VACATIONS OVER and other crap

Fresh back from seven great days and nights in Maine, and the toilet is open!!




In case you forgot how, here's a little reminder.



And something to ponder.

All joking aside we had probably the best stretch of weather that we have ever enjoyed at Hermit Island.
The days were crystal clear,

The sunsets were outstanding.

Couldn't have asked for better company.

And our adopted pet Mike liked it.


We called him Mike, because he liked everything we gave him to eat.
Here's a pic of Mike watching the cook preparing our breakfast.

Thanks to all who stopped bye and left messages while we were away.

Mic

Nigel

Ben

And Mark, who doesn't have a blog, or at least that he's admitting to yet, but shares a common bond of having a son in Iraq.
Who, by the way is home on leave.
I sure hope he enjoys every minute of it. He certainly deserves it.

Mark, if you read this, say thanks to Mark for his service to our country, and tell him that he's in my prayers daily.

I wish him the best of luck, and a safe completion to his deployment.

For a whole week, I got little to no news about Iraq. I'm thankful of that, because the only news I would have gotten would have been bad.
We had a email from Matt when we got home. It alluded to the fact that he is now a gunner on a Stryker. The news was that it was 130 degrees the other day, but where as the Stryker is air conditioned, half of him was cool. The other half was sticking out of the hatch, all sweaty and smelling of exhaust.
I don't think he was standing on his head!!

To be honest, I'd rather he was in the Stryker than a Humvee.

HOW TIME FLIES

Once again it's Tuesday and Tuesday is bitch night, so I've been trying to think of what I have to bitch about?
I could start about Matt being in Iraq, but bitchin about that isn't going to do any good.
Oh yeah. I should tell all you folks that stumbled into this toilet by entering "Military+Dad, or Military + Father, I am one. I know, it doesn't look like this blog is about a diary, but it is.
The things you often see here are my way of poking fun at things that trouble me, or that maybe I just find funny. My therapist insisted that I do something creative, he he, bet he never thought of this

If you go back to some of my earlier blogs, you will find some stuff about that.
My son Matt


is a member of the 2nd div 23rd inf reg,
, 4th Stryker brigade stationed at FOB Falcon.
He got his looks from his mom, and his attitude from dad.
I don't find it theraputic to dwell on it. I just do my best to busy myself daily with things that keep my mind off the situation.
Matt and some of his buddies, who have agreed to let me post pictures, and talk about them, like Keith, in the bacground,
And Michael, in the forground,

check in here from time to time, so if you would care to share your thoughts about the shitty mess they are in, or wish them well, by all means leave a comment.
One word of caution, this is no joking matter.
You are always welcome to speak your mind here, but when referring to these guys, do so in a manner that shows the respect that they deserve.
They stepped up and volunteered to serve their country.
They are over there doing what they have to do, and we are here doing what we want to do because of them and all the servicemen that went before them.
Regardless of your opinion of this war, they deserve our gratitude.

Anyone wishing to write them personally, email me and I'll tell you how they can be contacted.
Thanks guys.

Come home safe.

On another note, I'm thinking I might sign up again.

I never much liked the tank guys, they got to ride while we humped our 65 lbs of gear over hill and dale.
I might be coerced into reconsidering.
Yes, I stole this picture from, Keeskennis who probably stole it from someone else, who probably stole it from, well you know how that shit goes.
If you ever feel like restealing something from me, just