Cold Rain

Well, it's 4:30 in the afternoon and the sky is dark with rain clouds.  It's quite chilly out with the tempatures in the middle to upper 30's.  Rain has been pouring down most of the day with very few breaks.  It is suspected to continue into tonight.  Our rivers are swollen to bank level and the ground is saturated.  We don't need any more of this wet stuff for a while.  The weekend is here, and once again I have drill.  We are headed to Fayetteville, NC to Fort Bragg on Saturday.  We will be using the simulators for some war games.  It should be fun, methinks.  PT (Physical Training) test on Sunday.  So busier weekend, than I'd like.  Have a great weekend all.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Mike ain't 35.  He's 36!  I missed that one.

I'm Outty!

This has been an unpleasant  insane day at work.  And it's only Thursday!  Normally that would mean there is one more day to the work week, but in my case that is not the truth this week.  You see, the U.S. Army has this program called the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  When a soldier returns from Iraq or Afghanistan he or she is supposed to attend a class on suicide prevention.  I never did, and I got out.  But, I went back into the Reserves before my original contract was up.  So my name was still in the system.  So, now I am required to attend this class.  But the campaign is really more than just a suicide prevention class.  The also have people who can give information about all sorts of Veterans Affairs benefits.  Some examples are financing to assist with school, medical information, mental wellness information, and more.  Therefore, I will be getting on a plane at 7 a.m. local time tomorrow morning to fly to beautiful, sunny Orlando, Florida!  It is supposed to be 75 degrees there tomorrow!  That's so much better than the mid-forties we have here today!  Of course, I'll just be gone for the weekend, but that's okay.  The whole trip is paid for, as well.  With that, I must say a large thank you to our American tax payers.  It is not wasted monies, as I know I will get useful information and assistance from this trip.  I also thank you all for supporting the troops.  American, British, Italian, French, Japanese, it matters not.  You may not agree with the idea behind the war or how it is being handled.  But I must say that whatever the reason, I served and am serving as a proud American who loves the FREEDOM the so many before me died for.  Thanks and God bless.  See you all next week!!

Finally, the Weekend

I am so glad it's Friday.  I am really ready for the weekend.  Nothing really major happened this week, but it has dragged out so much.  It's just after 3:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, and I am exhausted.  I wish I had a nap today.  I'm guessing an early bed time tonight.  It's gonna be a busy weekend.  I haven't had much time at home the last few weekends.  Three weeks ago was Christmas, two weeks ago was New Years.  Christmas was at my parents', and I had planned to stay home for the new year, but went to take care of gimp Dad and sick Mom.  Last weekend I had drill with the army reserves.  So this weekend will be try-to-catch-up weekend.  My nephew had a birthday last weekend I couldn't make it to because of drill.  I ahve another nephew having a birthday this weekend.  I'll be there because it will be at Pizza Inn just down the road from my house.  But the list is long of things to get done.  Mike is smoking a Boston butt roast for Saturday.  I want to drain and clean the fish tanks.  Max needs a hair cut.  I will probably (try) to move a dresser and rearrange clothes this weekend.  The list is endless.  But next weekend I will be flying to Orlando, Florida for a Yellow Ribbon Campaign for the army.  It's mainly a suicide prevention class, but they also hook up those who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with resources for benefits, school, employment assistance, etc.  If I pass this Physical Training test next month (that reminds me, I have to run tonight) I will probably be going to school in South Carolina at the end of next month.  Wow!  My plate is full! 
Mike was talking to farmer last night.  He was over visiting when I got home from work.  They were discussing the up coming planting season and (what else) chickens.  He's got Mike hyped about it all!  He wants to make some sort of business out of it all.  He wants to plant peppers for vinegar sauce, and other veggies to sell at the market.  Not to mention, breeding chickens to sell.  Oh, breathe........I need prayer!  LOL 
Well, got lots to do.  I'll try to get my camera from my mom this weekend at the party.  Everyone have a great weekend!

Update

Thanks to everyone asking about my mom.  She is much better and is back to work.  Odd thing is she was down with the flu, but she had gotten her flu shot.  Guess that flu shot isn't as great as they are saying it is.  Mike is just now getting better.  It's bad when he gets sick because it takes him forever to get better. 

I had drill this past weekend.  I really wasn't looking forward to it, as I had a PT test (Physical Training).  I had to do so many push-ups and sit-ups for two minutes each.  Then I had to run 2 miles.  I didn't do so hot on the run.  They are sending me to Orlando, Florida January 22-24 for  a Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  It's anti-suicide classes for those who have been to Iraq.  I came back four years ago.  I'd probably have done that by now if I were going to, but they say it's manditory, so off I go.  Then they are telling me that I will take another PT test next month.  This time I must pass the run.  If I pass I will be going to WLC (Warrior Leadership Course) in South Carolina to get a promotion.  If I fail the run, I get demoted.  No pressure.  A friend in my unit said he will pace me, but I have to lose at least five pounds in a month.  I'm not over weight, but I could stand to lose 15 to 20 pounds.  I've got my work cut out for me.

And something very important will be happening tomorrow night.  If you are the fan I am, they you are gearing up for American Idol!!  Yeeee-hawww! 

I was in Iraq when I picked Carrie Underwood to win.  I got home in March and voted for her like crazy.....and she won. But things will be a little different this year.  We have said good-bye to Paula Abdul.

And we are welcoming Ellen Degeneres.  I liked Paula, but she always seemed to be an emotional train wreck.  I don't know what to think of Ellen.  I'm not sure what credentials she's got that qualifies her to be a singing competition judge.  But, nonetheless, I'm curious to see how this, the 9th season, will turn out.  I understand that Ellen will not be on the first few shows (which are often the funniest as people make fools of themselves), but will show up at the judgement episodes.  Time will tell.  Let me see if I can pick the winner again!  If there are any fans out there, check it out on FOX tomorrow night.  Let me know who you think might be The Next American Idol! 

Really Not Worth It

Okay, this is really fast.  I just don't have time to post, but I wanna get a word in nonetheless.  The weekend wasn't horrible.  I kinda had a little fun.  And I expended over 264 rounds of ammunition at the range...shouldn't have had to, but it wasn't my fault.  I didn't get to zero my weapon, so I had to guess at my aim at the targets.  Tents had heat and bunk beds.  Had hot showers and sinks for brushing teeth and shaving.  Hot food served to us.  Good weekend overall.  Fuzzy bottoms born today!!  Mike called me at work to tell me they were hatched.  I was about to discard the eggs because it has been 26 days!  But it was her first clutch, and she got up more than she should have.  Two silkie roosters died this week.  Don't know why.  One was the daddy.  They died the same day with no real visible symptoms of any illness.  Any body have any ideas?  Anyway, that's a small nutshell.  I'll get pics up this week.  Been reading blogs today, even if I didn't comment.  See ya's later!

Drill Weekend

I had drill this past weekend.  I've only been in the Reserves for eight months now, but I guess that's long enough for the honey moon to be over.  I suppose that would be the case with any job.  After a while the coolness wears off.  But then there are weekends when w totally do cool things.  This past weekend we had little to do.  We did clean our weapons.  We are going next month to Fort Bragg for three days.  We will be staying in the field (tents and cots...eating meal kits)  and going to the firing range.  I'm not sure if I will enjoy that or not.  We were told there are make shift showers available, but I don't know if there will be any hot water.  They are still wanting me to reenlist, as my contract will be up in February.  I extended six months trying to decide.  I am a junior enlisted soldier which means I get all the lousy jobs no one really wants.  But I don't have to be.  I have all the qualifications I need to be an officer.  I am considering going to Officer Candidate School and becoming a lieutenant.  That's obviously not written in stone.  But at this point it is certainly a possibility.  I snapped this pic Sunday afternoon.  I had nothing to do.  I was sitting on a 4K fork truck and saw my reflection  in a convex mirror.  So I snapped a pic in the mirror for fun.  Most of the soldiers in my unit are pretty cool.  We get along pretty well and work well together to get the job done.  We do make a very good team, and are probably the best unit in the battalion.  My time is running out, though.  I suppose I need to make a decision, soon.

Florida Bound

What an uneventful weekend. I had drill this weekend. I am in the Army Reserves. I served four years on active duty, and did a tour in Iraq. That was the worst year of my life. I decided to go back into the reserves because I can live my normal life with the exception of one weekend a month (and two weeks a year). I have been back in the reserves since February. I kinda like it. It's a totally different creature from active duty. We have had some fun weekends. We did some team building obstacles courses and land navigation tasks in the woods of central N.C. a few weeks ago. We also went to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC for some range qualifying and enemy scenarios. And we've had some boring admin weekends with classes and/or paperworks stuff. Overall, I enjoy it. We are heading to Jacksonville, FL in two weeks for training. I think that will be pretty cool. We are going to try to go to Disney World and/or Universal Studios while we are there, as well. The way work has been lately, it will certainly feel like a vacation. I know that I am so ready for it.