When the Smoke Clears

I’m away, off somewhere learning, or so that is the intent of the Army at this time. So many things are so different for right now. So many people I miss.
To put it bluntly, I miss being around people I love and am tired of being around people I’m only just getting to know. [...]

Somewhere out there… but still here. Working like a madman and learning at an accelerated pace. Lots and lots of homework.
But I have a kitchen now. I get to cook for myself again. Food porn to recommence soon.

Well, one more Army school down. Unlike most of my classmates who have follow-on schools and a week or two to get affairs in order before their next start date, I have 1.5 days to get to mine which is many hours away.
So what do I think of Oklahoma?
* Interesting state.
* Bolt [...]

7 March. One year. I’ve been a commissioned officer for a year now.
It was a painful process. I hated Officer Candidate School, but I survived. And one year ago I took my oath, no longer an oath to the officers appointed over me but to the Constitution of the United States. My oath is [...]

Stop and give thanks.
A man’s portrait of his father.
via Jason.

You are a bit overconfident. Time to get a better realization of your limitations… since you can’t seem to clean up after yourselves…
at least, judging by the condition of the urinals.
Seriously, guys, stand a little closer. You’re not that long or powerful.
And by the way… it appears you’re pretty well dehydrated, too. Drink [...]

The diner looked to have been built in the late 30s. Like so many things out here in Oklahoma, much of the construction seems vintage… for our country at least… harkening back to previous eras of thought, moments of time captured, rather than replaced by newer, less sturdy structures of uncharacterized boxes.
I came here [...]

Memo to the Army: Let’s get back to work on that Anthrax vaccine. Anything which causes that much pain two minutes AFTER initial penetration is clearly not doing something right.
Memo to Acquaintances: Texting on my phone is a way to say hi without interrupting or to see if I am available for a social [...]

I figured it up. Well, I also saw it in the latest oil change. In the last 2 months I have put over 10,000 miles for the Army on my personal vehicle traveling from one place to another. I’m back out again.
School starts in a few hours. I have to go report in. Normally [...]

that I can talk about. I’m away again. Elsewhere. Not a lot of time on a public computer.
However, when I’ve seen old episodes of the Muppet Show as an adult I have been amazed at just how racy a lot of their stuff was and aimed at adults, but this… this is pure genius. [...]

Alright, y’all… for those wanting to help deployed soldiers… especially those who’ve been so kind to adopt a soldier via Soldiers’ Angels… Here’s a way I figured out to help out those troops. I’m sure someone has come up with this already but I wanted to post it. You can even get the kids involved. [...]

Always close the knife blade when done. Invariably it will fall, and fall point down, on your feet. As sharp as you keep them, this makes the repair work so much harder… that combined with having to hold an awkward position for so long to do the closure and bandaging…
Follow on Memo to Self: [...]

* “…then we’ll move to have those court records sealed.”
* “Well my last boyfriend was always able to… ”
* “Once we got the tires off we could see what was really going on with the brakes.”
* “Hey, stop by my office Friday afternoon. Oh, make sure to bring your ID and keys.” [...]

A small dust cloud jumped up over a far distant hill, working its way across the flat, open spaces between the mesas. As I drove across western Texas, I could see such anomalies for miles, see their progress, entertained by their life cycle of generation to extinction. Such a locus for attention helped to pass [...]

and a challenge to others:
Five Things You Won’t Hear Me Say
“May I see that in a floral pattern?”
“I agree with you completely, President Obama.”
“Delectable… such rich flavor… what did you say this was? Microwave Macaroni and Cheese? I MUST get some.”
“Your honor, I have learned my lesson and from now on will [...]