Flashbang

2010-02-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

The Crap We Put Up With

2010-02-02T20:58:00.001-08:00

Every day, I come home and sit at my computer desk. On my desk are two toys. One is a 1/24 scale model of a 1957 Chevy Corvette, the first model I ever completed. I have no idea why I keep it, or the plastic James Hetfield figure on my desk, but I cannot bring myself to throw them away. Why do I keep these things? They have no true value, nor do they have any (that I am aware of) true sentimental value. I didn't win my father's love for the first time by assembling a model car, nor did I ever see Metallica in concert. I like they way they look, but they look out of place on my desk. As I look around my house, I see many more objects that don't mean anything. The baseball signed in faded ink by the 1994 Houston Astros that I signed my Dad up for at a silent auction. A cedar case with over a thousand stamps that were given to me by my uncle who got tired of trying to sort them.

Why do we keep things like this? Is it some forced attachment to the past that we feel we must endure in our daily lives? It's not just limited to physical items. We all keep almost every digital photograph we've taken. And because there's no processing or film fee, we take more. When I shoot photos, I take three or four of every shot. I keep every one, even if it's extremely blurry, or as I call them, "artistic."

Decide for yourself why you keep these things, but I keep them to know where I came from. They're proof of improvements I've made, and show that I can do better next time, knowing what I do now.

Multimedia message

2010-01-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Moving today

Taking a drive

2010-01-02T01:59:00.000-08:00

There are many times when I just sit around the house, clicking through flash games, staring at the television, or idly refreshing my Twitter page to see if anyone has posted something worth reading.

These lazy weekends are fun, of course. I don't mind being away from the stress of work. Sometimes, however, having nothing to do is more stressful than having a full inbox at three in the afternoon. This is why I am thankful for a gift my father gave me: The Appreciation of an afternoon drive.

I pull up Google Maps, and look out past the city limits. Then I pick a town out in the mountains and look up their chamber of commerce for things to do in the area. I grab my camera, some snacks and the GPS and hop in my Jeep.

The freedom of going out somewhere you've not been does not require a passport or Expedia reservations. Many times I've traveled only a few miles past the furthest I've been, and in only once instance has the road not been paved. There's nowhere to be, specifically, and usually the small restaurant on the corner is more entertaining than anything on the map. Driving in the countryside slows things down a lot. With no deadline, you don't need to speed, and it's okay to pull over and take pictures. Even if it's just your cell phone camera, it's something to remember. If you plan everything right, you'll be home in time to cook a real dinner and have a cold beer before bed.

Sheep

2008-07-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today, my complaint is about sheep.
They are pompous animals. Think they're all bad 'n' stuff cuz they grow ridiculous amounts of hair. Outrageous amounts of hair, really. Who needs that much fuzz?
And when they get fully furry, they just waddle around like cotton balls with legs - and made of wool. Not cotton. I'd be more respectful if they were made of cotton. At least that stuff is useful.
I don't mean to start any arguments here. Sheep aren't like penguins, with their own movie that actually makes them look smart. That's the only reason people like penguins, anyway. They are truly evil creatures. But back to sheep...
Sheep are stupid, and serve no purpose other than to grow non-synthetic fibers that is just as itchy as synthetic, if not more, and to be both soul partner and source of income for most of Tennessee.
They even have a song! Here's my song:
Bah! Bah! Dumb sheep - Make me a shirt.
Catchy, isn't it?

If you see a sheep, don't try to hit it with anything smaller than a Ford F-150 (the old ones.) God may have made them stupid, but he gave them protection. That fur acts as a cushion against blows, and in cases of extreme gravitation pull when they are led off of a cliff by a person with a well-trained sheepdog, a parachute. Unless you've got the time to shave every one of them, we need a plan. Wallace, of Wallace & Grommit Fame, had a brilliant machine for this very thing. We can't wait until the next shaving season to start this war, people. The Genocide of Sheep commences today!
And if you doubt me, look into the eyes of the evil animal with the "No" sign over it above. Can't you just see the plotting? CAN'T YOU?

P.T.S.D.

2008-03-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I was diagnosed officially in April/May of 2007. It wasn't a surprise. Some people wanted, even tried for those words. People who were getting out, looking for that little bit of disability.
Of course I wasn't sleeping. I avoided stressful situations of any sort, I had problems with crazy drivers. I wanted to be armed 24/7. I knew the signs. I just wanted help.
The Doc for my unit couldn't confirm it, so he sent me to the Floor Seven of the hospital. Within an hour, I got the official word. It didn't help. In fact, it probably hurt more than it helped. If I had not known, I probably would have forced it away. More on the possible good/evil of that later.
I spent four months talking to my doctor. At first, I felt better. My words were rushed, at first, because I wanted so much to completely spill what was driving me to all sorts of paranoid and skittish. But when I felt I had started to get something done, my hour was up. It hurt. More than most people ever know.
After that first one, it felt like I was forcing myself to spew my feelings, so I could get as much done as possible. Therapy had, in one session, become like every other aspect of my life. It wasn't worth it. I got a few tips that helped me sleep, but the biggest problem, my anger, never dissipated. So I eventually got to the point where I told the Doctor that I had no more issues, because as much as I liked getting out of work, I hate wasting my time.
So almost a year later, here I am. Deployment is advancing on me again, and I am more nervous of returning home twice as jacked up as I was last time, which would definitely not bode well for the marriage that I love so much.
Back to that thing I mentioned before. I don't worry about the deployment. I have a specific job, and certain personnel requirements within my unit dictate that I stay decently safe, or at least within five minutes of my work, where I will be required to answer a ridiculous question before I can leave, that means I shouldn't be doing grunt work. Not that I want to, I had enough of that last time.
But now I worry about getting nervous about the little things that most people don't know about, but most Marines and Soldiers, along with certain Sailors and Airmen can attest to. They say it's the little things that can kill you. The Details that you miss and boom! You no longer make witty comments.
My fear of fearing these things once I return is what bothers me now.
But my hope is that my means of deployment will assist the healing before I even get home, and once I do, my beautiful wife will be there for me, like she always has.
I just hope I can open up to her this time, without worrying about scaring her away.

Nuke the Moon

2008-02-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

Phase 1.

Phase 2.

Awesome.

The News

2008-02-24T17:45:00.000-08:00

In the news today we have a fight to beat John McCain. It's not a fight to decide who the best person for the Whitehouse is. It is in no way a debate over who would be best to lead this country and it's troops. It is a struggle over your gag reflex.
John McCain, prior service, POW, general ass-kicker, seems to scare the Democrats. Cool.
Vote for the party that doesn't focus on the faces.

In a brief comment regarding Senor Port's post, I think that they all just want to throw the shiniest things out there, because everyone knows America loves shiny.

Older news here, but still amusing. I, as a Marine, am seriously surprised that there was no physical action taken against this rare breed of uber-douche. But hey, I am glad this hippie lawyer is currently being throw all over the media... wait. No one covers anything that these idiots do. Only the Pendleton 8, the ones that [allegedly] commited war crimes, even though the 'allegedly' part isn't really important to newscasters, get airtime. Possible crimes against people who assist in the murders of my fellow servicemen versus actual crimes against persons who have volunteered for a lifestyle beyond what any recruiter will tell you about. I think this guy should get no jailtime, but be made to enlist in the Marine Corps and sent to boot camp (San Diego, of course). I got $5 sayin' he'd cry before getting on the bus.

Ah.. memories.

I enjoy a good stupid

2008-02-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

The past three weeks ROCKED! Seventeen days of sitting around waiting for time to pass while other people twiddle their thumbs in anticipation of some sort of plan being formed, while the plan formers wonder why they can't check their hotmail. FAN-TASTIC!

Bacon and Bacon and Steak and HOT!!!

2007-12-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

Hi ho! It's Christmas Eve and I am enjoying my steak. First off, the steak recipe:

Steak: As Required.
Bacon: Two pieces of plain bacon per steak. The kind you get from a butcher at a supermarket. Nice and fatty. Mmm... Oh, sorry.
Montreal Steak Seasoning
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Lemon Juice
Meat Tenderizer
Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Sauce
One Can Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce - A spicy pepper in a sweet sauce. More on that later.
Toothpicks

Open the can of Peppers - Take a deep noseful. Note that unlike most spicy foods, this won't burn your nose at all, but smell really sweet. This is a major part of why this dish works.
Pour the contents of this can into a bowl. Cut the stems off of a one pepper per steak, and squeeze the seeds out, then cut into thirds and set aside.
Add a bit of each seasoning to the bowl with the peppers and adobo sauce, depending on your taste. I prefer black pepper and sweet baby rays, with a good dash of Montreal. Place bacon in bowl.
Rub Steak seasoning and meat tenderizer into steak. Take the peppers that you have cut up and slit the skin so that you can wrap the inside of the skin onto the steak OR cut into the steak and insert skin into cut. Wrap the bacon around the steak as you please and secure with toothpicks.
Grill with 1/2 cup damp woodchips wrapped in aluminum foil with a few holes for smoke, or use Liquid Smoke.
It's up to you how you cook it, but grilling for 5-10 min with the steaks individually wrapped in foil will help keep the bacon from becoming charcoal.

Next, sweet bacon.

Take same plain bacon from supermarket butcher: No flavors, just lots of thick, juicy bacon.
This one is easy. All you need is Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce, or any honey or maple based BBQ sauce, or maybe even brown sugar (never tried it, but hey, gopher it!) A quick drop of lime juice, Liquid Smoke and Black Pepper.

Before you start frying the bacon, rub a few drops of liquid smoke onto each piece of bacon. Then, as it starts to fry and grease builds up in the pan, shake black pepper on exposed side. As you flip it, put about 1/8 tsp BBQ Sauce on now cooked side and add pepper if you want.
Don't overdo the BBQ sauce, because it will make the bacon too sweet.

Goes well on baked or mashed potatoes, which go well with bacon-wrapped chipotle steaks.

Working

2007-11-30T21:22:00.000-08:00

Here I am, sitting at work, at 9:30 on a Friday night, waiting for a big lummox to finish the work he won't do during the day.
Anyways, my best friend from High School Graduated from Army Basic Training today. Congrats to him, except on choice of services.
Silly Hoo-ah's.

Meatloaf

2007-11-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago, I made meatloaf for the first time, and according to the wife, it was a hit.
I looked up the recipe on about.com
This is what I found:

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cracker crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten
PREPARATION:
Mix all ingredients together gently. Form into a loaf and place in baking dish or loaf pan. Top with more ketchup if desired. Bake at 350° for about 1 hour.
Serves 4.

It's a good base, but I prefer more flavor. I add minced or crushed garlic (to your taste) and a bit of chili powder or perhaps some hot sauce of your choice.
Also, mix about 1/3 cup ketchup with whatever spice you flavored the meat with and 1/4 tbsp of brown sugar to use as the top coat.

My suggested side dishes:
Potatoes, mashed or baked
Rice
A large rock.

I'm back

2007-11-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

I wanted to start this while in Iraq.
Then I wanted to start it when I got back.
Then I wanted to start it the other day, but all of the crap that is currently stinking up the world doesn't seem important enough to talk about all of the time.

So Hi.
My name is Chris. I am a Marine, and I'm really awesome, and I;m the tall guy on the left.