When the Smoke Clears

- Two glowing eyes darting up and down in the pitch black woods: a deer. Two eyes moving side to side in the woods: probably a bear.
- When someone starts yelling, you can try to listen for the underlying message behind the voice, or shut them the f- out if they can’t figure out how [...]

The days can be long, occasionally tedious, usually frantic. But there are chances for laughs and I get to know some of the most amazing men and women.
We hear about our friends deployed, try to keep each other updated on the latest which can be daunting considering how many hundreds go through here, how [...]

Saw this on BlackFive. It’s a public service spot to air on MSNBC detailing the sacrifice made by one of our finest during this war, proclaiming his name without shame and explaining how he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Posthumously, however.

I haven’t had regular TV or cable hooked up in my home in [...]

So my arms have been hurting a little since Saturday’s climbing, and probably not the “good” kind of hurt. I held off working out for a couple of days.
Well… it was a tough, rough, p.i.a. kind of day:
What they were saying: whine, whine, bitch, whine whiney whine, bitch, moan, stupid thing doesn’t whine.
What I [...]

Part 2
Friend: so did you bring anything in for a late morning snack today?
Me: yep, goat-cheese stuffed chicken breasts with tortellini and a balsamic sauce with fresh basil and tomatoes. What about you?
Friend: I think I still have one of those Apple-Cinnamon Pop-tarts® left in my desk…
Me: Want me to toast it for you?

—
®Pop-tarts are [...]

Not to bring everyone down, but as the general consensus for today’s theme among our little blog-group here is Family Day, it’s time to chime in. This isn’t some feel-good 24/7 site. This is my writing and as much of my world as I care to reveal.
Regular readers will be able to point to the [...]

It was a Saturday, and provided there are no blown-eyeds* in the vicinity, that apparently means it’s a day to climb.
And so we did.
The original intent was to go out to the real mountains and do some rock face, but rain and threats of lightening inhibited that process, so back to the climbing [...]

With one exception*, please do not try to carry on a conversation with me while I am going to the bathroom.
I’m not comfortable with that.
—
* Occasionally, when far too many beers have been consumed and the focus is on the game, a conversation can ensue at a baseball stadium restroom, provided I actually [...]

It’s a new day, and I woke up this morning… COLD! Love that. I can add more blankets, and there is something appropriate about being in a little log cabin bundled under blankets listening to the animals start their day out in the woods, preparing to go to bed for a long winter sleep.
The [...]

I’m a random present-giver. I despise the feeling of obligatory Christmas presents and generally avoid giving them. When I find something that reminds me of a friend that I think they will like AND that will not necessarily add to a clutter collection, I snag it. For example, no Las Vegas shot glasses for friends [...]

This kind of exhaustion isn’t pretty, but I know it’s for a good cause.
My friend, the Wildebeest, intended to come on up for a visit yesterday. He had just gotten the news on Monday he was offered a position with a major international firm in their IT division. As a techie, he will stand [...]

Your attitude sucks.
Autumn is here, and as I sit outside on the lower deck, feet propped up, I see you over there standing tall, proudly higher than the highest points along the rack fencing. All summer I nurtured you. I fed you, I soaked you, each one of you eight, and here we are. [...]

Bow chicka bow.
those little, quizzy, “What kind of Monkey tastes your Rainbow” things never interest me… but I was met with a challenge. A BOLD-FACED challenge by a big-haired, Head-Banger’s Ball watchin, acid-wash jeans wearin’, yankee momma…
Do NOT throw down and take on me…

You Scored 95% Correct

You are an 80s expert
You never confuse New [...]

Another challenging week at work. I feel some things are falling behind so I’ll end up working part of the weekend.
On the bright side I was able to have another video chat with ButterBar from an undisclosed big truck in Iraq, and set it up so he could speak privately with one of his [...]

Wow. I just realized I made my very first blog posting a year ago today. And it wasn’t even for this site.
The Straight White Hunter let me on his site to guest post, and that started the process.
Eric, thank you for both inspiration and a forum.
And this is what started it all… and [...]