The Creed of the Specialist

No one gets away with more than I. I am a non Non-Commissioned Officer, a beast of burden. As a junior enlisted soldier I realize that I am a member of an under appreciated, much chastised group of soldiers which is known as the ribcage, or perhaps pancreas, of the Army.

I am proud of myself and my fellow Specialists and will continue to bitch, whine and sham until the absolute last second regardless of the mission at hand. I will use my grade and position to avoid responsibility, accountability and any sense of presence of mind.

Ignorance is my watchword. My two best excuses will always be on the tip of my tongue "I didn't know," and "It wasn't me." I will strive to remain invisible and unavailable for details. Never ever volunteer for anything is my rallying cry.

I am aware of my role as a SPC and if you need me for anything, I'll be on appointment. I know the other soldiers, and I will always refer to them by their first name or in some cases derogatory nickname. On weekends, or days off I will consistently drink myself into oblivion, and I will never answer my phone. I understand that for a person in my hierarchal position, rewards are going to be few and far between, and punishment will always be swift and severe.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, because I will be accomplishing them for them. I will kiss up to their face and badmouth them behind their back, just like everyone else. I will be loyal to those with home I serve, provided there's something in it for me. I am the last bastion of common sense that stands between me and the Army philosophy of "Work Harder, Not Smarter." My voice is a tool and my complaints are a weapon that I wield with unmatched skill and finesse. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget, Specialist is the greatest rank in the Army and rank has its privileges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQIizRp9ck

    ya it..I..m gone for a little over a month.. be back for four days and be gone for about the same amount of time.. so if im not responding to your messages or posts.. thats why.. cuz there is not internet in the field.. just dirt.. guns.. trucks and all that crap.. miss and love you all!! stay safe and stay strong! OXOXO L

    ya it's sunny!  when i came home on the 29th.. and that was the first time since we got back from Iraq back on Nov 10th or something that we saw sun here.. and now again today it's peek'n thru those clouds
    My "vacation" so to speak went way too fast.. although we have a four day weekend this coming weekend.. look'n forward to that. I went to the tattoo shop yesterday with a few people. gonna have to keep work'n on the layout for my sleeve.. so hard to do when u have a small arm..im' just focusing on the lower part.. my forearm at the moment. the upper part all needs touch up bad. i'll wait till summer on a good 4 day to do that. hard when your wear'n a uniform every day that will rub the hell out of 400 bucks worth of art work. prefer to not waste that kind of money till its good to go.
    Well most of my time home for the first week consisted of me running around getting stuff done for the wedding.. but i guess i'm just that good. if i can plan everything in about a months time without bein in the country and then a quick rehersal.. tada.. I know most people put into too much of that stuff that is never even noticed or payed attention to in these things so i did away with alot of that and kept it simple. but if anyone needs help plan'n a wedding just ask lol.. It was awesome of course! i have the best guy in the whole world! I love him soo much! i'm working on the processes of paper work to getting him over here.. and gett'n my name changed.
    Sorry but no crying i don't want to hear it.. if u did n't get to see me b/c u didn't want to show up to the dinner on the 22nd or make some sort of other plans before i came home for me to go thru on.. i'm already back in germany. and i'll be here or deployed .. lol i'm not coming back to the states for quite a while.. but with me gett'n housing anyone is welcome with just a little notice on com'n out to stay and visit.. i'm close to France and Luxembourg and Belguim for those that like to travel. My next trip on leave this summer will b Ireland with John for a late honeymoon.
    I rarely write in this thing.. mostly just to humor myself and spur the moment... or to let u all know whats goin on at least to keep u updated since this is my main way of commuinicating with the folks back in the states or around me.. phone is way too much.
    today is another day sitting on my ass for a bit.. started drawing again.. i go thru long streeks of not touching a pen.. also started reading flags of our fathers.. thanks iverson! but with this last week of work mainly consisted of just goin to a formation and hang'n picture frames and other bs jobs and then sitt'n around till the next one.. so the book comes in handy.. even tho i'm not into reading ..
    i hope everyones new years was good.. i was in luxembourg that weekend but we came back to baumholder for the new years and watched the townspeople set off fireworks in the streets outside the bars.. bout it.. lol.. just mon more paper work and back to work'n like a slave to the man. Propbably all tool and eq layouts and shit this week then onto fix'n all these trucks that don't have the capabilities of even mov'n from where they stand.
    If you know my younger brother Derek and want his address for where he is at boot camp just ask me.. he would love letters.. pray for him to i guess he's hav'n a bit of frustration and doubt on the whole thing.. or if you are writing him tell him to suck it up and move on..
    Had lovley PT test too when i came back.. oh how fun.. passed tho, have yet to fail one.. wait never!

    well i'm back home in germany i'm feed'n off of someones wireless rite now so i should be on here when i can do that every now and then..  i can't wait to come home and see everyone :) i miss u all.. things are good we all went out on my bday to hooters and vegas (strip joint) and went out the other night for jen's.. her's is the 17th.. MY WIFE! lol.. she knows it.. my lovely sweetmate.. i'm gona miss her when she leaves in the spring for ft. hood. we also have gone shop'n in hettleburg and Idar-Oberstien.. bein out to Keiserslaughten of course too for some fun... been out driv'n the benz she rented .. fun shit.. i have no idea except for sports scores and some major events of the states in the last year so it will be interesting to be back.. well in michigan anyway.. i have only been out of the states since may when i left ft. jackson.. u have no idea how good it is to be back here.. even better when i get to go home for those two weeks.. so much to do in little time.. let me know what u all want to do and be sure to drop your number for me if u don't htink i have it or it has changed my cell here is 01711119923 (dial 049 or 49 for the country code if u do) call after one pm your time in the states during the week and weekends wake my ass up ..call anytime.. i will have a phone line in the room soon too so i will call then when i only have to pay a few cents a min :) i really need to go to the gym.. might do that tomorrow.. otherwise i don't know whats goin on tonite yet.,.  much luvs to u all.. talk to u soon

hey well we are just about out of this place.. few more days.. fly to kuwait there for a few hours to a day not sure yet depends on what flights change on us and shit.. the the big sliver bird will fly our asses home to our own beds and a fridge full of beer... i can't wait.. but then again i can things are goin to be crazy as hell..

i won't be on here very often after i get back due to internet access for a bit.. but i will update i all when i can i guess but i'll be home dec 12-28 and don't forget to go to my other blog for DEC 22 if u can come to dinner at the RIO GRANDE..  so terri can make her reservations..

take care till then.. much luvs L

THE first Bulletin i posted was for Logans but they don't take reservations so

WE will be at: the RIO GRANDE on 44th in Grandville between byron center and burlingame @7pm

we will probably be goin somewhere for drinks.. maybe mojo's since that place is one of my favorites or the bob.. or mulligans it'll be a vote or we can walk all over downtown they are all close minus that little irish smoked out pub! but yesterdog rocks for after the bar hop'n meets it's end.. they are open till like 2 or 3 lol..

ALSO! please let myeslf know or Madrox's Twiztid Bytch (or just post bellow..) ASAP if u are still or are able to come out that date.. THANK U AGAIN! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE U ALL SOON!!  IF u don't mind post'n your phone number so i have it for sure when i'm home to call u please do as well !!much luvs L

well i bought my ticket.. i'll be fly'n into detroit on the 12th as long as all my stuff goes thru with the etickets.. i'll come back to germany on the 28th..
we have like 20 some more days left here in Baghdad.. we should get the next unit in here to train them soon hopefully.. leave go back to Baumholder.. and i should have a two 4 day weekends.. A DAY OFF.. havn't had one since july.. no i'm not kidding either.. so shut the fuck up on your weekends off and how much your life sucks ..eat some sand mother fucker! for that matter i don't remember when the last time i had an actual full meal on my plate that i ate.. i eat this and that here and there.. the food sucks ass.. and it's the same thing that is the big problem.. it's worse than the lunch food in school ok.. the defac is alright but with us adn work we get it send to us.. so it's in mermikes.. bleh.. oh well.. i'll live off cereal and fruit and something here and there like i have.. i finished off all my golffish crackers my dad sent and along with the can'd fruit.. now on with granola bars and cereal lol! good stuff tho.. other than that.. we got hit with some rounds a couple days ago.. one went thru the cell block.. about 8 or so bounced off the pavement infront of the main gate. actually today was a little more fun.. we had some really close sounding feild art. goin off.. (it shakes the building and the glass.. ) you know what fire works sound like gett'n set off... imagine bein closer.. so ya we had a good 5 or so go off in about 6 min what not.. so we called to see what it was... the AHA (ammo holding area) i guess got hit by some indirect fire and it caught on fire! so all this ammo/feild art was gettin blown up all over the place.. LOL.. well thats not cool but in a way it's funny.. so we had that go on for about an hour before we didn't have anything goin off.. it was about 12 miles away. one or two did go over our wire line tho.. the other side of the buildings windows shock when they hit.. thats how we know.. but anyways.. enough of the boring crap we deal with here..
The 14th is a no go for plans that is girls time with my mom and aunt and grandma and later to the bob or something for dinner then to mojo's for some duel'n pianos..  also sat the 16th and 17th i'll be in Detroit probably and afternoon back on the 17th for a possibly watson christmas party if my dad takes that date and has it at his house this year... 21st in the evenin i'm tak'n a no go to for John's bday.. unless he doesn't work then the whole day.. the 22nd.. Terri is plan'n on gett'n people together (U ROCK GIRL!!) for friends to get together for dinner and bar afterwards.. but i'm open for lunches and shit and doin things.. if there is snow i'm so up for goin boarding! BTW it was like 200 bucks cheeper to fly to detroit and have dad pick me up so.. sorry if u wanted to meet me at the airport.. i'm also gonna stay there for dinner and get a few places for shop'n tak'n care off  quick too.. so the 13th hit me up .. lol.. i go back home on the 28th.. and i won't be back for a year or more.. we redeploy to Iraq i think jan 08 and i am tak'n time in the summer off to go to ireland for a vacation.. but i should get leave time while in iraq or where ever we get sent to... always chang'n.. maybe we won't have to go by then.. righhhhht.. so ya i'll come home then too.. and hey that leave i get i dont haev to pay for the ticket to come home.. even better.. but a few months when i get back from deployment i'mdone with the army.. and i will be home.. far away as it is.. it will come..
i miss u all.. i just sleep.. eat a little.. work out..  and go to work here that is it.. b/c there is nothing else to do and when u can sleep u do it.. makes the time go by soo much faster.. i got some pics too when i went to a palace here.. Mike was happy to take a shit on the toliets in there too.. lol.. i'll add some pics up too of us and the place.. well almost time for bed.. catch me on line /im.. TP!! let me know when u want my couch! FUCK YO COUCH!!..

    or is it just that i never really relize what day it is till i look at my little alarm clock and see that it;s wed when it still feels like mon.. 3rd shift helps i guess too..
work goes by alot fast too.. now that we are used to the schedule for the most part and less stress has been a good factor as well.... as long as the days just fly by i'm cool with that.. we have like 2 more months out here.. so thats like 3 months and ill hopefully be back in michigan for a short week or so.. then back to germany.
i wish i had brought my art work that i was work'n of for my sleeve if i had known i'd actually have some time to sit and draw at work... but u think hey not as a mechanic.. but now i have about 3 hours of my shift that i can sit and just do cell checks and make coffee.. and draw.. lol oh well.. but ya then i could at least get a few things done up for my arm to get a good idea what i'm settling for.. gonna try and get a session .. two if i'm lucky  before i leave with ollie back in baumholder.. i'd hate to be home and have fresh ink.. cuz if there is snow i want to go boarding at least once while i'm home.. might bring it back with me.. :) I think that is the only thing i would do if i went to france.. maybe an art museum..
i'm goin to save up for a trip for at least 5 days to ireland next summer too since the following summer i should be somewhere around here again.. lol
nothin great and fabulous for the rest of the week... the mail room got moved AGAIN.. over to the cp by the motorpool.. so at 4 while i'm usually still sleeping i have to get up and walk about a mile to get it.. i'm still waiting on my VW performance book.. i got my bently manual in.. so i'll read more of that later after i finish my jenna jameson book..
i got some cd's in from my dad too so i'm enjoying those now that i finally got them.. the new demon hunter and stavesacre.. and as ilay dying are awesome.. well i'm gonna get to reading and then bed..  OXOX