Saturday, January 22, 2005
More mud than you'd ever care to see.
It is SO muddy here right now. You don't think of mud when you think of Iraq, now do you. Well it's monsoon season and it rained all yesterday and stormed last night. So now.. just TRY walking somewhere without being up to your ankles in mud! Ugh, it's nasty. It's hard enough to keep my shit clean when it's DRY. Curse the rain!!!
Also, it caused me to be unable to get online and talk to the girl last night. And that very much displeased me.
Does anyone remember the show God, the Devil, and Bob? It was HI-larious! But.. very offensive to a lot of people. So it lasted like 2 or 3 episodes. :-p Well they have the ENTIRE SERIES (including 10 unseen episodes! lol.) at the PX here. Sgt Millhouse bought it the other day. I was shocked that someone else remembers it. That got us to talking about the Tick, which it turns out he was also a fan of. There's really no story here, I just thought it was fascinating. Bonding. Male bonding.
Speaking of which, I need to get the Tick on DVD if I can find it.. every episode. The original tick, not that live-action bullcrap.
Also, it caused me to be unable to get online and talk to the girl last night. And that very much displeased me.
Does anyone remember the show God, the Devil, and Bob? It was HI-larious! But.. very offensive to a lot of people. So it lasted like 2 or 3 episodes. :-p Well they have the ENTIRE SERIES (including 10 unseen episodes! lol.) at the PX here. Sgt Millhouse bought it the other day. I was shocked that someone else remembers it. That got us to talking about the Tick, which it turns out he was also a fan of. There's really no story here, I just thought it was fascinating. Bonding. Male bonding.
Speaking of which, I need to get the Tick on DVD if I can find it.. every episode. The original tick, not that live-action bullcrap.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
First Name: Benjamin
Middle Name: Ryan
Name you wish you were called: I think my name is pretty good. I wouldn't know what else to call myself.
Name people actually call you: Ben, Reeder, Rooster, Rey and Denrir (though only online, really)
Height: about 6 feet tall.. a full foot taller than Cat, who I stole this survey from.
Siblings: 3 Schwestern. 2 younger and 1 older.
Birthday: July 14, 1982
What's the funniest picture you can find online right now? Long-time favorite
If you found your soulmate but they were of a gender you aren't attracted to, would you still have sex with them? First of all, I don't even know for sure if that's possible. And secondly, I couldn't have sex with someone I'm not attracted to. And quite franklyI find the idea of having sex with a man disgusting.
What eye color do you wish you had? I have blue eyes and I kind of like that. Though those icy light blue eyes are pretty sharp. I'd probably look weird with them though.
If you could sit down any celebrity and talk to them for a night, who would you pick? I'm not sure.. maybe David Blaine? He could teach me magic!
If you became the opposite gender for a day, what would you do? Uh..well. For the sake of curiosity, probably sexy stuff. But not like, with guys. Because I'd regret it after I lost the estrogen. lol. But then I'd know how women feel. I'd be an EXPERT!
What's the one thing you regret most about last year? Not having been wiser. I'll just say that.
Name one song you wish you could sing: I doooon't know. "I believe in a thing called love." ??? I'll get back to you on this one. Maybe.
Name one song you THINK you can sing: "(In my life) I Love You More" by the Beatles
If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you be? Some sort of rare bird that people aren't allowed to kill. Like an eagle. I'd love to be able to fly. Oh! And Eagles keep the same mate for life. I like that. *builds a nest*
If you were reincarnated as a movie, what would you be? I'd like to say something cool.. but I'd probably be something like Starsky and Hutch. I think I'm cool, but I'm just goofy. But funny! (sometimes)
What do you want for your birthday this year, that you'll NEVER get? A perfect body.
On the night before your wedding, who do you hope your friends pay to strip for you? I'd feel guilty looking at strippers. I'll pass on that.
How many people have you had a crush on that you can recall? I can't really remember. I've been fond of lots of people. But I wouldn't go so far as to say many of them were actual crushes.
How many of them did you actually have a relationship with? 2
If you were sent into space and you could only take one song, what would you take? Hey Jude. I dunno why.. maybe because it's long? And I might be lonely? I dunno.
What song are you playing on repeat right now? Just Lose It by Eminem. I'm trying to learn the few words I don't already know. Love that song.
If you could choose how to die, what would you choose? Doing something heroic for my family. MY family. Like wife and kids. I dunno why, I just think that's a beautiful way to die. Or of old age. "In the forest, singing sorrowless."
If you only had one day to live, what would you do? I'd spend some time with my family and not say goodbye or let them know I was going. I'd just do everything I could to make it wonderful. Then I'd see everyone else that I loved, spend a short time alone to pray and to think. And then spend the last hours with whoever I love the most.
Where do you see yourself when you're thirty? Hopefully married with a decent paying job that I enjoy enough that I'm no exhausted when I come home. I have a house and am thinking about kids. I have a hobby that I've decided to pursue in my spare time.. something I can never seem to decide on or have time for now.
Why? Because I think being content is the key to being happy. And those are the basic things you need in your life. Everything else is secondary.
If you were famous for just one thing, what would you hope it would be? Coming up with a completely original idea. It hardly matters what it is, though I hope it would be helpful to people.
If you absolutely had to tattoo your entire back with something, what would you choose?
What's the last book you finished reading? Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (part of the Belgariad. Very good.)
What are you reading right now? Nothing. Well, Proverbs. I'm out of books.
What's the last thing you ate? *cough* A slivver of chocolate cake.
List five things you need in your room: The Army has taught me that apparently I don't need ANYTHING in my room. But I'd like to have in my room these things: 1.books, 2.music of some sort, 3.a phone, 4.a TV/DVD player, 5.ya know.. a bed.
five websites you visit every day: 1.Army Knowledge Online (email), 2.blogger.com/blogspot.com, 3.livejournal.com... those are the only ones I visit EVERY day, really.
List five people you would bring to Purgatory with you (strictly to while away the boredom, of course!): Eh, I wouldn't. They either belong in Hell or I'd want them to be in Heaven. Not.. that I believe in Purgatory anyway. :P
List five fictional characters you wish were real: Tough one..
If someone paid you to have sex with them, would you do it? Well if my significant other wanted to tip me, that'd be great! But I'd just buy her stuff with it. :P In otherwords, no.
What if you were single and they were hot? No no, I have more self worth than that.
Have you ever hugged a pillow at night and pretending it was someone else? No. *lies*
Have you ever asked someone out on a date? Of course.
Have you ever been asked out? Yes, though coming from girls they usually make it seem like you asked THEM out. But it isn't so.
Have you ever given someone your phone number? Yes. But not like in the way that you walk into a bar and say "hey, here's my number." Though I've sometimes wondered if I could do that in a smooth enough way that they'd actually call me back.
Has anyone ever dropped you their digits? Yeah.
When do you usually go to bed at night? Whenever I want to/whenever the Army lets me.
What was the lowest grade you got last year? B. By no means the worst grade I've EVER gotten.
How much money do you make an hour? I have a salary, or base-pay as it's called. Work in my allowances for food and my hazardous duty pay and such.. right now, it's a pretty good amoung. $32... that's my venture.
Who do you know has the coolest hairstyle? Couldn't tell ya. The people I see with really interresting hair I usually don't know.
Is life worth living? Absolutely. Everyone has something to live for, whether they see it or not. Even if that thing is something in the future.
Are there aliens? Probably something completely unextraordinary. Like a plant or a rodent. Maybe intelligent life too though, I have no idea.
Are there ghosts? I think there probably are, but they're probably not exactly what we suppose they are.
Do you think your journal is interesting to read? Occasionally. But for the most part, no. Hopefully it's interresting to certain people.
Do you think other people enjoy reading it? Read above.
Who has more fun, single people or married people? Single people have more instances of fun, probably. But married people have more, BETTER fun. Fun that lasts and that you remember as special. Single people fun is often regretted.
Why do so many journals talk about suicide? Several reasons. Some people use their journals to show off.. to get attention. Just as many people pretend to be suicidal to get attention. Others talk about it in their journal as a call for help, since calls for help are usually subtle and out of the way so as to avoid actual confrontation about it. Or perhaps they're just venting. Many possible answers.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? One handsome fella. But then I am blinded by the whiteness.
What do you wish happens next year? I hope I get closer to a certain person and that oportunities will open themselves. And I hope that I take advantage of those opportunities.
And finally, what's the worst feeling in the world? Betrayal. Abandonment. Loss. Those kinds of things.
Middle Name: Ryan
Name you wish you were called: I think my name is pretty good. I wouldn't know what else to call myself.
Name people actually call you: Ben, Reeder, Rooster, Rey and Denrir (though only online, really)
Height: about 6 feet tall.. a full foot taller than Cat, who I stole this survey from.
Siblings: 3 Schwestern. 2 younger and 1 older.
Birthday: July 14, 1982
What's the funniest picture you can find online right now? Long-time favorite
If you found your soulmate but they were of a gender you aren't attracted to, would you still have sex with them? First of all, I don't even know for sure if that's possible. And secondly, I couldn't have sex with someone I'm not attracted to. And quite franklyI find the idea of having sex with a man disgusting.
What eye color do you wish you had? I have blue eyes and I kind of like that. Though those icy light blue eyes are pretty sharp. I'd probably look weird with them though.
If you could sit down any celebrity and talk to them for a night, who would you pick? I'm not sure.. maybe David Blaine? He could teach me magic!
If you became the opposite gender for a day, what would you do? Uh..well. For the sake of curiosity, probably sexy stuff. But not like, with guys. Because I'd regret it after I lost the estrogen. lol. But then I'd know how women feel. I'd be an EXPERT!
What's the one thing you regret most about last year? Not having been wiser. I'll just say that.
Name one song you wish you could sing: I doooon't know. "I believe in a thing called love." ??? I'll get back to you on this one. Maybe.
Name one song you THINK you can sing: "(In my life) I Love You More" by the Beatles
If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you be? Some sort of rare bird that people aren't allowed to kill. Like an eagle. I'd love to be able to fly. Oh! And Eagles keep the same mate for life. I like that. *builds a nest*
If you were reincarnated as a movie, what would you be? I'd like to say something cool.. but I'd probably be something like Starsky and Hutch. I think I'm cool, but I'm just goofy. But funny! (sometimes)
What do you want for your birthday this year, that you'll NEVER get? A perfect body.
On the night before your wedding, who do you hope your friends pay to strip for you? I'd feel guilty looking at strippers. I'll pass on that.
How many people have you had a crush on that you can recall? I can't really remember. I've been fond of lots of people. But I wouldn't go so far as to say many of them were actual crushes.
How many of them did you actually have a relationship with? 2
If you were sent into space and you could only take one song, what would you take? Hey Jude. I dunno why.. maybe because it's long? And I might be lonely? I dunno.
What song are you playing on repeat right now? Just Lose It by Eminem. I'm trying to learn the few words I don't already know. Love that song.
If you could choose how to die, what would you choose? Doing something heroic for my family. MY family. Like wife and kids. I dunno why, I just think that's a beautiful way to die. Or of old age. "In the forest, singing sorrowless."
If you only had one day to live, what would you do? I'd spend some time with my family and not say goodbye or let them know I was going. I'd just do everything I could to make it wonderful. Then I'd see everyone else that I loved, spend a short time alone to pray and to think. And then spend the last hours with whoever I love the most.
Where do you see yourself when you're thirty? Hopefully married with a decent paying job that I enjoy enough that I'm no exhausted when I come home. I have a house and am thinking about kids. I have a hobby that I've decided to pursue in my spare time.. something I can never seem to decide on or have time for now.
Why? Because I think being content is the key to being happy. And those are the basic things you need in your life. Everything else is secondary.
If you were famous for just one thing, what would you hope it would be? Coming up with a completely original idea. It hardly matters what it is, though I hope it would be helpful to people.
If you absolutely had to tattoo your entire back with something, what would you choose?
What's the last book you finished reading? Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (part of the Belgariad. Very good.)
What are you reading right now? Nothing. Well, Proverbs. I'm out of books.
What's the last thing you ate? *cough* A slivver of chocolate cake.
List five things you need in your room: The Army has taught me that apparently I don't need ANYTHING in my room. But I'd like to have in my room these things: 1.books, 2.music of some sort, 3.a phone, 4.a TV/DVD player, 5.ya know.. a bed.
five websites you visit every day: 1.Army Knowledge Online (email), 2.blogger.com/blogspot.com, 3.livejournal.com... those are the only ones I visit EVERY day, really.
List five people you would bring to Purgatory with you (strictly to while away the boredom, of course!): Eh, I wouldn't. They either belong in Hell or I'd want them to be in Heaven. Not.. that I believe in Purgatory anyway. :P
List five fictional characters you wish were real: Tough one..
If someone paid you to have sex with them, would you do it? Well if my significant other wanted to tip me, that'd be great! But I'd just buy her stuff with it. :P In otherwords, no.
What if you were single and they were hot? No no, I have more self worth than that.
Have you ever hugged a pillow at night and pretending it was someone else? No. *lies*
Have you ever asked someone out on a date? Of course.
Have you ever been asked out? Yes, though coming from girls they usually make it seem like you asked THEM out. But it isn't so.
Have you ever given someone your phone number? Yes. But not like in the way that you walk into a bar and say "hey, here's my number." Though I've sometimes wondered if I could do that in a smooth enough way that they'd actually call me back.
Has anyone ever dropped you their digits? Yeah.
When do you usually go to bed at night? Whenever I want to/whenever the Army lets me.
What was the lowest grade you got last year? B. By no means the worst grade I've EVER gotten.
How much money do you make an hour? I have a salary, or base-pay as it's called. Work in my allowances for food and my hazardous duty pay and such.. right now, it's a pretty good amoung. $32... that's my venture.
Who do you know has the coolest hairstyle? Couldn't tell ya. The people I see with really interresting hair I usually don't know.
Is life worth living? Absolutely. Everyone has something to live for, whether they see it or not. Even if that thing is something in the future.
Are there aliens? Probably something completely unextraordinary. Like a plant or a rodent. Maybe intelligent life too though, I have no idea.
Are there ghosts? I think there probably are, but they're probably not exactly what we suppose they are.
Do you think your journal is interesting to read? Occasionally. But for the most part, no. Hopefully it's interresting to certain people.
Do you think other people enjoy reading it? Read above.
Who has more fun, single people or married people? Single people have more instances of fun, probably. But married people have more, BETTER fun. Fun that lasts and that you remember as special. Single people fun is often regretted.
Why do so many journals talk about suicide? Several reasons. Some people use their journals to show off.. to get attention. Just as many people pretend to be suicidal to get attention. Others talk about it in their journal as a call for help, since calls for help are usually subtle and out of the way so as to avoid actual confrontation about it. Or perhaps they're just venting. Many possible answers.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? One handsome fella. But then I am blinded by the whiteness.
What do you wish happens next year? I hope I get closer to a certain person and that oportunities will open themselves. And I hope that I take advantage of those opportunities.
And finally, what's the worst feeling in the world? Betrayal. Abandonment. Loss. Those kinds of things.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Camp Victory is Nice
I arrived here this morning at about 2am Iraqi time. It's actually much nicer, asthetically, than Kuwait. There's less sand and more rocks, trees, and concrete. There's a good deal of dirt, but it's not nearly as inconvenient as the sand at Camp Virginia in Kuwait. There's a lot of beautiful architecture around, including things such as on of saddam's palaces and the beautiful building I'm in right now that has been turned into a recreational building with phones, computers, TV, billiards, etc..
We stay in 10-man tents which have heat/air and 120V power (meaning we can use our American electronics without a converter). The only two people in my unit that are in my tent with me are a couple of NCO's, which is kind of weird, but whatever. My buddies are in the tent next to mine so it's no big deal. The internet is free, though somewhat limited. You can use it as long as you want, given that there is no line, but if there is one you're restricted to 30 minutes. If those 30 minutes have already passed, you have to get off immediately, which can be obnoxious. I was talking to Cat earlier and had to leave rather abruptly. I hate that sort of thing, but whatcha gunna do. There are going to be times where I'd prefer to pay and stay on as long as I want. Harumf.
The gym here is GORGEOUS. It's cleaner and much more expansive than the one at Camp Virginia. Still no treadmills, but plenty of eliptical machines and bikes. Plus, the idea of running outside is more appealing here as you have solid ground to run on rather than sand that will hurt your calves and fill your shoes.
What's the best thing about Camp Victory? Hot. Freaking. Water. Or toilets that flush. Or the abundance of toilet paper. All very fine things.
I tire of talking to you. Begone!
We stay in 10-man tents which have heat/air and 120V power (meaning we can use our American electronics without a converter). The only two people in my unit that are in my tent with me are a couple of NCO's, which is kind of weird, but whatever. My buddies are in the tent next to mine so it's no big deal. The internet is free, though somewhat limited. You can use it as long as you want, given that there is no line, but if there is one you're restricted to 30 minutes. If those 30 minutes have already passed, you have to get off immediately, which can be obnoxious. I was talking to Cat earlier and had to leave rather abruptly. I hate that sort of thing, but whatcha gunna do. There are going to be times where I'd prefer to pay and stay on as long as I want. Harumf.
The gym here is GORGEOUS. It's cleaner and much more expansive than the one at Camp Virginia. Still no treadmills, but plenty of eliptical machines and bikes. Plus, the idea of running outside is more appealing here as you have solid ground to run on rather than sand that will hurt your calves and fill your shoes.
What's the best thing about Camp Victory? Hot. Freaking. Water. Or toilets that flush. Or the abundance of toilet paper. All very fine things.
I tire of talking to you. Begone!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
I just have to say real quick...
..that I'm happier right now than I've been in a very long time. Which is ironic, givin my current location. But all the same, I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
The young writer anxiously cracks his knuckles as he sets to work.
I try to always be confident. I have found over the past few years that confidence isn’t just a feeling or a state of being. It is something to grab hold of. Often, lacking confidence, fearing failure, is the only thing that causes one to fail -at least the main thing. What I try to do when I am not confident about something but I have to do it anyway (or want to do it so badly that I have no other choice), I find in myself false confidence. I usually have nothing to fear but failure, which is usually no worse than not having tried at all.
In this case, though, I have more to fear than failure. There is a possibility that I am wrong; that I have misinterpreted the signs. The results of that could be damaging to something that I already hold dear (though ignoring it altogether would likewise probably be damaging) -the very thing that I am trying to learn more about.
The person that got me into this uses her blog to be open and honest about the keynote thoughts and events in her life. I find this admirable, but I also find it difficult to be that honest out in the open. It makes me vulnerable, and for a person who is always on his guard, that very much goes against the grain.
She is right, of course. I have little reason to be so guarded. I’m not when I talk to her privately. On the phone, aim, or through email we talk about all manner of things without compunction.
Clearly this is not an entry written in my most confident state, but I will manufacture that confidence for the sake of this matter, which is close to my heart.
Someone that I am close to has said some things that cause me to think that I am not alone in the way I feel. In truth, I’ve felt this way for some time. These feelings have been influencing my outlook of the future (even my plans for furlough and my return home after my time in the Middle East is served). Were certain circumstances different I would have already pursued these feelings more vigorously. It is only because I’m trying to be selfless that I have been slightly reserved about this.
I feel like I have something great going for me and I’m trying to keep it going until I am close enough to pursue it further. Chasing after these feelings now would cause the negative feelings, or rather the taxing feelings, to become far more pronounced. Longing, loneliness, separation- these would be some of the fruits of my actions. We would feel those things for quite some time. Practicality demands that I wait. I don’t want to impose such a difficult situation on someone I care about. Especially when other, easier, possibly more appealing opportunities may be presented to her very soon.
The new factor in all of this is that she seems to be echoing these same feelings in some ways. If I’m wrong about that; if I have misunderstood then, well, I now look like the biggest ass in the world.
But what else is new. Besides, some risks are worth the taking.
And what if I did interpret things correctly? Well then, maybe when you thought no one but yourself would be able to make sense of what you were saying, you were wrong. Either way, I think I’ve properly exposed myself. I feel braver and more honest, even if the price for that is increased anxiety and suspense. Whatever direction things go from here, this entry will always have value for me
That’s the way I feel, and I hope someone is glad to hear about it.
In this case, though, I have more to fear than failure. There is a possibility that I am wrong; that I have misinterpreted the signs. The results of that could be damaging to something that I already hold dear (though ignoring it altogether would likewise probably be damaging) -the very thing that I am trying to learn more about.
The person that got me into this uses her blog to be open and honest about the keynote thoughts and events in her life. I find this admirable, but I also find it difficult to be that honest out in the open. It makes me vulnerable, and for a person who is always on his guard, that very much goes against the grain.
She is right, of course. I have little reason to be so guarded. I’m not when I talk to her privately. On the phone, aim, or through email we talk about all manner of things without compunction.
Clearly this is not an entry written in my most confident state, but I will manufacture that confidence for the sake of this matter, which is close to my heart.
Someone that I am close to has said some things that cause me to think that I am not alone in the way I feel. In truth, I’ve felt this way for some time. These feelings have been influencing my outlook of the future (even my plans for furlough and my return home after my time in the Middle East is served). Were certain circumstances different I would have already pursued these feelings more vigorously. It is only because I’m trying to be selfless that I have been slightly reserved about this.
I feel like I have something great going for me and I’m trying to keep it going until I am close enough to pursue it further. Chasing after these feelings now would cause the negative feelings, or rather the taxing feelings, to become far more pronounced. Longing, loneliness, separation- these would be some of the fruits of my actions. We would feel those things for quite some time. Practicality demands that I wait. I don’t want to impose such a difficult situation on someone I care about. Especially when other, easier, possibly more appealing opportunities may be presented to her very soon.
The new factor in all of this is that she seems to be echoing these same feelings in some ways. If I’m wrong about that; if I have misunderstood then, well, I now look like the biggest ass in the world.
But what else is new. Besides, some risks are worth the taking.
And what if I did interpret things correctly? Well then, maybe when you thought no one but yourself would be able to make sense of what you were saying, you were wrong. Either way, I think I’ve properly exposed myself. I feel braver and more honest, even if the price for that is increased anxiety and suspense. Whatever direction things go from here, this entry will always have value for me
That’s the way I feel, and I hope someone is glad to hear about it.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
I have been lax.
I know, I never update. You can stop sending in all the mail DEMANDING for more posts. It's so hard to keep you satisfied. I'm only one man, ya know.
Let's see, what's new with me? Tons, I guess. I'm here at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. I should be headed up to Baghdad, Iraq on or about the 11th of January. Let's see.. um.. it's sandy here. Lot of sand, yep.. And there's not much to do, though the gym is open 24 hours and I use that a lot... um.. and the chow here sucks. Oh! And I miss real toilets. And I miss my privacy. But really, it's not that bad here. It's mild.. chilly at night, pleasant in the day, generally speaking. The air is dry, which I like. I don't really like staying here in Kuwait because I don't like being en-route somewhere. I want to get where I'm going. I'll be pleased when we reach Iraq, which should be very soon.
The main thing I like about being here, though, is that life is simple. I don't have to worry about bills. I don't have to worry about grocery shopping. I don't have to worry about this, that, or even the other. Most of the drama of day-to-day life I left behind. Now, the fact that I am a city-lovin' boy who likes having TONS of stuff around to do will never change, but being here gives me perspective on why some people choose a simple life. This isn't really a surprise, though. It's what I expected/was hoping for. Simplicity. Even if that simplicity involves hard work and discomfort. It's why I was actually looking foreward to coming here. All that I really concern myself with is getting into better shape and saving money for when I return home.
All that said, I'm sure that within a few months I'll be ACHING to come home. Still, if someone tells me that we're going home early, I'll be upset. But that's because I want to stay here a whole year so that I can make some money for a car and travel and stuff. I want to spend a few days in LA to visit friends and get my stuff out of storage. Then want to go home and buy a new car. Then I want to drive up to northern Illinois to visit a friend of mine, assuming she goes to college there like she's planning to. Then I'll drive home and spend a bit more time there and then drive back to Ft. Bragg when my leave is over. See, that's the plan. I have it mostly worked out already. :-p
We have an opportunity at some point during this year to take some R&R (about 2 weeks) and go somewhere. To anywhere that we wish. While I really want to save the money for when I get home, taking an extra grand or so out and going someplace like Germany, Japan, Italy, or the British Isles does have a strong draw for me though. I'll have to think on it.
If anyone has any advice for me on that matter, feel free to offer it. :-p
Okay, so that's an update. I'll post something more interesting and thought-provoking at a later date.
Let's see, what's new with me? Tons, I guess. I'm here at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. I should be headed up to Baghdad, Iraq on or about the 11th of January. Let's see.. um.. it's sandy here. Lot of sand, yep.. And there's not much to do, though the gym is open 24 hours and I use that a lot... um.. and the chow here sucks. Oh! And I miss real toilets. And I miss my privacy. But really, it's not that bad here. It's mild.. chilly at night, pleasant in the day, generally speaking. The air is dry, which I like. I don't really like staying here in Kuwait because I don't like being en-route somewhere. I want to get where I'm going. I'll be pleased when we reach Iraq, which should be very soon.
The main thing I like about being here, though, is that life is simple. I don't have to worry about bills. I don't have to worry about grocery shopping. I don't have to worry about this, that, or even the other. Most of the drama of day-to-day life I left behind. Now, the fact that I am a city-lovin' boy who likes having TONS of stuff around to do will never change, but being here gives me perspective on why some people choose a simple life. This isn't really a surprise, though. It's what I expected/was hoping for. Simplicity. Even if that simplicity involves hard work and discomfort. It's why I was actually looking foreward to coming here. All that I really concern myself with is getting into better shape and saving money for when I return home.
All that said, I'm sure that within a few months I'll be ACHING to come home. Still, if someone tells me that we're going home early, I'll be upset. But that's because I want to stay here a whole year so that I can make some money for a car and travel and stuff. I want to spend a few days in LA to visit friends and get my stuff out of storage. Then want to go home and buy a new car. Then I want to drive up to northern Illinois to visit a friend of mine, assuming she goes to college there like she's planning to. Then I'll drive home and spend a bit more time there and then drive back to Ft. Bragg when my leave is over. See, that's the plan. I have it mostly worked out already. :-p
We have an opportunity at some point during this year to take some R&R (about 2 weeks) and go somewhere. To anywhere that we wish. While I really want to save the money for when I get home, taking an extra grand or so out and going someplace like Germany, Japan, Italy, or the British Isles does have a strong draw for me though. I'll have to think on it.
If anyone has any advice for me on that matter, feel free to offer it. :-p
Okay, so that's an update. I'll post something more interesting and thought-provoking at a later date.
