Nationals Game With Big Sis

I took Big Sis to her first MLB game last week!

The new Nationals stadium is amazing.

The Washington Monument is the pointy thing in the middle of the picture.

We had to bring 02 due to how high our seats were from the field.

Yep! We were really high up.

The Nats lost to the Brewers, which is very sad. Yet, we got to watch Tim Redding, a kid from Rochester, pitch for the Nats. He blew it in the 6th.

But it was a great day to hang out with my favorite 5 year old.

Guess Who I Saw?

General Petraeus stopped by at my new gig today. Pretty cool perk, eh?

Memorial Day Thoughts

Code of Conduct

Article one

I am an American fighting with the forces that guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

There is a thin veneer between veterans and those remembered on Memorial Day. Every G.I sacrifices. What we sacrifice is certainly not our choice. As a consequence of good fortune, and by unknown sources that gave me interesting ASVAB and AFOQT scores, I’m thankful that my sacrifices have been small. I’ve given a lot of time away and missed plenty of things. I’ve endued hardships and placed a heavy burden on loved ones. But I’m still a very fortunate man.

It hurts to know that many, who were just like me, had to sacrifice everything. My abundance is due to a few degrees difference in the trajectory of my service. When I reflect on all of the things that I have helped bring into existence, it fills me with pain to know that others were unable to see there dreams unfold. How many weddings were missed? How many beautiful children were not born? How much joy has been sacrificed?

Memorial Day

There is something terribly wrong about Memorial Day. There is something terribly perverse about how our culture steers us away from pain whenever we have the choice to face it. Why do we allow things like Memorial Day car sales? It is obscene to use a day of remembrance in such a manner.

Why do we always have to be consumers, man? What a slap in the face to those who have lost someone. Memorial Day should feel personal to all of us. Where is collective remembrance and grief in American culture? Would we allow Your Grandmother is Dead Discount Day !!??

Saying Goodbye

For reasons that I cannot even mention, I cannot blog about my work. I have experienced so many amazing things at my last job! All I can say is that I will really miss the people that I used to work with. That is a sucky, yet honest, tribute.

Well, here is a cryptic one that I am sure they will be able to decipher:


Incantation (1)

The Shadow is a Snake,
Living under the Sand,
And seared by the Sun.

The Sun burns the Sand,
The Snake slithers out,
And follows the Shadow.

The Sand absorbs the Sun,
The Snake bares its fangs,
Then it covers the Shadow.

The Shadow and the Snake,
The Sand and the desert Sun,
One for all, all for one.

Elmer Romulo Valdez

The fourth most important issue facing this country!

Has anyone noted the significant increase in the price of beer?? After identifying one of the sources of my migraines (red wine), I cried, mourned, and was planning on moving on. I turned away from my tannin saturated love towards her bitter step-sister, and was ready to make my move. But the prices of the good beers are getting crazy! The problem is I only like the good stuff. Damn my good taste! Why can't I just enjoy Milwaukee's Best? Oh, this recession is going to be Hell! Grapes of wrath; indeed.

I'm Back

The last two weeks have been so flipping busy. I was on orders the week before last, and then spent this entire week trying to catch up as a result of serving. Bright side: Two and a half more years until I retire from the Guard!

Plus!!!! I found this little jewel: http://www.epicrecords.com/judaspriest/

I ordered the dee-lux box set and will be getting a free poster! Supplies are limited. So you better hurry...or you can stop by the house in a month or so and see mine. It will be hanging gloriously on full display in our living room!