DRUGS!!!

I've always had a gigantic fear of the dentist, today was no exception. I had 2 extractions preformed today. Top, left side 2nd to last; bottom, right side last tooth. I have almost no molars. This comes on the heels of 1 root canal, 1 stainless steel cap and 8 fillings! Oh well, high as a kite, about to have some soup :) Good night all

Been a long time now

It's been quite a while since I've thrown up anything here. A lot has changed since I've been on here...let's start with the oldest :)

September 17th 2010 I proposed to my high school sweetheart, we were wed on the 21st of May 2011. 13Stoploss did our photo's and they were AMAZING! Professional quality. Thank you again good friend. Sorry Mrs. 13Stoploss and the lil 13's couldn't come.

Mrs. Foxtrot and I took our honeymoon in Pagosa Springs, Co. We will be going back :)

After getting back from our honeymoon it was almost time for my National Guard training. As usual, there's a lot of kisses and hugs shared between a husband and a wife before one of them has to go away for awhile. After getting back we decided to get a dog that we named Bear (looked like a black bear cub). Some time in late August the Mrs started to feel sick, 2 tests later and we found out we were expecting a little Ms. 11Foxtrot.

Currently the Mrs is about to pop! Hopefully our little one comes out right on time, March 29th! I can't wait to be a daddy, somewhat scared as it's our first, but excited.

Most importantly though, I've completed 8yrs of federal service. 5yrs Active duty and 3 National Guard. Thank the good Lord I made it.

I guess that about catches everything up for the last 3ish years. Check back soon for another update.

Sorry for the delay y'all, Thanks for waiting :)

All About Me

Today I have a speech assignment due. It's due in about 4hrs. I have 3-5mins to stand in front of the class and talk about myself. I so desire to spend the whole time scaring the shit out of people with the horrors of war, but I know that isn't the right thing to do.

I had to listen to some Air force kid talk about being a JTAC he was only in for 6months before he was discharged for bad eyesight...I think the JTAC school takes 6months, sooo he never made it I'd guess. Some girl talking about her 19yr old boy toy already having done 3tours over seas...now that is possible, but highly improbable. It irks me to no end.

I also need to bring a visual prop, hmmm what to bring? My haji scarf? A uniform top? Wear my combat boots? or how bout the Qu'ran I got off a dead Haji? Who knows. Maybe I won't even talk about it at all...who knows.

I just wish some days that I would have never done the Army thing. I just want to be a "normal" 25yr old male. I hate being as old as some as my teachers, it's hard to listen to them. I don't get quite as angry anymore, I've been seeing a VA Dr for PTSD, I've told my fiance about things and its seemed to help.

I geuss I should get to writing my speech.

RIP SPC Alvarez

I can honestly say I don't know what to feel. I lost a soldier in a tragic motorcycle accident.(Obituary here) I'm some what shocked it happened, Joseph Alvarez was an excellent soldier, a credit to his family and an example for all other soldiers. I never had any complaints about anything he did. He will truly be missed by all. God bless the Alvarez family.

Spring Morning

The air is heavy with moisture; a sweet, sticky spring morning with a promise of rain.
A light southern breeze off the gulf brings moist cool air to my back,
I can hear the tobacco igniting as I inhale the toxic smoke from my Sky Dancer.
There's an air-conditioner humming in the distance. The grackle is ca caing at a small sparrow.
Mocking birds are fighting over a branch somewhere in the Junipers.
I hang my head as I exhale the smoke, looking at the monkey grass, I expect it to grow as I watch it.
I can see pill-bugs, marching across the mulch towards a minuscule mushroom, expecting to find food.
A small beetle skitters in front of my feet, almost expecting my to crunch his hard, green, shimmery shell.
My last puff, exhaling I smile,
I have found peace, among the hustle and bustle of this fast paced, dog-eat-dog world I have found it.

It's moments like these that I long for.

I separate what's left of the cherry from the butt(old habits die hard) and flick it over the railing.
Sleep will come easy this morning.

Oakleys and Assault Packs

In my time in the Army I learned two very important things:

1-The Army issues crappy gear because it's cheap and mass produced
2-Pack light, freeze at night

These things were taught to me by very wise older brother figures who I still consider some of my best friends. The first thing I ever did was replace the crappy ESS safety glasses with some slick looking M-Frame Oakleys. The normal lens you'd see looked similar to the ESS lens. (Very blocky and square) The alternative was a bad ass "swoop" style lens, I bought this one. In any branch of the military there are very few things that you can wear all the time that set you apart, I mean let's face it, appearance is everything in the service. Your tattoos and shades were just a couple of the items on the short list of items you could customize. As The Usual Suspect said in his blog, you miss the things you did when you were in.

The next major purchase I made was an Assault pack made by Blackhawk. An OD Green, 3-day Assault pack. I could make everything fit and it was comfortable to wear. I loved it so much I never used another issued assault pack. I carried it through both deployments and still carry my books in it today.

I left the Army in February of last year, I left with my Assault pack on my seat sporting my Oakley Half Jacket XLJ's. Every time I go outside I sport them. I've noticed that where I live the Half Jackets are very popular. I also realized that I look almost like every other tool that wears them. Except for one thing...

My Oakleys have seen things that most men could not and don't imagine. They've seen the most beautiful sunsets imaginable in a country full of people that care only to live their lives. They've seen children playing with wire, tires and other odd toys with no desire for anything other than happiness. They've also seen people in trouble, friends who have been changed, never to return home the same. Power plays, minor miracles, and major tragedies. My Oakleys have seen the the worst in the world and watched the good become better. My Oakleys have seen it all...most importantly I have seen it all. For this reason I know I'm not just another tool concerned with the newest toys, the coolest cars, the hottest girls or the latest drugs.

I will continue to sport my shades when the sun is out, while carrying my OD Green assault pack as a book bag. I will continue to defend my service as honorable. I will continue to march on with my life; one step at a time, because sometimes that's all I can handle.

Rice and Gunsfire

A couple hours ago I was eating a pizza I shouldn't have bought, with the money I really don't have to spare, in my room while watching the television. 315 channels of included cable and not a damn thing on. CNN popped on and to my dismay two young Haitian (spelling?) men have been shot for "stealing" bags of rice. None of the locals in the area think the rice was stolen, and disagree with them being shot.

Side note:
I am truly dismayed and wish I could be down in Haiti with Team Rubicon but don't have the means(not sure how that would work out with the GI Bill either).

I immediately became infuriated as I watched a young man die. CNN Reporter Karl Penhaul and his camera man (whose name I don't know) film this man dying in the middle of the street. I understand we aren't supposed to interfere with police business, but THE POLICE HAVE LEFT THE SCENE!!

What the hell?!??!

What irks me even more is that there are obviously other foreigners standing around that do nothing. I understand that TV is not a good place to learn your first aid techniques but come on, one of the basic things you CAN learn from TV shows is attempt to stop the bleeding. The very least you could do as a fucking human being is hold his fucking hand as you watch him suffocate on the blood pooling in his lungs!!!

Sorry, I really don't know who to hate, the media or society for choosing to allow the media to broadcast a/an horrific event such as that. Who do I have to petition to get such things stopped?

Go to CNN's website and look under their videos section, the international tab, "Haiti Summary Execution" if you must watch it.

What is our world coming too?