Shenanigans!

I call shenanigans on this whole thing. I think I'm about ready to come home.

1/2 Way!

So it's official! Today was my half-way point over here. In honor of this special occasion, I'm going to share some more things that I have learned or have had re-emphasized. Without further ado and in no particular order...

1. The Army has a really, really strange sense of humor
2. If it's not nailed down or locked away, it will be "acquired" by someone else
3. The Super Bowl is something else that's worth waking up way to early for
4. Strawberries go with any meal
5. Coffee is essential to functioning
6. There are people out there who actually enjoy creating drama for themselves
7. Workouts are always better with a spotter
8. Always bring a book
9. Whatever doesn't need to be done today can always be put off till tomorrow
10. 6 months is way better than 12 or 15

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now, God,
that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away…
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
…and it's still raining.
As the thunder rolls,
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls,
I raise my hands and praise the God
who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm,
and I will lift my hands.
For You are who You are,
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in your hand.
You never left my side
and, though my heart is torn,
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind.
You heard my cry to You,
and raised me up again.
My strength is almost gone.
How can I carry on if I can't find You?
And as the thunder rolls,
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls,
I raise my hands and praise the God
who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm,
and I will lift my hands.
For You are who You are,
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in your hand.
You never left my side
and, though my heart is torn,
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

"So this is the new year...

...and I don't feel any different."

Great song by a great band. This year's New Years was even weirder than Christmas. Nothing bad about it...just weird. Mainly because I celebrated with a can of "near-beer" (it's non-alcoholic Becks which tastes like piss and doesn't have any of the nice side effects) with my girlfriend over the phone. It was supposed to be via Skype, but the connection crapped out 5 minutes before midnight. All-in-all, it really wasn't that bad. Of course I'd rather be at home watching the fireworks or the ball drop, but that'll be another year. That's the great thing about stuff like this. If you miss one, you just wait a year for it to come around again. And you get to have all sorts of adventures in between. Anyways, hope you all had a great New Years and are ready to start this one. I think this year is going to be a good one :)

Christmas around the World

Merry Christmas from the other side of the world! I know most of you are just about to start yours, but we're beginning to wrap things up here. It actually wasn't too bad. Don't get me wrong, I would much rather be at home with friends than here for Christmas, but for not having a choice in the matter, it hasn't been bad. We still had to work today, but we started a little late, did a quick little gift exchange within our office, and had a wonderful Christmas dinner (as much as a cafeteria can be). All-in-all, I can't really complain. I even got to open a couple Christmas gifts :)

It has been a little weird, but I'm trying to figure out which Christmas was weirder...this year or last year. Last year, my sister and I were walking down Venice boardwalk watching people play beach volleyball. It was a beautiful, sunny, 80 degree day. Didn't really feel much like winter. This year, it was at least a little cooler. Eh, I guess every Christmas since Junior year in college has felt a little weird. Just a part of growing up I guess.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

So far...

Well, I've been here over a month now and I'd thought I'd share some of the stuff I've learned so far. No explanation really, just some things I've learned in no particular order:

1) Working 12+ hours everyday isn't as bad as you'd think it'd be
2) The most important piece of equipment you have is your reflective belt
3) The Army has a very different kind of humor
4) Malaria prevention pills give you the craziest dreams
5) Working out every day can actually get you in shape
6) Waking up at 2 in the morning is only worth it if you're going to see the President
7) You really appreciate the small stuff
8) Thanksgiving isn't quite as good without close friends
9) Having a DVR and someone back home who cares enough to send you all the shows you've missed is awesome
10) You realize you really couldn't do something like this completely on your own

In honor of the guys I'm working with...

I hear this song at least twice a day. Normally, it's more like every other hour. So, for the guys in the office...


The RI Theme Song

What'cha gonna do, PL?
What'cha gonna do, PL?
When Murphy shows up and sh*t goes to hell,
What'cha gonna do, PL?

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
APL’s got us lost but you be the boss,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

Okay, PL. You and your team have an ambush 7 clicks from here in 2 hours.
You’ll have Claymores out, security set in, and I don’t want to see any f*cking shortcuts.
I want a full op order in 20 minutes and I expect to hear a WARNO in 10.
What are your questions, PL?

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
8 clicks to go in the rain and snow,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
When Murphy shows up and sh*t goes to hell,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

What the f*ck is going on, PL?!
Where’s your f*cking security?
Your 240’s unmanned, the gunner’s off in the bushes dropping off a SEAL team,
Your SAW gunners are asleep and your Alpha Team Leader’s rubbing one out with a Maxim magazine and a white light behind that f*cking tree.
Are you in charge of this gagglef*ck?
What the f*ck are you doing, PL?!

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
You got 5 cantaleens and no MREs,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
When Murphy shows up and sh*t goes to hell,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

Hey! Wake up!

Okay, stop, PL. Where the f*ck do you think you are?
Show me on the map. No, point to it. Not with your finger, jackass!
Are you kidding? That’s where you think you are?
All right, PL. You got 20 minutes till hit time and you’re lost.
I’m going to help you out. You’re right here. See that? Good.
Set your compass to 270 degrees. Think you can cover 4 clicks in 20 minutes? Let’s find out.

(Incoming!)

All right, that’s it! You guys better get on the damn ground when one of those goes off or I’m going to start assessing casualties!
I said get on the damn ground!
You’re not flat when that f*cker goes off, you’re dead, you hear me! Dead!
Now get them out of here, PL!

What'cha gonna do, PL?
What are you gonna do, PL?
All night on your feet and not a wink of sleep,
What'cha gonna do, PL?

What are you gonna do, PL?
What are you gonna do?
When your team freaks out and people start to shout,
What'cha gonna do, PL?

You’re going to freak…out.
You’re going to freak the f*ck out.

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What are you going to do when you don’t know what to do,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)
When Murphy shows up and sh*t goes to hell,
What'cha gonna do, PL? (What'cha gonna do?)

WHAT'CHA GONNA DO?!

All right, all of you wake the f*ck up!

WHAT'CHA GONNA DO?!

WHAT'CHA GONNA DO?!

I marched OPFOR up and down this road four times, right over your f*cking objective and you all slept right through it!

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!

I’ve had it with you, PL! You’re a f*cking moron!
You’re incompetent. Time for extra training!

(Incoming!)

You’re dead, you’re dead, you’re dead!
Where’s the f*cking RTO?
You’re the RTO? You’re dead, too!
You even know your nine-line, PL? You better figure it out real fast!
If I were you, I’d start getting your people outta here before more of them die!
Maybe you want to get a MEDEVAC enroute, what you do think, PL?
Do you even know where your patrol base is?
What direction are you f*cking going, PL?
Where’s your f*cking medic?
You’re the medic? You’re f*cking dead, too! You’re f*cking dead!
Keep going, PL! What in the hell are you going to do now, huh?
You know what, I’ve had it with you, PL! YOU'RE DEAD!
FUCKING NO-GO! Who’s next in charge?!