Israel......Hmmm...

Everyone knows about the fighting that is going on over in Israel. Hamas has been shooting rockets to just..well..inflict damage on they-don't-care-who, and Israel has had enough. I will be honest...I can't go back dozens of years in my head to see why Hamas would do all of this. But...Israel was made a nation. And ANY nation has the right and duty to protect itself and its people.

So...what do you think? Is Israel going too far? What would be the solution?

My 2 cents.

You are dealing with terrorists. They are organized. But they are terrorists that hide among civilians. They are the SCUM of the earth. They understand one thing. Death. They have no problem dishing it out. But when the pendulum of violence swings the other direction...usually with enough force to HOPEFULLY break the will of the other to fight...everyone freaks out. Collateral damage is awful. Children and women dieing is awful. But I fully believe that the Israeli army is not INTENTIONALLY targeting civilians! But...they are trying to be as precise as humanly possible. But...they bad guys are in the middle of them...and they are there on purpose. They can not stand and fight. So they hid behind women and children, and waive their fists when one of them is unfortunately hit.

Does that make sense. It is a little different for me now that I am on a different side of the line. I can see where Israel is coming from. And I bet it is very hard to be on the ground over there. I do pray that this can be resolved quickly. But I also pray that terrorists will be wiped from the face of the earth. All of them. But...I have a feeling I will not see that on this side of heaven.

What are your thoughts?

What goes up...gets on Dad

Well, I am back on here. My family and I just got back from a visit to Saint Louis and it was a great trip! It is home. It really is. As soon as the wheels hit the ground...we just felt it. Thanks to all of those that made the trip AMAZING!

It was amazing...and by amazing I mean...fun, tiring, restful..(kinda) and a good time to catch up.

The first day in town I had a little date with my nieces. It was a blast! That night we had a guys night and got together with a few friends. We talked...had some AMAZING beer (thanks Chubs) and had a great time.

Christmas eve was great. We went to church with my mom and I was in my Class "A" uniform. (Fancy green suit). It was fun to see alot of old friends. But...we went to STL with a boy that had a manageable cold. But on Christmas eve...it took a turn for the worst.

He woke up from his nap before we left with a fever around 102. But...we went anyway. He was UBER lethargic..but we gave him some meds and after the service he was back to normal. At about 3:15 Christmas morning I was in his room...laying next to him comforting him as he was upset. Didn't know why...but I was enjoying some cuddle time with my boy.

Till he started puking.

Yep...that poor boy wretched everything he ate that day all over his bed. Twice. THEN I took him to the bathroom....and he did it again.

He got a bath. We put the sheets in the washer...and I cleaned up the chunks.

Back to bed at 4. I was with him...to comfort him...he was really scared. We fell asleep. Heads together....on our backs looking at the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. At 4:30 he said..looking up, almost cheek to cheek with daddy..."Daddy...my froat hur..:dfjaue;n dfsadfkjshdlkfjh;dfa<>:{)(*"}{|:>?:>?^@#(^%*@$*@#^*&!!!!!!!!!!!" Yep...puked again...this time looking straight up....CHEEK TO FRIGGIN CHEEK with dad. And what goes up....comes down in your sons face and the "back blast" gets all over yours. And then your poor little boy sits up and looks at you like he just came out of a pool he was so soaked. WITH chunks in his eye lashes. GROSSSS!!!

He got another bath...we took the previous sheets out of the dryer...and put those on the bed. UGH...it was rough.

The poor kid was not himself until the last 3 days of our trip. It was a bummer. But other than that...it was fun!

Voting as a Soldier this year

So...I am a soldier. I am in the infantry. I love my job. And in your job weather it be in sales....admin....wherever, you want your boss to have "been there". So he or she knows what you are going through and can give you counsel, and in some cases empathize with what is going on.

So that brings us to tuesday. Election day. This blog has been quiet in general, but, there is a video on you tube by a soldier that tells EXACTYLY how I feel about "super Tuesday". And to put my spin on election day.....

It is simple for me. This time next year I will be in Iraq. And if Mccain is in office I feel that with his EXPERIENCE in the military, and in life, I will be safer. With Obama...I will not be as safe. He concedes too much to make people happy...I feel.

So...if you want me to be safe...Vote for Mccain! (Eheheheh) No seriously, vote for who you wish...you who feel would lead you better. But, if you wonder why a soldier is voting the way he is...that is why...and the video below also give some insight.

Yes, it really was the day that changed everything

7 years ago I woke up to go to work like any other morning. I remember my alarm going off at around 8..maybe a little before. It was on a country music station...but they were not playing Chesney...or Keith. It was a news brief....

I hit snooze.

Then it went off again. And I wondered what was going on. I went upstairs and turned the TV in my moms room on. I could not believe the pictures that I was seeing. I called my new fiance (Tiffany) and she was watching the same thing. We sat there talking about the ONE tower that had been hit. Then the other was hit. We were shocked. She went to school later that day...I went to work. But not before I watched 2000+ people die on TV. I audibly yelled NO when the towers fell. I knew that life would never be the same.

At the sprint store that day we played the news all day. We did not do much. Some people came it...and they were glued to the TV. Some wept right there in the store. I think that was how people were on the day pearl harbor was attacked.

That was the day that I feel the Lord put me on the path that leads me to where my family is today. I raised my right hand and enlisted in the Army infantry almost 5 years to the day later. I joined because I know that I have what it takes to lead men and bring them home. I feel that God has given me that gift. I needed to serve. To try to make a difference.

So here we are...almost 2 years later....and we feel that we have never been more in a right place than we are right now.

I dont know if I will jump into this fight yet...we will know soon. I do know that I am ready. I thank all of your for your support of me and my family during this time...and we appreciate all of your continuing prayers.

Jerm

Learned this in arabic....

So, Hassam is one of my teachers in Arabic. He is from Iraq, and used to work with the Army over there as a translator. Before the war he was a human rights activist and had at least 6 attempts on his life. He told us something in class I NEVER knew.

2 months before the war...Saddam knew we were going to come in. Just knew it. So...he let ALL of the prisoners out of jail. All of them(150,000). Murderers, thieves, you name it...they went back on the streets. And wouldn't you know it....all of the buildings that housed the records for said criminals were destroyed by "looting" during the early days of the war.

Interesting.....

Hassam was also saying that before, if you killed someone, or stole a car etc, that the local militias would deal with you in the manner they sought fit. But...with so many of those militias now fighting americans....and other sects...those that LOVED commiting those acts had someplace to go. Becuase there...they could kill, steal, etc...but this time it was in the name of God. So that made it ok.

Did any of you hear about that on the news? I don't remember it. I bet we were not counting on those extra 150,000 running loose on the streets when we went in. If we were...I think the timetable would have looked a bit differently.

Can't wait to do with C....

So...the other day I was doing something with Coop...and I had a thought. Man...I can't wait till he is old enough to see the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yes...I know...its weird. But, just to hear him ask questions...see the look in his eye as Aragorn takes up his sword and his rightful place. The wonder that is involved.

But, thats not all. I also want to see the look in his eyes when he catches his first fish on his own. Or hits a baseball into the outfield. Throws a spiral. Makes a basket.

Do you all know what I mean? I know that my parents read this from time to time...and they may remember some of that stuff with us kids. (And if they dont thats ok) So...here is a list (some silly of course) of what I am looking forward seeing him do... (and I will just stick with C now...I will write about the other kiddo when he/she comes to see us)
-Driving a car
-hitting a golf ball (uncle chub will help with this one)
-first date
-a sunrise
-getting a good grade in school
-looking at his wife
-looking at his child
-graduating college
-reading to us
-riding a bike
-pulling a 720 front-side flair tail whip on said bike in the X-games (lol....that would be sweet though)
-getting his first puppy
-learning to tie his shoes.....

So there are a few things...what about your son or daughter? What are some things that you look forward to??

Arabic- Doughnuts- T-shirts

Week one is done! UGH! Yep, I have finished my first week of Arabic language training. Yes, that sounds VERY military, but, that's what they call it. On the outside...it is a university level Arabic class, that when we are done at the end of 10 months, we will know more and be more fluent than that of a student taking 2 years at a university. Wow...we'll see.

It is H A R D ! Not easy. We have been taught the alphabet this week. Notice I said taught...not "we learned." I still am not super comfortable with the whole thing yet. I am better than on Monday, but...its rough.

So...just to let you know what I am dealing with. Arabic has 28 letters in the alphabet. They can EACH be written 4 different ways depending on where they are in a word. AND depending on what "modifying" character they have over the top...they can have 4 different sounds too!!!! HA! (it makes you want to suck start a shotgun)

Yea...so we have a limited vocabulary right now....they taught us about 20 words/phrases. Yep....I said taught.

We have 10 months of this. They will be going super in depth on the language, culture and HOW to translate. The nice part is they are really gearing all of this to how it will co-inside with Army operations. And as a "shooter", it is very imperative to my job to be able to communicate the the locals. In the end...it could save lives, mine, my buddies, or guys in another unit that I don't even know about. That part is pretty cool. And when you put that kind of spin on it, it makes studying a little easier.

So...it has been rough, but there are some up sides to this whole thing.
A-off every day at 4:30
B-NO FIELD PROBLEMS FOR THE NEXT 10 MONTHS! Nope...I will NEVER be away from the fam doing Army stuff for the next 10 months.
C-Will be home for sure for the next baby!
D-off every day at 4:30

So..there ya go for my update....on army stuff...

Coop woke Tiff and I up this morning. He came in and said he needed to go potty. When he was done he comes in and says "Hi daddy! Are you awake?" Yes I am bud. "How did you sweep?" Like a rock man! "Cool.....I swept wike a doughnut!" LOL...so stinking funny!!

Tiff is doing well with the new kiddo. At the awkward none of my cloths fit stage...but....shes hot.(not like temperature hot)

I love t-shirts....I found a site that is awesome...check this out.