06/09: Life in Afghanistan Part I
As my previous post stated. I have safely landed in Bagram, Afghanistan and I'm settling in to my job here pretty easily. I've been blessed with a dorm room that is brand new and only a four minute walk from work (I don't have to take the shuttle to the other side of the base like I thought I was going too.)
Today, I thought to tell you about my trip over here.
I remember it was a heavy morning, with the humidity already high and the heat starting to swelter before the sun was even up. I had awoken at 0400 the morning of the 22nd of August to be at my squadron by 0445 to begin the last of the outprocessing necessary. I walked with my friend Starr who helped carry my bags and soon found myself sitting the squadron where Sergeant Womack (or new undershirt) got donuts and coffee for everybody.
It was definitely a hurry-up-and-wait moment. They had hunting shows on the big TV (something with Ted Nugent if i remember) and some of the airman were trying to get an extra snooze. I could not sleep. I was to excited of being able to go to another country as I have not been out of the US since my dad came back from Okinawa, Japan in 1995.
Nothing exciting happened while waiting, but once we got the greenlight to go and the bus arrived the whole group was taken to the Personnel Deployment Facility (PDF) and it was packed! three bus loads had already been dropped off and the line wrapped around the building.
Going through the line we got wanded, our bags checked in to luggage, and our carryons investigated. My carry on was huge with all the stuff I was taking and so when we finally got out of the waiting center four hours later my bag wound up being checked in to baggage below the plane (with all my snacks and computer).
We got to ride in a DC-10 owned by a company called Omni Air International. We were packed in that plane for ten hours as we crossed the Atlantic ocean. I got to watch "Avatar", "Date Night", and another movie I can't remember while also trying to sleep between two whiny crewcheifs who were complaining about everything from the deployment to the color of the plane. Those of you who read this that know me understanding my lack of patience with whiners.
To my delight, we did not land in Ireland as we originally thought we were, but got to land in Bucharest, Romania. What a beautiful country! The Romanian airport even allowed us to de-plane and enter their terminal while in uniform (I was told by a older Master Sergeant that it was very nice of them as other countries like France have refused to allow us to deplane as we were in uniform.)
We got to ride on a standup bus to the terminal and after going through customs we "invaded". I remember one little boy about seven years of age staring through the window dividing us from the customs side and the airport side with his mouth hanging wide open from all the uniforms. Later when we were sitting around (as we had four hours to wait) a little girl kept peaking over the chairs to see what the "Americans" were doing.
i saw the cutest young lady there running the clerk stand as the airport was kind enough to open up their shops early for us to get souvenirs. There was this one clerk who had the most gorgious face I've ever seen and beautiful raven black hair. Dang, I wish I lived in Romania!
Sadly, after four hours we had to re-board the plane and take another five hour hop from Romania to Manas, Kyrgyzstan where we waited for three days for our chalk and then after only a hour and a half flight in a C-17 we landed in Bagram with our flack vests and helmets. Got even experience a combat landing where they circle the airport and then drop like a rock and land. That felt like a roller coaster.
So, I made it. Gotten taken to my dorm room and after the initial in-processing (after trying to find my missing luggage) I got to collapse in bed after staying awake for thirty-two hours. I love military life!
Today, I thought to tell you about my trip over here.
I remember it was a heavy morning, with the humidity already high and the heat starting to swelter before the sun was even up. I had awoken at 0400 the morning of the 22nd of August to be at my squadron by 0445 to begin the last of the outprocessing necessary. I walked with my friend Starr who helped carry my bags and soon found myself sitting the squadron where Sergeant Womack (or new undershirt) got donuts and coffee for everybody.
It was definitely a hurry-up-and-wait moment. They had hunting shows on the big TV (something with Ted Nugent if i remember) and some of the airman were trying to get an extra snooze. I could not sleep. I was to excited of being able to go to another country as I have not been out of the US since my dad came back from Okinawa, Japan in 1995.
Nothing exciting happened while waiting, but once we got the greenlight to go and the bus arrived the whole group was taken to the Personnel Deployment Facility (PDF) and it was packed! three bus loads had already been dropped off and the line wrapped around the building.
Going through the line we got wanded, our bags checked in to luggage, and our carryons investigated. My carry on was huge with all the stuff I was taking and so when we finally got out of the waiting center four hours later my bag wound up being checked in to baggage below the plane (with all my snacks and computer).
We got to ride in a DC-10 owned by a company called Omni Air International. We were packed in that plane for ten hours as we crossed the Atlantic ocean. I got to watch "Avatar", "Date Night", and another movie I can't remember while also trying to sleep between two whiny crewcheifs who were complaining about everything from the deployment to the color of the plane. Those of you who read this that know me understanding my lack of patience with whiners.
To my delight, we did not land in Ireland as we originally thought we were, but got to land in Bucharest, Romania. What a beautiful country! The Romanian airport even allowed us to de-plane and enter their terminal while in uniform (I was told by a older Master Sergeant that it was very nice of them as other countries like France have refused to allow us to deplane as we were in uniform.)
We got to ride on a standup bus to the terminal and after going through customs we "invaded". I remember one little boy about seven years of age staring through the window dividing us from the customs side and the airport side with his mouth hanging wide open from all the uniforms. Later when we were sitting around (as we had four hours to wait) a little girl kept peaking over the chairs to see what the "Americans" were doing.
i saw the cutest young lady there running the clerk stand as the airport was kind enough to open up their shops early for us to get souvenirs. There was this one clerk who had the most gorgious face I've ever seen and beautiful raven black hair. Dang, I wish I lived in Romania!
Sadly, after four hours we had to re-board the plane and take another five hour hop from Romania to Manas, Kyrgyzstan where we waited for three days for our chalk and then after only a hour and a half flight in a C-17 we landed in Bagram with our flack vests and helmets. Got even experience a combat landing where they circle the airport and then drop like a rock and land. That felt like a roller coaster.
So, I made it. Gotten taken to my dorm room and after the initial in-processing (after trying to find my missing luggage) I got to collapse in bed after staying awake for thirty-two hours. I love military life!
01/09: I'm Deployed!
This is a delayed message to be released way after I've left my base and landed in Bagram, Afghanistan. So, surprise! I got deployed! Apologies for not telling you sooner, but because of the secrecy and sensitivity of the flights and when they are leaving, I was unable to let you know. As you are reading this I'm already there.
I'll be gone for awhile and should be back sometime next year (not gonna announce it on the internet) and through that time I'll try my best to keep you all up to date of what is happening (and that is not classified).
See ya around!
I'll be gone for awhile and should be back sometime next year (not gonna announce it on the internet) and through that time I'll try my best to keep you all up to date of what is happening (and that is not classified).
See ya around!
20/07: Proof Music is the Key
This is a trailer for Mass Effect 2 and it still makes me choke up the way they put it together and it's all thanks to the music.
19/07: How to be a Super Hero
Ever wanted to be a super hero? You know, like the guys you see on TV and in the movies? To be able to go and save the world from destruction, defeat the forces of evil that threaten the people around you? Well, did you know, you can be? No kidding, it's just not as prominent as you might think. You don't get a fancy cape and colorful tights, you probably won't be given credit, but it's just as dangerous and just as imperative as the missions in the movies. You know what it's called? Witnessing.
You are probably now upset with me for stating something like this or you are looking at this page with a raised eyebrow. It's true if you just think about it.
Today, witnessing is seen as the job of the Missionaries and the select few that God has chosen to go out on the streets and preach from a street corner or in a public space. This is wrong! God doesn't take out a select few who are the ones who go face-to-face with the unsaved and try to lead them to Christ.
The Bible doesn't say, "Some of you go unto the world and spread the gospel", but "Go ye unto the world and preach the gospel.". That's everybody including you!
But that doesn't explain my association of witnessing with Super Heroes. Well, I'll explain that right now.
Let's take the average Super Hero. He's a nobody in normal life, who believes that he should use his abilities to defend the world from the evil that lurks in the dark. He fights villains to rescue the innocent people who are the targets for these evil bad guys.
Witnessing is like this, you are (most of the time) a nobody who lives like an ordinary guy or girl. These people believe that, as God told them to do, they should do everything in their power to save the millions of lost souls who are in the world, doomed to die. They believe that there is no time to spare and no holding back to save these people.
This world is doomed! There is no way that we are going to save this planet from it's impending destruction. There is no way that we will be able to preserve our cultures, our heritage, or our surroundings. It is impossible to save any of these things. There is only one thing that can be saved and that is a soul.
Satan has billions of people in his evil and we must fight and bring the word of God to them, to save them from the impending destruction.
It's not for every one soul you add new member to the church, but for every one soul you save, that deprives evil of a victim. Just like a super hero, you are trying to save them from death and destruction.
You may say, "But I do donate money to missionaries to keep up their work so they can bring God's light in other countries." That's good, though if you put it in with my parody, your just someone standing there watching the super hero get pummeled and beat as he tries to save all the people around him. It's good to be there and help him by brushing of his cape, but why don't you jump in there and start fighting too? Isn't two better then one?
Why stand on the sidelines while you have the same God given ability to jump in to the fray and save a lost soul from complete destruction?
The war is going on right now! Every second you sit on the sidelines is every second that you give to the enemy. The more people who throw there hat in to the ring and jump in fighting, the more can be saved from eternal death and to be able to enjoy the love God has for them.
You to can be a super hero. Just not in the same way as our TV types. It isn't glorious work, you don't get fans, you may not be even noticed in this world, but our Father above knows what you have done. Just being able to reach out a hand and help someone up and say, "I know your suffering, but I know someone who will take your suffering away from you." and take them away from the death should be enough of a reward. Go in and start fighting!
This comes from my old archive of writing. This stinker was dated in August of 2005! It's still relevant and so it is posted today...better late then never.
You are probably now upset with me for stating something like this or you are looking at this page with a raised eyebrow. It's true if you just think about it.
Today, witnessing is seen as the job of the Missionaries and the select few that God has chosen to go out on the streets and preach from a street corner or in a public space. This is wrong! God doesn't take out a select few who are the ones who go face-to-face with the unsaved and try to lead them to Christ.
The Bible doesn't say, "Some of you go unto the world and spread the gospel", but "Go ye unto the world and preach the gospel.". That's everybody including you!
But that doesn't explain my association of witnessing with Super Heroes. Well, I'll explain that right now.
Let's take the average Super Hero. He's a nobody in normal life, who believes that he should use his abilities to defend the world from the evil that lurks in the dark. He fights villains to rescue the innocent people who are the targets for these evil bad guys.
Witnessing is like this, you are (most of the time) a nobody who lives like an ordinary guy or girl. These people believe that, as God told them to do, they should do everything in their power to save the millions of lost souls who are in the world, doomed to die. They believe that there is no time to spare and no holding back to save these people.
This world is doomed! There is no way that we are going to save this planet from it's impending destruction. There is no way that we will be able to preserve our cultures, our heritage, or our surroundings. It is impossible to save any of these things. There is only one thing that can be saved and that is a soul.
Satan has billions of people in his evil and we must fight and bring the word of God to them, to save them from the impending destruction.
It's not for every one soul you add new member to the church, but for every one soul you save, that deprives evil of a victim. Just like a super hero, you are trying to save them from death and destruction.
You may say, "But I do donate money to missionaries to keep up their work so they can bring God's light in other countries." That's good, though if you put it in with my parody, your just someone standing there watching the super hero get pummeled and beat as he tries to save all the people around him. It's good to be there and help him by brushing of his cape, but why don't you jump in there and start fighting too? Isn't two better then one?
Why stand on the sidelines while you have the same God given ability to jump in to the fray and save a lost soul from complete destruction?
The war is going on right now! Every second you sit on the sidelines is every second that you give to the enemy. The more people who throw there hat in to the ring and jump in fighting, the more can be saved from eternal death and to be able to enjoy the love God has for them.
You to can be a super hero. Just not in the same way as our TV types. It isn't glorious work, you don't get fans, you may not be even noticed in this world, but our Father above knows what you have done. Just being able to reach out a hand and help someone up and say, "I know your suffering, but I know someone who will take your suffering away from you." and take them away from the death should be enough of a reward. Go in and start fighting!
This comes from my old archive of writing. This stinker was dated in August of 2005! It's still relevant and so it is posted today...better late then never.
I got one word.
SUH-WHEET!
05/07: The World IS NOT Gray!
If I could get a penny for every time somebody has alluded to me that "right and wrong are just relative to your point of view." I would be richer then Bill Gates! Maybe it's because of the good beating I received at Basic Training of the meaning of morals, of doing what's right no matter what has caused me to become more aggressive against those who love mediocrity and the convenience of shifting right and wrong around to suit their own ends.
I mean, wouldn't it be just great to say that my meaning of right and wrong is different then yours? I mean, I could do anything I want without being condemned or judged by other people. My right is different then yours. I don't know about you, but that sounds like the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. Life is right and wrong. No one likes to be wrong, but the whole reason that we have a moral compass is so when we are wrong we...fix...it! Covering it up under the bandage of "it's all relative" is a great way to allow a problem to continue to fester and spread the decay through the social body of the human culture.
"But your beliefs of right and wrong could offend somebody!" GOOD! That means that they can change, get on the right path and be among those who are right.
Okay, Jonathan, you scream and rant about right and wrong; if there is only one right and wrong, which one is it? That's simple. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm a Christian and the Bible is my moral compass. It says that Murder is wrong (don't bring up war and that is murder. I'll cover that in another post), the adultery is wrong, marriage is between a man and a woman, that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, we should help those in need. These aren't bad morals. These are good strong principles to build your life on and those who will find it uncomfortable are those who are breaking them.
"But the Ten commandments are to strict!". No, they aren't. Think about it. God could have been a lot stricter if he wanted.
He could have said, "you are only allowed to own one house, two cars, 1 computer, but either a laptop or PC, you can have only five lamps in your house, and your cars can only be a dull shade of gray or silver." No, he simply said, "Thou Shalt not Covet."
Or he could have said, "You can only sleep with your wife twice a week except on biblical holidays where you have to make sure it's not more then an hour." instead he said, "Thou Shalt not commit Adultery."
The people who think it's to strict is those who want to live lives like that and those are usually the ones screaming the loudest about how things are to strict and that everything is relative.
Whew, I think I've got that all out of my system.
I mean, wouldn't it be just great to say that my meaning of right and wrong is different then yours? I mean, I could do anything I want without being condemned or judged by other people. My right is different then yours. I don't know about you, but that sounds like the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. Life is right and wrong. No one likes to be wrong, but the whole reason that we have a moral compass is so when we are wrong we...fix...it! Covering it up under the bandage of "it's all relative" is a great way to allow a problem to continue to fester and spread the decay through the social body of the human culture.
"But your beliefs of right and wrong could offend somebody!" GOOD! That means that they can change, get on the right path and be among those who are right.
Okay, Jonathan, you scream and rant about right and wrong; if there is only one right and wrong, which one is it? That's simple. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm a Christian and the Bible is my moral compass. It says that Murder is wrong (don't bring up war and that is murder. I'll cover that in another post), the adultery is wrong, marriage is between a man and a woman, that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, we should help those in need. These aren't bad morals. These are good strong principles to build your life on and those who will find it uncomfortable are those who are breaking them.
"But the Ten commandments are to strict!". No, they aren't. Think about it. God could have been a lot stricter if he wanted.
He could have said, "you are only allowed to own one house, two cars, 1 computer, but either a laptop or PC, you can have only five lamps in your house, and your cars can only be a dull shade of gray or silver." No, he simply said, "Thou Shalt not Covet."
Or he could have said, "You can only sleep with your wife twice a week except on biblical holidays where you have to make sure it's not more then an hour." instead he said, "Thou Shalt not commit Adultery."
The people who think it's to strict is those who want to live lives like that and those are usually the ones screaming the loudest about how things are to strict and that everything is relative.
Whew, I think I've got that all out of my system.
29/06: Oh, What Fun...
You know. I've been tossing around the craziest Idea right now and that's probably because I haven't had more then two hours worth of sleep. I've been thinking of starting my own TV show on Youtube. Host it myself and take my rants, ravings, and weirdness to the next level.
Or maybe not.
Or maybe not.
I think it was about a year ago I wrote two essays on the problems and the attempts of creating a .xxx domain name for the internet and the reason why it is not a good idea. Well, being out of the loop because of work means I'm reporting this late.
On June 25,2010 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering(ICANN) has approved the creation of the domain. All I have to say is, "You asked for it."
The biggest thing that made me laugh was ICN registry's statement on their website: "However, while most internet extensions are used for just about everything you can imagine, .xxx will be focused on providing an online home for those members of the adult industry who wish to self-identify and responsibly self-regulate.*"
Self regulate?!? An industry that makes billions every year in revenue is not going to self-regulate itself in the pursuit of new customers and the expansion of their business. It's to good of an opportunity. All those racy names that have been taken in the .com, .net, and other extensions are now freely available again with a new dot domain. Pornography just enlarged it self exponentially on the internet further making it useless in our day and age.
Since it does not seem to go away, I'm going to make two suggestions that will go unheeded by anyone who can make a difference.
1. If you truly want to use the .xxx domain name to protect children and those who don't want to inadvertently run in to it. Force the adult industry to abandon their .com and .net website and move over to the .xxx site. I mean, if they want to self-regulate themselves and show that they truly "care" about others, they should be following over each other to get in to the .xxx. Make them more legitimate like a company (cue sarcastic snicker).
2. ICANN should fine any adult company that refuses to move in to the new domain heavily. And when I say heavily and mean it in every extent of the word. Strip them of their domain, whatever it takes.
Of course, none of this will ever happen. An addicting sin labeled "freedom of speech" and protected under the first amendment will never be touched. Does that mean thievery will be considered "pursuit of happiness" now?
Yeesh, when will people realize that there are moral limits to free speech and that there is a right and a wrong? It's not relative, it's simple! But greed, lust, and all sorts of other nasty things that plague use humans will always get in the way and if we don't step away from our baseless selves and strive to do right no matter what the cost, our nation is doomed to a moral decay that will destroy the next generations.
Thank you ICANN for damning the future generations of the world.
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/16721/comms/xxx-domain-nears-approval
On June 25,2010 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering(ICANN) has approved the creation of the domain. All I have to say is, "You asked for it."
The biggest thing that made me laugh was ICN registry's statement on their website: "However, while most internet extensions are used for just about everything you can imagine, .xxx will be focused on providing an online home for those members of the adult industry who wish to self-identify and responsibly self-regulate.*"
Self regulate?!? An industry that makes billions every year in revenue is not going to self-regulate itself in the pursuit of new customers and the expansion of their business. It's to good of an opportunity. All those racy names that have been taken in the .com, .net, and other extensions are now freely available again with a new dot domain. Pornography just enlarged it self exponentially on the internet further making it useless in our day and age.
Since it does not seem to go away, I'm going to make two suggestions that will go unheeded by anyone who can make a difference.
1. If you truly want to use the .xxx domain name to protect children and those who don't want to inadvertently run in to it. Force the adult industry to abandon their .com and .net website and move over to the .xxx site. I mean, if they want to self-regulate themselves and show that they truly "care" about others, they should be following over each other to get in to the .xxx. Make them more legitimate like a company (cue sarcastic snicker).
2. ICANN should fine any adult company that refuses to move in to the new domain heavily. And when I say heavily and mean it in every extent of the word. Strip them of their domain, whatever it takes.
Of course, none of this will ever happen. An addicting sin labeled "freedom of speech" and protected under the first amendment will never be touched. Does that mean thievery will be considered "pursuit of happiness" now?
Yeesh, when will people realize that there are moral limits to free speech and that there is a right and a wrong? It's not relative, it's simple! But greed, lust, and all sorts of other nasty things that plague use humans will always get in the way and if we don't step away from our baseless selves and strive to do right no matter what the cost, our nation is doomed to a moral decay that will destroy the next generations.
Thank you ICANN for damning the future generations of the world.
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/16721/comms/xxx-domain-nears-approval
18/03: A Little Note
Just a little note. I'm still alive though Mids has been really rough on me. I seem to be spending more time sleeping than anything else in my free time. I love mids as it's quiet and life is so far simple. We have a rush days where it seems we can do nothing, but move to the next project without taking a breath. Keeps me going on those days when I stop, I'll immediately fall asleep.
Gonna probably right a bunch of blog entries and post them to be released periodically so this site at least looks like it's being regularly updated. Oh, well. Life in the military I guess.
Gonna probably right a bunch of blog entries and post them to be released periodically so this site at least looks like it's being regularly updated. Oh, well. Life in the military I guess.
02/03: Meet Princess Lii
Princess Lii is a new princess that I've created for a graphic novel that is being created by on one my stories. Again, I have the talented Kathleen Ruhl doing the artwork and I hope to have this novel released by the end of the summer. It's a 128 page Graphic novel entitled Chronicles Of Melidia: Sword of Shadows. It's companion novel should be released about that time too.
