![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
boutell: Take a picture of yourself RIGHT NOW! Don't change your clothes. Don't fix your hair. Just take the picture. Post that picture with no editing. Post these instructions with your picture.
I just stopped by the room for lunch. I look terrible (rough day and it's only half over), but there are not that many shots of me in ACUs so here you go...
- Mood:
embarrassed
I will post about my weekend with the kids as soon as I figure out how to download my new camera (which I really like so far, btw).
- Mood:
accomplished
We have never wondered if our elderly parents or grandparents were buried alive in burning rubble.
We have never stood in the window helpless, listing to our sisters' scream as a sniper's bullet ripped through her chest.
We have never cowered in the basement clutching our children to our chests while enemy shells blew apart our small home and meager belongings.
Most Americans only know of war; we don't know war. We have the mistaken belief that we will always get to call the plays on the field. That we can always hold war at arms length. We cannot picture, I cannot picture, the United States under attack by invading forces. Because of this, so many people have taken the next step of believing not only that we could manage to never engage the U.S. military in a war, but further, we could also mostly dismantle our military because we do not have a realistic need to defend ourselves from any threats. It explains why the American psyche has been steeled against the idea of a large standing Army throughout our history.
September 11, 2001 was a wake-up call (as was December 7, 1941). The phone rang and the caller said, "Hello, this is the outside world". We had remained silent in the face of suffering because we could, because our fortunate geography gave us that option. It is horrible that it took a great tragedy for us to decide to attempt to right a wrong.
This is not about the idea that we need to insert ourselves into more world conflicts. It's to say that we should not wait until the crisis is at our doorstep. Yes, we were late in Bosnia, but our constant involvement in the region since has prevented many minor threats from growing. Sending aid organizations to give money to corupt governments will not prevent war. Sending Peace Keepers into armed conflicts has repeatedly failed and lead to additional loss of life. Who does it make sense to send, then?
WWI
WWII
Korea
Rwanda
Bosnia
What if they threw a war and the United States didn't come? I think the answer is obvious. "Let them eat cake", is not good foreign policy.
- Mood: proud to serve
When I came back from the morning training meeting, he was sitting in the chair at my desk. I tried to ignore him and work, but he was staring at me again. I let this go for as long as I could stand it, then I decided I really needed to throw him out. At first he seemed willing to leave, but he kept coming back.
I don't know what got into me, but I took a swipe at him. I wasn't really going to hit him. I just wanted to scare him a bit. His response? No lie, he smacked me right in the face. Now I was pissed. I swung at him for real and he smacked me again.
That was it! As I reached for the wood and brass plaque on the wall with every intention of killing him, he flew out the door, and down the hall. I guess it's locust season.
Links added to provide further clarification.
- Mood:
uncomfortable
I went up to Scottsdale, AZ to go shopping. Wow! I thought there was money in Delaware. Of course I ended up spending way too much. My mom gave me the heads up that I would need a business suit in a week. She suggested my Class A uniform, but it's not just something I can throw on whenever I feel like it. I would need to get permission to wear it - especially to something related to the State Department being held in DC. I would be afraid that it would look like I was the representative from the U.S. Army anytime I did or said anything. Actually, that's why I would need permission.
So I used that as an excuse to buy a business outfit since I don't have an outfit here and I figured nothing I had from my civilan life would fit. That's an understatement. The skirt and top I ended up buying were both size 2. My first suit at MBNA was a size 6. Most of my UD clothes were a size 10 (after Carson, some were even size 12). When I decided to join the Army, I planned to take the Bosnian approach to fashion: have 5 or 6 fantastic outfits for each summer and winter (10 - 12 outfits TOTAL), and not give a damn about how often I wear the same thing. If you look great, why wouldn't people want to see you in the same outfit again, right?
To make a long story short, I bought a ridiculously expensive outfit from Nordstroms (for those who follow fashion, BCBG outfit with Michael Kors shoes). Then I followed that up by buying a crazy expensive outfit for Eden. I'm not even going to say where I bought it because even the most fashion ignorant would actually smack their foreheads and shriek out loud. When I think about it though, Eden has almost always had at least one piece of designer clothing each year. Last year, she had a Benetton jacket from Germany and a pair of designer shoes from Sarajevo, and the year before that, she had a whole Benetton outfit that was purchased for her in Florence, Italy. Before that, Herb and Mimi gave her pieces from their own designs some of which were one-of-a-kind. Still, this year's purchase is over the top. I'm waiting to find out if it's even in dress code.
...and for the record I drove the 3.5 hours from Sierra Vista. It wasn't bad.
- Mood:
content
Happiness really needs to be shared. Today I felt like I made a shot from half court only to look around and find myself alone in the gym.
- Mood:
sad
I had to spend premium miles too, not just the saver award. It was painful but I had no other choice. I got stuck with purchasing a ticket on short notice and I was looking at $700+ to fly to BWI.
Most importantly, I will be seeing my Wee Man (who is now far from "wee") on his 8th birthday. I cannot wait.
- Mood: excited
Until 2:00 a.m. on November 2, Arizona is 3 hours BEHIND you. Please let's have fewer conversations like this one:
Me: Hello?
Friend: Hey, what are you doing?
Me: Sleeping
Friend: Still?
Me: Why, what are you doing?
Friend: Already finshed PT and I am standing in the chow line. I can't believe you are allowed to sleep this late.
Me: Late? It's 03:25 a.m.
Friend: Oh, sh!t...sorry...ok, so listen (attempts to continue conversation as I hang up and turn off my phone)
- Mood:
sleepy
I know some people cannot stand political talk so I am giving fair warning that this is about politics.
I have been watching a crazy amount of CNN. I really dislike where the election debates are going. I really wish we could get back to the issues, but if we did, it would be the first time in US history so I am not hopeful. I want to comment on two really dumb things that viewers e-mailed into the show.
In response to CNN's commentary that Obama's campaign has turned negative over this last week, a McCain supporter wrote in and complained:
"Obama has been negative the whole time. He started equating McCain with Bush months ago."
So is the official republican point of view that being compared to Bush is an insult? I will be interested to see how the republicans play things at their convention. Will they continue to argue that things are going great or will they try to pretend that he doesn't exist at all?
Today a former Clinton supporter wrote:
"Obama cut off his nose to spite his face by not choosing Clinton as his running mate. I'm voting for McCain."
Wow. This woman needs to have someone explain to her what it means to cut of one's nose to spite one's face. I believe the definition would be voting for McCain because Clinton isn't on the ticket.
This all said, I really can't say I am crazy about my options. I am nervous about Biden for one reason: he has repeatedly said Iraq conflict should be settled like Bosnia and seems to imagine that Bosnia is a success story. No. Wonderful place...screwed up government. It is certainly not a success. My hesitancy about Obama is less specific. What I do like is that in general, he appears to be very well liked here and abroad. That one thing is very important in my book.
Not advocating one candidate over the other, people need to look at their own core values and really think about what matters to them and vote accordingly. We all need to avoid getting bogged down in the "Obama's middle name is Hussein" or the "McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns*" types of arguments.
Last but not least, to those who want change, what are you doing besides waiting for it to come? I have embraced the idea that if you want something fixed, fix it. People get tired of listening to b*tching that is not backed up by any actions.
*Note to Democratic campaign mangers: In the last election, Bush didn't know what businesses he owed; he still won. Just drop it.
- Mood: motivated