Quick, gator-fight!

Have you ever felt like that? Like you were just smacked with something completely unexpected? I just laughed when I saw this...I got all caught up in the mechanics of this drawing, how it is like an upward swing of the gator..as if our hero sees the need to bash the other guy and seizes the nearest weapon of opportunity, in this case a presumably unsuspecting gator, by the tail and swings up and out blasting the target off of his feet...BLAM!

Since I didn't bring any civilian clothes with me to Iraq, I am seriously considering buying my entire travel wardrobe from thrift stores when we get to VA and as the need arises for new clothing throughout the car-trip. If I like something along the way I can keep it, but I like the idea of a disposable/nation-wide exchangable wardrobe.

I have been re-connecting with old friends from USMC bootcamp, high school and even junior high on facebook. Amazing is all that I can say... I think that it is kind of cathartic too.

Just so everyone will quit asking me about this, once and for all...I was NOT struck by lightning as a child, That was a lie to excuse some of my poorer behavior that just got carried away...think, "It isn't my fault, I was struck by lightning you know?" I apologize and think that it is time to stop hiding behind this and start taking responsibility for my words and actions.

Rachel tried to kill me last night. She says, "Can we just run sprints instead of going for a long run?" which sounded reasonable until we start running 100 yard sprints with very little rest in between...I lost count at 7...

I Put the Soul in Souldier...Mmmhmm...

Before Michael starts writing in this particular entry I just want to add a few little funnies about him that have occured recently.

1. We have these "signatures" that we can attach at the end of our emails that contain our professional information (DSN numbers, work addresses, rank, title, etc.) and then a "motivational" quote at the bottom. Michael has taken it upon himself to revolutionize this tradition by making his quote, "Good tidings to you and all of your friends..." Apparently he's been corrected (not on the fact that it's kin, not friends and it's a Christmas song) but on his uncurrent of sarcasm at the stupidity of motivational quotes. Of course, "correction" for Michael is just loose guidance...maybe suggestions...

2. Michael has gotten it into his head that he NEEDS a Lucha Libre mask. I really don't know how to explain this phenomenon. I just put it up here for your entertainment. And I quote, "It says in the uniform SOPs that we can wear dust masks when it's dusty out. They didn't specifically say that you can't sew one into a Lucha Libre mask and use that..." He has this way of saying the most ridiculous things with this very convincing, innocent face. Hah!

So now I leave this to Michael...

BANG!

Seriously, isn't this fetching? If someone runs up to an intersection in orange running shoes wearing this baby they get the right of way without question, right? RIGHT! I was terrified of KISS and Gene Simmons in particular when I was a young hayseed back in the weeds of Indiana. This would complete my embracement of my fears and overcoming insecurities...OK I made that all up, I just really think this is so abstract, unexpected and just cool....I'd wear this in the summer and my winter mask would be....

POW!

Someone please talk some sense into this woman! WHO doesn't want a LL mask? We were just running sprints and I thought to myself, "man if you had a Lucha Libre mask you would be flying and you could probably see better in the dark if it was a cat mask."

Well. I see now that FaceBook or FB is addictive. Pretty much internet crack...

One time I wrote a whole letter to my Mom without the letter e in it because the computer at the MWR had a broken e key on the keyboard. Now we all have these in our rooms. I imagine that is how people felt about outhouses, then indoor toilets...right?

We are getting really amp'ed up about this drive when we get back. Family, friends, good food, tunes, sights...Lookout USA!

I wrote the publisher about my book, I think they are trying to decline gracefully. Don't they know what this book could do for booklaces. I am a little hurt and may need a good cry. I think we'll watch "Slingblade" or "The Notebook"..."Kung-Fu Panda"...

I have a PT test on the 22nd at 5AM.

Shower time.

Running, Psychology, Soldier of the Month Board, and Chopin

Just to start this thing off on a funny side note. Because we're in Iraq and have to use sattelite internet, sometimes internet pages pop up in random languages (mainly Arabic), but Polish and Chinese occur sometimes too. So it gets a little confusing when you're trying to navigate google and it's in Mandarin.

I've been kind of overwhelmed. There's a lot on my plate right now. I'm trying to work through two online, college classes right now. They're fun, but fill up a lot of my time with studying...especially since I'm trying to get all A's (just got one on a Psychology test). I'm helping my company get their medic station put together, which also takes up a lot of time with running around with random tasks because it's basically being put together from scratch so I'm trying to scrounge up all of this stuff to make it more organized and in the midst of it I realize we need a bunch of random office supplies. So everything has to be put on hold while I run over to supply and get that fixed so I can finish what I was doing. In the mean time the computer we have isn't hooked up to our network so I can't print anything from it...so I'm trying to email myself all of this stuff to print from a different computer for us to have on hand for our soldiers. I feel like I'm running backwards blindfolded some days. Like it's a constant joke of, "Hey! Let's see how you can handle this one!"

And then every evening Michael and I do PT. Since my injury I haven't been doing much PT, and so I lost the momentum I was making prior to the injury. Push ups, sit ups, and working on pull ups, but the run has me the most worried because it takes time to build it up. Well, Monday I ran my first 2 miles after the injury. We'd been doing run/walks for about a week prior. This coming Monday we're planning on a 4 mile run. I bought three new pairs of running shoes...I know that seems extravagant, but it's actually very logical. Because running's something I plan on becoming more serious about (it's actually quite nice once you get used to it and get into the "zone") having several pairs of shoes to rotate through is pretty smart. One, it makes them last longer since you're not wearing out only one pair. Two, it prevents your foot from getting "used" to one type of shape, and that makes your running form better because you don't get bad habits because you "need" a certain shape to prevent them. I did a lot of research on shoes because I like really lightweight shoes (no more than 10 oz./shoe), and I don't want them to try and correct too much. I want them as neutral as possible so that, again, I don't form any bad habits where I need correction to be supplied in a shoe. It's better to just teach yourself how to run right than have to be corrected by a shoe. So I focused on companies/shoes that are neutral and tried to find their lightest versions.

I went with a pair by Addidas, Asics, and Brooks. I got two of them at Amazon for about half the price since they're last years models, and then the Brooks pair I got at an outlet store since Amazon didn't have my size. The Brooks pair I'm the most excited about because they're hideous. They're lime green and purple, but I'm so excited about them because they're like 7 oz./shoe so super light weight, and the colors will help motivate me to run when I REALLY don't feel like running.

I got the two pairs from Amazon today, and tried them on. They feel really good on my feet so I'm hoping they'll feel even better when I'm running. One of the things I really like about lightweight shoes is the focus is on how they hug your feet. There's less shoe when they're lightweight so they're incredibly formfitting, and there's less sole so it feels a lot more natural to run in them. The next thing I'm going to look into is trail shoes for when we're back in Washington. That's a whole different area of shoe, and I don't know much about it. The soles and weight are a lot different because you're running on trails not road. So you need more protection from rocks, etc. And those I'd like to actually try on and run around the store in before buying.

Also, it seems my ENTIRE chain of command put me in for the October soldier of the month board. The 1SG and platoon sergeant let me know about this a few days ago, and today my squad leader made sure I knew that I was going. So now Michael's new project is getting me up to speed on this thing. Instead of geography and anatomy quizes at night he quizes me about field sanitation, drill and ceremony, and weapon systems just to name a few. Then there's the Soldier's Creed and NCO's creed I'm working on since I'll most likely go to this thing as a Specialist (my promotion comes through in October), which is one rank from being a Sergeant. I've been working on correspondence courses, which are these courses about different parts of the military and different MOS' and every 5 hours you complete is 1 promotion point. The max you can get is 200 promotion points from CCs. I'd like to go to this thing with at least 50 hours.

Here's a little back ground on promotion points since not everyone reading this is military jargon inclined. Promotion points are how you get promoted to Sergeant and higher for enlisted personnel (officers are a completely different process). Awards, correspondence courses, college credits, 300 PT, expert marksman, winning soldier of the month boards etc. all add up for promotions points. When you're a Specialist/Corporal (E-4 grade) and have the required time in grade as well as in the military (around 3 years) and your chain of command feels you're ready to be promoted to Sergeant (E-5 grade) you go to a promotion board where if you pass you're put on "promotable" status. If you have the required points to get promoted (this varies for MOS) then you're promoted within the month. If you don't, you have to either wait for promotion points to be at what you have or less (this is usually the case if you're MOS' points are maxed out) or you have to keep at it with getting points until you have the amount of points necessary. Fun process, huh? Anyway, so I'm trying to go to this SOM Board with as many points as possible right now because it shows I'm proactive and focused, etc. That's why college and correspondence courses are so important.

So I've been a little stressed. To deal with the stress I've been downloading piano music by Debussy and Chopin. It's actually quite soothing. I'm thinking of downloading some of Bach's preludes and fugues to kind of mix it up. It's amazing because the medic station is in this area that's the central point to all of the convoy platoons. So it gets incredibly loud in there, and I can be very sensitive to noise depending on my stress level. So I put in my headphones, press play, and one of Chopin's Nocturnes is in my head instead of the raucus of the barn. It really helps. I also noticed that it has to be straight piano, if it's the whole orchestra it makes the stress worse because it's just too overwhelming.

Anyway, that's been what's going on for me. I'm excited about the SOM Board despite the added stress. It'll be a nice accomplishment to have on hand. Just completing it will be something; winning it would be awesome but just the process of preparing and going to it will be good because it's one of those military experiences not everyone gets and it prepares you for your future.

Alright, that's it for now. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

~TTFN. R.

Sunday Dinner

Polish Sausages, Beef Stroganoff on rice, tomatoes in milk w/ vinagar, Black Olives, potatoe wedges, salsa w/ olives, pizza, chicken tenders (dry), fries w/mayo, horseradish olives, salt and pepper, 3 apple pie slices w/ whip cream and vanilla ice cream, 2 chocolate chip cookies, 2 chocolate cheese cake slices, 1 regular cheesecake slice and 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream. We also got 2 cups of coffee for breakfast before PT in the AM.

We eat desserts on Sundays.

AAM

Army Achievement Medal. Rachel recieved this award for recognizing and acting when another soldier became a heat casualty while on mission. She treated him for heat exaustion/cramps. He was a SGT and he took the time to write a DA638 recognizing her for actions.

I was so pleased.

1SG also said that next month Rachel should be getting promoted to Specialist, which is an automatic rank after 2 years but she will get it with a 6 month early waiver...=$$$

We have been planning our mid-your leave road-trip for Nov. This is what it sounds like so far...Richmond, VA drive to Nappanee, IN to Danville, IL to FT Leonard Wood, MO to Austin, TX to Phoenix, AZ (or Tuscon?) to Valencia, CA to Bellingham, WA to Richmond, VA...if the Mt. passes all cooperate its around 7500 mile, if not we may drive farther S or just skip WA. We are so excited.

We are going to get all my clothes for this safari adventure at thrift stores since all I have here are uniforms. That should be fun all by itself...Then just drive and take pictures, eat good food and see family and friends.

Rachel just got an A on a Calculus test, can she get a Hooah!

Sleeping-Bag Thief/Hoarder

I woke up 2 mornings ago completely bereft of MY sleeping bag. It was like Goldilocks and the Three Bears in here for a sec..."someone's been sleeping in my bag and THERE she is!" You- know-who was cuddled up in it snoozing off...The funny thing is not even a week prior she was like, "That sleeping-bag is seriously upsetting me right now" I'm not joking...see I went to the wall-locker and got out my sleeping bag because although we have a plush KING size mink blanket on our humble little TWIN bed, to share, most nights by 1 AM I am working on a solid case of hypothermia... partially because our A/C is designed for an entire 1500 SQFT home and we live in a shipping container modified to make 3 rooms ea. w/ it's own A/C, and partially because Rachel steals all of the mink blanket. If I wake her while trying to repo even a corner of the blanket you'd think Hiroshima was just around the corner...I wasn't there but I hear it was something...anyway so I get my bag and do what any good soldier does, I put my feet in it but sleep under it, unzipped. I wake shorn or both the mink and my bag and she is nestled into both.



Anyway, Things are good, Rachel is getting her first Medal soon and I am so pleased. I will get photos for you all. She is also selected as the Soldier of the Month board coming up...