Thank You

Hello All

It has been a while since my last post.  You would think I would have a good bit of content, given the long period of inactivity, however I don't.  The main purpose of this is to say Thank you.  

I have managed to find my way back home, and this time it is more than just a visit, it is for good.  The past couple of years have been the most interesting and trying times of my life.  I want to say thank you for all you support and at time, patience. 

I am working on cleaning up some pictures of my time in the Mid East, they should be ready in the next week or so.  Some are cool, some are sad and some are just odd.  Anyhow, it is good to be home, back in civilization, or something that resembles civilization.

Up next….. My take on the Presidential Candidates, you may be shocked at my report!!

4:46 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Embargo

I have received several questions about my headline.  So here it is…… 

"Now that the MySpace embargo has been lifted."  Just under a year ago the government decided that they would block MySpace from the servers for several reasons.  The public reason that they made policy was that it proved to destroy morale more than the media.  Now that is saying something.  That made other contractors and their upper level management look at some things, and everyone followed suit.  The problem was that people, mainly men were getting on MySpace and seeing their wife, girlfriend, significant other on the site listed as single or looking to meet people for dating purposes and what not.  Then when the person dug deeper obviously they didn't like what they saw.   In the States, this would be no big deal.  Fine, the relationship is over and move forward.  There is an element of hurt, but it doesn't have the same affect there that it does here.  While in both continents there is that feeling of betrayal, but when you are displaced from your home and loved ones in a volatile environment, working and sacrificing for those same loved ones back home, and you make this discovery, there is also a feeling of helplessness.  That is the most horrible feeling in the world. 

Some may be asking ….. So what?  What's the big deal?  Well the problem is two fold.  There is a personal affect on the individual, and if the situation is bad enough or the person just takes it way to hard, then it can have a ripple effect on everything.  In the states you might be late for work, or opt on take out and shut yourself in.  Here if your head is not right, then others can pay the price for that.  In some cases, the ultimate price.  So it was decided that MySpace was not a good idea.  There were enough people that complained and had it released… somewhat.  The powers that be decided that they wanted to offer an obstacle to the MySpace thing so the only way it is available is if you pay for internet in you living facilities.  It is not available in the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) centers, and most definitely not available on company computers.    

It is only a matter of time before it is shut down all together.  That is too bad, because there are people that made good decisions on their significant others and the web page is used as an uplift.  As it goes, the few will ruin it for everyone. 

8:57 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

goulash?!?

There is so much that I want to talk about.  Where to start?  If you were thinking this was going to have a singular theme…..sorry, not so much.  This will most likely be a montage of observations. 

It has been an interesting stretch in my life since my last post.  I was on CNN for just under 3 seconds.  That was kind of cool.  There was no audio, but the camera passed by where I was and I was in the shot for just under 3 seconds.  If the circumstances were different it would have been a fond memory.  I guess it was like Mid. East Cool.  Sometimes you take what you can get. 

It became clear that there were some people in my life back in the states that I just didn't need.  There are some people that simply misrepresent themselves and think you are just ignorant.  Mostly that comes from the ignorant themselves.  I have been guilty of wanting to be more than what I am, but I don't think I ever had malice intent. 

7:51 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Stubborn as a mule in Kabul

So, I have told this story and the two people I have told it to think it is funny, so I will share it with you. 

About a month ago I was on a convoy run in the Kabul area.  There was a vehicle that we would take that always had problems.  So in the middle of Kabul, the vehicle had some trouble.  It wouldn't go anymore.  This will be the theme of this story, thing not going.  We have protocol when things like this happen so it was business as usual.  This was a bit unsettling, because it was in the middle of downtown Kabul.  Yes there is a downtown Kabul.  The other civilians were transferred unaffected by the car trouble, but I stayed behind until the tow truck could come and pick the vehicle up.  We established a parameter, assessed the situation as best we could and waited.  There was a disturbance I noticed about 20 meters from my location.  I don't think I am eloquent enough to describe the surroundings so this will make total sense, but I will try.  If you can imagine a busy downtown traffic circle, with countless street vendors, and hundreds of Afghani's walking about handling the business of the day with lots of cars and busses in a small area and lots of congestion… that is the scene.  Most of the street vendors have home made wood carts and stands they have made to display what they are selling.  Goat, fruit, and vegetables, are the most common selections, but there are other things as well.  The goats are strung up by string, not refrigerated,  and magnets for bugs and other nasty pathogens.  The fruit and vegetables are not held to the same FDA standards we are accustomed to here in the U.S.  It is wheels off and unstable all at the same time. 

Back to the story.

The disturbance I noticed was what could only be described as a labor dispute or a labor strike.  This was not the classic case of the worker bees revolting aganst management, but it was the owner of a mule and the mule.  The mule obviously served as a mode of transportation for the man.  The mule was attached to a cart.  The cart was used to transport various things and at times the man.  This is a common shipping method in Afghanistan.  It is good for around town, you just don't want to take it on long trips.  The mule decided his work day was over, or that he was holding out for a better collective bargaining agreement.  This was obviously not the best time for the labor strike as far as the man was concerned.  So negotiations commenced.  The man was using all means of persuasion he had.  The mule was standing flat footed and not budging.  About 5 minuets into negotiations, the man employed an old negotiation tactic.  In a board room this works, well the first part anyhow.  The man stopped yelling and waving his arms erratically, and started to walk off.  That is the part that usually works.  He may have had something if he would not have improvised.  Instead of continuing to walk he stopped when he reached the south end of the mule and took his position.  He then raised his hand above his head and gave the mule a good slap.  I mean it was a good one.  (Easy PETA, more to follow)  The mule didn't take well to being slapped.  Perhaps that was part of the reasons for striking in the first place.  So the mule did what it does best.  In almost a cartoonish fashion, the mule kicked the man.  I mean kicked him good.  The kick sent the man tumbling over backwards into another street vender's shop causing the goat that was for sale to fall to the ground.  This infuriated the street vender that the bulk of his product had just been displaced by a man tumbling into his cart, so the street vender gave the man a couple of good kicks and swats.  The man tried his hand at negotiation with the street vender presumably to get him to stop beating him.  After all he was just donkey kicked, and he lives in Afghanistan, how great could his day be going.  From what I gather his new conflict with the street vender was quickly resolved with a purchase of a bottle of water from a third party street vendor, and the man helped the vender string his goat back up and using part of the bottle of water to wash it off.  The remaining water was given to the street vendor.  So in a five minuet time frame this man's mule halted work, kicked him, causing him to tumble into another cart, was beat a little more by some other dude, was out the money for the bottle water, and didn't even get to drink the rest.  All the while the mule is still standing in the same spot. 

Not long after all amends were made to the vendor, the tow truck arrived and picked up our vehicle, and took us back to camp.  I'm almost sad that the vehicle was dismantled and used for spare parts.  Think of all the insane things I could have seen every time the thing broke down on us.  I hope the man didn't have the same idea about the mule. 

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Political Leanings Shifting?
Current mood: thirsty

For those of you that know me, know that I am loyal to political affiliations.  Mainly because that is how I grew up.  If you are the few that know me and are reading this I am concerned.  Not because it may offend you, or anything like that, but seriously… there are much more intelligent things to read and probably more entertaining.  I would suggest Grizzy.  He can be found on my friend page.  So back to the rant, I mean blog. 

So after the debate last night all the critics are putting their two cents in.  Many people I know are anxiously awaiting the Republican debate.  I fear the debate.  Not because I think I will be let down due to an expectation of entertainment, but I think it will bring to life that my party is dead, and by the look of things there is a do not resuscitate order.  This would be a great country if politicians lived in Canada or Mexico.   Then who would run the country you ask?  The people that should…. The people that have the interest of the people in mind.  Not the special interest groups.  I know that is lofty and unrealistic, but a guy can dream cant he.  I do not see a candidate that represents my interest.  There are some that I could Frankenstein, but that would just be odd. 

I don't think the Republicans could put anyone on the ballot that would be electable.  With seeming apathy they have had on some issues, I don't think that is a bad thing.  Perhaps the party needs to start from square 1 and work their way back to reality, back to the people.  Please save the when have they ever been for the people and in reality comments.  History outlines that fact well.  Just as well as it outlines the fact some of the greatest war time presidents have been democrats.    

Please don't get me wrong, I will not be joining the ranks of the Michael Moore's anytime soon, or ever, nor will I be requesting membership to the DNC.  The third party should be called the Accountable Party.  What a wrench that will put in the political machine that is Washington D.C.!   

I know all this pales in comparison to the real troubles we face in the world today what with Lindsay Lohan and the trouble this poor girl is facing.  I mean seriously rehab again… Save the bed space for someone that wants and needs it.

7:32 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Debate
Current mood: thirsty

I had a chance to watch some of the YouTube debate tonight.  I think a lot of people expected direct questions with direct answers.  I guess they forgot that the politicians were involved.  Most of them put on a good show, but I will disagree on most of what they had to say.  I agree with the fact our domestic policy needs to be fixed, and they all had wonderful ideas to fix it.  My question is…. Who is going to pay for all of this?  The perception is that the Democrats are the giving party.  That is probably true, but they want to be giving with my money.  I want people to have health care, I want people to live above the poverty line, I want people to get a fair shake in society.  I also believe in empowerment of the people and let them make it.  Let's get away from this entitlement mentality.  The people that have the greatest success in this country are the people that have worked for what they have.  It is not the people that look for a hand out.  There is nothing wrong with helping people, but we can not expect others to sacrifice their works because someone doesn't want to put forth the effort. 

If I were to run for office, my platform would be simple.  Campaign Slogan would be, "KNOCK IT OFF"  

That would cover every issue that we face today, and not garble or dilute it with the BS we have become so accustom to hearing from the usual suspects.  Not PC but practical. 

1. Terrorism -         KNOCK IT OFF
2. Crime -             KNOCK IT OFF
3. Poverty-            KNOCK IT OFF
4. No health care - KNOCK IT OFF
5. NOT REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE - KNOCK IT OFF

And the whole immigration thing.  Illegal immigration - KNOCK IT OFF.   We need  to quit rewarding people for breaking the law.  Immigrants and Citizens alike.   

There is no way I would ever be elected.  I would take a back to basics approach.  Not to mention it is hard to campaign from here.

8:00 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Shocking

Thanks to all of you that have stepped up and offered your support.  It has been a crazy month.  Lots of shenanigans.  I have always wanted to use that word.  I have been less than loving and spiritual lately.  Just today, I told someone that in his spare time, if he would un-F$&k himself that would be great.  Yesterday, someone was told that working with them was like having a funny face contest with retarded children.  That is what I have been up to dealing with clowns.  I'm not incredibly proud that I have talked to these people like that, I just have.  There are things going on state side that I have no control over, and I have let it filter into my work life.  NOT GOOD! 

The things that I was not going to put off until tomorrow, all of them started right away as planned.  With the exception of being more tolerant to the people I work with.  That has not gone so well as of late. 

I have been a basket case lately, so all of you that have been friends....thank you.  Your support will be remembered. 

I know...not the best blog, but I have nothing else. 

1:04 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Lost in Translation

OK so I will not start this blog off with a question.  An observation.  I was watching a CNN news feed.  That in itself is usually enough to get me spun up on something.  I think they are not paid my Ted Turner, but by either his ex-wife or the people that we are engaged against in combat.  Or so it seems at times.  That is not to say the entire organization is borderline treasonous or seditious, there is simply a lack of accountability.  The same could be said about Fox news, not so much the giving aid and comfort to the enemy, or spreading the morale deflation messages, but being bias and slanted.  I am grateful for the lack of sedition from Fox, but find most of the host blow-hards.   

I don't know when this aired originally, but it was on here at work at 3 A.M….ish.  That would be 5:30 P.M. central daylight time.  The story revolved around how horrible government officials treat people who protest the war.  We are all bad people…. Anything government is bad…… usual rhetoric.  That crap we come to expect.  People are entitled to their opinions.  We still have a job to do, and if we don't do a good job, then these morons won't have the right and opportunity to call us murders, war mongers, imperialist, international criminals, mercenaries, I could increase the list, but you get the drift.  The overwhelming majority of the same people say things like "I support the troops, but I don't support the war."  I expect that out of the anti-establishment folks that never made it out of high school.  That is a sound bite they heard from some talking head and ran with it.  The people that surprise me, are the ones that are in academia, the well educated, and the like.  The reason I find this as equally shocking as I do appalling, is…. How can you make that statement and be intellectually honest?   

Please allow me to translate. 

The Politician will say and what that really means:  I voted to send you into harms way, so I support you.  However, I have licked my finger and held it up to the political winds and see that this is not popular anymore.  Mainly because the results were not microwaveable.  So now I still support you, but I will put fort a supplemental spending bill that is designed to cut your funding off.  We know that the bad guys are well funded, and for them to get supplies, they just go get them, but we as politicians will make it as difficult as possible for you to prosecute this war.  While we are on the subject of prosecution, we as a government will under no circumstances prosecute this war as aggressively or zealously as we prosecute those who fight the war.  While the people that we take prisoner will be treated as if they are in a resort, given the best medical care, more good food than they have ever had in their lives… they are not to be uncomfortable in any way, even though they were killing your friends and innocent civilians, men women and children just hours before.  We want to show them good old American hospitality.  They are not to be made fun of or talked down to, nor at anytime are you to raise your voice at them, because they are people too.  The same people that if we just left them alone they would leave us alone.  It is our job to help them.  If only they could get some counseling, or get in touch with the inner terrorist, I mean child, then everything would be fixed.  It is our fault that when U.S. prisoners are captured that they are decapitated.  They are products of their environment.   So just remember that we politicians support you, just not what you do, and always remember, we as a government will not prosecute the war as aggressively as we prosecute you that fight the war on our behalf, we will handcuff you as much as possible.  We will undermine your morale, funding, and mission at every opportunity for political gain, and we will never admit to the fact that war is not about politics, it is about winning.  You see something happened after the greatest generation, someone or something neutered us as a nation.  But we support you…and hate America, and moreover we hate the administration so much that we want you to die, to make him look bad.  We are not going to let silly things like facts get in our way.    

 The random protester will say:   Hey-Hey-Ho-Ho- blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, f-ing blah!  What that means is …. I'm an idiot.  I protest the war, and if our troops loose, then I am in a world of hurt, because I will be the first the terror groups will get rid of, because of my insane beliefs.  I should get a job, and contribute to society, but instead I will block hard working people from going to work so they can provide for their family, I will invoke the constitution, when it fits me.  I will make no attempt to fit myself to the constitution.   I think I have the right to assemble and do what ever I want.  If only someone had some white out for that pesky constitution we could get rid of the peacefully assemble.  (side note to all judges)  I assume you have read the constitution, I hear it is required reading for judges.  We as protesters have made significant strides in the past 40 years.  The men and women that fight over seas today, we can still spit on them as we did when they returned home from Vietnam.  Now thanks to propaganda, the lack of education and a moral decay in society, we don't have to wait until they get home, we can spit on them form thousands of miles away.  Those of us that did that sort of thing 40 years ago, some are now called congressmen and women. 

I would say:  Both groups are no different.  One just dresses a bit nicer.  Both are about as f'd up as a football bat in a hockey game  on grass with ice skates….. or a soup sandwich.  CLOWNS!  Back to the CNN news story.  There is a popular George Orwell quote that people like to use when protesting the military.  It was something in the story that they showed over and over again.  There was the one idiot in the crowd that held the poster with the quote.  The police were demonized time and time again for breaking up a crowd that was halting traffic or disrupting business, or in other cases the peace crowd turned violent.  I am apart of a union that also uses Gorge Orwell as a mantra, or motto if you choose.  "Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."  - George Orwell .  I find it funny that these people are the first to spit on the military, and government, but they are also the first to cry for the government when tragedy strikes to save them.   

So to those who believe that things had to stop with the greatest generation, and that a cowards path is the direction to move in, that our sovereignty was not good and just wrong or that there were too many men just like the ones that raised the flag at Iwo Jima, fought at the Belleau Woods and The Guadalcanal.  We will always be here to fight for what we believe in, the same thing that they believed 231 years ago.  That something that we hold so near to us is simple. Freedom.  Then it was freedom from oppression, now it is freedom from fear.  As it has been said, If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If you can read this in English, thank a soldier

11:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Tomorrow

Tomorrow.  How many times has tomorrow been the deadline?  No matter what happens tomorrow is the day.  Why tomorrow?  What is so magical about tomorrow?  What makes me think that tomorrow will be different?  Some of you that are reading this, chances are you know what I do for a living.  (seriously, there must be something better to read)  In my field of work, there is no tomorrow.  Of coarse we always plan for tomorrow, but it is never guaranteed.  I live in a contingency environment that is subject to change from one minuet to the next.  The people that I work with may not be here tomorrow, or an hour from now.  As of late, I have made the horrible practice of counting down my days until I get a break.  That is one of the things that I tell people not to do.  Not for any reason of procedure or practice, but it will drive you nuts, especially at day 102 and a wake up to go.  I have recommitted to the mind set instead of counting my days, I will make my days count. 

That brings me to my next thought and back to the question, why tomorrow.  That is a flimsy premise, unstable at best.  I have tried over the past few years of my adult life to live on principle.  I have failed miserably at times, but for the most part, I have done a decent job.  When I haven't it has been because of changing direction, and loosing focus.  I have used the crutch of priorities.  Priorities change.  Principals do not.  Despite what some have told me, some principals do not apply in every situation.  I have no way of proving that to some that argue that point with me, however if they could spend a day with me they would understand.  Thank God they don't have to spend a day with me.  Why tomorrow?  I think it is because the thought of today, right now, is inconvenient and heaven forbid that I have to make adjustments.  So I think my to do list just got shorter, and more overwhelming all at the same time.  There is a chance greater than zero that my tomorrow may not allow for all the things that I want to accomplish.  The list didn't get shorter because I cut out most of it out.  The deadline simply got bumped up to now, today.  The only room for tomorrow is to evaluate what I have accomplished the day before.  I know that some of the people that I have hung out with over the past few years will tell me it is not realistic, or it setting up for a failure that is of enormous proportion.  That is a defeatist attitude that I will no longer listen to.  So here I go.    

10:11 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment