel would like some more books that people can check out from our little book check-out section. We have the entire Left Behind Series so we really don't need those :-) Any book from and about any religion is good it doesn't have to be about a christian sect. Anything to spruce up the rooms. Gift certificates to Subway, Pizza Hut, Burger King if you have access to an AAFES a gift Certifacte from there would be good also.
So I think the best things really would be the calling cards and the Gift Certifactes.
Thanks for the interest. Tomorrow I am going to go to the Ammo Dump which will be alot of fun I think. I will see what kinda pics I can take tomorrow and upload them... so 'till next time.

Around the World

2005-09-09T18:00:00.000-06:00

Wow I just looked at my stats to see where the people are that are looking at my Blog, and I am surprised! We have people from Canada, Hawaii and a few other places in the states!! Thanks for checking this out I hope you enjoy reading it all. Of course we have people from Alaska checking this out since that is where I was stationed before I came here. Great place everyone should spend one week up there in the summer time some time in their life!! But jsut wanted to drop a little hello and a thank you for looking at the Blog, enjoy!

Pictures!

2005-09-09T04:04:00.000-06:00

So on the way here something happened to my digital camera! It won't even turn on, so I finally went and got a digital camera at the BX/PX. I think I got ripped off I could have found a better camera for the same price back home but then again look where I am at. So finally I will do a little picture for the day kinda thing.
So yesterday I met Vince Vaughn and got his sig and asked the person behind me if they could take a picture with their camera and just email it to me. They said they would and now I am just waiting for them to do that I will post it once I get it. I hope it turned out alright....ummm what else? The culture difference I think I am finally getting used to here, everything in Arabic from the soda pop to something written on all of the walls. We have sooo many people from all over the world working here either international military or people cooking our food at the chow halls and doing the laundry. It makes me feel weird having people cooking and doing my laundry no matter how nice it is to have it done for us and making it one less thing to worry about. The only thing I can think of by letting the Iraqi people do all of that for us is that it helps to jump start their economy. More people employed, more people getting paid, more people spending money sounds like something you would hear in econ101.
Visited with some of the troops that do the convys. They really have it hard! They see some not so fun stuff. But what can you do? There are people here that want us dead and there are people here that would die to keep us here. We have a thing called the Patriot Detail that I am planning to volunteer for. Basically its for our fallen men and women, we stand in formation and they carry the caskets onto a C-130 a moving ceremony from what I undestand. NO PICTURES though, but how could you argue with that? Planning on going to the hospital sometime in the near future to see how everyone there is doing.
Oh and I have only had 2 packs of smokes since I have been here!! For those that don't know my smoking habits, that is good! I could kill a pack to a pack and a half in one day.
And thank you Katt for making a comment down below just noticed it :-( sorry. But I promise to post as often as I can while I am here.

Physical Address

2005-09-08T04:04:00.000-06:00

Here is my address if anyone wants to send any care packages. It takes about 3-4 weeks on average to get here so don't send anything much pass Dec 1st or so. I do work at the chapel and with Thanksgiving and Christmas on my rotation if you would like to send things out that we can give to other troops or for just about anything we can make it happen just email me or let us know in the care package.
Oh yeah *wink wink* *nudge nudge* my birthday is on Nov 26 :-)
but here is the address

SrA Wann
332 AEW/HC
APO AE 09315-9997

Vince Vaughn

2005-09-07T23:27:00.000-06:00

Well the USO is setting up times for everyone to meet Vince Vaughn from the wedding crashers today. Although I love this guy in one of the best films ever created, Swingers! I am going to head out and see if I can get his sig on my underwear. Then I will hang it up in the office and see what the chaplains say LOL. No really I have a poster thing I will see if he we sign. I have finally gotten around to do the calling people thing again, sometimes you are just too tired or working a bit much, sorry for those that I still haven't called. Called the mom, we went over our time limit but not by enough to get in trouble I think. That was fun and I know she never wants to get off of the phone, but don't worry be happy :-) Called the good 'ol roommates shortly there after. Good people ya know, hard to find good people it seems like these days :-(
Some times history gets brushed aside sadly. One of my chaplains and I were talking yesterday about 9-11, he is wanting to do some sort of memorial this weekend for 9-11. Another one of the chaplians was talking about how the Chaplain Service is shying away from any and all of that. I think its a sad day when we begin to forget things that really changed the course of history. We would never forget the Civil War or either of the World Wars. We have holidays for Martin Luther King, Memorial day, Labor day and of course the 4th of July, and we have people that are wanting to forget about 9-11 because of the amount of people that are still hurting from it. Weather you believe we are in Iraq for oil or to stop terrorism you should NEVER forget 9-11! The chaplain brought up a good point though we do not have a special day for Pearl Harbor and why not, really!!??
Well tomorrow I should go out and some visiting with my chaplain to see some of the troops. I will post how all of that goes, should be interesting and well... I don't we will see, huh?
'Till next time
"Eat a peach a day for peace, I eat two" Allman Brothers

2005-09-04T11:16:00.000-06:00

Here is a little article in Stars and Strips military newspaper that may help explain why I can't really just blert out all the things that are happening... really not alot of things which is good but none the less. Oh and hey look at it this way as long as I am posting I am obviously OK (That is more for the worried out there :-] )
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?article=31373&section=104

For those of you that don't know what it is I really do in the military I am a Chaplain Assistant and yes that is a real AFSC (5R0x1) Well I had my first Sunday today and went smooth. Its real nice having the Army here mainly because we have about 28 services through out the week not including all of the daily masses. On Sunday we work 4 of them and 2 of those are Catholic Mass. But also keep in mind that we do have several other faith groups we are supporting that really don't need or don't want the help of the Chaplain Assistants. After setting up Mass went and talked to some of the troops around the base with the Father who is one heck of a guy I think. We did that for about 2 1/2 hours. Met this one Infantry guy who has been here for over 2 years and wants to stay longer. Actually have met a good number of people like this. The few that I have met that don't want to be here are mainly not upset over being in Iraq with the war or any of that stuff, they just hate who they work for, their new team over here, or are just upset on the timing that they had to come over. Pregnet wife, family in the hospital and more recently Hurricane Katrina but as everyone knows the Air Force treats their people the best because of Katrina there are Airmen going home. I haven't meet any of them yet though. Over all though even the Army guys/gals that have been here alot longer than I or the previous cycle of people are not that pissed about being here as I see time after time on the news. You do have the few that join only for the free college but ask anyone here and they will tell you pretty much the same as I feel. I also joined for the killer college bennies but its not free college there is a certain level of commitment that a person must make in order to get these bennies. So either the Communist News Network (CNN) has it all screwed up or these people exist and if you do then all I can say is shut up and suck it up. ITS NOT FREE!!
Oh here is one more little funny article I ran across earlier today. But hope all is well and hey crazy fools don't forget you can make comments on this thing just click on the link that says "No comment" then click "add a comment" and then well... make one. I want to know who is really looking at this thing.
Late

Arrived

2005-09-02T03:49:00.000-06:00

Hey ya, hey ya from the land of the sand that is slowly turning into glass! Well just arrived some hours ago. Heck of a plane trip thats for sure. Had a lay over for a day and flew close to 20 hours or so. But finally here! Its hot, its really something else don't know how to explain it really just different, not bad...yet but interesting. We have an awesome DFAC (chow hall) here we have, 2 movie theaters, a bazzar crap man even a miniture golf place! But there is alot or work going on here also. this place is BUSY 24/7 I have only been here for a bit and non-stop action people going around and doing something all the time.
The dorm is aight. Big enough and its real nice I don't have to go outside to go to the restroom. But we also have a few roommates unlike the trailers. But I think I like it this way better to be honest. I can't access the picture site that I have at the botom of this Blog here but I can at the community center, I will see what I can do about the pics since that place is pack all the time.
At the moment I can't think of anything to add into a care package but if I do I will post it here. but if you need the address you will have to email me and tell me how I know you.
'Till next time.....
Late

The Farewell party....

2005-08-29T02:20:00.000-06:00

Yeah so the room mates and some friends got together to throw me a bit of a bash this weekend...killer time I must say. After some good drinking and hanging out next to the camp fire they got me to get up and before I knew it 3 of the guys grabbed me and duck taped me up against a tree and whipped creamed me and I got some good 'ol "Force Hydration". Got a couple of good slaps to the face, not fun when you are drunk and sober up later wondering where that mark on your face came from lol. We pretty much did that Friday and Saturday night, good times. Tonight we went out and walked around downtown Anchorage to see if anything was going on and as usual no not too much was and then just as we were getting into our car we saw a bum fight. 2 drunk natives up here were just yelling at each other and before we knew it some punches were thrown and we had some free entertainment. Kind of a lame fight but still hella funny. I will see about up loading some pics from the weekend and maybe the video also.

Well this really isn't the day before I leave but close enough. It maybe a bit of time before the next post since I don't know just how much time I will have and I am sure I will be shown just what it is I have to do over there. So 'till next time......

leaving soon

2005-08-22T01:21:00.000-06:00

Still in Alaska, going to use this mainly for the friends and family back home so they can keep up with it all. Do some posting of pics and whatever will be on my mind and all of that ya know. I will most likely make my next post on the day prior to leaving.
Later