As Confusion Sets In

Help Goodbye Soundscape get to Warpet Tour '06

2006-02-23T16:00:00.000-08:00

Ig you like music by bands like Thrice, Atreau, Bleeding Through, or just Hardcore/Punk Rock you need to listen to this music. Heck if you don't like this type of music and you just got to my blog through one of the search engines play the songs on mute. Because I want to see this band get to Warped Tour '06.

PLEASE!!!!

Blog has been moved

2006-02-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

This blog has been moved too: http://6zero9.com/Mr_Matt/

thank you for reading!

While I Was Home

2006-02-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

That's right I was home on leave. I got to leave this litter box for 15+ days and I must say it wasn't what I hoped for. I was hopeing that it was going to be grand and that everything that I wanted to get done would have gotten done. Though I only was able to do maybe half of what I had planned.

I arrived at the airport in PA around noonish stepped outside and was shocked it was late January and mid-winter with a tempature of 55 degreese with no snow. I then went to my parents house to shower and clean up since I didn't have the opertunity to shower for 3 days on the voyage home. Had dinner and went and saw my girlfriend later that night. The first 2 days home were extremely plesant and I was very happy to be home on leave.

Though some down falls were the constant questions from every civilian in America. In a way I felt like I was being interiogated. I also thought about the fact that there was no stupid question just way too many idiots. Everyone would ask me a question. There were people asking me "what's it like over there?" (good question) "how do the people feel about the americans over there?" (another good question) "have you seen any export of oil from there?" (If you read my blog you are a fucking idiot! Dumb question!) Yet... Everywhere I went if someone knew I was home on leave from Iraq it was a sure thing everyone knew. I hate attention like that. But, if I was a politition I would have been eating it up. When I come home from Iraq for good don't ask me shit. Cause I won't remember any of it. I plan on pissing it away while in a drunken stupor holding a bottle or three.

Now back to the begining... The third day home my girlfriend got her period witch (spelt like that on purpose) turned her into bitchazilla mode. She became more distant and wanted almost nothing to do with me. Though if I wanted to go out with a few friends she would go into a hissy fit saying "I thought your whole vacation was going to be just you and me." Granted I could understand where she was coming from but she didn't understand where I was coming from. 8 months and not being home, no alcohol, and no blowing off steam. I needed to go out with my friends. I ended up going out with my friends 2 times and I stopped off at the bar one night for 25 minutes on my way from my parents house to my girlfriends house and she fucking flipped out so bad that I almost walked out the door.

When I left there and I was begining my journey back to the litter box. I kissed her good bye gave her a hug and with tears in my eyes I turned and left. She didn't even flinch. So since I've been back in Iraq I've been tring to put that behind me right now but I find it really hard to do at this moment in time. She says that we are SO different yet she is only unhappy with 2 things that she has told me about. 1. She dosn't like the music I listen too. Tough Shit! I listen to hard rock and Metal... She listend to R&B (rap and bullshit). She also dosn't like the way I dress. She wants me to dress like a wigger (nothing against any of you but I don't know a proper way to word this.) I wear mostly Jeans and a T-shirt or hooded sweater. To me that's casual wear and I'm comfortable so Tough Shit.

OK I'm getting depressed and shit now. I'll do more after I take some happy pills.

While I'm away.

2006-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving Iraq for 20 or more days. I am so looking foward to be going home for that time. Though while I am away I don't think I will update at all. But, If you do like reading my blog I suggest that you check out my renter this week. If after you have checked out my renter then if you want to go down to all my links and say hello to everyone.

Al righty I'm out....

<-------- CLICK MY RENTER WHILE I'M AWAY!

Worst Day of the Year???

2006-01-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

I don't know about all that. Today has been wonderful at least for me. It isn't everyday that I have such a outstanding day! So all in all if you had a bad day I'm sorry ... then again I'm not sorry if you having a bad day means that I will have a good day, nothing against you but I hope you have bad days more often. Yes, I am thinking about me right now so neeh neeh...

I picked up 2 CD's today while I was at the post exchange I was surprized they had the one though...

CD1: Numbers From The Beast - An All Star Tribute To Iron Maiden.
Great CD. If you like Metal... Classic or New you will like this CD.

CD2: Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel
Outstanding!!! I find this CD kind of hard to explain... Though if you have ever listened to DM I suggest getting this CD. If you like Nine Inch Nails though you would like something that resembles NIN in a softer tone then this is for you!

Anyway... It's January 23rd. I go on leave January 26th. 2 days away!!! I CAN NOT WAIT!

Blogger Pay Week.

2006-01-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have a crazy idea. I don't know if it will work or not but it's worth a try. This is what you have to do.

While surfing blogs click on their 'pay links' and surf them for a few pages.

You ask why?

Cause your clicks will raise them some cash and if we get almost everyone that surfs to do that then we will all get a Blogger Pay Day. So for the next week while surfing hook up your fellow bloggers. Some times Karma is a good thing too!

I Claimed my blog at Technorati

2006-01-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

It's pretty damn easy too. There are a few little things I'm yet to figure out about it but I thought that it would be a good idea to post since I've listed my blog. If you would like to list your blog at Technorati you can go to: http://www.technorati.com

To claim your blog today! Might as well it is yours isn't it?

The Second Hand is Painfull

2006-01-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick.....

I'm awaiting the day in which I can get out of the sandbox for a few days. If you have read previous posts of mine you should know what I mean. While I sit and wait all I hear right now is the second hand. Tick, Tick, Tick.... There are 2 clocks in my office. One clock has the current time in Iraq while the other clock has the time from the Eastern United States on it. These clocks are both right but fractions of a second in difference. You will hear one then the other and so on. It's funny though, some days I don't hear them but, knowing that I'm leaving in a few days to go on leave that's all I hear. Other then the helicopters and planes that fly over head from time to time. I'm tring to look at it in the fashion that I'm one second closer to being home but, for right now I'm slowly ticking down as the time ticks by.

This Weeks Renter

2006-01-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

Is Stormi of Presant Storm.

So please stop on by. She is welcoming all visitors with out knocking all you have to do is click.

Dubba Tee Eff?

2006-01-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

I have noticed something about Blogexplosions Battle of the Blogs. At this moment in time there are 8 Battles going on. Which means 16 individuals in the contest. Each battle needs 15 votes to complete and people are unable to vote in their own battles (obviously). So if that is the case then why does it take anywhere from 45 minutes to 5 hours for one battle to complete? Simple people put up their blog for the battle blotter and leave. They don't vote on any of the other battles. Granted I usually vote on the battles I want to vote on but I never vote on them all. There are just some topics I prefer to stay away from Politics and Religion to be the main ones. Though I do vote unless 2 blog friends are going at it then I don't vote in those either for the obvious reasons.

I also feel that there are way too many categories. I've seen blogs sit on that blotter for various things for days at a time. Those categories should be down grated or reclassified to something like general/misc. at least. There is a battle all feature though I suppose a lot of people are worried about their ranking. Seriously who gives a damn. It's exposure and it's 15 guaranteed traffic hits during that time. For example there is a lifetime worst 50 fighters link on their page. There you will see The Snoop Zone this blogs record is 22 Wins / 312 Losses. That's 5010 clicks to this blog. Everyday I see this blog in a running battle. I know some people think that he may be dumb for continuing his diminishing record but, that is not it. He has gotten massive traffic from the battle of the blogs. After all that's why we join a traffic producing site right? So that we get traffic.

So if your in a battle vote on a few of the other battles if you do that then your battle will be over quicker and you can get into another to start getting more traffic. BlogExplosion has a 1 credit one view policy. If you pay 10 credits for a battle that's 5 free views. And if you win then you just got 15 views at the expense of the other person. When you vote if you pick the winning blog then you get a percentage of a credit. Really that doesn't mean crap but as the old saying goes. Every cent helps.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2006-01-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

On January 26th I'll be beginning my leave process. I'm going to be leaving Iraq on that day eventually ending up at home. It's been almost 8 months since I was last home. I'm slowly getting excited since I will be leaving Iraq for possibly 20 - 25 days. I will be granted 15 days of leave in the United States. Then there is also travel time between here and the States and visa versa. I know that here I don't do a whole lot but I'm pretty sure I'm ready for a little vacation.

Also I will not be renting my blog until after I return from leave because I seriously doubt that I will even look at my blog while I'm home. Not because of my lack of interest in my readers or anything but, I will be doing all kinds of other stuff. I'm going to be visiting family and friends, car shopping, and bar hopping (not too much though). I also plan on promoting your site (gigotti78 and I) while I'm home which means going to a few local events, talking to people, and passing out the stickers that are sitting at my parents house right now. No need to worry after I start the promotion back at home I'll be opening the website through my blog. Though I must remind you now that it's a site that revolves around the local area of my town. At least for now.

There are a lot of things on my mind lately. I'm going to leave it at that. No need to get into that at the moment. Maybe it time to start a blog about that and only that. Though it will be a personal blog not to be seen by many people at all. Perhaps I'll post about it after I'm on leave this way I might be able to straighten out my mind before I start babbling.

AIN'T WORTH SHIT!

2006-01-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

And neither is my website.... Yet.

Building A Website.

2006-01-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

I'm currently in the process of building a website. I don't know anything about anything when it comes to building a website. SO..... I've been using Microsoft FrontPage and uploading all of my information from that to my host provider. So far I'm proud of myslef for what I've done already. I've managed to do all kinds of stuff just from screwing around with FrontPage and I've managed to learn quite a bit of stuff. Though I'm in the process of putting in a ShoutBox of my own. Since I enjoyed using the BlogExplosion ShoutBox before the changes. With the help of BelgianBrighton with the ShoutBox I can say that I almost got it! I just have to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've managed to put a box on the page for the chat .... um... I think I just figured out what I'm doing wrong :D I'll have to mess around with it in a few minutes. I'll be back with more information about this shortly..... Thanks BB!

ok... maybe later later I'll check it. I just went to my host providers site and it turns out that they are hav ing a slight issue with MySQL so I'll have to wait until later when I get to my home computer to access the bulliten board. Since I'm not able to access that from my office.

This Weeks Renter.

2006-01-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Zaphod's Heads

Zaphod's Heads is a political blog leaning closer to the far left liberal side. Glyn Evans is the mastermind behind this blog. He lives in Alberta Canada and is mostly concerned with the welfare of the world. He also has an extremely great outlook on religon which I completely agree with. All are called the same but there is only one god with a different name.

As Glyn put it... "If mankind cannot agree on this simple, basic thought, then they are doomed."

Check out what he has to say and also in the top left under the banner for his page there is a link titled My Political and Religious Views. Click that first to better understand.

Post 100 YAY!

I Got Tagged

2006-01-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Angie tagged me ...

Four Jobs You’ve Had In Your Life:

United States Army Infantrymen
Laborer for an electric company in NJ
Advance Autoparts 2nd Assistant Manager
United States Army Human Resources Specialist

Four Movies You Would Watch Over and Over:

Fifth Element
Resident Evil
Snatch
The Day After Tomorow

Four Places You Have Lived:

Rockaway, NJ
Hollywood, FL (right outside Miami)
Ft. Irwin, CA
East Stroudsburg, PA

Four TV Shows You Love To Watch:

CSI: Las Vegas
CSI: Miami
CSI: New York
Simpsons

Four Places You Have Been On Vacation:

What's vacation.

Four Websites You Visit Daily:

blog explosion
citizens bank online
ing direct
My web site.... Not yet available for everyone else just yet....

Four of Your Favorite Foods:

My Mothers Meatloaf
Steak
Pizza
Begals

Four Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:

The United States
East Stroudsburg, PA
Nescopeck, PA
Phillipsburg, NJ

Four Bloggers You Are Tagging:

GIGotti

I would nominate others to do the same. But, I don't know that many people that haven't been tagged yet.

The Year Is 2160

2006-01-04T08:19:00.000-08:00

Man has finally gotten to Mars and found that there is life on the red planet. We have finally set up a civilization there amongst the alien lifeforms and allowed them to live with us in our civilizations. At 101 Mars Main Lane lived a couple. 2 humans to be exact. At 103 Mars Main Lane lived a couple. 2 aliens for sure. The two couples have become close friends. Then, one day while they are all sitting in the back yard's of their homes enjoying the weather. The 2 couples began talking about sex. After a couple stories shared amongst friends the couples agreed to exchange partners for an evening.

Than night the human female and the male alien were about to engage in the physical activity. When suddenly the human says "I don't think you will be able to reach me with your member. Let alone me feel anything." The alien looks up proudly and smiles then promptly slaps himself in the fore head and tugs on his ears. When he slapped himself on his fore head his penis grew in length. After he tugged on his ears his penis grew in girth. Then the 2 enjoyed what eachother had to offer. During the act the female human started slapping him on the fore head and pulling on his ears achieving a mind blowing orgasm.

While in the other house the human male and the alien female were having a hard time understanding what was exactly happening. The human couldn't understand why the alien was slapping his head and pulling on his ears. So eventually they decided to stop and just sit back and watch a movie.

The following morning the partners returned back to one another. The human male asked the human female how the sex was. She responded with "Outstanding!" She then asked him the same question. He looked over and smiled then replied "I have a head ache and my ears hurt. I still don't understand why she kept slapping me on the fore head and pulling on my ears."

I Got A Play Day Today

2006-01-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

I got to go out to the range today. While I was out there I fired the following weapons.

AK-47 (Russian)

Caliber 7.62x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Overall length: 870 mm
Barrel length: 415 mm
Weight: 4,300 g with empty magazine, 4,876 g loaded
Magazine capacity 30 rds (40 rds box magazines and 75 rds drums)
Sighting range, m: 800
Cyclic rate of fire 600 rds/min
Practical rate of fire, single shots 90-100 rds/min; bursts 400 rds/min
Muzzle velocity: 780 m/s

http://www.ak-47.us/AK-47info.php

Sterling 9mm L2A3 Sub-Machine Gun (British)

Production: The gun was produced in the United Kingdom between 1953 and 1988. A similar model, named Sub-Machine Gun Carbine 9mm 1A1 is produced under license by Indian Ordnance Factories, Kanphur.
Manufacturers: The L2A3 was manufactured at the Sterling Armament Company at Dagenham, and at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazackerley. A similar model was also produced under license by the Canadian Arsenals Limited under the name 9 mm C1 Sub-Machine Gun.
Service: Approximately 90 countries bought the gun in different quantities. Main buyers were Canada (under license), Ghana, India (under license), Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Tunisia and some Arabian Gulf states. The L2A3 is no longer in service with the UK armed forces, but the silenced version L3A4 is held as reserve weapon by the British army.
Cartridge: 9 X 19 mm Parabellum
Operation: blowback, selective fire
Feed: magazine
Weight: empty, 2.72 kg (6 pounds)
Length: butt folded, 483 mm (19 inches); butt extended 690mm (27.2 inches)
Barrel length: 198 mm (7.8 inches)
Muzzle velocity: 390 m/s (426 y/s)
Rate of fire: cyclic, 550 rounds/minute

http://www.nisat.org/weapons%20pages%20linked/United%20Kingdom/sterling_9mm_l2a3_sub.htm

I WANT A STERLING! Despite the fact that I would more then likely get into trouble with it....

THE FUCKING PICTURES AREN"T WORKING SON OF A BITCH FUCKING BLOGGER!

Happy New Year!

2006-01-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping that everyone is and will be having a Happy New Year!

I know that I will... This year I'll be going home and not coming back here anytime too soon.

See ya around...

-Mr. Matt

New Renter to Ring in the New Year!

2005-12-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

EzineWriter has taken me up on my New Years Sale offer to Rent My blog. Now there isn't much for me to say about my blog today so check out his. Everyone needs a good laugh, chuckle or even a smile. Yes, before you tell me "you need to laugh and smile more then anyone else you depressed bastard." I know. I know.

Some people make new years resolutions that will more then likely be broken. He's making them to keep as a matter of fact ones that he knows that he can keep! So head on over by clicking the little boxy up there on the left and see what chuckles he's spreading today!

Teenage Love Through A Modern Mess.

2005-12-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

**Warning there is a lapse of time in this event which is forgotten and misunderstood. Times aren't exact but estimates are extremely close.** "girlfriend" either explains her or her name.

As the time progressed through my early stages of my military obligation I was constantly calling my "girlfriend". Phone card after phone card. We were constantly in contact. Holiday leave was upon me so I gratefully took my time to go home and be with my family and friends.
The New Years party I went to that year 98/99 was one of the best parties I was ever at. It consisted of me my "girlfriend" and only a handful of close friends. I then returned back to my duty station on the 3rd of January.

While I was at my duty station I was moved from one room to another. In this room my roommate was the best roommate I could ask for. There were no amenities in that room such as Cable, Internet, or a Telephone. So I went a head and got cable and a phone in our room. He paid half the cable bill on time all the time and every time the phone bill came in he would ask to see it so that he could promptly pay me for the times he had used my phone. Though this is where my "girlfriend" started to cost me a lot of money.

My phone bill quickly amounted to 200 to 300 dollar phone bills every month. Due to me calling. So we discussed the issue and came to the conclusion that I would call her once a week and if she needed to call me then she would call collect. This worked really well. We had more things to talk about once a week and the phone bill fell faster then my grades in high school. This progressed through for quite some time.

The summer leave was upon me now. I want home again and spent time with friends and family. I don't remember much about this time except for the fact that I went to a house party in my neck of the woods with my "girlfriend". This party sucked. It was just a reject high school party that all the high schoolers probably thought was 'a great party' these kids didn't know shit. Though I was there with the "girlfriend" at one point in the night some punk came up to us and asked "the girlfriend" if he could talk to her alone for a minute. (To this day I don't know why I didn't see it all then.) They were gone for about 5 minutes while I was sitting there bullshitting with some kids about the Army. When she came back she was a little withdrawn from the situation. Just a few minutes after that she said "lets go this party is boring." Leave was just there it didn't concern me as much as it had before that's why I don't remember much of it. But, I do know that I went back to my duty station.

Once I got back there I was jumping feet first into everything that we were doing. I would call her once a week like I once had but the times that I would call she wasn't home. So like any other person on the planet.. as far as I'm concerned. I would call every day again until I would get a hold of her. I would have conversations with her mom once in a while. She would fill me in on the things "the girlfriend" wouldn't. For example... where she was working, her plans for school, and various other things that weren't to interesting. My "girlfriend" and I ended up talking 1 to 2 times every 2 weeks. Between her being home and my duties that I was unable to disregard.

Holiday leave was upon us once again. My "girlfriend" and I had made plans for her to pick me up from the airport and then we would stay at a hotel and do what horny teenagers do.... The following morning we went to my parents house she dropped me off as there were family plans that involved travel and she had to work the next day. I went to the family event which I did enjoy because that is usually the only time in which I get to see my family as a whole. Then on the ride home my mom told me something that I shrugged off. She said "I saw "girlfriend" at this store with another guy holding hands seaming quite close to him. Then when she saw me she let go of his hand quickly." I was like yea... sure... whatever. Since I knew my mom never actually liked "girlfriend". Not only did my mom tell me this but 5 days later one of my friends asked me if "girlfriend" and I had an open relationship. I ignored his question completely because I didn't want to hear what he was saying.

We had plans for new years "girlfriend" and I. December 31st she canceled saying that she had to work. She told me that someone called off and she needed the money. I knew she worked at a ski resort so I was pretty sure that someone would call off. So that new years since I new almost no one other then "girlfriend" I stayed at home bored, and alone. So around 11:30 that night I called said "girlfriends" house to wish her parents a happy new year and her mom said "Why aren't you at the party with "girlfriend"?" I remember walking onto my back porch at midnight lighting a cigarette and saying happy new year to the wind with tears in my eyes.

The next day she came over to my house around 1 O'clock. I decided that we would go out and eat. So we went to a nice restaurant and after the restaurant we went to a early showing at the movies. I asked her how work was at dinner which she promptly responded with a prefabricated story. At the movies she was trying to make out with me but I told her that I wanted to watch the movie. After the movie was over I asked her if I could drive home (this way I wouldn't have to walk) she said sure I don't mind. Once we were within 5 miles of my house I asked her how the party was she went to. She just looked at me with a surprised look on her face. I then pointed out the various new years artifacts that were lingering on the floor of her car. And the fact that there was a shirt on the back seat with beer spilt on it. She then started crying and saying the she shouldn't have lied about having to work. When I pulled into my drive way we got out of the car and she quickly started hugging me. Probably thinking that I would hit her. (For the record I would never hit a woman.)

As she was hugging me I asked her "I've heard things since I've been home. But, I want to know the truth. Have you seen other people since I've been away?" Then she started crying harder and said "Yes." At that point in time the fire inside of me was at a full blown incinerator level. I stepped away from her and told her "If you want to see other people go right ahead but your not going to be with me." I then said good bye and walked into the house. I was really upset. It was a mixture of loss, regret, anger, hate, and sorrow. Knowing that the whole time I was being being faithful yet I was also being cheated on.

I know that feeling well. Said "girlfriend" and I were together for close to 3 years. At that time I was almost positive that she was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I look back at it now and think about it. I'm glad about what I did that day. Sometimes I wish I did it sooner. Though there is still that little piece of my heart that has shriveled up and died because it's been a victim of a dishonest relationship. Just this past spring a mutual friend of ours had told me that she got married. I sent her an e-mail, congratulated her and her husband. That was in April or May.

I'm still waiting for a thank you or even a hello.

What Made Me Join The Military

2005-12-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school I was part of the wrong crowd. I didn't care for school what so ever. I was more interested in hanging out and smoking pot. That was when I was in 9th grade. I failed that year with falling colors. I pulled my head out of my ass that summer because my parents had me on lock down. They told me that if I ever wanted to make something of myself I had to get the grades. I as a rebellious teenager at the time said yea... yea.... I doubled up in all my classes in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade after that just to graduate with my class. Though in 11th grade I figured out that my parents would never spend their money to put me through college. Since at that age and stage in my life I would have flunked out cause of too much parting.

The high school held an optional test one day in the library called the ASVAB test while I was in 11th grade. I found out that it was a placement test for the military and at first I was skeptical. Though 2 friends of mine were going to do it (to get out of class). So off I went to get out of class and take the ASVAB test. After I took the test I wanted to know my score though they were doing no grading there. I kept up with school.

Then in May, 3 months after the test, the phone rang... I answered and it was a United States Army Recruiter. He started by throwing out the lure and reeling me in. Then he asked if he would be able to come to the house at a later date to show me some stuff. I was like sure what the hell! I told my parents of the events that occurred and my step dad (being former Navy) started in on me about joining the Navy or the Air Force. I told him I would see what they had to offer but right now first come first serve. My mother was in shock. She couldn't imagine me in the military and she thought I was high when I was talking to the recruiter. Who by the way showed up the next day.

My family, the recruiter, and I were all sitting out on my back porch discussing my 'possible' enlistment. Hell they would pay for my college, I could get skills [you gotta have skills] for the civilian world, and much more that I think was bullshit. I was warming up to the idea quite quickly. I would be able to see the world at the governments expense and see places I could never afford to see at that age. I told the recruiter that I would have to talk everything over with my family before I mad a decision.

For the week after that I was talking with my family quite a bit about it. Them knowing that if I was to join at the young age of 17 then my mother would have to sign saying that it's ok. I came to the conclusion that I was going to join the Army. I found out that in the Army I could pick my job where opposed to the Navy or Air Force (at the time) they would place you where they needed you. I called the recruiter and told him to come up again with a contract on a day my mom had off. He came in we did the paper work and he asked me to sign it. I read it over and signed the paper work. Then it was my mom's turn. She looked at me and said

Mom: "Matt are you sure you want to do this?"

Me: "Yea Ma"

Recruiter: Silent

Mom: "Are you really sure that you want me to sign this Matt?"

Me: "Mom, what the fuck else am I going to do with my life? I don't want to work at McDonald's until I die and I know you can't afford to put me through college. This will help me to do something with my life and not be a fucking loser!"

Recruiter: Wide Eyed and Jaw Dropping.

Mom: *sigh* "I guess your right... But don't give me any shit when you decide to change your fucking mind"

Recruiter: Smiling now....

Me: No problem mom.

Then I was off during a part of the summer to a processing center. Where I had to take the ASVAB one more time because the recruiter thought I could do better.... I did worse and that one was the one that they counted. I had to take a physical. Fill out all kinds of paper work. Then choose the job I was able to perform in. Lets just say I didn't pick a job that would help me bunches in the real world...

For my 12th grade year in high school I was in something called the DEP (Delayed entry Program).

Now lets put that to the side..... I was seeing this girl from my 10th grade year on at the time. You could say she was my high school sweet heart or what ever. She didn't mind it so much. By the middle of the year I came to the conclusion that I was not going to be able to be with her. If I left for the military and I started to get cold feet. I was purposely trying to fail my classes because if I failed they couldn't take me. I was stupid but I thought I was rather smart at the time.

My recruiter figured out what I was trying to do so he went in to chat with the teachers. None of them showed him any sympathy. So he talked to my mother.... They came up with the conclusion that everyday after school I would go to the recruiters office and do all my homework and then at 5 when he left the office he would drive me home or my mom would pick me up. {Great I'm 17 and being baby sat} Shortly after this began my recruiter went back to my teachers and requested all of the homework that I never turned in. [ASSHOLE!]. I eventually resigned to the fact that I was going to graduate on time and have to leave for the military.

My girlfriend at the time said that she would be more then happy to wait for me which made me feel pretty good. Graduation happened and I was out of school for 5 days then I left for basic training. Basic was a pain in the ass at that time but now that I look back at it was some fun shit! I graduated basic training my family and girlfriend came down to the graduation and they were quite impressed with me and the changes that occurred since I had left. I eventually took leave, then went to my duty station, and then took holiday leave.

I'm going to leave the holiday leave story for another day. This post has gotten quite long as it is.

Other Cultures / Christmas...

2005-12-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

One thing that I've noticed while here in Iraq is the difference between our culture and other cultures. Some of the other cultures that I've been around recently are (in my opinion) too touchy feely. What would be considered a Public Display of Affection in the United States is or could be (not totally sure) a normal greeting amongst their culture. It's not only the Iraqi culture but some of the other employees, contractors, or other protection forces.

...Now I'm one of those people. I don't care what you do as long as you don't do it infront of me. Today while I was walking to the dining facility to eat I saw some thing that made me feel so uncomfortable it made me laugh. (Now that takes alot cause I'm not wraped as tight as I should be.) Two gentlemen were walking infront of GIGotti and I. One individual approached the other from the right side to begin with. Lightly touched his shoulder then ran his hand all the way down to the other dudes buttocks with a huge pervert smile on his face the whole time. Though the guy on the left diden't even hesitate, miss a step, or even look at the guy. He just kept on walking and started a conversation with him.

---------------------------------------------------------

Though Christmas was a bust just as I expected it to be. I had the day off so I watched some CSI and messed around on my computer. While I was doing that I was having a conversation with someone. The conversation really pissed me off considering that it was christmas and all. The conversation was going good then all of a sudden it took a turn for the worst. Basically the night diden't end well. I decided to take a shower and then get to bed after about 6 episodes of CSI and a mountain of pages surfed on BlogExplosion. I got into bed at about 6:30A.M. (I work nights) I don't actually know when I fell asleep but the last time I looked at my alarm clock it read... 8:45A.M. I've been having trouble sleeping and about 4 or 5 days ago I was getting back on track. Though after the conversation lastnight. I'm almost sure that I won't be sleeping right for the next couple days, weeks, or months.

With that said and me in a shitty mood now... I better get going. I'm not interested in dumping my life story on this blog but it's kind of a place for me to vent. Along the lines of what happened lastnight.... I'm not in the most comfortable mind set. All I keep telling myself is that I'm going home on leave in a month or so. I should know more about the turn of events in my life after leave. But, for now I'm going to try to put what has happened out of my mind.

Shout. Shout. Let it all out!

2005-12-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

Lastnight I was playing around on BlogExplosions Shout Box. Granted it was a bit of mind numbing sillyness but I was having a blast. Just chatting about random topics and then me becoming quite silly once GIGotti came into the SB. He kind of eggs me on to say stupid things or just act like a Jackass.

Other than that it's Christmas Eve here. (Festivus for those of you discussing that in the SB lastnight). As it's probally Christmas Eve every where.... Nevermind that last statement. Tonight when we went to eat Santa was in the Dining facility. He was there shaking everyones hand and saying that he appriciates what we are doing. NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED!!! I thought Santa liven in the north pole and loved all of the worlds children. Does Santa actually live in North Dakota and only give gifts to America and all of our Allies? I don't actually know where I'm going with this other then the fact that it's Christmas in some parts of the world right now even if it's 1AM. There must be a lot of bad ass kids these days if he had time to stop here in Iraq.

Any how. Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays What ever politically correct term you perfer. oh I almost forgot Kwanza. Enjoy yourselfs at home.

PANIC!!!

2005-12-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

This week my blog is being sponcered by THE PANIC BLOG. The owner of this blog is an individual named Eric. He was diagnosed with acute anxiety disorder without agoraphobia. Which translates to a Panic Disorder. More or less his blog is about him, his family, and his friends.

So check out his blog if you don't want to look at mine. After all everyone is interested in what other people are like. Reading their blogs is a good way to get to know tham.

Interesting Read.

2005-12-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

So my posts have been up and down lately but that is mostly because of my mood.... I know excuses are like ass holes, everyone has one and they all stink. Though on my other blog Ask the Soldiers there was a comment made by a thirteen year old ghost named Horace Finkle. I'm not on drugs I did put that out like that because this is the way that the writer protrays him/her self. This is by far an interesting and funny read. I actually was laughing so hard at one point I think I might have pissed my self just a little bit. We all know that we need a good laugh once in a while so check out this blog.

Untill next time.....

Holiday Time.

2005-12-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

I honestly think that the military should not recgonize holidays while being deployed. It seams to bring on that "D" word again. Along with that I haven't been able to sleep right for about a week or a little more. I'm not really sure time seams to blend together here anymore. Half the time I don't even know what day it is I just know I want to eat and I have to go to work. Which I do. Though it could be the building anticipation of me going on leave and seeing everyone else going on leave. Well knowing that time to leave here is close upon us.

I'm looking forward to going home. There is so much to do and that needs to be completed. I also have to find a job when I get home and that will be a pain in the ass considering that if I want to get a job that pays well I would have to drive over an hour away. Even if it's part time. Because, in the Pocono's it's all about making money. Your business prospers and you pay your slaves minimum wage or very little over. Hell I worked at a gas station for about a year while I was living there. That gas station was properly positioned on the corner of 3 major highways, 1 hotel, and along the main tourist route. I easily counted Thousands of dollars no matter what day it was when I closed the place and I got 6.50 an hour. Granted it isn't a hard job. Though I did jump the counter many times to catch thieves and to attempt to catch drive away pumpers. Many people were brought to justice because of my actions. The company didn't lose money when I worked for them and I got nothing in return for going beyond my amount of job classification. Then I was working as an 2nd assistant manager at a big name autoparts store. I was making between 8 and 9 dollars an hour. Due to the cost of living in the area I was still living at home with my parents. Come on now I'm going to be 26 and I could not afford to move out of my parents house. Now coming home from a deployment with some money I can afford to get a decent vehicle, an apartment, and pay some bills for a few months. What I would like to know though is... Between college and a part time job how long will I be able to stand on my own two feet before I end up relying on others once again.

Pay Some Respect to HATE!

2005-12-14T12:28:00.000-08:00

Cause' Hate is my new renter this week with his site PYMMOTI A.K.A. People You Might Meet On The Internet. I have this site blog marked through Blogexplosion and every now and then I'll go and check it out. I know that most of the time when I laugh at it I'm wrong for laughing but it really helps the day go by! Now if there is ever a reason for you not to post your picture on the internet this is definately it! FEAR THE RED MARKER!!!

Also if you happen to be looking for affordable web hosting. Check this out.

Thanks alot!

No Updates Lately....

2005-12-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

I was hung up on the last post I did. There is something about that event that will be with me forever. But, moving along....

There really hasn't been much going on all has been quiet. Which is a good thing for me but we all know what boredom leads too. That's right folks. I was so board last night I found my self in the MWR (Morale Welfare Recreation) tent last night watching: Bull Riding, Bare Back Horse Bucking, and Cow Wrestling. I honestly don't know why I was watching this event because I don't understand it and I feel bad for the animals having their balls twisted. Shit, if I was one of those animals and I got my balls twisted the way they do I'd be jumping like a fucking lunatic too! Those poor cows getting wrestled to the ground... I would fall to if some jackass jumped off a horse and grabbed my head. Though I guess that it is a sport that I will never understand. Then again I don't think I would wear Wrangler Jeans either just because I like circulation to my boys. Till next time maybe another like this or a depressing one but only time will tell.

December 7, 1941

2005-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

On this historical day the Japanese led a surprise attack on our Pacific Fleet located in Hawaii. Although I was not alive for this disaster I still feel the pain which was inflicted on the Nation when this happened. I will visit the USS Arizona Memorial to pay my respects in the future. But, until then I'll make history of my own.

Photo borrowed from The National Park Service.
USS Arizona Memorial
Hawaii

Oil droplets float to the surface above the USS Arizona, helping preserve the memory of the past. Please take a moment of silence today to remember all the people that lost their lives during this tragic attack.

Want to help preserve this memory? Please donate to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund. Your children's grand children will be learning about the history as well. Help preserve it for them.

Tails of the Opiated Sherpa

2005-12-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

This week I've rented my blog to very unique clientell. Tails of the Opiated Sherpa. This is the second blog of his which spawned from this blog. Yet, his second blog is less Hockey and more a personal diary commenting on current events, family, work, and the weather in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Now if your still reading this you are wrong. Click on his blog on the left under the skull. Tell him I sent you and say hello.

I also know that alot of you blog surfers that get to my blog, sigh about the fact that you have to look at my page for 30 seconds. Now you don't have to! Just click on my renter every week and check out their blog until it's time for you to click to the next blog. Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas Shopping From Iraq.

2005-12-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

Everyone has bought something online at one time or another and how it's done is usually the same. Though from here it's a little more difficult. The major difference is between shipping and billing addresses. But, when you order something out of a magazine as a Christmas gift that is a different story.

I ordered a historic rifle for my step father. Now with rifles you have to have them shipped from one FFL (Federal Firearms licensed dealer) to another. Before I ordered the rifle I had to google for a FFL near my parents house, call them to verify, then call the company I was purchasing it from to place the order. After all that, I had to call back the FFL closest to my parents and let them know when it's suppected to arrive, my step dads name, and phone number. It was a little rough but everyone was thankful for what I'm doing here which made it even easier. Then as I was talking with the FFL closest to my parents the person I was talking to said if I was able to send a Christmas card to them they would print it out and give it to my step dad when he came to pick it up. That was awesome. They also said Merry Christmas on the transfer fee. I was amazed I had my card out and I was ready to pay the fee at that moment. Though when I go home on leave I'm going in to introduce myself and say hello and thank you personally. I'm even going to get an American Flag flown here to give them when I'm home to express my gratitude. After all not everyone can say that they have an American Flag that was flown in Iraq. Can You?

What A Day!

2005-12-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

Today I was driving the bus for a little while this evening transporting troops from point A to point B. Now some days I really feel like hurting people that say stupid things or do stupid things yet, today I was laughing me ass off! I stopped at one location to take a "few to the dining facility. NOTE: I'm driving a 48 passenger bus. The bus became over loaded I stopped counting at fifty six people and they were still cramming in. Seats were taken and laps were being used everyone was laughing about this as was I. Shortly after I dropped them off I got another bus load. NOTE: During my time I'm supposed to drive from one point to another with no diversions. This group of individuals about 4 of them were going one place (where I can go) and about 9 of them wanted to go to a place in which I can't travel but they didn't ask me where I was going they got on and went for a ride. I eventually took them to where they wanted to go but I was busting balls the whole time. Finally someone said "Next time were asking the bus driver where there going." Now for the good part....
I have an empty bus and I pick up a full bus at one stop. I'm driving along and I ask "any one getting off up here?" people respons with yes we are. So I stopped there and then as I started driving again a little voice pops up from the back of the bus she then says "Can you stop at the stop sign?" (WTF Let me think about this.) I quickly responded with "I don't stop at stop signs I just blow through them." The whole bus went into an uproar in laughter. She then realized what she had asked me to do. I kindly stopped at the stop sign and her and a couple companions got off the bus, her face was beet red, and her friends were heckling her the whole time. Girl if you read this I want to apologize yet at the same time I want to thank you because I haven't laughed that hard since I got to Iraq. I'll gladly stop at the stop sign again for you anytime.

What a Hoot!

2005-11-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

I don't really know what made me come up with that title.

But, Ask the Soldiers is going really well. I'm actually surprised at the amount of questions we have already recieved. in the short time that we have had it up we have answered 5 questions and are in the process of answering one more. So please don't hesitate if you have a question to ask a couple troops here in Iraq by all means check out our blog there and e-mail us as askthesoldiers@yahoo.com

Also this new site seams to help pass the time so all in all your helping some of us burn up some time here.

Ask The Soldiers

2005-11-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

If you haven't read the last post of mine I suggest that you do. You will understand this one much better.

Ask The Soldiers is underway. GIGotti and I will be revealing the truth to all. If you have questions involving the war here in Iraq you can get 2 answers per question from 2 different people. Me being one of them.

Now with that said I know some of you have questions that you would like the soldiers to answer so all you have to do is visit our blog, find the e-mail, and send us your question.

All questions will be answered in the order that they are received.

Ideas Are Flowing.

2005-11-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

So, GI Gotti had asked me to assist him on a personel mission that he's currently pondering. His idea does not reflect my intentions what so ever. But, here is his idea I'm sure you'll be able to read about it in his blog sooner then later.

He wants to offer to answer questions about Iraq from a soldiers point of view via: blog.

Now he has asked my to also answer the same questions since we both have different outlooks upon the mission at hand. I've so decided that I will assist in his mission. To answer some rather stupid questions or extremely smart ones.

I would also like to extent a huge thank you to blogger for being idiots. I never turned on my comment notification but all of a sudden it's on. (I turned it off now) I honestly thought no one was reading my blog and I know I have atleast one or two readers :-)

Soldiers Thanksgiving.

2005-11-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

5 things I'm thankfull for:

1. My Family

2. My Friends

3. Fellow Soldiers

4. Respectfull Americans

5. Being Alive

So yesterday was Thanksgiving. I almost forgot. Yet the meal just wasen't what I expected it to be compaired to previous deployments. Where we had all the fixings. Yesterday though was different. We did have turkey that was processed turkey loaf (or breast), mushy stuffing, and the normal veggies that we usually have. Though here is the kicker.... There were two freshly cooked birds sitting out on a table with a sign on them that said "for display only".... I know that there is no way possiable to have eanough turkey to go around for every single deployed Soldier, Marine, Sailor, or Airmen. So why put that out like that to make some of us realize that the one great thing that were not thankfull for is signing the enlistment paperwork. If I diden't see the cooked turkeys I woulden't have minded the whole meal but after seeing them I knew there were higher ranking people where I am, actually eating some real turkey somewhere around here. Once again the shit that starts up hill diden't roll down hill like most other times and these are the times I wish that it did.

Say What You Feel

2005-11-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

This photo has a great point. Although it is not the best point to be shared with most children.
Especially those that think they already know everything.

So with out further ado I will present to you what my mother had hanging on the fridge when I lived at home.

CHILDREN!!!

Tired of being harassed by your stupid parents????

Act NOW move out, get a job, and pay your bills

While You Still Know Everything!

I have no rights to this at all so put it on some paper of your own and hang it on your fridge today. Your children will be worried by the fact that you put it up yet, in the future when they have kids of their own they will understand completely what you meant by this act.

Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates.

2005-11-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

When it's cool out your strong and firm. When it's hot your mushy and runny. Yet, your usually the same person and deep down inside you want to be loved and cherished like anyother person in the world. As Forest gump put it you never know what your going to get. But, there are times that you do know that your going to get fucked even before you know what your suposed to be doing. So in referance to my post yesterday... Every few days I have to go back to the doctors (medics for me) and go through with my physical therapy. But, here's the me getting fucked part. I work nights as a matter of fact until 2 a.m. mostly. Yet I have to be at the doctors at 0800 for this procedure. Which ends up being around 1030 by the time I finally get back to my room to get some sleep. I've been getting up around 1330 or 1400 because I have to get ready for work. Which starts at 1430 as opposed to 1600 like it once was but this is only temporary. I don't mind that much I have to deal with lack of sleep at times no big deal. Yet, siting at work so extremely tired that I could blindfold myself with dental floss is shitty. I then proceed to stuff my face with caffine and sugar to stay awake or some what coherient. Then when I get off work I go back to my room and by the time I get there I'm wide awake and I can't sleep so I get on my laptop and fool around for a little bit. It turns out that I end up staying awake until about 0630 or 0700 then finally go to bed to get up at the same time. Finally, by the time I'm caught up with sleep and my tiredness I have to go back to the doctors before I go to sleep again. Man - o - man this just might be rougher then I thought. Never mind the pain I'm fighting sleep deprivation and an ever growing gut from pounding junk food into my face. If I was home I woulden't mind the gut so much at least then it's my pony keg. Here it's like I'm getting prepaired for hibernation that will never happen.

Well, What A Discovery.

2005-11-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've had or thought to have tendenitious in my right shoulder. Now anyone that knows me knows that I take pain relievers for this ailment quite often. Since 1998 in fact. Now I've come to the conclusion that I do not want to have my liver transplant due to me ruining it with pain killers and such. I would much rather need one from too much drinking. I'll save that for another day though. I went to see the doctors to see if there was anything that they could do for me as far as helping the pain subside through steroid shots or some other form of help like maybe surgery. I went through physical therapy for my shoulder before but it diden't help at all. So there I was...

I get there and I explain the situation and then I have to wait for the doc to come into work. I waited almost 1 1/2 hours. He finally gets there and takes a look at me pokes, prods, and sticks me in different places on my shoulder and back. Apparetnly backs and shoulders this doctor knows well, so I get a reevaluation from him. "There is nothing wrong with your shoulder." He says. "Well why am I feeling this constant pain that goes from nothing to insane in no time?" I said. That's where it got interesting. It turns out that from the accident I had in basic training (I was climbing a rope lost my grip and fell about 10 feet before grasping and catching myself on the rope the last 10 feet to the ground). Anyhow... When the accident had happened I shifted my skeletal structure and my back muscle group on my right side. Which caused my muscles on the upper part of my back to scar (which is where the pain is centralized). He then asks me if I've ever seen a chiropractor. Um.. Nope never in my life I told him. So he tells me that I have 2 choices keep taking the pain killers or go through with a chiropractic form of physical therapy. So I go with the physical therapy of course. Let me tell you that is very painful yet at the end of it all you feel much better.

The Way People Found My Blog

2005-11-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

Through google and the yahoo searches:

1. Fuck in Kuwait

2. Blackhouse Liquor

3. Waking Up Dehydrated

4. Camel Spiders On The Loose

Well there you have it. this one is easily explainable. I've done posts on camel spiders, being dehydrated, how much I dislike Blackhouse, and I know Kuwait and Fuck were in the same sentance in there somewhere but not in the good way.

I've Always Hated Being The New Guy

2005-11-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

New guys are slowly popping up. One showed up today to fill a position that has been vacant for a while. I picked him up at the airstrip then continued to show him around base. "That is were your going to live." This is the post exchange." "This is the building that has finance and the post office in it." and "This is the First Sergeant." Now this guy was quiet at first didn't really say anything, he was just taking everything in like a sponge to water. When we finally got all the bugs straightened out and I got him into his room is when he finally said something. "This room looks like Katrina blew through here!" UT-OH is all I could think... at first. Then I told him that his 'roommate' should be off work at around this time and he should try to straighten out the living situation with his roommate before seeking other means. (Mind you the room was a bit messy if there would have been beer bottles on the floor then I would have thought I was in an untidy bachelor's pad). After I left him at his room I simply showed him around the living area a little and told him I had to get back to work. I took off got back here and just about 30 minutes ago I heard a hummer drive by outside my office so I decided to go and see if it was Sergeant so-n-so that I had to find earlier. It was. So I started telling SGT so-n-so about the new addition to one of his soldiers rooms and he got pissed quick! Then I simply explained to him that it was the First Sergeants decision and I suggested that he should go speak with him if he wanted to try to adjust the situation.

So now it's out of my hair. I probally won't have to deal with it again. But, I do know that it isn't over for "The New Guy" just yet. Still it's only the beginning.

I can't use the title I want to use.

2005-11-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

I feel that it would be offensive to some people that may view my blog. Plus children might be lurking around and see it so out of respect I'm not using that title.

Any way just read the last post I posted.

Being here right now is like being a Video cassette tape. rewind - play - rewind - play same stuff everyday.

Yea. Yea. Yea.

2005-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Weekly update: I'm alive, I'm still smokeing, I'm fuckin board as shit, and I miss being home!

see ya next week if I have anything interesting to post. if not it'll look some thing like this again.

Life Goes On.

2005-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

The issue in my last post was brought up and so far it's not as bad as it was. Stinky came back off leave, he was "talked to" by his higher ups, and the first day back he was turning in laundry to be cleaned. G.I. Gotti has gone on leave he better drink a few for me! I've also been sick for the last 6 weeks. I'm dealing with a common head cold that I can't shake. I've gotten medicine from the docs with them saying "this should help your situation" but, it never does. I still have a backwards runny nose and I'm beginning to get an ear infection in my right ear. I've also found my self staying up until 7 or 8 in the morning anymore. (I work from 4 PM till 2 AM) Then waking up at around 3 or 3:30 to get ready for work. Yet, one of the main reasons I'm staying up that late anymore right now is because from 5 till 7 in the morning there is the dreaded alarm clock wars. So even if I tried going to sleep earlier I would just be woken up by one of the 4 other alarm clocks in the room from the day guys.

On another note.....

I really hate computer games! They drive me crazy! Having to remember which key on the keyboard to press for this or is it the left click on the mouse or right click for that? Yet lately I've been playing online videogames in my off time and I've become addicted! I've had 2 days off since my last post and I've wasted those days (not that there is anything else to do here) playing that game (I'm keeping all references out because I don't want people finding my blog because there searching for stupid information about that game). I even searched Google repettivally looking for a specific BOT program to run the game while I'm not there this way I could benefit from this program. I found one, it's not what I was looking for, and it's generally crap! Can anyone make me a bot? LOL Or, maybe find out where I could find this? I'll tell you this much about the game it's an online card game (not poker) you can trade your cards for better cards, and you have to go to that site's card shop to buy more cards or event tickets. If you know what I'm talking about and/or if you know the bot deal hook me up please with the link. If you can make a bot e-mail me and we could possibly talk some business. It must be a smart bot too!

1 Last thing.....

I don't know what's going on. At all! No Shit! I have a basic idea that the elections are going on here in Iraq and they are tallying the votes but other then that I don't have a F'n clue. Honestly I can give a F's less. I'm one of those soldiers that is here to do my job. I don't really care about what's going on unless I have to leave the base for some reason then I try to get a little brief of the needed knowledge. Yet in my eyes the less I know is more. It'll keep me out of trouble and I won't ask any questions that may become some type of a security issue (since I'm the quiet guy in that shop that rarely says shit but all of a sudden asks that question) and most of all I won't make my self look like an idiot. Where is the F'n bus? Some stupid asses are supposed to bring the 48 passenger bus to us every night this has happened once in the last 10 days other then the times I hunted it down. That bus is our transportation when we get off work it's either that or our LPC's (Leather Personnel Carriers a.k.a boots) for a loooonnggggg walk back to where we sleep (when I mean long 2 or more miles I can't get to specific). Plus with any notifications we might have to do reguarding a Red Cross message for one of our soldiers we need the bus to contact their First Sergeant or Commander.

I know WAH WAH WAH! If your thinking that Fuck You! You come over here and enjoy yourself. Have to deal with constant bullshit at times or people that annoy you so bad that when you look at them it turns your outstanding mood extremely foul you live in a 40 foot trailer with 5 other people sleeping on bunk beds and having one locker and MAYBE three square feet for your shit. Then tell me about it. Yea it'll be the same thing WAH WAH WAH!

Until next time hopefully something interesting will happen that I'll be able to put up on here.

Mr. Matt

Masturbation.

2005-10-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is actually driving me nuts (no pun intended). Many people here find it completely necessary to play "wack a mole" while showering or using the toilets as well. But, when I go into the bathrooms to take a shower and there is sperm stuck to the wall or the back side of the shower curtain that's just wrong. I'm actually dreading the day I go in there and there are icicles from the ceiling. It doesn't really surprise me, the disgusting behavior which is being displayed here.

Then the other morning I had to relieve the stomach cramps I was having. Upon walking into the first stall there was sperm on the toilet seat. One of the other stalls looked as if someone was 4 years old again and discovered finger painting. Seriously we are grown MEN! If you happen to accidentally slip your finger up your crack during the wiping procedure clean it off the best you can and wash your hands! If you have the urge to violently beat your dick while imagining your wife, girl friend, or a model do it responsibly with these easy to remember steps.

1. Squeeze
2. Aim
3. Shoot
4. Clean Up

If these stupid asses keep doing what they are doing there will be no curtains in the showers and no doors on the stalls which boils down to: A shit load of angry men with blue balls and live ammunition. Seriously this is you new house for another 9 or 10 months. Would you do this type of shit at your house? If not, why do it here?

Yea it's been a week since my last post but no fear I'm fine. I'm still alive here in Iraq and this is the best I could come up with with out having to ask permission from higher headquarters.

Were Under Attack!

2005-09-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last Night well this morning for the non-nocturnal Soldiers. I was just beginning to fall asleep. Then there was a sudden barrage of Machine Gun fire along with numerous explosions. I jumped up out of bed woke up the whole room and told them that we were under attack. I ran to my locker grabbed my uniform out and threw it on the fastest I ever have in my life, then put my feet in my boots and pulled the laces, followed by putting on my battle gear with all of my ammunition. I grabbed my M16 rifle and ran out the door.

Durring my process everyone else was putting on their stuff and saying shit like "is this a reenactment?", "just like the fuckin movies man!", and various other things. There are some people outside looking around trying to figure out what's going on and all of them are asking me. So I tell them as calmly as possible. Now there are at least 15 - 20 people in a mess trying and fighting to get on all their gear. I see a familiar face in his sleeping attire and ask him if he knows what's going on.... In which case he looks at me and says "no" so I tell him the situation and he starts laughing.

Just then he points out that the test fire range is about a quarter mile down the road. Those damn people have got to find a way to announce that they are going to test fire their weapons so that we can hear them. They were firing there crew serve weapons such as .50 cal Machine gun, M249B Machine Gun, Saws which are also Machine Guns, and MK19's which are Automatic Grenade Launchers (which explains the numerous explosions). Need less to say I went and told everyone that I was mistaken and it was the test fire range. I took a lot of verbal abuse for that yet I told everyone that if we were under attack I would have possibly saved their lives.

Now since I blew everything out of proportion this morning the way I did one of my roommates dubbed me with the nick name "Get Some" which is kinda funny. Well other then the events I just explained everything is pretty quiet right now and I also have had a huge smile on my face all day because, in a way waking every one up at 5:00 A.M. felt really good considering that I could have possibly saved their sorry asses then I went back to bed.

Building to the Trailer

2005-09-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's been a few days since my last post....

As some of you know My office had moved from one building here on post to another which happens to be a much more roomy trailer. Now everything was hunky dory for the first couple days in our new office until.... A Marine discovered that there was a short in the trailer the hard way. He was doing some work outside the trailer, touched it while grounded, and got a pretty bad shock (he's ok). So of course the investigation is underway but it doesn't take long.

The first channel cover was removed that the wires are running through and blamo there are no wire nuts on the wires at all! They then remove the rest and there are no wire nuts their either. What a surprise! So the last few days have been terribly hot and sticky. Plus all the equipment in the office is extremely dusty from all the sand that blows around in the parking lot (which by the way is sand). No offence to anyone at all but I feel like trailer trash right now. We are running extention cords from another trailer for power, were outside every 15 minutes to cool off (be it in the sun or the moon it's cooler there then inside), and if it isn't some good old rock and roll playing on the radio it's country western what a calamity.

So moral of this post...

If it's important to you don't be like the government and go with the lowest bidder.

Thankfully no one lost their lives due to this blunder.

UPDATE: Stinky (from my last post) is still on leave. The mater was addressed with his superior's and they said "We'll talk to him when he returns from leave." What B.S. So I did what I said I was going to do. It's bagged up and it was on the roof until I got yelled at to take it down but it was the intentions that count!

Ignorance Is Bliss

2005-09-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

I've given up on the time clock that I've been so faithfully watching tick by. All I know is that the time is going by anymore and sooner or later I'll be back in the United States.

On another note.

My room stinks like shit! One of my roommates that I will call stinky has gone on leave for a few days. Now other then not taking his laundry to get taken care of I don't mind stinky he's a pretty cool guy. But, I was under the impression that if you are going to take leave then you should have your living space cleaned up meaning all of your laundry done with exception of 1 uniform a couple pairs of underwear, socks, and a few t-shirts this way when you return you'll have clean cloths and your other roommates don't have to smell your fermented ass while your gone.

Now stinky did not turn in his laundry. Instead it's strewn across an unmade bed and I swear last night when I took my flashlight over the bed I saw the fumes (like in the cartoons). His area is also messy and difficult to navigate through at times. I've brought this to the attention of those in charge of me and others in charge of my roommates. They are supposed to talk to his superior to have this issue fixed. Meaning to clean it the fuck up. If they don't want to clean it up I'll put on my gloves and stuff his duffel bags with his shit and throw them on the roof.

Then when he returns and starts bitching that his stuff is missing I'll simply tell him that it got up and went for a walk. Then tell him to climb up the fucking building and get it. After he starts complaining about having to over exert himself to get his bags I'll calmly walk down below smoking a cigarette. Finally after he comes down and opens his bag and it comes out and punches him in the fucking face I will laugh hysterically. Look at him and say "We were living with that since you've been here I guess you couldn't smell your own dirty ass."

Some people annoy me. I was thinking of making a list but if I start that I'll have to save it as a draft since it'll constantly be a work in progress. The list is growing everyday that is why I've decided to stop watching the time clock. Even that is starting to annoy me.

WARNING: Don't mumble around me. That is my biggest pet peeve right now. After watching Charlie And The Chocolate Factory every time someone mumbles around me my reply will be. "Your MUMBLING I can't understand you when your mumbling.

Church and State

2005-09-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

First prayer is not allowed in school. Then a few years ago someone tried passing a bill to abolish the Pledge Of Allegiance from schools. Now some Atheist in California is appealing that call and now it's going to be in effect in 9 school districts in and around Sacramento. The Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic remembrance of this nation not a prayer. The words "ONE NATION UNDER GOD " were implemented in 1954 by Congress. Yet people are bringing this to a District Court to appeal a call that was made saying NO. WTF!! It's Congress people District Court is much smaller. I hope you read this too you Atheist Bastard. Burn all of your American Money since it all says "IN GOD WE TRUST" then maybe your beliefs will help you survive with nothing. Also why is all this shit coming out of California? I was there for a few years of my life and it's times like this that make me feel ashamed for saying I enjoyed it.

Americans are really taking their Freedoms way to far (for example see above). In my opinion there are some things that shouldn't change. That is one of them just because it has the word GOD in it doesn't mean abolish it. Like I said earlier it was a decision made in 1954. Next thing you know the children won't be able to sing The Star Spangled Banner in school because it promotes violence in peoples eyes about bombs bursting in air. Oh yea it's Ohh' Say not Jose so there no racial tension in that song either.

What Is The Most Disgusting Thing That Ever Happened To You?

2005-09-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Post it in your blog and leave a link in my comments please.

Mine Is Pretty Bad.

I was in basic training at Fort Benning, GA. I was almost thru basic training all that was left a head of me was the dreaded FTX (field Training exercise). We had to road march to various staging areas before we actually got to the 'spot' where we were going to set up camp for the next 7 days. I had nothing against any of it until I got to the first range. It was the M16 range we had to prove to our selves and superiors that we were able to fire our rifles and hit the required targets.

While I was on the M16 range firing I realized that I had to use the 'latrine'. Which just so happened to be an out house. It was a 15 foot deep concrete enclosure that held all of the 'expenditures' of the soldiers that used it. Inside there was a large urinal along the side walls that emptied into the tank and the 'toilets' were merely built our of ply wood and two by fours with holes cut in them with a toilet seat screwed to the wood no walls or curtains either.

I walked into the 'latrine' to pinch a loaf and I just happened to look down into the pit it was about 3 feet from the top (ewww!). On top of the droppings there was what appeared to be maggots all over it along with various other moving bugs and or creatures. I did not care I had to shit.

I dropped trou right there and sat on the seat. As soon as my bowels let loose I was afraid. I felt what seamed to be a jet propelled rocket fire out of my ass. Then it penetrated the top layer with a commanding thud and 'sploosh'. At that moment I knew I was fucked. Directly after impact there is an equal reaction which meant my ass was splashed with whatever was below me. I had no wipes except for toilet paper so I did what I could to clean up, which meant using a canteen of water to wash my ass.

That was the first day of my field training exercise I had 6 more grueling days of having to walk around knowing that my ass was splattered by the grotesque. I spent most of the FTX doing what I had to do yet I felt that I was wronged due to what had happened. The last day/night consisted of a 25 mile road march to our transportation which included a river crossing where I was submerged in the river up to my chest. I still didn't feel clean. By the end everyone was tired and stunk like shit but I knew the real reason why I stunk like shit.

When we returned to the barracks there was at least a 40 minuet wait for the showers. The Drill Sergeant's told us to take our time and we will be going to breakfast in 2 hours. I was trying my hardest to get to the front of the line for the showers. I finally got there showered, shaved, took a dump on a real toilet, and took a little nap. Then went to breakfast, cleaned my equipment, and took another nap. Needless to say I was feeling much better after I showered but I had to deal with the feeling of being extremely dirty from day one.

Rumor Control

2005-09-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

There should be an organization that controls rumors seriously. I hear a new rumor here in Iraq every day be it a good rumor to look forward to or a rumor you would rather not hear. Also there are people here that think we would be better off "in the shit." Don't get me wrong we are in the shit here but it's fairly quiet here with the normal everyday occurrences. But, I guess some people rather not sleep or eat at all due to having to fend for their lives against the insurgency of Iraq.

We are currently in a position that we will pretty much make it home safe and be with our loved one again. Yet when these certain individuals that say "we would be better off in the shit" it makes me want to question them.

This page inspired me to put up this blog today: My Rant Place

Enjoy the read.

4 Years Ago Today

2005-09-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

I remember exactly what I was doing when this happened. I was working for a company in New Jersey delivering materials to job sites for the company. I was listening to the radio in my work truck while I drove North on the 1 and 9 near Linden NJ. As the radio station came to an urgent announcement I was slowly climbing over a bridge when I noticed smoke in the distance rising out of NYC.

I heard what had happened and I immediately pulled the truck over on the side of the highway and was on looking with a bunch of other people as the second plane flew in to the other tower. Immediately following what happened there I got back in my work truck and when straight back to the warehouse and told my boss that I was leaving for the day since it was relatively close to oil refineries I also suggested that everyone else leave too.

I was also heading home expecting a phone call from my National Guard Unit telling me to be ready. I walked out to my car got in and drove back to the house almost an hour and a half. As soon as I got there I went into my room and changed into my Battle Dress Uniform (BDU's) and began driving to my unit which was in Pennsylvania. (I was living in New Jersey at the time) . While I was on my way there I had stopped for gas, cigarettes, and various no cook snacks. I then went to my parents house which was half way in between the house I was living and my Unit. When I got there I was on the phone calling the Unit to see if they needed people up there. The response was there are over 90 people here right now and there is no reason for you to drive from where you are to come hang out (seeing that there were no orders published that was a great answer) For the rest of the evening I was relaxing at my parents house and going over the days events.

Then around 9 P.M. I went back to my house in Jersey and got ready for bed. The following day I was waking to go to work. Yet I didn't want to go to work I wanted to go into NYC and try to help. I got dressed as if I was going to work anyway in which case I would have been dressed for either occasion, Jeans, T-shirt, and steel toed boots. I went into work after hearing on the news that there were plenty of volunteers. Only later to learn that none of them were equipped as they should have been with hard hats, gloves, and other protective clothing which I had enough for about 10 people in my trunk. But sadly to say I stayed at work and was unable to help.

Yet a few months later my Unit was issued orders to go to Bosnia to relieve some active duty personnel from there so that they could begin concentrating their effort on "The War Against Terror" The day I was flying back to the United States after my tour finished the pilot of the plane told us that the first bomb was dropped in Iraq at the time we were in the air. I was sure at that moment that I too would see Iraq. A couple weeks after returning home I ended up going out and getting completely shit faced and ended up in a Perkins at 3 in the morning to sober up and eat with some friends. I was being quite loud and obnoxious because I was just that shit faced and a police officer walked in and asked me to quiet down. I explained to him that I just returned from Bosnia not that long ago and me and friends are celebrating. He then asked what unit I was in I told him which unit I was in and he said to me "Well, I hope you don't mind Iraq in 2005." It was 2003. I called him a "fuckin liar" and laughed in his face. Well mister officer I apologies for being such a drunk, ignorant, dumb ass. You were right I am now sitting in Iraq in 2005.

This is how this day has affected me I haven't started college as I wish I could have. My civilian employment was crappy because they new I wasn't going to be there long. Now I am here fighting in "The War Against Terror" proudly. I had my opportunities not to come I actually had 2 opportunities the first I overlooked and came the second was "I'm a bitch and I want to go home" was what they were looking for during the mental screening which I had. I told them that I had an obligation to fulfill and I wasn't planning on flaking out of a deployment that way.

Since this tragic event happened 4 years ago my life has been in quite interesting. I now almost have more time on active duty with my National Guard Unit then with the regular Army when I was active duty 365 days a year. Well, Life goes on and I will be home once again awaiting the next deployment after I complete this deployment.

Today I don't want the "were proud of you and everything you do" I would like everyone to remember this day as such a tragic day in American history and let their hearts and minds go out to those lost during that day and the days since that day.

Dreaming

2005-09-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to own/operate an establishment that provides people with musical entertainment. Now in my hometown of East Stroudsburg, PA the Venues have come and gone. I remember when I used to go to shows held at the local American Legion Post back in the mid 90's, then hitting up the various venues that had opened and closed behind the Ribbon Factory Outlet in Stroudsburg, then it was Bizmos on North Cortland Street, Followed by Over The Edge (which was shut down due to not properly paying out bands when 1 band didn't pull what they said they could missing the number by like 45 kids) Now it's the Sherman Thearter again (which in my opinion isn't bad) but it just won't work for long people will start complaining.

Last night I was messing around on my computer as usual and I was thinking that if I could open my own Venue in the Stroudsburg area that would be outstanding. Here's the catch though. I don't have a clue about how to begin to get the proper permits and everything else for this venue. Yet my head was spinning with ideas of how I could manage to make it to what I would want it to be with a consideration for the kids. This will be a alcohol free establishment, it will also be open from 3 P.M. to 7 P.M on school days (Monday through Thursday) mostly for the kids to come after school and do their homework and listen to music being pumped in through a juke box packed with local and national bands. On Fridays it will open at 3 P.M. and close at midnight. With live bands from 7 P.M. to 11 P.M. Saturdays it will be opening at 10 P.M. and closing at 2 P.M. with live entertainment as well. Sundays I'll close.

Inside this venue there will be restrooms plenty of seating and tables along with a snack bar which will sell water, soda, chips, peanuts, popcorn, fries, nachos, hotdogs, and burgers. Along with a store incorporated within the establishment located toward the front selling merchandise from the bands that will play there, along with some national bands. I was also thinking of an incentive program such as: For every A you have on your report card for that semester past you will get some free passes to shows that you can use whenever. For every B on your report card you'll get a couple snack vouchers. For every C and below you won't get anything.

Now I know some of the things I will need to open this venue like sound, lighting, about 4 employees (college students looking for part time), Security at least 2 per day and 6 per live show, Insurance (because we all know kids will be kids), bands I know for sure I will need but I know 2 local bands in that area which can link me with other bands and so on. I would also like to try to bring in 1 well known band every 2 months at least. Another thing when the kids come in after school they will need to have a signed note from their parents with a valid phone number for me to call and verify that their parents know that their kids are there. I would really like to have this in a centralized location where everyone knows where it is.

But as the title says: Dreaming......

I can make this happen! This is not a dream I've awoken and I now know that this is possible. All I have to do now is see what I can do about finding out the rest of the information as far as what I would need. I actually know of some people I could talk to here that might be able to help.

Later

Mr. Matt

I Understand Now I'm Going To Be Fine.

2005-09-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

That has totally cleared everything up for me. This is probaly the best piece of propaganda that I have seen yet. Because what it comes down to is the truth 1 out of every 3 people in America are on some type of "stabilization" drug. Since the doctors say they "should" be or it "might" help. In most cases it does help but not in all I was a failing case as most of you know there is just to many things in this world that drive me nuts. Stupidity for one as most of my readers know. Amongst other things which seam to be very prevalent in this point in time. I don't know if it's my age, my situations, or even the "music" I listen to but I've been hangin in there lately and I'm doing much batter now that things have settled down for me (situation wise) Until.... I was told that I have to move out of my current living establishment to another at someone else's convince I understand they are trying to make more room or people but why the fuck was my house the one that ultimately had to move?... I know why I'm up for promotion my self right now and a certain someone is against my promotion because if I get promoted I will not benefit him. Yet, if I was to not get promoted then I would benefit him like I and someone else have in the past. Said individual had said "If he (meaning me) is still having attitude problems then he shouldn't be promoted. Now I know he was rattled at my friends promotion because he took that as a loss but if I have anything to do with this at all I'm going to try my hardest to get promoted and if I don't then I may transfer to a different work place when I return. There I will be able to be promoted, it's rather hard to not promote someone when they are almost at the top of the promotion list. One last thing IF I do get promoted over here and 'said individual' reduces me because of my attitude toward STUPID SHIT (said individual) then I'm getting out and there will be a loss with in this entire work force because they would be losing a valuable employee. - end rant -

MR. Matt

Okay, Terrific!!

2005-09-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

Well according to CNN you can still get a drink in New Orleans..... Let me think... I can't afford to evacuate the city but I can afford to go to the bar and get plowed alright who's for it? Ok that was insensative but it's the truth.

Also an interesting event happened here to day... well interesting to me.

A fellow soldier walks in to the office to day with his medical record in hand and begins to explain to me that he wants me to order him perscription lenses for his sunglasses. here it goes.

Him: Hey I was told to talk to you about ordering the pescriptions for my sunglasses.

Me: That would be supplys business not mine I'm administration.

Him: Sgt so and so told me to come here

Me: Well I'm telling you that I can't help you, you should contact supply.

Him: Well why would Sgt so and so tell me to come here

Me: Beats the shit out of me

Him: Well can you help me?

Me: Yea lets go to supply

Break - Supply is not in

Him: Should I make a copy of this perscription and leave it in their drop box?

Me: They woulden't know what to do with it your better off talking to them face to face

Him: So when are they in?

Me: Go check with SPC so and so in his room maybe he could tell you. (spc so and so works in supply)

Him: Could you make me a copy of this?

Me: that I can do.

My NCO: Why don't you talk to the medics about that they may be able to order it for you.

Him: SGT so and so told me to come here and you would order it for me.

My NCO: That's supplys job if not talk to the medics they may be able to help.

Him: I'm going to talk to the medics.

------------------------------------------------------

OK now after this incedent he came back and asked for another copy which I provided him with all I can ask is if you could possiably be less stupid there is a visable sign on our office that says administration. Please pay attention to detail and realise that some people above you are stupid as well. Thank you and have a nice day.

Mr. Matt

A Few More Days Down

2005-09-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well nothing new is really happening with me here in Iraq. It's pretty much same shit different day. I'm using Firefox now and it seams much more friendly then IE. Also my heart and thoughts go out to the people of the gulf coast what happened there is terrible. One thing that I find funny about it though is that I'm currently in Iraq. If I was in the states I would be there helping the relief efforts seeing that my home unit out of Pennsylvania is sending a few troops down there to help so either way I would have still been deployed be it here or there. I would much rather to be sent there so that I would be able to help my fellow Americans but due to the circumstances this is where I must be. Well till next time.

Mr. Matt

YAY!

2005-08-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

I have the internet in my room now. I can use AIM, Yahoo, MSN, and a bunch of other messengers to talk to people now. If you would like to chat leave your screen name in the comments area. That is until I figure out how to post links here in my blog.

Mr. Matt

Blogsome is fun but...

2005-08-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm still having a hard time with it. I want to have my links set up like I have them here on this site. Yet when I enter them into the Add a Link and put them in their catagories there just going under links. I thought that the catagories would make sub-catagories under the links section. Then look like mine. Oh well I'm just going to have to download wordpress and make my own template after I get my HTML book of course.

Also the internet may take another day or 2. Hopefully not that long but it's looking that way.

It's Official

2005-08-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Blogsome is confusing the hell out of me. I can't find where to log in and when I put in my address for blogsome it keeps sending me to their home page. I tried accessing their forums and it's telling me that the username and password aren't listed even for the many different passwords that I use I know that I've tried. I also attempted to sign up for a new blog with them yet it's telling me that the page naem I want to use is already used NO SHIT IT'S THE NAME OF THE BLOG I OPENED AND CAN'T ACCESS.

On another note: The internet will be up and running tomorow in my room. They are still tweeking the settings a little so that we get what we can out of it. Till then...

EDIT!!!! The net is not going to be up the base is too rickety to be on the roof out here due to the wind. We have to weld the base together tomorow to sturdy it up a bit then we'll be sand baggin it so that it dosen't knock it off the angle in which it's to sit. Till than.....

Mr. Matt

BLAH BLAH BLAH

2005-08-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

So yea, I ended up starting a blogsome blog. I'm going to have to play with that thing like crazy to get it the way that I want it to look. But one of these days this site will be changing to that site. Plus I was also checking out web hosting since I would like to start my own site and figured why not start it with my blog. Considering that I could use a host for my primary page then have multiple additional pages. Since I have this now and my music review blog now and I'm sure I'll come up with something else shortly it'll give me plenty of things to do to keep my mind occupied.

DAMN Blogger!!!

2005-08-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

I keep having the same trouble I'm adding stuff to my other blog and everytime I attempt to add something to the sidebar the damn server drops! This was happening yesterday and today. It's driving me nuts. I'm not totally sure if it's their server or my server but I hope it ends.

On another note: I whould have the internet hooked up in my room by the end of the week which will give me access to AIM, Yahoo, MSN, and what ever other messengers there are out there for me to use.

One more side note: Buddy is out in full effect around here. By Buddy I mean the little lizards I named them all Buddy why I have no idea. But every time I see one of them it puts a smile on my face. They are in their own world, they don't give a crap if your right next to them but they do run if you try to catch them, and they are just constantly chillin outside the doors near the lights so that they can catch bugs that are drawn to the light. So not only do they put a smile on my face but they also decrease the bug population that is here in Iraq tring to get into the buildings.

Well more later.

Mr. Matt

Well as Some of You Know...

2005-08-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

I started my own music review blog. The link is in the top left under about me. Now this is where I'm totally lost. I want people to comunicate with me on this blog about reviews, record companys ect.... I attempted to put my e-mail address in a link so that they could click and ta-da there's my e-mail address. How do I set that up on blogger in an HTML format? Well I figured it out with the help of a friend of mine.

I figured it out with the help of a friend. Thanks every one.

Yes I just purchaced an HTML Book so I won't have to ask to many more questions like this.

Last night.

2005-08-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last night I couldn't sleep at all no matter how hard I tried to sleep it just wasn't happening. Between the thoughts of the day, past, and future I was a mess and some shit started going through my head so I started writing it down.

___________________________________
1:07 A.M. AUG 21, 2005

I'm writing these thoughts as they come to mind
For I have nothing left to hide
But I have plenty for them to find
I have no tears left the last it has been cried

The outside is awake, still alive
But the inside that has truly died
I'm laying awake trying to sleep
I swear to god I try

Suicide has crossed my mind
Just to kill off the outside
Because I know inside, inside I have died
The last tear has been cried

Some of you that read this will think I lost my mind
So please let me tell you, tell you my side

I've lost faith in god, life, and love
For god has forsaken me and the things I have done
Life is there but life is lost since my inside died
My life has left me knowing only anger, envy, and pride
Love is similar to life and god
You may believe that this sounds odd
Yet the truth I say
Love has lost another day
A piece of my heart was given to love
Yet love cast it away
Before my heart was thrown away
My inside lived another day
But since that day occurred
My inside died because of her.

The outside is still alive
But many day I wish it would die

One day it will match the inside
For the inside is what I hide
Deep within the shadows
Far away from the light
I can not keep it in a jar
On a shelf in plain sight

The inside had died
last tear has been cried
the outside is still alive
but inside I have died.

________________________________

I'm not that big on poetry but parts of this was going through my head for no apparent reason while I was trying to sleep. So I took the chance to write it down and put it on here.

Please no negative comments I have enough of that coming from me judging myself.

...And Yet It Lingers

2005-08-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty up beat the last few days but for some reason my "problem" has been slowly creeping up on me again. Today it struck me pretty good. All I feel like doing is finding a quiet spot where no one can bother me and letting my frustrations out. Since I'm in such a controlled environment finding a spot where no one can bother me is next to impossible. I know for a fact that if I happen to show the littlest sign of "letting out my frustrations" I'll be put up in the hospital for a few days and I will not see a promotion in rank due to my collapse. As a matter of fact I was told in a round about way that I will not be promoted if I collapse again (well in public). The last time that it had happened I was immediately sent to see a 'shrink' where she decided it would be a good idea to start shoving pills down my throat. That did not work. The one thing that I have noticed is that I can help myself when shit like this starts to happen and that is to let out my frustrations then, I feel better but as I said in my post earlier there is no way for me to do that here. So here I am until I get leave sometime next year waiting and hoping that I don't collapse or snap. I'm not worried about collapsing due to the fact that I'm afraid of myself if I snap.

When I get home.

2005-08-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

I will be going on a long vacation. I just don't know if I want to fly or drive. I want to put so much more but I'm not going to waste anyones time that reads my blog.

Maybe I'll find a quiet spot in the states and drink my self into a bottle. That isn't good though.

Smear the Queer

2005-08-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

I remember playing this game when I was a kid. Time for the questions. Is it socially acceptable for children to play this game today? Or could they be sued? Like a bunch of kids are walking down the street and one kid says "lets play smear the queer" and another kids goes I'm telling my Aunt Frank!" Also why was it when we were playing the game that everyone wanted to be the queer at one point or the other but as soon as someone caught him/her they threw it away (it's kind of like being in the closet)? Now for those of you that haven't heard of the game it goes something like this. Everyone that is playing just stands around and someone throws the ball, balloon, what ever up into the air. Then everyone runs and tries to grab it (becoming queer), then everyone else would chase that person until they caught him/her and jump on, punch, and/or kick that person until they gave it up (but most of the time you would throw it away as soon as you hit the ground) then the cycle would repeat it self either until someone got hurt or everyone got tired of playing the game. Now I'm not being rude or trying to cause any drama about this post I have no problem with homosexuals, gays, or lesbians alike (or not alike) I don't know what you would prefer to be called sorry. This may or may not be a good post but if you look at it like this it may be 'Someone will hear a few kids say they are going to play this game and be offended and possibly try to bring the children and/or parents to court' Now that being America would not surprise me.

Today is a Loss

2005-08-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

Yup, nothing new again. I plan on getting a digital camera in the next couple of days since they have a bunch in the PX (post exchange) now. This way perhaps I can get a few pics of the lizards, camel spiders, and maybe a snake if it shows up again. But other then that I still have no clue about much once again. e-mails aren't answered, phones aren't picked up, and time keeps on slippin into the future (did you sing that in your head too I did and I think the artist that did this song stinks but any way). I'm still at a loss for words and what not so there isn't much more from me today except for a haiku I wrote and you can see on http://beerhaikudaily.blogspot.com/ under their August 15, 2005 post. Well post again with an update of me being ok another day since there isn't much to post about right now.

How Do You Find Out....

2005-08-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

What is bringing people to your site through a search engine?

As Confusion Sets In.

2005-08-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

That is the best title for one of the worlds most confused people. Me. I don't know why but it's better then being depressed, so there is an upside to being confused. It seams harder to become angry or happy for that matter.

Any Hoo- Everything has been quiet. I'm ok other then last night at the gym I was doing an overhead press and my right shoulder popped out then went right back in with the weight on it. Needless to say I'm really sore today and that was my first exercise in the gym. All day I've been favoring my arm hoping that the pain will stop or go away. I saw the Docs and there isn't shit they could do about it other then what I'm already doing. This incident isn't going to help the tendanitus I have now is it.

I'm Not a Political Person But.....

2005-08-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

First Arnold for Govener of California. Now Christopher Walken running for President in 2008? Did you know that his real first name is Ronald? Wow I don't know where this is coming from but I've read his whole campaign site. Hell I don't even know if it's real or not. I really don't know what to make of it at this point other then WOW.

Well.... I Enjoy Looking Through Blogs..... Until

2005-08-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

I come across some dickbags blog saying I hate the troops! This is the second blog that I came across today that said that. Now People Please Think..... Your sleeping good at night why? Your virtually worry free at home why? You enjoy freedom. Why? THANK A SOLDIER!

I'm not a political person I really don't follow politics and when I see blogs about them i usually skip over them but when I get about half a paragraph down and it says I hate the troops that's just fucked up to say.

There have been many wars over time WWI, WWII, Korea. Everyone was thanking the troops. But since Vietnam people have been spitting on us and calling us baby killers and shit like that. Listen up. Alot of us (meaning the troops) don't want to hear that kind of stuff. Because of the simple fact that... We are here because we were ordered to be here. Yes I will say that I joined the military in 1998. I don't mind what I do. When I come home I really hope not to have anyone call me a baby killer let alone spit on me it won't be pretty.

Oh Yea!!! Don't forget your cup of shut the fuck up at the door.

Well....

2005-08-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

This is the post of well.... today. I'm a little happier with alot of things but when your mind starts making up it's own at times then it seams people change it, it confuses the hell out of me and now I'm confused. So this is more or less the I'm ok post of the past few days. Ok, I'm lost now.

First Off

2005-08-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank everyone for their words of encouragement. One of the previous issues about being on the middle shift in my room seams to be getting resolved. Which means Brian and I will get a chance to actually live in our room and not just sleep. One of the soldiers will be moving out and moving in with some of the soldiers from his shift which means when we wake up in the afternoon hours we will be able to put on the TV watch a movie, listen to music, and actually arange out living space so that we have a better grasp on where everything is and not just live out of a bag. Also the internet supplies for our room is slowly getting here peice by peice. Which means online colege courses for me so things are starting to look up. Now one of my hobbies is DJing for those of you that know me. I just ordered another ipod today since I like the ipod and that I can't stand going from Slipknot or Shadows Fall to some type of dance music or something like that. While I was cruzin other peoples blogs I saw a DJing device by Numark that enables you to mix off 2 iPods so if this guy actually moves out I know what I'll be purchacing next. Well that's all for now. I am feeling a little better today plus I'm doing things to keep my mind off that issue. Well till next time.

Mr. Matt

Life Sucks and Shit Happens

2005-08-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

These have to be the 2 greatest sayings ever! Because they are true! Life is what you make of it and right now I'm making shit of it therefore it sucks. Granted this was my decision to do this and all but I don't know what's going on any more. I don't want to be here but I also want to go active duty again just because I'm afraid of my civilian life due to the fact that I don't know what the fuck is going on at all anymore. I've lost alot of everything. I don't know how to explain it. I want a better life for my self and as long as I'm here than I can't get much better at all. Plus after my Bosnia deployment NO ONE AND I MEAN NO ONE would hire me. After 6 months of looking for a job I ended up working at a gas station as an attendent. I even put in a application at walmart and mc donalds I was told at both of those places "You're to qualified to work here" What the fuck does that mean????? ANYONE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. Please. I know what I want to do when I get back from this deployment and that's get a car and drive. I want to go to college. I want to see a shrink. I want I want I want..... There is so much but so little.

All in all I just want a productive life.

This Isn't Good.

2005-08-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's coming back again and I don't know why. I'm eating well, sleeping good, and working out. I know there are people that read blogs for fun and or hobby. But if anyone would actually give me a good explanation of why it's coming back please do. I really dislike depression and how it works. This morning / afternoon when I came into work I was happy and I was bustin' balls as usual and now 6 hours later I feel like crap mentally. Physically I feel fine well a little sore from working out but who knows. I get up in scilence due to the fact that someone else in the room is on a later night shift sleeping, and when I get off work I go to the room in scilence since it's 3 in the morning day shift is sleeping. That's starting to bother me, although I bust Brian's balls while he plays playstation which can get amusing. I just hope I feel better tomorow. I don't want to have to see the docs again because last time they put me on Prozac. I stoped medicating after 2 months because I diden't notice any difference I was still up and down. I just really want to know what's going on.

Little Bitty Thingys

2005-08-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

OK First off the flies in Iraq are retarted they fly slow and have a 2 second reaction time. Also I've noticed that there are a large abundance of lizards here as well. These little fuckers only come out at night (at least that's when I notice them) and they climb all over everything I saw one on the wall in the building eariler, a few scurring across the floor, one about 6 inches long tring to come in the front door while I was going to have a smoke, and one it the latrine looking up at me. I don't know anything about these little buggers but I want to know about them before I attempt to catch any and take photos for the blog. Once again the medics had the viper sighting outside the aid station which is bugging me because all the times I go out that door in the course of my work day and I don't see the snake. DAMN!!!! I want to see the snake too... Oh, well I'm sure I will. Any how I had to throw my toothbrush out today and it pissed me off! I was brushing ym teeth and my stupid ass used the fucking faucet to rinse my toothbrush off in (refer here if you need an explanation: http://mjohlandt.blogspot.com/2005/07/coliform-nasty-stuff.html) So I'll have to get another tooth brush tomorow. Till then I'll have stinky breath. I'll just have to deal. Well it's smoke time and I'm currently rolling through all the blogs that I read to read them from begining to end just because I have the time.

Mr. Matt

Disillusional Thoughts

2005-08-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

For some crazy reason today while I was in the rest room. I began to think of what kids would think was funny while I was urinating. (I'm sorry I know you don't want to hear about me urinating but it helps make the story). When I was little I used to call my urin weewee or peepee as most do. Now this could possiably work... I plan on tring it with my children if I ever have any of my own or around potty training age. My mom used to take a penny and put it in the toilet and tell me to pee on the penny or a Cheerio and tell me to sink the Cheerio. Now imagine this..... doing something like that with telling your children it is ok to yell WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WEEEEEEEEEEEE while going it will make them laugh and it will disturb the rest of the house but if your not watching him/her then you would know if they went to the bathroom because I'm sure you will hear them through the house. Also it's an effective way to find out if your child would be getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom or just sleeping through with a bloated bladder. Hence, the fact that he or she will wake you up.

Well I had saved this as a dravf about an hour ago. I forgot what else I was going to put in with it. Sorry for the partial posting.

Mr. Matt

I Don't Know What To Put Here.

2005-08-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Any how when I get board I google. I'll google just about anything just to satisfy my quest for useless knowledge. I've googled words, phrases, bands, blogs, trees, birds, snakes, spiders, bad mojo in Iraq, and a bunch of other crap. But there are a few things that I found disturbing about google. When I googled my address it came up with a how to get there and an arial view of my home! That was messed up. Also I googled my phone number it came up with the bill payers information and the address for stalkers and others to google as well. This was a while ago I don't know if it works any longer. I know that some of my fellow bloggers don't like google because "they are taking over the internet" but oh well. Any way I've decided to put ads in the very bottom of my blog to see if I can conjur up some extra cash from clicks. If I do cool if not oh well it's worth a try.

On another note.... It's been quiet here lately (as far as I know) and everything seams kosher. As most of you know I can't really say anything about this place with the possiabilities of getting in trouble. But, for those of you that don't know a soldier was recently repremanded for his blogging. I guess he either put in some important information or a BIG crock of shit. I for one do not know that soldier unless I really do and I just don't know it like that 6 degreese of seperation shit. What's that all about anyway? it's like I know Frank, Frank knows Jill, Jill knows Jess, Jess knows Mitch, and Mitch knows The President? I don't know maybe I'll submit this question to www.burnquest.com a.k.a. The Burning Question.

Being here in Iraq isn't that bad. Except for the fact that I have no beer, time off, or private time. Let me tell you when I get back to the states I'm going to be getting drunk by my self in an apartment somewhere on the couch naked! With the music blairing so I won't hear any damn sirens that might make me want to get up and run for my life just to realize that it's the police in front of the apartment and not a mortar attack. I would rather the cops kick the door in for a noize complaint. Then they would see my naked ass sitting on the couch drunk as hell and they will have to turn down the raido just because when I attempt to get up I'll pretend that I passed out on the floor when I fall on it from not beng able to stand. Ok maybe I won't pretend, maybe I will just pass out.

That's eanough rambling for now.

Later
Mr. Matt

100 Things About Me

2005-08-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ok I saw this on Jenny's site and it looked fun.

1. I'm 5'11

2. Redish/Brown Hair

3. Blue eyes

4. 170 lbs

5. In the Army

6. I'm can be an ass hole

7. I can be your best friend in the world

8. I don't have a car anymore

9. I like dogs

10. I equally like cats

11. Horror movies kick ass

12. I can't stand drama movies

13. You can't spell cRap with out Rap

14. If rock is dead then I must be a zombie

15. I eat like a pig

16. But, Gain no or very little weight

17. I think I'm open minded

18. People piss me off

19. Mumbling pisses me off

20. alot of things piss me off

21. I might be closed minded......

22. I enjoy sleeping

23. Nothing is better then a good concert (except good sex)

24. Fast Cars are awsome

25. I hate nascar

26. I've had my septum peirced

27. I have my toung pierced

28. I've only had 2 peircings

29. I have no tattoos yet...

30. I have an extremely addictive personallity

31. I have a sarcastic sence of humor

32. I have done a lot of drugs in the past

33. Jagermeister kicks ass.

34. I'm don't like Blackhouse (the liquor)

35. I don't hunt

36. I'm originally from New Jersey ( I don't like claiming that)

37. I live in Pennsylvania now (when I'm not deployed)

38. I've lived in New York, Georgia, Florida, California, and Mississippi

39. I actually broke my neck when I was a kid, I seperated my vertabre in it.

40. I was in a body cast because of it. (they suck!)

41. I rode the short bus when I was in pre-kindergarten (only because it was the only bus that picked us up)

42. You call them thumb drives, flash memory, ect... I call them Geek Sticks. (I have one that says geek on it)

43. I believe that no matter how hard you try you can't fix stupid.

44. I am Agnostic

45. I have only owned 3 cars in my lifetime. (and mommy and daddy diden't buy any of them for me)

46. I was slapped with responsability when I was 10. (thanks mom and dad)

47. the dad I refer to is my step father

48. I never met my real father. (someone better help him if I do)

49. I like black t-shirts that say silly things

50. I've gone to 2 concerts this year.

51. 1-Mudvayne, Bloodsimple, and someone else I can't remember.

52. 2-Otep, Manntis, Suicide City, and DevilInside

53. I won't be able to go to any concerts until I come home.

54. I don't know when I'm going home just yet.

55. Angry soldiers and live ammo don't mix well.

56. I try to go to the gym every day (somedays I want to others I don't. It's not something I want to do but something I have to do.)

57. I try not to drive fast. (haha yea right, I just don't get caught)

58. I would be a millionaire if I never went to a bar, strip club, or rave.

59. I don't think I'll ever go to a rave again. (I growed up a wittle)

60. I'm 25

61. Act between 20 and 28. (depends on my mood)

62. The first TAPES I ever bought my self was Guns 'n' Roses use your illision 1 and 2

63. The first CD I ever bought was Pearl Jam - Ten

64. I used to collect cards and comics

65. I never figured out how to make a rubber band ball. ( this saddens me)

66. Edgar Allen Poe is outstanding

67. I always have a favorite band but it changes quite often.

68. I don't know what I am afraid of

69. Mmmm.. Yea it's confusing but it's fun

70. Miller Light Good Stuff!

71. I like to sleep.

72. Waking up buggs me unless it's on my own

73. I don't usually eat 3 meals a day

74. There is only a hand full of food I won't eat.

75. But I'll usually try something once if I like it I'll eat it again

76. I have gambled

77. I have won nicely

78. I have lost badly

79. Correction tape is bettter then white out.

80. I don't like coffee.

81. I don't play video games to often

82. I would rather be outside doing something insted of watching TV

83. but, the internet is beter then outside sometimes

84. I have 2 sisters

85. I am the middle child

86. I once was an only child

87. I've had braces

88. I gave my little sister a computer

89. I'll never buy another gateway computer in my life

90. I own no guns of my own

91. I have a couple knifes

92. I once owned a BB Pistol

93. I broke a window in my garage playing street hockey (note to self open door next time)

94. Music choice is way better then MTV ever was or will be!

95. I have never been married

96. I have no kids of my own.

97. I want to produce my own concert event

98. I plan on going to college for a major in marketing - minor in boradcasting

99. I want to own my own my own hard rock club

100. I have donated to paws with a cause (seeing eye dog corp.)

Now that wasen't to hard but it was a little of a pain in the butt.

A Little About Me

2005-08-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't know me. I'm 25 and I was born on Feb. 7 1980. I graduated high school in 1998 and joined the military because I didn't see my self doing anything else with my life and my parents couldn't afford to send me to school. (which I don't blame them they shouldn't have to pay for my education they paid for me for 18 years.) I spent 3 years in the active duty Army and the rest of the time has been National Guard. I spent time in California, Bosnia, and now Iraq. I don't really want to be here but the money is decent and I personally am not in a bad position or harms way all the time. I was looking through some of my blog marks and looking at their sites (which by the way I'm going to fix I posted the links to the sites all wrong but once again I need some time for that.) and I found a 100 things about me posting. It looked pretty fun but I do believe that I'm going to attempt to write down the list before I try to type it out. Pretty soon here I'll be playing with a digital camera (well about a month or so) and I plan on putting more photos on this blog including of me. But as time dies, while I melt in the desert, time will pass quick. Eventually in the past I shall make another entree but till then I will continue to relax and keep my 'head down' so to say.

Guys Will Be Guys

2005-08-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

As the title says... It's official the medics here have discovered that a camel spider is living under the aid station. They named him Herb. They have also claimed that they saw a Viper near the aid station that's about 5 feet long. But who knows. Everything is ok with me as I noticed one of my blog readers was concerned... It's just that the internet was down for a day and a half. Until we get out own we'll have the up and downs of the military's internet. But all's well that ends well. It's almost time for work for me to be over for the day. Then it's off to the gym I go and I'll probaly call my mom and say hello. But until I come up with something more interesting I'll type again.

Mr. Matt

Things you may not know.

2005-07-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's some silly stuff for now.

1. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.

2. The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represent the varieties of pickles the company once had.

3. Your stomach produces another layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digets it self.

4. The declaration of independence was written on hemp paper.

5. The dot over the letter 'i' called a "tittle" meaning the smallest bit

6. A raisin dropped into a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

7. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller

8. A ducks quack dosen't echo and no one knows why.

9. 40% of McDonalds profits come from the sales of happy meals.

10. Every person has a unique tongue print.

11. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 dictionary were misspelled.

12. The 'spot' on 7UP comes from its inventor who had erd eyes and was also albino.

13. On average, 12 new borns will be given to the wrong parents daily. (Messed up MOJO right there)

14. During the chariot scene in 'Ben Hur' a small red car can be seen in the distance.

15. Warren Beatty and Shirley McLain are brother and sister.

16. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog.

17. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the sharks stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

18. Most lipsticks contain fish scales (Sorry ladies)

19. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine. (who said we were smart?)

20. Donald duck comic books were banned in Finland because he dosen't wear pants.

21. Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the 'upper case' letters were stored above the 'lower case' letters.

22. Leonardo Da Vinci write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.

23. Because metal was scarse, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.

24. There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.

25. The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan. There was never a recorded Wendy before that!

26. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with orange, purple, and silver. (try to get people to rhyme these words it's funny)

27. Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips. (I think he was procrastinating)

28. A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death. (Let me think if I'm in 140 degree weather and suddenly I'm on fire from something I would try to stop it too.)

29. the mask used by Michael Myers in the original "Halloween" was a Captain Kirk mask painted white.

30. If you have 3 quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins with out being able to make change for a dollar.

31. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink in quicksand. (I'll remember that for the deployment to the jungle again LOL)

32. The phrase, "rule of thumb," is derived from an old English law which stated that you coulden't beat your wife with anything wider then your thumb. (No one should bet their wifes anyway....)

33. American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each first class salad.

34. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At that time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.

35. Celert has negative calories! It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery then the celery has to begin with. It's the same with apples.

36. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

Any thing to add please leave it in the comment box so that I can add it to the list with your site linked along with it.

Camel Spiders

2005-07-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone has heard of camel spiders weather it be on a blog, the internet, or the news. But I would like to say a few things about them my self. One there is a camel spider man I have pictures. :-P

Two they really look like this no joke. The myth about them is they can run about 25 MPH or 33 KMP. Whatever! I saw one and it wasen't moving at more then 5 MPH or 7 KPH. They might actually eat camels stomachs until their intestines fall out but I can't confirm that. But I believe that this is a myth also. They do eat however, ants, crickets, dung beatles, and them selfs if they are injured.

Now the next photo is of a unlucky soldier. He was climbing into his sleeping bag at O'Dark Thirty. When he was bitten due to the fact that he scared the camel spider sensless and it bit as part of it's self defence. This photo is of his leg that was bitten 9 days prior to the photo. Sorry if you have a weak stomach.

Now this one is a net floater the spider looks as big as the guys leg. As a matter of fact the leg in the back ground is at least 10 maybe 15 feet away. If you look closely there are 2 camel spiders there I don't know if they are mating or if the one is eating the other but as you can tell soldiers will be kids as they pick up and play with the bugs.

Well till next time I have not much more for you. But tomorows post just may be a good one not having to deal with Iraq, but things you may not know.

Coliform Nasty Stuff

2005-07-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yea so here in Iraq there is an abundancy of coliform in the water. Which means: Shower with your mouth closed, Drink only bottled water (mineral water for all you yuppies by the way), Brush your teeth with bottled water(hence mineral water), ect.... For those of you that don't know or understand Coliform you can click the link. But lets just say I'm following the instructions given to us because I don't want to end up with the Goofy Poopies, Diareah, The Green Apple Splatters or let alone ingesting other peoples or animals poop.

http://www.state.ky.us/nrepc/water/wcpfcol.htm

I don't know where the Iraqis learn how to drive.

2005-07-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some photo's of the locals and how they drive and/or use their vehicles.

This one was carting hay. I would have to say I haven't seen a pick up truck so abused in my life. I think they were averaging about 15 miles per hour so they didn't ruin it any further.

Holy Shit! I think the Suburban needs a new suspension system! I don't have a clue what these red containers are for but they may be used for water. If not he's waiting for the flood hoping not to sink with the advanced flotation equipment he's bought on eBay.

This photo takes the cake. Were on one side of the highway and they are on the other! North bound traffic in the south bound lane on the far left. I don't know how there wasn't a collision but some how it worked. Yet we know that if anyone did that in America there would be an accident intentionally just to sue you. Well that's all for today. Hopefully I'll have something interesting to write about tomorrow but somehow I doubt it and it doesn't seam to be getting any better just yet.

Mr. Matt

Signs I saw during my journey to my current location

2005-07-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, lets start this adventure shall we? These are some signs that I had seen during my journey from Kuwait to Iraq hopefully you may feel that your riding along with me in the truck.

This first sign is of the initial "marked" town that I had traveled through in Kuwait. This town had noticeable farms and dairies I was able to see them from the highway. What they were growing or what was being produced in the diaries I was unable to tell But it seamed to be a very profitable way of life there.

This sign seams harsh at first. But it is located outside almost every military base here in Iraq and due to the fact that there are suicide bombings and car bombs directed at us (the military) this sign helps deter them a little. Usual protocol also has us firing at the tires or engine block not the individual.

This sign here goes back to where the children were waving in yesterdays post. :-)

Here is the first sign that I saw as I entered Iraq according to this sign you can tell that they aren't allowed to have much fun hehe j/k but it seams to be quite a strict lifestyle.

This one here just explains it all. This is a federal building in a town not that far away as you can see the sign for the Police station was made with a lot of skill.... Well I know my little sister could have done better along with a kindergarten class but this sign works and it surely helps us get the job done over here. Seeing that we are currently training the Iraqi National guardsman and their Police task forces. Also for many of you that don't get a lot of the same news that I do not to long ago 27 Iraqi WOMEN (going with their culture and beliefs) graduated their basic training for their membership in the Iraqi National Guard (more information on this story available if requested).

After this photo was taken there weren't many more photos taken due to the fact that I was getting quite tired after driving somewhere around 14 hours straight. Also all of these photos were being taken' while I was traveling between 25 and 55 MPH and I can honestly say I didn't really want to go any slower let alone stop.

Any how this is all for now I think I'm going to attempt to change my bloc template this one is a little boring. Talk to everyone tomorrow or later.

Mr. Matt

Other then the Camels

2005-07-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

While I was on the convoy from Kuwait to where I currently am now I had a lot of time to think while I drove through this war torn country. On one hand I feel sorry for the people that live here due to the fact that their houses are blown to shit or they just live in structers that don't resemble a house any more. Other then the mud houses that they live in. But during my drive in the first town there was a bunch of kids on the side of the road waving and such then the last kid about 10 feet from the rest of them turned his hand around, made a fist, and shot us his finger. I lost it! I was hysterically laughing for about 5 minuets no shit! That was the last thing I could have expected from a child but then again I guess his daddy taught him well. While driving through the country I also saw green water (looked like anti-freeze), Salt piles, Sheep herders, Camel hurders, Cow hurders, and many side road shops/sales stands. All in all I would have to say that 90% of all the people that live in Iraq like the fact that we are here. The other 10% are probally undecided. Also most of the people that are attacking us aren't of Iraqi decent. Yet, the terrorist attacks still happen. The mortar bombings, Rocket attacks, IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices) the most common, VBIES (Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices), Suicide Bombers. The list could go on. In a way I'm glad that I am here due to the fact that not only am I serving The United States Of America and it's people, But I'm also helping to re establish the lives and living structure of the Iraqi's by being here and making it safer for them to live.

Well it's time to post another photo here that I think might help this story of mine.

You may have to click this to view it larger but this is the typical Iraqi living establishment. Well till next time.

Read the rest of my recent postings to see an albino camel :-).

Albino Camels

2005-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Albino Camels Rule!

Sittin in Iraq

2005-07-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

Yea, I'm going to have to ask you to move out to the connex. Um... Yea, take your fuckin desk with you......

Any how that was the first thing that popped into my head just now. Right now it's 20 min after midnight here, 4:20 P.M. on the East coast, and 1:20 on the West coast. It's five o'clock somewhere!!! But not here EVER! Shit I think I'm going to loose my mind or perhaps I've lost it already. HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!! MIND??????? Where are you? Around the time I woke up today it was one hundred and thirty degrees out and that's not that hot anymore which is starting to make me wonder if I'm going to freeze my ass off when I go home on leave DING!!! Well I would have to say with the dinging of the bell that means a YES!! FUCK!!!! Have you ever seen the movie Dick Tracey? You know the guy in the movie mumbles? I have to deal with mumbles from time to time. Geeze I don't know why they didn't kill him sooner. Not saying I'm going to kill someone anytime soon.... But according to this post the thought has crossed my mind. Well Ladies and Gents I've run out of shit to say so until next time...... Kiss some Camels, Kick some Camel Spiders and for gods sake if you take a shot make sure it counts.

PS. Feedback on my ramblings helps my ramblings the next time.

Holy Shit It's Been A While.

2005-07-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well after quite a few flights and a shit load of ground travel I'm now in Kuwait soon to be headed to Iraq for 1 year. But in my travel I managed to see an airport in Maine, an airport in Shannon Ireland, and the airport in Kuwait City along with the vast desert land of Kuwait. I am yet to see a camel in camel central and everything I leave base for anything I'm continuously looking around because I want to see a "wild" Camel. That's one of the priorities on my list. There are also many that are not on my list like: Seeing a Sand Viper, Seeing a Camel Spider, and Seeing anything or anyone attemping to take my life (for those people/things I have no mercy). But as of right now it's 12:40 PM here as you can tell by the normal stateside time beneath this post I'm up with out loss of sleep due to the fact that I'm still stuck on United States time. I had an interesting yet very good idea the other day, I purchased an American Flag that I'm going to keep with me through out my tour of Iraq and display it proudly. After my mission when I return I'm either going to donate the flag to a VFW Post or an American Legion Hopefully along with the souvenirs from the other wars that those establishments have they will proudly mount the flag on the wall. Well that's all for now I have nothing to do but I can't think of anymore to put in here for now.

10 Days of Leave and an OTEP Concert

2005-06-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

Well me and the rest of the people here on post got our 10 days of leave before we leave the United States for our up coming one year deployment to Iraq. I really enjoyed myself and I must say I feel that I needed that little vacation from this bullshit. But, When I was on leave I went to an OTEP Concert at Crocadile Rock Cafe in Allentown, PA. The bands that played were: Devil Inside, Suicide City, Manntis, and Otep. Outstanding show! The pit reminded me of some highschool football practice but not everyone knows how to two step in a pit. I would have to say that I really enjoyed Suicide City and Manntis more then Otep. Those two bands were great! Manntis is releasing a CD later this Month and yes this is the band that won the battle of the bands on MTV. Any how I'll be back later.

The non-title blog of today.

2005-05-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Nothing really happened today other then waking up dehydrated and not wanting to move and wishing I could only have an I.V. But for those of you you may be wondering what OPSEC is. OPSEC is an acronym for Operational Security. Well maybe I'll have more later not much interesting right now.

12 Hour Shifts and Military Pay

2005-05-24T01:11:00.000-07:00

For the last week I guess (I've lost track of how long I've been in the middle of nowhere) I've been doing training for my up coming mission to Iraq of which I've been one night shift. Working 8 P.M. till 8 A.M. from time to time I may doze off but I do my best to stay awake with what I have. Which is this computer and a pack of ciggs (yea I know cancer cures smoking but I'm doing research to see if I get it from smoking). Any how. After I get off shift I have breakfast then I attempt to sleep in the triple digit heat on a cot. It's a pain in the ass! I usually get about 6 hours of sleep then I end up staring at the tent for 6 hours. Since I'm supposed to be in a field environment we don't have TV's and I can't sit on the computer all day either because of some need of work for others. So I usually end up layin there sweating my ass off listening to the music from my iPod. I only have 934 songs on it right now and I'm almost sick of everyone of them. But soon I'll be going to be getting out of this "field environment" and back to a so called civilization, in which I'll still be staring at a tent or perhaps a wall this time. Back to normal work days of 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Yet everyone will expect me to be completely normal and not tired the first day when I'll be attempting to do a 24 hour shift with 12 hours boredom and 12 hours of insanity on 6 hours of sleep. All I have to say is if that happens please help the first person that says to me "You look tired, why?" Because depending on my mood I just may snap.

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On another note it's been 35 days that I've been taking prozac for my anger/stress/depression issues. I was told I would feel different but I really don't. So when I get back to civilization I'm going to see the doctor again and see what she has to say and weather or not to continue taking the medication. Well if I do continue taking this medication it'll continue to keep my ciggs tasting like crap and perhaps I'll quit again.

Being So Close Yet So Far

2005-05-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

The reason for this title is because it's true. I'm back where I was when I was 18 all the way through 21. It's not that long of a time period but I do believe that I had learned a lot about myself. I miss those years in a way but in others not at all. If only there was a time machine or something like that I would try to change my ways as a young adult. Perhaps I would be more successful or at least on some kind of plan for the rest of my life and happy. But I don't have a plan for the rest of my life and I'm living on the fly right now. Just hoping and wishing I could be fortunate enough for a nice opportunity to fall into my lap. Then again I'm in the military and I'm going to Iraq. Thus, my life has been put on hold once again to serve the United States of America and it's people. I don't exactly mind that but with every deployment that happens I'm taken away from my civilian life (I'm in the National Guard) which in turn I'm not excelling. Well till next time........

Today is Not a Good Day

2005-05-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know why but it just seams that I want to give up. I don't give a shit about anything even myself right now. None of my thoughts seam to be being processed properly. I'm just thoughtless right now. I'm tired. Even though I slept almost all day. I want to sleep now. It helps make time go faster I assume. Perhapps I can sleep a year away. Maybe not wake up for year. I'm not hungry at all. I have to force myself to eat and drink. I think I'm going to attemp to take a little nap maybe I'll be better after I wake up.

Middle of No Where

2005-05-16T01:41:00.000-07:00

I'm there right now. I have no cell phone service but I have an internet connection go figure. I'm probally going to be here for the next 8 or 9 days. on night shift THANK GOD!!! That is a blessing because if I have to deal with some of the bullshit durring the day I just might snap. I feel it getting closer almost every day but I'm continueing to hold it in and I do b elieve that I'm doing well. Any how time to check out other friends bloggs and see what's going on in their minds.

Goin' Back To Cali'

2005-05-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Yup for a month but training is going to be a problem and I'm not sure yet if I'm going to be getting any free time. But if I do I plan on seeing a few people I used to see everyday. Well off I go I have a plane to catch in a few hours.

Nothing Quite Like......

2005-04-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

Gun fire at all times of the night along with a 45 minuet fire fight at 4 in the morning. I understand that the training is needed but along with myself a lot of others lost sleep because of it. Needless to say I didn't sleep well lastinight and I'm fuckin cranky today the dumbest shit is starting to piss me off that's not exactly early here but it's 8:10 A.M. There may be more to come along later but for now I have to do monotonous tasking picture cropping for the rest of the day.

Mudvayne!!!!!!!! and New Orleans

2005-04-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Yes that says Mudvayne! I saw them live at TwiRoPA (I thinks that's spelt correctly) on the 22nd of April. The Concert was OUTSTANDING!!!! Then along with the few other days that I had off I was pretty much drunk or just drained the rest of the time. But, I saw alot of crazy shit there somethings that I woulden't expect to see at random. For example... Shiny, Happy people, that you gave money to. and tarrot card readers all along Jackson square. The last night there was an older gentleman playing a Glass Harmonica. That's where you have glasses tied to a table with different amounts of water in them and then you rub your finger along the top and it makes a high or low pitch. But he was exceptionally good at it. many people were donating money to him and just mentioning a tune and he could play it, he kept saying try to stump me, but everytime he got it. With the Jazz Fest. in town I'm guessing that Saturday night was just as busy as Mardi Gras because that's what a lot of the locals were saying. Hand Grenades drink one!!! <--- That's all I'm saying about that :) .

Slowly Becoming Addicted

2005-04-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

No lie! I've started playing with the HTML of this blogg in the sidebar and I enjoy doing it. I never thought that I would but I do. I would like to add more usefull information to my blog perhapps some GOOD pictures of myself and a better description with in my profile. I would actually like to come up with my own personal template for this, but that's going to take alot of time and I'm going to have to wait on my computer from the repair shop since that has frontpage on it. Today is going to be another good day once again. The senior learership is out (which is outstanding). It's just to bad that Brian and Garrett aren't here (you can check their blogs to see where they are if you want) since it would be nice to show them what I've learned because I'm sure it would peak their interest a little bit. I know Garrett would be interested. I just tried to put a .jpg into my side bar but it diden't quite work out. So I'm going to do a little more searching of the internet and the blog help page to see if I can figure it out. I'll keep you informed if you don't notice it. As you can tell I figured it out! Happy Happy Joy Joy!!