| Friday, March 31, 2006 |
| "Good Ole Boys" |
This week has been a very interesting week. I have been getting up around 0330 (that's 3:30 a.m.) and not getting to bed until 2230 (that's 10:30 p.m.). The days have been really long. It is a little disappointing when you look at your watch and it reads 3:30 p.m. and you realize that you have already put in a 12 hour day and you are not even close to being finished. That is the life of a Soldier that is getting ready to be deployed. The US Government has found it to be an essential part of training to re-train all the Soldiers prior to leaving.
Now, I know many of you are wondering "What is re-training?" Well, I'll tell you. It is a refresher on things such as weapons, first-aid, life saving skills, etc. Now, there are some new things that have been added to our training that I am not for sure that I agree with. Things such as "Media Awarenes", "Law Stuff", etc.
This is what I pulled away from the training. "If you break one of the rules, then the US Government will have the right to put you in prison or to death. Because you have now been informed of all the do's and do not's." I find it very disturbing that we have men and women wearing $6,000 dollar suits, $1,000 dollar shoes, living in $10 million dollar homes sitting behind a desk and making up rules of war. Men and women that have never held a "real" job - much less served their country in war (with the exception of two or three). What do I mean by a real job? A job that holds you accountable if you don't show up for work. Having your pay deducted because you spent 5 minutes too long at lunch. A job that if you don't do your job, then you are fired. You know, things that we do every day.
I found it very disturbing that this war is bascially being ran by the media. If a soldier does something to save his life or the life of another soldier (because he was being attacked), but the media portrays it as a "culture offense" then that soldier can have charges placed against him. Even if the soldier was in the right.
You know, this takes me back to my "Good ole boys" in office concept. We need people in our public office that will take a stand for what is right. Even if the media says that they're wrong and it appears that they're standing alone. We need people in office that knows right from wrong. We need people in office that do not live in $10 million dollar homes or wear $6000 dollar suits. We need people in office that understand and have done an HONEST day of work (and not just working one day so the media can show the public how "understanding" they are of the working man/woman).
But, you know, even with all of this corruption we have thousands of people in our country (including me) that will put their life on the line to fight and save what is left of our country. I ask that you keep our soldiers and their families in your thoughts and prayers (even if you don't agree with the war - don't take it out on the soldiers).
I know this wasn't an outstanding blog post. But, I have so many thoughts going through my head it is hard to express each one completely. But, I think that my main point to all of this is that we have the power and responsiblity to put honest men and women in our public offices. The power is ours through voting (and just to clarify - I am not talking about our President. I am talking about the congress and senate). Also, don't believe everything that you see on TV. Most of it is just not true. |
posted by Capt. C @ 6:07 AM  |
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| Monday, March 20, 2006 |
| 86,400 Seconds |
Imagine that everyday you were given $86,400 dollars. At the end of the day, what you didn't spend was gone. You could not borrow from the next day and you couldn't keep anything from the day before. What would you do?
In life, we are given 86,400 seconds per day. There is nothing that we can do to add to that day (no borrowing, no holding on from the day before) - nothing. All that you have is that 86,400 seconds. What you do with that time can be life changing or life wasting.
It wasn't until I started counting down my days before my deployment that made me realize just how precious each and every second really is. The value of time is invaluable. If you want to understand the value of a month - ask a mother that had a premature baby. If you want to understand the value of a week - ask a journalist. If you want to understand the value of a second - ask a person that has cheated death. If you want to understand the value of a millisecond - ask an Olympic runner that came in second. All of these are examples of invaluable time.
What is worth your time?
My wife and I have the best marriage I have ever seen. I love her with everything that I have. There is nothing in this world that I would not do for my wife. I love spending time with her more than anything. I never get tired of being with her (she may get tired of me).
Do you love spending time with your family? Do you fight? Complain? Have bad feelings toward them? If so, think about the 86,400 seconds that you were given today. Once this day is over, you may or may NOT get another 86,400 seconds. Don't waste your time on foolish things. Be nice and love each other - even if it means that you don't get your way.
I leave in a few days to go to a country that has no value for life. I will not be able to hold, touch, feel or be with my wife and children. There is a chance that I may not come back. I have often wondered if I have spent my 86,400 seconds loving my family the best way that I can. What about you? |
| posted by Capt. C @ 1:43 PM |
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| Thursday, March 16, 2006 |
| The Extended Family |
This is my extended family. It seems like every time I turn around there is another one in the group. This is what life and family is all about. Friendships that last generations! |
| posted by Capt. C @ 5:03 PM |
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| Thursday, March 09, 2006 |
| The Gang |
The Gang is back together again! To view more click on "My Webshot Album" under the link section. |
| posted by Capt. C @ 12:18 PM |
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| GOOD TIMES!!! |
My family and I just spent six wonderful days in Arkansas visiting friends and family. We have not been to Arkansas in over 2 years (way too long). If you don't count the 1 week that we spent there 2 years ago, then it has been over 3 years. The purpose of our visit was multifold 1) We wanted to do Baby Benji's Baby Dedication 2) See all my wonderful friends 3) See family 4) Tell everybody that I am being deployed in about 2 weeks (you know to get everything in order).
This was the first time that my friends and most of my family ever laid eyes on Benji. Benji just ate up all the attention. That child just loves attention (what child doesn't, right?)
Ariel got to play with here "new friend" Haven (Paul's daughter). You know it is amazing that G and I live 1500 miles away but both of our children act nearly the same way. They have many of the same toys and same clothes. This is a little scary! ha!
As everybody knows Paul (aka G), Brandon (aka B), Rocky (aka Rock) and I have been best friends for over 2 decades. This type of friendship doens't come along often. In fact, I don't know anybody that has the closeness that we have for such a long time. The four of us spent nearly the entire time together. Life if good. It was really fun. Now, we also have some other best friends that were not there (David, Tommy, Will, etc). Of course, anybody that knows me knows exactly who I am talking about. Wish we could have seen each other.
I must say that this was one of the most exciting times that I have had. Life is good. Spending time with friends and family - GOOD TIMES! (There will be pictures on the photo album that is linked on the side). |
| posted by Capt. C @ 5:52 AM |
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