may:
06th
leave begins
tabe test
military spouse's day
08th
leave ends
11th
mother's day
12th
MEIGH's b-day
MOJA's b-day
19th
CHRISTINA's b-day
armed forces day
20th
TABITHA's b-day
26th
memorial day
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MONDAY 26TH MAY 2008
8:22-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"He replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.'"
-- LUKE 17 : 06
"Dear HEAVENLY FATHER, ...
... today we honor the memory of those men and women who've given their lives for their compatriots in the name and defense of freedom. They've worked, fought, bled, and died for freedom, brotherhood, and honor which they've passed on to us.
Help us to recall that YOU gave up Your life for all human beings in the cause of true freedom--to save us from self-love and sin. Teach us the true meaning of peace and freedom, that the real battle must always take place within ourselves
before it will be won in families and nations.
We also remember the families of those who've laid down their lives for the greater good and those currently in harm's way and currently willing to venture into harm's way. Bestow your unique blessings and fill their homes and hearts with Your peace, provision and strength.
May the members of our armed forces and those who love them be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Your mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel both Your's and our love and support.
In Your Name,
Amen."
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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WEDNESDAY 21ST MAY 2008
11:11-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"If you are insulted because of the name of CHRIST, you are blessed, for the Spirit of Glory and of GOD rests on you. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise GOD that you bear that name."
-- 01 PETER 04 : 14 & 16
So this afternoon I overheard JOSH talking about a softball game to be had this evening. I sent a text to CHRISTINA and after I headed to the house to change, stopped by Sbarros to pick up a couple slices of pizza for us to munch on, I drove back on post to pick her up and get to the softball game.
It was totally worth it. The company has two (02) teams but we stuck with watching the team JOSH played on as well as the commander. Two (02) of my buddies. I would have signed up to play if I didn't have SFAS coming in about two (02) weeks. (Ah! Two (02) weeks!) Anyway, totally worth going. I only wish I would have charged my video camera's battery. I took my camera, but as they were dominating the second game and the commander and everyone on the team was going crazy and acting like fools, ... I would have paid USD$20.00 to have my video camera. It would have been sweet to have that footage.
There'll be another game on the 27th, the Tuesday after the four-day Memorial Day weekend. Yes! And TED will definitely have his digital camera and his video camera in tow, ... both batteries fully charged. What an awesome evening. Everyone was fired up and excited during and after that final game. And CHRISTINA came along. She isn't much for going on and being outside but I know that even though she had fun, initially she went for me because I asked her. Nice! I can't wait to get some footage on the 27th, hopefully they'll dominate again so I'll be able to catch all the zaniness.
Oh, CHRISTINA's mom will be heading this way for the weekend. So yes, I'll be meeting her mom in a few days. No pressure or anything, she's just here for a visit. Long day, long week. But hey, tomorrow's the last workday of the week. Thank goodness for holidays and four-day weekends!
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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TUESDAY 20TH MAY 2008
5:04-AM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"No one has ever seen GOD; but if we love one another, GOD lives in us and His love is made complete in us. And so we know and rely on the love GOD has for us. GOD is love. Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in him."
-- 01 JOHN 04 : 12 & 16
Discovered when I checked my Army email account this morning:
Subject: Course Reservation Verification: MUELLER TED A, E6
From: atrrshelp@hqda.army.mil
Date: Monday, May 19, 2008 9:01
To: ted.mueller@XXXXX.XXX
1. Please do not reply to this system generated email message.
2. POC for this action is ALVAREZ X. XXXXXX, ARDENNES AVE, XXXX XXXXX, FT BRAGG, NC 283075200 - Email Address: ALVAREZ_X@XXXX.XXX
3. A reservation has been entered in the Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS)
by the quota source manager for the following soldier/student:
MUELLER TED A, SSG, SSN ending with 1494, 0001CSMAINT NONDIV, 0001 CS MAINT NONDIV, FT RILEY, KS, 66442-0000, UIC: WB33AA
4. FOR: School Code 331 U.S. ARMY JOHN F. KENNEDY SPEC WARFARE CENTER - SC: 331, FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA 28307-5000
Course Number: XX-XXXX/XXX-XXX, Phase , Course Title: SF ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION (SFAS), Class XXX.
Report date 2008-06-03 End date 2008-06-17 Class Location FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA 28307-5000
5. SSG MUELLER TED A. has a valid reservation in ATRRS under quota source USA RECRUITING COMMAND. The soldier/student reservation is posted in ATRRS under the Class Roster Function (RL function) for the identified course and may be viewed by authorized ATRRS user via ATRRS Portals ( https://www.atrrs.army.mil/portals ).
7. It is the chain of command's responsibility to ensure that the soldier/student is qualified to attend this course.
Oh yes, as each day goes by it's becoming more and more real; this really pounded the reality into me. All lthe training and thought and prayer I've been putting forth will culminate in these two (02) weeks of assessment at the Special Warfare Center & School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Just a few more days to finalize training and preparations. Crazy!
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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MONDAY 19TH MAY 2008
9:24-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
Listening - "OUR HOPE ENDURES"-NATALIE grant Relentless
“'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
-- JEREMIAH 29 : 11
Yet another day has made me absolutely exhausted. Mondays have been routinely tiring for the past few weeks because of the SF PT schedule I'm on: Monday means a run, and usually it's a long run. I began the training on the Monday of week five (05) I believe. Anyway, regardless of the week, the run was a six (06) mile run. Crazy. Even though I was just starting, a few other guys who'd been training with the SF recruiter and those who had already been to the SF Assessment & Selection had already been conditioning from week to week. So while the run seemed insane to me as a first timer, it was the next step for the three (03) guys who'd been training for weeks. This week was a six (06) mile run. It was something else too. I hated the route and to make matters worse, I was just about as dehydrated as I could be.
And of course, to add even more fun to the morning's events, the run began on grassy, uneven terrain. About a quarter mile into the run I hit a paved road which was very nice to roll along. But I was still wishing I'd drank much more water throughout the weekend. After a mile or so on the paved road, I headed off road, over a foot bridge, and up and around onto a raised, rocky path. By this time the sun was high enough to be directly in my face as I ran. Sweet.
Tired. After the run DUSTIN and I toyed with the idea of heading to the river walk outside the Trooper gate. I suggested we do it at about 2:00 in the afternoon. He suggested 12:00 noon. That worked for me, I just wanted to save the evening in order to do something with CHRISTINA in celebration of her birthday. And taking my sweetheart out in the evening was a definite must after the stunt I'd pulled at lunch. Ha! Well, okay, by the evening time everything had played out just fine and she wasn't annoyed with me but after I'd skipped out on her birthday lunch, I knew she wouldn't exactly be thrilled with me.
By the time she sent me the text about meeting at McAllister's in Manhattan for her birthday lunch, I'd already planned on heading out with DUSTIN to ruck march eight (08) miles. That and I wanted to plan her gifts in her room after she left and before I began the ruck march which wouldn't have me back in the unit area for two (02) hours after it's start. I circled around past her barracks a couple of times before I innocently sent her a text message to see if she'd left. She said she was on her way with a carload of some of our coworkers. Good stuffage, my plan could be set in motion. First step, head to the staff duty desk.
After the staff duty sergeant handed me the master key to her building I trotted back across the street to my car, sitting right outside the front door of her barracks. The gifts I'd ordered were in a red gift bag: A stuffed dragonfly that makes a buzzing noise when squeeze and a set of hand-painted dragonfly earrings and pendant. I also had gone to the commissary to purchase vanilla cupcakes. She loves those. I went inside to test the master key. Of course, the side which had to be put into the door had been hole-punched and marked with a tag. After being denied access when I inserted the cardkey the first time, I took the tag off and did it again. Bingo! It was then time to load the gifts into my gym bag and follow through with my gift planting operation. The gift bag and card went on her pillow, the cupcakes in her 'fridge, and just to catch her eye when she opened the door I left a happy birthday message on her computer as a screen saver, and balanced the stuffed monkey I'd given her a couple of weeks ago, across the top of her laptop screen as if he were saying, "Hey, look here!"
It took her the rest of the afternoon to finish all the running here and there she had to do for her Soldiers, but she got back to me with her surprise. I did well! And when the workday ended, we headed to my house so I could change before heading to Topeka. CHRISTINA choose Golden Corral for her birthday dinner. And well, it was in Topeka, so off we went. even though I was totally dead on my feet from PT in the morning and the extra eight (08) mile, surprise, ruck march. What a bright idea that was. Nah, it was great! We needed it. Well, I did anyway, every step, every PT session, it all helps. Anyway, it turned out to be a pretty rough Golden Corral with a rough looking clientele. For instance, as we ate we saw a father escorting his young son to the restroom. Normal. Sure, with the exception of the young boy's footwear, ... or well, lack thereof. (Is that a single word: "thereof"?) He was barefoot! Bare! We were shocked. I mean, do you insist that your son wash his hands when he's walking through everything that's on the floor of the restaurant and the restroom? Hm?
We had a good dinner though despite all the "interesting" people around us. Oh, and despite there being no bell ringing to signify a fresh batch of rolls coming out of the oven. Anyone who has been to a Golden Corral knows about the bakery and the bell. Well, maybe not come to think of it if they've only been to this one (01) in Topeka. But what I'm used to is waiting on that bell before getting up to fetch fresh rolls and honey butter. We were given two (02) rolls in a basket a few minutes after being seating. Thankfully, I only had to ask and more were brought. I gave the establishment the benefit of the doubt thinking the management may have been trying to prevent waste. But at the same time the ringing bell was part of, is part of, the Golden Corral image. I did find good food to eat at the buffet though, so I suppose I can stop my complaining. And I did get my rolls, bell or not. And my sweetheart enjoyed her birthday dinner. Mission accomplished. Good day.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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THURSDAY 15TH MAY 2008
10:20-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"... Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD YOUR GOD will be with you wherever you go."
-- JOSHUA 01 : 09
"My Alleluia"
JACI velasquez
Reaching, searching for some way
So much emotion to convey
Loving Father
Hear me as I offer
My Alleluia
Hear beyond the words I bring
My Alleluia
The song my speechless heart still sings
My Alleluia
And hear my prayer
When my words fail
Falling, presence, my true home, send your mercy
Draw me close, Holy Father
I place on the altar
My Alleluia
Hear beyond the words I bring
My Alleluia
The song my speechless heart still sings
My Alleluia
And hear my prayer
When my words fail
Fail... Fail...
My Alleluia
Hear beyond the words I bring
My Alleluia
The song my speechless heart still sings
My Alleluia
Find me pleasing in your sight
My Alleluia
And hear my prayer
When my words fail
Reaching, searching for some way...
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY 2008
9:24-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent."
-- ISAIAH 05 : 20 - 23
I hate logs. Yes, hate! I'm allowed to use such a strong word when referring to an inanimate object right? Sure. Yesterday was the usual log PT, ... however, we did it just off the beaten path down at the river walk just outside of the installation. We hauled the logs, two (02) per log, about a quarter of a mile before heading off the path down towards the bank of the river. Sand. Great.
I didn't think I was going to make the run circuit in the sand. It was tough to say the very least and knowing that Camp Mackall will be made up of this terrain and I'll be running and ruck marching through it during the selection course didn't make me feel very confident in my ability to make it through. I gutted it out and continued. Sure I had shine splints but tha bottom line was that I wasn't doing too well negotiating the run in the sand. And so, as usual, I was pretty beat up before I even put my hands on the log. Oh, correction, I forgot the session began with a trek down to the sand with a log on my shoulder. And, naturally, I and my partner had the heaviest log hoisted on our shoulders.
The PT session sucked. The log was heavy. All three (03) felt as if they weighed a ton and a half. Of course the only thing I was thinking of was not getting the heavy log to hump back. No thank you very much. As if turned out the SF recruiter ended the session with my partner and me on a lighter log. Thank goodness. No thank you to my partner who kept rotating the log and making it dig into both of my shoulders after we'd adjust or switch from right shoulder carry to left. By the time we trotted across the "finish line" I wanted to spin and toss the thing as far as I could. But my reasonable side of me knew that the energy it would take to hurl the log, go fetch it again, and then put it on the truck again wasn't worth making the impulsive side of me feel victorious.
And as if yesterday wasn't bad enough, this morning's PT session involved a log as well. Tuesday is log PT day. Okay, got it, I'm going to be hoisting a log above my head, curling it, lifting it, etc. Wednesday is ruck march day. So far, Wednesdays have never involved a log. This morning though, a log once again reared it's ugly head. And there were only four (04) of us at this morning's session. SGT Strain and I looked at one (01) another a bit puzzled as we took off on the ruck march with no talk of the log. We figured we might have dodged a bullet, or well, a log, ... how incorrect we were. After the four (04) of us humped hard to make it to the turn-around point in a decent time, we were met at the crest of a slight hill by a truck. In the truck's bed, the log.
Yeah, it was time to get down and dirty. We were to be given a tiny taste of what it's going to be like doing team events. SGT Strain suggested that instead of trying to lug the log in the makeshift litter provided to us, it'd be easier to hoist it up on our rucksacks and balance it as we made the trek back. I was impressed. The weight of the log on our rucksacks, just behind our heads made leaning into the march much easier. Granted the extra weight of the log wasn't exactly making for a very pleasant march, but after we tried using the litter as we went down a rather steep hill, we agreed we should finish the trek with the log back up on our rucks. Of course SGT Strain and I didn't do it all ourselves. In fact, it seemed we'd always surrender the log to the other two (02) just as we were reaching a hill. Haha! But no, I think it all evened out after we both finished the ruck march off.
And these two (02) lovely PT sessions just started my day after my daily 4:00 wake up call. After each I did a full workday. Yup, it just doesn't get any better. Sometimes I question my volunteering to train for and attempt such an undertaking as Special Forces training. I want it though, ... so yeah, it's going to hurt and totally get me out of my comfort zone; but if I'm deemed worthy and am accepted it'll have all been worth it. And either way, selected or not, the experience will make me that much stronger and provide me with quite an experience.
Logs, ... hate 'em!
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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MONDAY 12TH MAY 2008
10:24-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.'"
-- MATTHEW 24 : 35
"MEIGH, ...
... long time no talk sister. I truly miss you and miss reading about your daily life. I remember when I first stumbled upon your coffee-themed site. I know you're still "around on the 'net" but I miss your site. I don't have a multiply account so I can't comment on our multiply page.Happy birthday. Since being so very near you a couple of years ago in Malate I've wanted to get back to finally meet you.
I miss your friendship but I know you're still the same girl I talked to before; I know that you're still spreading your unique brand of cheer with your smile and infectious personality. Truly JESUS shines in you big sister. Continue to be a Christian example for others. May this year be better than the last. Though older you're always going to be young at heart.
Love you lots MEIGH. It's a shame things didn't work out and I could only stay in your lovely country a couple of weeks. Next time eh? Sure! I look forward to seeing that smile of yours in person. Until then MEIGHbear! Happy MEIGHday!"
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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MONDAY 12TH MAY 2008
9:59-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
Listening - "EVERYBODY NEEDS YOU"-Salvador Aware
"Then JESUS declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.'"
-- JOHN 06 : 35
A lot has changed in a year. A year ago I was in the midst of my second deployment to the middle east and having to deal with life in the desert along with the personalities I had to deal with and work with. Management is fun indeed.
SATURDAY 12TH MAY 2007
8:10-PM-(UTC/GMT +3 hours)
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
-- Proverbs 04 : 23
SSG Frasier showed up at the shop this afternoon. I had no clue he was on his way. When I returned from lunch PFC Smith said he'd get in either this evening or tomorrow. Sure enough, he walked in a few minutes later after having walked a good ways with his gear and bags. I'm sure he lost at least a pound making the trip in this heat. It's really heating up over here. It's good to have him back. The gang's all here now; he was the last to go on leave. I won't be going; I just want to stick it out and get this deployment through and over with. There's still no official word on extension for our unit. A couple of days ago it looked like a "yes" and then yesterday I saw info which looked like "no". Go figure. Some units will extend while other units will not. No worries, I'm game either way, but I'm fully prepared to be here into late Autumn.
So now that SSG Frasier is back I'm thinking about "mixing things up" as far as the work schedule for my Soldiers. Last week went well with everyone having a day off. I think next week I'll do something a little more drastic. The company we're attached to is going on a different schedule to keep their Soldiers from working in the afternoons, the hottest part of the day. While I'm not heartless I don't think it's all that hot. I mean if you drink water and eat properly, you'll be just fine. The new schedule I'm proposing has nothing to do with the heat factor; I just want to give my Soldiers more time off since things are quite manageable in the shop.
Since I have four (04) technicians I think I'll have two (02) come in each morning from 8:30 to 12:30 and two (02) come in each afternoon from 12:30 to 4:30. PFC Smith, my clerk will do the morning shift and I'll slide into his spot taking care of customers in the afternoons since I can basically operate in any position in the shop. Oh yeah! The only change will be their work habits. I'll need work to begin the minute they arrive since they'll only be there four (04) hours per shift. If they can work hard and not play around I'll see about switching shifts for the next week and having the afternoon two (02) come in during the morning hours. I'll probably still keep PFC Smith on mornings though. This will give each shift a half day off. Crazy I know, but as long as the shop runs smoothly and they can manage the schedule without the quality of work going down, I'll keep it going. After a couple of weeks though I'll probably think about going to an extra evening shift as I was planning to do once the work load picked up and SSG Frasier returned. I'll probably start that the last week in May or the first week in June.
I've decided that instead of breaking down and buying a new laptop, I'll treat myself to something else. SSG Frasier showed me his new Sony laptop and didn't hesitate to tell me I should get a new machine too. But no, I'm staying strong. However, I'm going to treat myself to something I've wanted for a very, very long while now: The definitive collection of "The Twilight Zone". Yes! It's about USD$800.00 to USD$1,200.00 cheaper and is guaranteed to deliver in both the enjoyment and replay departments. So while everyone is enjoying new computers and video game systems I'll be curled up in bed, headphones on, enjoying episodes of the "Twilight Zone" along with the special features in the box set. So that's ordered and on it's way. I can't wait. Well, I can wait, and I will, but I'm very excited to say the very least! And I even decided to buy a slightly used set resulting in a savings of almost USD$60.00. In America the Science Fiction (SciFi) channel runs a "Twilight Zone" marathon each New Year's Day. So instead of trying to wish away a hang over or nurse a firework induced injury from the festivities the night before, I'm usually engrossed in episode after episode of ROD serling's mini masterpieces. MOM, DAD, and I will try to guess which episode will be played next and we'll talk about our favorites. The television stays on and we'll wander in and out of the room to see which episode is playing. Soon I'll have all one hundred and fifty-six (156) episodes to watch over and over and over and over again, … and again and again!
That time seems like light years away now. That whole crew left Fort Riley by the middle of November. I suppose it all seems so long ago because things didn't go as smoothly as they should have during the deployment. What with the frustrations I went through dealing with another NCO who couldn't understand why I was taking command and control of the detachment when he was in change before, even though I had more time than he as a staff sergeant. Yeah, go figure. Anyway, that was a pain because he always though he knew best and would constantly nag. But that's neither here nor there because he got out more than six (06) months ago. That was a happy day for me. They all left the Army with the exception of SSG Frasier. He moved on to another duty station. I don't know what I would have done without his support and backing. I got backing and support from SGT Adams too but SSG Frasier I could always rely on and we were always able to lean on each other when we needed to vent.
I was planning to attend the Special Forces Selection & Assessment course even before I arrived at Fort Riley. In Korea it was an option. Of course while I was in the desert I was pretty much resolving to give it a shot because I didn't want to deploy with a maintenance unit again. That wasn't the only reason of course. By this day a year ago I was already about eight (08) months or so into my research and thinking about SF as a possibility. I didn't think I'd wait until April of this year to have a hard date, but with all the craziness surrounding the equipment and it's arrival and inventories, ... let's just say I couldn't exactly focus on such a huge move like training up for something like that. I still don't feel as if I've trained enough. I probably won't feel completely ready. No, I won't feel completely ready until I'm at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in some kind of inprocessing line awaiting the fun that will be the most difficult training I've encountered so far in my military career. And even then I'll have to fill in the gaps I have in training with sheer determination, guts, and will.
Another adventure to come. I just wish it was already over with. But that's life I suppose, there's no rewind nor fast-forward. And make it or not, there's no way I'd honestly want to skip over the experience. I'm going to sweat, cry, and bleed during those two (02) weeks. I'll be sore, achy, bruised, ...
I'll definitely have something to write about once I've returned.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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SUNDAY 11TH MAY 2008
9:39-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
-- 01 PETER 05 : 07
"SAMANTHA, ...
... I'm so very sorry for your loss. I know you're hurting and still in denial but you have great support there in your friends and coworkers. Talk when and if you need to and don't bottle up a whole lot of ickiness inside you. Trust GOD a second at a time, not a day at a time; a day is too long in the place you're at and at a time like this. GOD knows what you need and will give it to you according to His will. He brings peace, love, healing and growth.
Yes, it'll take time, but you have friends and loved ones all around you supporting you and wishing you peace in this sad time. You won't be making the walk through the hurt and the grief alone. And you have a surefire support system in your GOD who has promised to never abandon you.
Continue to be you, she wouldn't want you to throw in the towel just because she's not around. Part of her being your friend is knowing that she makes a difference and benefits your life for the better. There is no greater honor than knowing you've touched someone and positively affected their lives. She did yours and still does; mourn her, for you loved her; ... but do keep shining, she wouldn't have it any other way."
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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FRIDAY 09TH MAY 2008
11:11-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"'Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins.'"
-- MARK 11 : 24 & 25
Thankfully land navigation for the day was cancelled. Apparently most of the normal crew didn't show up due to their being on leave and some events on post. Not a huge deal since two (02) of us arrived. At first I thought it was a pretty good setup since the two (02) of us would get more individualized training throughout the day. Of course as the both of us plotted the third point we realized that maybe it'd be a lot better to simply just skip training altogether. But we pressed on plotting the points we'd later have to find out in the woods with a compass, a map, and under a fifty (50) pound rucksack. Fun! No, really, it's fun, but this morning I was especially tired and not feeling too gung-ho about traipsing through the woods.
We were off to a slow start, we'd both plot a point and then talk to the recruiters or the guys who'd been through SFAS already. At the third point the sergeant giving us the coordinates said that if we were feeling good about things out there, we'd do two (02) points and start heading back instead of staying out to do all seven (07). We didn't leave until around 8:00. Crazy!
During a stop at the post office. We normally leave the recruiting office in a convoy wherever we're to do the PT session of land navigation that day. This morning I followed the lead vehicle to the post office. The SF recruiter headed in to mail a package. As I was waiting the only other Soldier who showed up for training came up to my window after a five (05) minute wait. He said he had to take off to take care of things at his company. Shortly after he gave me that tidbit of news one (01) of the assistant instructors came to my window to ask me if I really needed a few hours of land navigation. Needless to say I didn't think I was rusty enough to warrant orchestrating a land navigation training session just for little ole me. And besides, it was Friday morning and I had a ball to get to in the evening. Not doing hours of land navigation and getting dirty and nasty would be a plus. So, no land navigation for the day.
NIC and his wife and I waited for CHRISTINA to arrive at their house for a couple of hours. She was getting her hair done at the barracks. The plan was to meet up at NIC and HEATHER's place; CHRISTINA would do her hair and we'd all head to the ball together. But because CHRISTINA's hair took a lot longer than she figured it would, a friend of HEATHER's did a curl job on her hair and we ended up leaving without CHRISTINA. We arrived about an hour after the festivities were underway. Luckily, our battalion's tables were near the entrance to the dining hall. Unluckily, NIC and HEATHER were seated at a different table than CHRISTINA and I were to be seated. It wasn't a total let down though. We were up and mingling after a while. It took my getting up twice and asking a server about my food before it was brought to my table. Of course, the pasta wasn't hot and therefore rather thick and tough to get down. What made it even more difficult to get down was the fact my date still hadn't arrived after the half hour I waited for my food to arrive.
When CHRISTINA finally arrived I was slightly miffed to say the very least. I was disappointed because I didn't want to attend the ball in the first place, and as it turned out I'd sat in my Army dress green uniform waiting for my date at two (02) different locations for about two (02) hours. And her asking me why I didn't say she looked nice as if she arrived fifteen (15) minutes late, irritated me even more. But after a while I got over it and the four (04) of us were up mingling with the officers in our unit. We took pictures and had a good time. I enjoyed myself and overall I'm glad I didn't just give up and call it off. That was one (01) of the things she said I probably should have done. Of course I would have never, ever heard the end of it if I'd called her and said I wasn't going after the dress shopping and the hours of hair doing. It's one (01) of those polite things that are said in situations like that. But again, I'm glad I hung in there and got over my disappointment and frustration. I still don't think it was our "coming out" event though. I mean sure we were together, but so was another couple who had decided to attend as friends. We were probably just each other's dates in the eyes of everyone else. No worries though, the truth will get out soon enough. Ha!
I stayed outside the dining hall once everyone went back in to listen to the guest speaker. I felt much more comfortable on my feet rather than sitting down at the table. And CHRISTINA was feeling much better, so I didn't feel bad about leaving her to listen at the table while I stretch my legs in the hallway. Of course little did I know I'd be on my feet and on the move minutes into the general's speech. An NCO who I'd come to know a little bit had drank a little too much and had his mind on his experiences in Iraq and friends he'd lost during the deployments. When he let one (01) too many comments fly someone at his table asked him to excuse himself. This was at the rear of the dining hall so the comment couldn't be heard by the entire room; in fact, I didn't even hear the comment and I was standing in the doorway not too far from his table. He got up and made a bit of commotion before the first sergeant rose from his seat and turned to follow him. The first sergeant made eye contact with me and asked me if I had him. I took that cue to mean I did have him and followed him and another NCO who'd gotten up out of the building.
I followed about eight (08) paces back as they rounded the building. I couldn't hear what they were discussing, all I make from the whispers was that he was upset and the other NCO wasn't quite sure what to say. And here I thought they were good friends because the other guy jumped up so quickly. When he turned around and asked me to take care of him because he wasn't sure what to do or say, I realized they weren't all that close and I was going to have to diffuse a situation I probably wasn't prepared for and definitely wasn't qualified to even attempt to diffuse. I walked with him, talked a bit but mostly listened. And when we stopped at the hotel across the street and he leaned on the fence around the swimming pool, I just put my hand on his shoulder as he tried to collect himself. It hurt him to hear the general speak of deployments and wounded Soldiers. He claimed he couldn't have known since he'd never been. Naturally, it wasn't my place to say one (01) way or the other. I just made it clear that I understood everyone's deployments are their own, ... some Soldiers lose friends, some don't; some are in fire fights, some aren't; some do eighteen (18) months, some a year; ... maybe the general knew, and maybe he didn't, I didn't know. What I did know was that this NCO, this Soldier, knew what he knew and remembered what he remembered. I haven't traded bullets with the enemy while deployed, but he had. So I couldn't say I knew what he was feeling, only that I respected what he was feeling and what he'd gone through. I let him know it was okay to remember his comrades and feel sad. But that honoring them didn't mean he had to narrow his eyes at those who hadn't been through exactly what he'd been through and sure some people speak about things they know nothing about; the general spoke in admiration and respect for those who'd looked the enemy in the eye, for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We ended up in Wal-Mart. Yes, two (02) Soldiers walking around Wal-Mart in Army dress greens, one (01) visibly upset about something. It was a sight I'm sure. There weren't a pair of eyes which didn't shift their focus when we were in view. Needless to say I suggested we get out of there as soon as possible. I initially suggested Wal-Mart because I didn't know where else he might decide to walk. And when he mentioned walking to where he lived, miles away, I thought distracting him in Wal-Mart and at the same time corralling him in a building would benefit the situation. It wasn't until people began to make comments around us that I realized it might not have been the best idea in the world considering I didn't exactly know his background. His making a scene in Wal-Mart wouldn't help the situation in the least. But nothing happened, we left Wal-Mart intact, walked back to the convention center, and headed into the dining hall. By this time the dancing had begun.
My night ended about an hour later. I took about fifty (50) more pictures and was plenty tired during the drive back to Manhattan. Now here I am. My uniform is laying here beside the futon and I'm curled up on the futon fully prepared to get some sweet sleep.
Sleep.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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FRIDAY 09TH MAY 2008
2:02-AM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
-- JOB 12 : 10
Yes, I'm still awake. I actually just returned from Wal-Mart. I'd been putting off a grocery run for the past week or so. And wouldn't you know, I went for a completely different and random reason. To make a long story short I headed out in search of a product called "Brass-O". I wanted to clean and polish the little appurtenances I have on my ribbons. Tomorrow's the ball and because Friday is a full day of land navigation with the SF recruiters and the rest of the crew, I'm having to get my Army dress green uniform ready tonight and stow it in my car. (Well, I suppose that "tonight" has now turned into "this morning".) I'll be way to exhausted to make the drive back into Manhattan, change into my dress uniform, and drive back to Junction City. Nope, I'm taking both my dress uniform and a change of bum clothes because I know I'll be dirty and wet after what will most likely be over eight (08) hours of good ole land navigation.
I didn't find the product I was looking for, but found "Never-Dull" which would also work to polish the little brass appurtenances. The first few things I put into the cart were things to take care of my body. I knew I'd be able to cross off another item on my Special Forces Assessment & Selection (SFAS) packing list when I tossed a bottle of foot powder into the cart. I stayed in the pharmacy area and collected Epsom salt to soak my weary body in throughout this next week, some vaporizing tablets to help finish off the bug my body has been battling, with much success, since Monday; I also picked up a jar of muscle rub. So I should be good to go when it comes to dealing with my sore muscles in the days and weeks to come.
I picked up a few more things which I can probably go without. But the rain began pouring down faster and harder two (02) separate times, ... I just had to continue hiding out in Wal-Mart. Ha! I headed to the other side of the store, promising myself that when it came to groceries, I'd only stock the cart with the bare essentials. It worked a little bit. I'd say I kept a good 80% of that promise to myself. And I did bargain hunt, compare prices, and scrutinize each products nutritional facts. It was grocery shopping at it's very best. And I succeeded in purchasing low-fat. whole grain, and healthy food options. I decided not to purchase cheese. Kraft brand grated cheese comes in a fat-free sharp cheddar but there wasn't a comparable generic package of fat-free cheese. I wasn't about to pay the high price on the Kraft brand cheese, but at the same time I was determined not to cut corners and get "fat-full" cheese. So, no cheese for TED. I can live without it. I've been doing good cutting it out of meals at restaurants. The past couple of weeks, however, my eating habits have slipped a bunch. I can attribute that mostly to not having a stocked refrigerator and a girlfriend who loves to eat as much as I do. Going to the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) twice a day and wolfing down two (02) meals each time isn't positively contributing to the betterment of my health, nor is it positively contributing to my SFAS training. It's time to tighten the screws and get back to the good stuffage.
Well, I need to get all the ribbons and pins and such on my dress green uniform. If nothing else goes according to plan before I get some shut-eye, or just get up to head to Fort Riley for my land navigation Friday, I need to get my dress uniform and shoes, etc in the car. I was wiped out after eight (08) and a half hours of land navigation last week. There's no way I'd last more than an hour at the ball if I had to drive to Manhattan and back again after stomping through the woods and thickets all day long.
I don't know how CHRISTINA so easily talked me into going to this ball.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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TUESDAY 06TH MAY 2008
10:39-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'll fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
-- Psalm 23 : 04
Log physical training (PT) this morning was tough to say the very least. And my fighting off the very beginnings of a tiny cold didn't make it any easier to climb ropes, hurl myself up and over walls, climb cargo nets, perform pullups and dips, and hoist, lift, curl, and maneuver logs for an hour and a half. It wasn't until I was driving to post, after waking up a half hour late, before I realized the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) I'd scheduled was going down this morning at 8:00. Fortunately after bonding with some of the other guys preparing for a SFAS date over a rousing session of gut wrenching PT, I realized I had another uniform packed in the rucksack in my back seat.
I just changed my ACU top before hustling in the education center, signing in, and waiting with the other fifteen (15) or so Soldiers who were taking the test. It's not (wasn't) difficult. I'd taken the TABE test before and it's nothing at all to make a big deal about. However, this time I needed to take a different version. The test I took before I went to the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) was comprised of two (02) or three (03) sections; this test was comprised of five (05) I believe. There was a mathematics portion, an applied mathematics portion, a spelling portion, a languauge portion, and a reading comprehension portion. I'm pretty sure that was it. Anyway, since I had rushed there after a great PT session I wasn't extremely happy about having timed sections and breaks inbetween. I just wanted to rock n' roll through the test, turn it in, and head back to the house for a shower and a nice nap.
I was in uniform after my morning PT session for the entire morning. And I extended my morning of being in uniform while on leave by meeting NIC and his wife for luch at McAllisters. I was still pretty exhausted, and still hadn't showered, but lunch was a must since I'd eaten an early dinner the night before, had no breakfast after PT, and was just a tad bit hungry. They were running late so when they arrived I'd already polished off half of the McAllister's club sandwich I'd ordered as well as half of the chicken salad on croissant.
A busy morning led to a nice relaxing afternoon of napping and just plain ole fashioned down time. I'll thoroughly enjoy these three (03) days away from the unit and the regular workaday schedule. Of course I'll be starting my day with my normal Special Forces prep PT. Fun.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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SUNDAY 04TH MAY 2008
9:31-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"But you, man of GOD, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
-- 01 TIMOTHY 06 : 11
"GLORIA, ...
... so, moving to the DC area huh? Keep me posted. That's quite a decision and quite a move from central Texas; I know the reasons though. I hope it'll work out for you very soon. It'll be good for CHRIS and you to be able to be a bit closer again. Keep in touch and let me know how the job search is panning out. With CHRIS having found something to begin with, I hope you'll be able to find something which will keep you busy up there very soon."
Big decisions! I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. And believe me, there's many more rounds of mini-golf in the future. You needn't be afraid of missing out on many more lessons. Haha! Ciao for now GLORIA!"
"BONITA, ...
... I know you've been super, duper busy with your new family and all. But how are you? I haven't heard from you in days, weeks, months. I have been browsing your MySpace from time to time. BROCK is a cutie pie! Of course, he's a child of yours so that's not at all surprising! But I'm sure he's also a stubborn knucklehead like his mommie. Uh huh.
My little sister's growing up so quickly. I bet you never thought you'd be this far along so soon eh? Stay sharp, focused, and keep your priorities in order. You're doing great; don't get discouraged. Sure you're both homesick but it'll wear off in due time once you get a chance to settle in and get fully used to being a family of three (03). Keep in touch and please, keep the pictures comin'. I love you bunches Mrs. Peterson. Go team B³!"
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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SATURDAY 03RD MAY 2008
5:22-AM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"He replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.'"
-- LUKE 17 : 06
This time two (02) years ago I was in the midst of round two (02) in South Korea. Good times. Well, some of the times were good anyway. However, two (02) years to this very day was fun. I was in a equal opportunity (EO) course. And since the course was a couple hours away at a different camp, away from the unit, and lasted a couple of weeks, ... it was super good times and much fun.
WEDNESDAY 03RD MAY 2006
11:45-AM-(UTC/GMT +9 hours)
"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."
-- Psalm 10 : 17 & 18
I decided not to go to lunch today. I doubled up on breakfast this morning so it's holding me over just fine. I've missed fried eggs and pork bacon so cheating a bit on my eating habits and getting two (02) eggs over easy, fried potatoes, and pork bacon this morning was just too much for my taste buds. So when I finished helping number one (01), I went through the line to grab a second helping. Fortunately, the second helping tasted just as good as the first. I walked out of the dining facility quite pleased.
We tackled assessing unit climate, racism, and sexism in class this morning and watched a bit of film which was quite good, but the sound was bad so it was tough to get a lot of out it. I need to ask the instructors the title so I can look for it; I'd borrow it but it was on VHS and not DVD or VCD. It was on an exercise or study performed by an elderly woman: She invited several people (they looked like students from a college) to take part in the exercise in which they were all separated into different groups. She briefed them all that they would be discriminated and segregated according to eye color. I didn't get the whole set up but throughout the half hour or so of the film the woman caused a couple of girls in the room to break down and cry simply by talking to them in a stern manner, confusing them, and making them feel inferior; one (01) girl even walked right out of the room, and the building. So I'll be trying to track down the video as soon as possible to watch it all for myself with adequate sound.
So this morning the master sergeant I came here with from Camp Humphreys let us in on the plan for Thursday. Since Friday is being recognized as a holiday here, we (I am here with four (04) other Soldiers from Camp Humphreys) decided to head back there to pickup things and just relax in comfortable and known surrounding. So Thursday a van is being brought up here to be dropped off. And Thursday afternoon we will be taking it back to Camp Humphreys. I need to get back to link up with SFC McManus about my NCOER. I need to see that it's being revised and turned in for corrections and so on and so forth, plus I have to sign it.
And since the master sergeant phoned the command sergeant major back at Camp Humphreys, he wants us to show our faces at a battalion NCO "fun day" that is being held Friday. I wasn't planning on attending because I knew I'd be here for class. And even when I found out that Friday would be a holiday I wasn't looking to go back to Humphreys to participate. But I'll show my face and stick around for a couple of hours. Afterwards I'll most likely shoot up to Osan Air Base to pickup my suit since I didn't get a chance to last weekend.
I had a very interesting conversation with CPL Choi. He's my roommate for the duration of my stay at Camp Carroll to attend the EO class. We talked about the differences between our countries and a host of other things. We both like to read too so we were able to have intelligent exchanges and not just the superficial "so do you like pizza?" type conversation. We spoke of things which meant something to each of us and found out we had a few things in common. I couldn't get over how cool it was to sit with someone of a different nationality, while in his country, and talk about world issues and cultures and such. It was definitely time well spent and I truly hope we'll sit and talk much more often during the next week of this course. He came up with us from Camp Humphreys to so I'll be able to see him occasionally since he's in 194th Maintenance Battalion as well.
I'm wondering about the status of my leave request. I truly hope my company commander approved it and it left his office to go higher. Having it sit on someone's desk for an extended period of time isn't something that'll put a smile on my face. I think I'll email SFC Sinkfield when I get back to Camp Carroll and have him check on it's status; I may email PFC Mewhort or SSG Montoya at the orderly room as well. But yes, it needs to get where it needs to go as soon as possible, ... and of course, needs to be approved!
It's almost time for class so it's time to close my laptop and get in the EO zone. I think we are going to watch a clip from the movie "Crash", so I'm looking forward to that. Excellent movie. Excellent character piece.
I ended up being voted "best contributor" for the course. I was given a crazy plaque when I stood up to get my course completion certificate. It wasn't really a surprise. Since I'd said, when introducing myself, I liked to act and I was pretty outgoing during most of the presentations, I was selected to act out a lot of the skits we did. And, of course, I was just a pleasure to have in class and invaluable to each and every class discussion. Haha! Okay, maybe not.
I'm able to easily say that course was the best I've been through since joining the Army. Good stuffage indeed. The course focuses on the aspects of equal opportunity and diversity management. It prepares graduates to perform the duties of an equal opportunity (EO) leader at both the battalion and company level. Graduates of the course will possess the skills required to advise commanders in the conducting informal EO complaints, conduct unit level equal opportunity training, assist the commander in climate assessment, assist in the preparation of special ethnic observances, lead small group facilitation and serve and the primary resource manager of equal opportunity matters within the unitm, and so on and so forth.
For the most part more than 90% of Soldier issues aren't EO issues. Most issues are issues which should be handled by the leadership. But every once in a while there will be a valid complaint brought to the attention of an EO representative. Anyway, it's a great course. And what made it particularly valuable was that I went through it in Korea and had Korean Soldiers in class. That was really great. All of us American Soldiers would get the "American perspective" out and then one (01) of the Korean Soldiers would totally flip the issue and we'd all have to rethink things and look at it from a totally different perspective. It was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the two (02) weeks. And I definitely suggest any Soldier meeting requirements request the course.
Needless to say, my leave was turned in and approved. I mean, after all, I'm not still in Korea. Of course I didn't leave on the day I was supposed to. That's a whole seperate tale though.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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FRIDAY 02ND MAY 2008
4:56-PM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"Put on the full armor of GOD so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
-- Ephesians 06 : 11 - 16
This isn't a "come back". I was never really gone. I'll backfill April in the days and weeks to come, putting together the notes and odds and ends to make the day's entries. I thought I'd write something though to get back on track so that anyone who visits won't think I've disappeared for good and links and bookmarks won't be deleted. A couple long leave of absences in the past three (03) months or so; things have been fast paced and my days have been nothing but jam packed. The few hours I have at the house I spend doing work that's spilled into my free time, veggin' out with a movie, working out, or sleeping. But I guess I'll just dive right in, a lot has changed in month and a half:
I missed the week's final formation today. At the end of each week we are to be given a safety briefing by the battalion commander. He reminds us to not beat our significant others, not drink and drive, do drugs, or any other illegal or immoral acts. It all basically boils down to acting like responsible, mature, "adult" Soldiers. Does it always work? Of course not, if it did, it probably would be phased out because everyone would behave properly. Yeah, with over two hundred (200) Soldiers in my company alone, not to mention to rest of the battalion, chances are that at least one (01) Soldier is going to make a "mistake" during the forty-eight (48) hours of the weekend. Regardless, it's mandatory that all who are able to attend, be there. It's just another Army precaution and formality. This way each Soldier at least received the message point blank, "Hey, do not do this, that, or the other this weekend." I showed up just as everyone was being released from the gym to begin the weekend festivities. And where was I? Well, tromping through the woods all day, of course.
Yup, another Friday filled with land navigation. I successfully completed week two (02) of my Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course preparation. And while it's not a prerequisite for SFAS, there was no way I was going to decline it when my recruiter mentioned it. I mean, who wouldn't train with the very guys who had been there before and who are in the community now. I'd say this week was easier than last week, but it wasn't. I imagine it just seemed that way because I knew what to expect. But Monday was a long, seven (07) mile run, Tuesday was the infamous log PT, Wednesday was a seven (07) mile ruck march, I didn't attend Thursday's Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and today was land navigation day. Last week it was cut short because the bulk of us had to be other places in the early afternoon. Today however, only a single person had to get back early and he headed back on his own. Yes, eight (08) and a half hours of land navigation. Fun. It actually was, I enjoy that kind of stuffage. And I just enjoy being around these guys too.
So my morning schedule has changed just a bit. Haha! "A bit." I still rise at 4:00 and either prepare and pack for the day or use a half hour to shower and get the ole motor warmed up and running. I can't stand having to rush in the morning. Instead of taking a left on Pillsbury road to get onto Fort Riley Boulevard, I'll take a right and head towards the Interstate 70 (I70) junction. A right takes me down I70 towards Fort Riley's air field gate. The Special Forces (SF) recruiting office is just a couple turns from the gate. So there's no more arrive at my company around 5:00 and napping until the first sergeant arrives a half hour later. I was always the first to arrive each morning. And while I'm the first to arrive at the SF recruiting office for our 6:00 PT start, there's no morning meeting to sit in or company formation to stand in. Nope, as the guys arrive, they filter upstairs. Roll is very casually taken. If you're there, great. If not, no biggie. Your unit is contacted and the message is quite casually passed along: "Hey, your dude didn't show up this morning." It's all about wanting to be there. So those who show up are already prepared to execute a no nonsense PT session.
The group is made up of three (03) kinds of Soldiers: First and foremost, the SF recruiters are present. These guys are SF Soldiers carrying out recruiter duty. This station was set up while I was in the desert I believe. They are the real deal having been on the SF teams and been in the SF community for some time. The second type of Soldier serves as assistants at the recruiting station; these guys have already been to SFAS and were selected, they are simply awaiting their class dates for the qualification course and orders to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The third group of Soldiers is the group I fall into: Soldiers who are training to attend an upcoming SFAS class. My class date happens to be in June. There's a guy here who's going next week, one (01) who is going with me in June, and others who are slated to go in July or August. Sometimes I feel as though I can't hang with any of them, but I'm giving it my all and doing my best. I'm improving and getting in better and better shape. I have cut down on my P90X as SF PT in the mornings is a totally different animal than unit PT in the mornings. After all, there's no way the unit run on Monday mornings would ever even come near seven (07) or eight (08) miles. No way, no how. And an APFT every Thursday, ... not happening. And plus the operational tempo is just jacked up because these guys have either been put through the tough training and assessment or are looking to make themselves ready to put themselves through it. Those who've done it don't quit and those who haven't don't plan on quitting. It's nice being in and around that element.
Because everything was crazy and I was busy and going out of my mind for the past few weeks, this site has not be privy to the changes occurring in my world. Yes, my plans to attend SFAS and make a go at my aspirations to become a Special Forces Soldier are in motion, I'm increasing the tempo of the special population PT program, and as this or that arises, I'm taking care of it. But what has also changed in the past few weeks is my "status": I am currently "attached", "in a relationship", "taken", "seeing someone", or however it's phrased these days. Her name's CHRISTINA and while we've been in the same company since I arrived here, we weren't really around each other until coming back from the deployment. And even then we weren't interested in one (01) another. To make things even more odd, she even disliked me at times. I can't say when exactly, but one (01) thing led to another and after realizing we had a boat load of things in common and a couple of marathon, five (05) hour plus, phone conversations, we began to talk about becoming a "we". Of course we had to tread lightly as technically she was off-limits considering her grade of E4 in the Army. At my grade (E6) I wasn't allowed to date her. But all that changed when she was promoted to Sergeant (E5) yesterday. She was an NCO as a corporal but her grade was still E4. The promotion to corporal was a lateral promotion which didn't mean going up the rank ladder nor did it mean a larger pay check. Her promotion was one (01) which meant she had displayed the qualities of a leader and therefore was given an NCO rank. Even though she was an NCO, she was still the same grade as a specialist, or lower enlisted Soldier. Yeah, it's tough to understand. It was just wrong at the time. But now that she's a Sergeant (E5), she's a full-fledged peer of mine, and therefore we're able to consort and hang out after duty hours. And yes, date each other.
Without going into a super long laundry list of details, she's great. We both could eat breakfast foods for all three (03) meals of the day for as long as the days kept coming; we are both pretty sarcastic; we both heart movies; she's a writer and I still like to think I am, so we both have a very active creative consciousness; she's a little older (She'll be twenty-eight (28) very soon.) but she insists I'm more mature. She's correct, I am more mature. Ha! And she laughs at most of my jokes! That last detail is a huge plus because most of my jokes are pretty stupid. Soon she'll learn that I don't take myself very seriously most of the time. Go figure. More about her in days to come.
But yes, I'm "back" so to speak. I apologize for the two (02) super long droughts. I guess I can't say much more than things have been good, bad, great, terrible, ... life has just been moving right along and I just have been too busy, tired, frustrated, tired, ...
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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THURSDAY 01ST MAY 2008
4:02-AM-(UTC/GMT -6 hours)
"GOD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek GOD."
-- Psalm 53 : 02
"Finally Free"
NICHOLE nordeman
No chain is strong enough
No choice is wrong enough
No mountain high enough
That He can't climb
No shadow dark enough
No night is black enough
No road is lost enough
That He can't find
And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be free indeed
Let the chains fall away
Starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free
No pain is deep enough
No heart could bleed enough
Nothing but JESUS' love
Can make a way
And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be free indeed
Let the chains fall away
Starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free
And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be free indeed
Let the chains fall away
Starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free
Everything has changed
'Cause I'm finally free
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
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Content on this page © 2002-2009 Ted A. Mueller unless otherwise stated.
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