Back to the Box....

Well I broke down and decided to go with the job overseas... I am currently living in a hotel room drinking a beer and watching TV.... my life is super exciting.  I should be heading overseas any time and back to the otherside of the world...  and then when I get back I will probably have a great potential of moving to Tucson AZ.  I don't know if I am ready for a move that big but we shall see...

What to do....

So the last you've heard I was and am in the dot business... I can say with a passion I do not like it. Apparently after leading a fairly caution free life of doing stuff that some people would probably call dumb your body breaks down. I hurt.... my back, my feet, my knees... all of which stem from previous injuries brought on by something that I have hurt in the past. I don't like the job but on the same token the job keeps me stateside. I have a potential job offer to go back to Afghanistan to fly the UAV's again, if I get offered it there is a very good possibility that I will take it. Unfortunately for me I am dating a very awesome girl whom I know wouldn't be to keen on my being gone for six months at a time. Now normally in this situation I would either not be dating anyone or the person I was with I wouldn't really feel like I needed to get their input on the situation. But with her I do... and did. She seemed fairly supportive in the reasons I had for going, but I know that deep down she would really really rather I didn't go. Granted I am not saying that I am looking forward to the opportunity to frequent that country again, although last time I wasn't able to get that vacation property... maybe this time? Anyways I am quite torn, I care about her and I want to make her happy, but at the same time this job has a potential to grow into some thing quite lucrative if I approach it right which in the long run would be beneficial to both of us in the future. That's another thing, I haven't ever talked about the future when referring to a relationship..... I'm the first one to kibosh that. But I find it fun and exciting with her. I will be flying out to see her over the labor day weekend then I fly home and turn around and get back on a plane to Hawaii for 5 days for Effen Ben's wedding. This is going to be a very busy couple of weeks and not a lot of dots. Although that also means no money will be coming my way. We shall see what happens I suppose. I guess its time for me to go to bed. Maybe I can turn the brain off for a little while.

Dots.....

Well since I have last written I have started working on a new job... my job? Dots... approximately 60 miles of dots... I haven't walked so much in one week... ever? I can't give particulars but I can give that I am sore. Even being a Green Beret I don't know that I have walked so much on a regular basis as I have for this job. But while I have found a job I don't particularly like I have found a nice young woman that I do like. The only problem is that she lives quite a ways away from where I do... like across the country... We are trying to figure out how to see each other more often, only problem is that we are two very busy people. So coordinating time off and weekends to get together is proving some what difficult. But we will figure it out I am sure. Anyways I am really sore and worn out and I think that pizza and beer will be in order for dinner tonight.

History in the making.

As I am sitting here watching the news on how Osama Bin Laden was killed by a group of Navy SEALs, I can't help but wonder. I know that I would love to jump up and down in joy knowing that the irrational close minded bastard that planned and executed an attack on my home turf, and that same man is the leader of the group that follows him to the irrational thinking that all westerners are infidels. That group being the same people that are responsible for killing my brothers and sisters in arms, my friends.... Although in the same thought I am very nervous, becuase those same people that we haven't caught that we continue to fight, those same people that my friends are overseas fighting right now. Those people are not going to take this lightly, I fear that they will try to step up their fight to avenge their fallen leader. I am worried that they will try and bring that fight here again. I hope that we have the proper steps in place to prevent such an attack, but you never know. So while I am happy and thankful that there is one less threat to our safety, I am nervous to the retaliation that may occur.

Guess sleep is for losers.

Well my ability to not sleep is back... awesome. I apparently have a lot on my mind. Most of which is hinging on my job interview in the morning. I think that I really want the job, which would open up a lot of opportunities for me. I would be able to buy the house I am looking at. I wouldn't have to do contracting anymore, which would mean I don't deploy unless the guard takes me and I think that it would be a fun job. So all of that combined to lead me to my sleeplessness. All in all I have had a pretty decent weekend. Went to the Husky game we beat Syracuse. Granted it wasn't pretty, the Seahawks pulled out a good win and I have won in both my fantasy leagues... So I am hoping that I havent' used up all my good luck just yet. On a sad not my sister is pretty upset. Her dog Marley was hit by a car this evening, I feel awful for her. I know how that feels. Luckily there are no broken bones and worse case scenario is that she will have some nerve damage. Hopefully she will make a full recovery. Well I guess I have vented enough for now guess I will try and get some sleep.

Never Forget

9 Years.... Has it really been 9 years? It blows my mind how fast time goes by. I can totally remember where I was and what I was doing at the time of one of the most turmoltuous times in american history, but then again so can any other american that was of an age to be remembering such attrocities.
I was driving back to my house tonight as I watched the clock change to midnight and I saw the date change from 9/10/10 to 9/11/10 and I almost instantly had tears in my eyes. Becuase of that day my life was changed forever. Whether I realized it or not I had no idea what life had in store for me and still to this day really don't. I like most people have known someone, be it a loved one, family, friend, aquaintence or really just anyone in your life that has been affected by that day. I know I am not alone. Now while I didn't know anyone in the towers or pentagon or on any of the planes. I have lost friends, mentors, schoolmates etc. to the war that ensued becuase of that day. And it enfuriates me to see these people that protest and that take for granted the liberties that I gave up in order for them to do what they do. They have such a closed outlook on life that they really don't know what it is that they are protesting against. I know a lot of the people will say " I support the troops not the war" well its the troops that are in the war. Regardless of who you are for or against its these men and women who are out there everyday putting their life on the line. It was these men and women who had enough will power to step up and say "yes take me". The only thing that upsets me more than the everyday protesters is my fellow soldiers that refuse to fight.... especially the ones who have signed the line after 9-11... they knew full on what they were getting in to. It kills me to see these troops that think its the right idea only to back out last minute. To me that is worse than not sigining up at all... But enough of that... this day is to remember the thousands of united states citizens that have been lost in the past nine years. This day is to remember that no matter what those who have fallen were someones Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Son, Daughter...... they meant something to someone somewhere. And while I personally have know a few people lost to this war, there are far to many that I never got a chance to meet. I hope that regardless of your views on the world today that we can all take a moment to reflect on those true heros that are no longer with us.

The District

Okay so been a month or so since I have posted anything, and if it weren't that I have problems remembering yesterday I would totally catch you all up on what I have been doing. Nothing too crazy. I went on a trip the East Coast to visit with some friends whom I haven't seen in quite some time. I started the week of madness on a golf course in Tacoma, Wa. At 10 am I show up and low and behold alot of my old fraternity brothers are there. We spend time catching up over some drinks and well some more drinks. That finished up after 18 holes of golf and who knows how many drinks. I wasn't able to stay for the dinner becuase, well I had a flight to catch. So I get back home and grab my bags change a shirt and I'm off. I spend the night flying to the other side of the states land in Boston, with a hangover and a mad case of cotton mouth. So first thing I grab a bottle of water and big ole yogurt from starbucks. I go to the departure board to find my flight. I see a flight to Raleigh but it just doesn't look like my flight. I go to the gate and of course no one is there. So I go find another gate and ask the lady to look up the flight I am supposed to be on. She finds it and kindly points me in the right directions... out of the terminal an to the other side of the airport.... I am slowly starting to dislike Boston's airport. I mosey on down to the proper area and as I am coming up on security I remember I still have a huge water and yogurt that I just bought.... so I proceed to wolf down the yogurt and down the bottle of water while I was in line. I get up to security and they have two lines well one line really. One for the body X-ray and one empty line for the metal detector. I walk up with my military ID in hand, the guy asks me what branch, even though it says on it then tells me I can skip the X-ray and go through metal detector. Which was good. I finally get to my gate and just want to veg out.... only the gate area smells like vomit. I was sick from the smell. Well then I get on the flight and land in Raleigh no problem. My friend picked me up and we went back to his place. Spent the next day or two there then myself and two friends and their wives drove up to DC. We get up there and meet up with my other friend that I am crashing with. I haven't seen him in over 5 years. So we stayed up till the wee hours catching up on life drinking a couple beers. Got up the next day and went to the natural history museum and the spy museum. It was fun kind of just walked around DC. That night I called another friend who lives in DC and told him I was in town, he tells me a mutual friend from WA is out staying with him. So all the guys end up going out and getting absolutly trashed, I ended up leaving the bar and going to Virginia in a cab. I woke up in a hotel room not really sure where I was the next day... I figured it out when I went to check out. I got on the subway and made my way back to my friends apartment. Needless to say I was quite hungover. That next day we just kind of bummed around the local area where we were staying. Then we all got ready to go to Georgetown that night. Its a neat little part of the city. Its been quite modernized but it still retains the old historicalness that makes it neat. We didn't get too crazy that night. I think we were still feeling it from the night before. Then the next morning we got up ate and left. I flew out the early morning flight from Raleigh, my friend was kind enough to drive all the way back to Raleigh only just a few hours after he drove all the way back to Fayettville from DC which is about 5 hours. I landed in Seattle at 11 am and found out that my bags stayed in Atlanta. Not to stoked about that. I can understand if my bags had to go to the other side of the airport and that I only had about a 20 min layover... no the plane I got off of and the plane I got on were literally next to each other. The two other people that were on the same flight didn't get their bags either. I don't get it, and I had over an hour layover. Oh well it got delivered that afternoon. Well I need to go to bed seeing as I am nursing a cold... Probably drank away my immune system this past week. Glad I don't do this all the time.

Back Home

Ok, so I am back home to washington and I have never really realized that its pretty humid here. After spending two weeks in the heat in utah and coming back home I have realized that its not really a dry heat here. I think that I have figured that out by the amount of sweat that continues to pour out of me. I don't really have anything exciting to write about now. I am just at home waiting for the next chapter to open up. I will be going to DC over labor day weekend to visit some friends and possibly go to arlington to visit some other friends, although I don't know that I am ready for that just yet. So this one is going to be short and sweet for two reasons, I have to be up early tomorrow and I am pretty tired already. So until next time. Peace out!

Mormanland the happiest place on earth?

So been a bit since I have wrtitten. I am in Salt Lake City right now. And it is just an interesting town... There are so many young families here, and while I don't know alot about the mormon relgion I do know that the are very family oriented so I guess that makes sense. There is also a ton of fit people here. Its not like seattle where you see big people all over. No its awkwardly skinny here. Although I have gone out the past couple nights and seen more big people at the clubs and bars than I did all day walking around the city. I went in to the mothership for the mormans too... well not all the way in. I don't think I am allowed to go inside but I did go to the Temple square. My friend Ruri and I have come to the conclusion that the reason the mormans were able to get so big out here was that they had a monopoly on the water supply. I have never seen so many fountains and small man made creeks in a desert ever. Also while walking around the temple square all the guides had little flags so they can see what languages each person talks. So really the whole I don't speak english wont cut it here. They will call your bluff. I am down here not to study the mormans but to do communications classes for the army. I did a network + class last week and it was like drinking water through a firehose. I was quite lost most of the week and really didn't expect to pass the test. Which I wasn't too worried about becuase I had another voucher to take the test. But amazingly I passed with the lowest possible score. So I don't need to take the test again. Kinda relieved about that. Next week should be easier I am actually working with radios so that should be easier. I am thinking that I am going to go to Park City today. I have never been before and I have heard good things about it. So we shall see what happens. Well I am going to lunch so enough for now.

Moss.... My new enemy!

Well today I told my mother I would go help her out by cleaning off the moss on her roof... if you didn't know her roof is huge! And well living in washington is all good it does happen to rain on occasion.... and that doesn't help with the moss problem. I got home last night and was talking to my roommate Aaron about it, he said I should get a harness and rope and stuff so I don't fall off and kill myself. The proud man in me said Pshhh, like I would fall. I have the reflexes of a cat. Well after thinking it over and remembering that the last time I was up there I fell off I decided to get a harness. Becuase I fell off last time I was 17 and nimble, still in the bouncy stage.... I am 30 now and I don't quite bounce as well even though I am rounder. Anyways I got down there around noon, was a little hungry so I had some cold fried chicken and home-made potatoe salad. After lunch I ventured up on the roof and set in the harness, alot easier than I thought it would be. Although the shingles were a little rotten on the top so I had to set in the anchor in a horizontal fashion. I had told my mom that she needed to get a hard bristled brush to get the moss off easier. Well she did and she got the super go go gadget brush handle. This thing was super long and impossible to work with. So we break out the pressure washer, well it was too strong and was chewing through the shingles. Well then we take off the pressure washer and put on the Nozzle, and that was too soft, so goldilocks tried the third bed and it was just right... oh wait wrong story. So I got down and went into the hardware store looking for new brushes... went to the wrong side first and was very distracted by the wrist rockets.... I almost bought one, but I thought about it and kinda realized I would never have a place to use it so I used what little will power I had and continued my search for the perfect brush.... I ended up doing a lap around the store. If I had just turned right upon going into the store I would have found them no problem... and my mom had acutally told me that, just goes to show I still don't listen to her. I found the brushes, and after looking through them all I have found the perfect brush! It swivels and turns in all different directions, and it has short strong bristles! How can it possibly be wrong? I am pretty sure I heard angles singing when I picked it up too. So I grabbed that brush and just in case I broke out the hose again I wanted a better nozzle. In my travles around the vast hardware store I remembered seeing a hose section so I trecked back to the green rubber wonderland. I found a twofer nozzle set, one was the kind with like a bagillion settings and the other was a trigger type adjustable nozzle, once again the angelic voices on high sang out as I picked up the item. Well I walked toward the counter and strangly made a sharp right hand turn just before the cash register and before I knew it I was staring face to face with the sling shots again. I once again had to tell myself it was a silly purchase and to just keep walking. I finally made it back to the check out. I paid for my items and had to explain to the nice ladies at the check out that my phone was not some strange space age object but a telephone. I get back to the house unwrapped my suprises, kinda sad that the sling shot wasn't a part of it. I then got up on the roof and began to scrape off the moss with the sweet new angelic brush..... after about five or so nice strong pushes with said broom the handle popped off and crushed my hopes and dreams. I put it back on and after about 5 or some more pushes it did it again....now its starting to make me mad. Well my mom was already planning on going and getting a new one becuase she didn't like this one either. So she left and I continued sweep for a few minutes and the brush head popped easier and easier enough to the pint that I just threw it off the roof in hopes of a small explosion or something. Well I had to wait for my mom to get back which took some time. When she finally did I got back up on the roof with the new brush which worked quite well... only by this time I was pretty tired and worn out from the sun. I got about a quarter of the way through and had to stop. I am going to go back in a couple days to finish the job. Well I got quite a sunburn today and I am sure I will be sore tomorrow.