fall

It is strange how sun-drenched photos from 9 months ago will make you tear the fuck up and wish you were far back in the past.
Maybe in a short time from now, in a land far away, I will find my skin warmed by the sun beating down over Cardinal Hill, or the Lake (PA or Disser style) or some island banana farm populated by friends of the past,
When that happens I will fear no more, because I am in Elysium.

I Could While Away The Hours

It has been six months since the last time I rested my head in Virginia and I must say June can not come soon enough.
And as the last time I returned home there will be so much to do and so little time to do it.
I have Liz's wedding and spending time with all of my extended family, VI and CH and DC and Evan's Porch and DRod's Going Away Party and all manner of other Northern VA things.
However this time I think I can contain my eagerness to return better than before. Its not that I don't miss home as much, or that I like El Paso any better than before, (I can barely stand it these days) I just think that I am learning how to move on and live my life one day at a time.
That being said: Get Fucking Ready, because when I get back its Game On

Nicknames: The King of Scouts; He-who-sees-in-the-dark; Fred

Is there any more adventure in the world? I mean honest to goodness fucking adventure. It seems to me there is not. I joined the Army during a time of war to look for some, and all I've found is disenchantment and all I've done is further my burgeoning drinking problem. (This may be a bit harsh but I don't care.)
I read articles and histories and see men and women described as "adventurers" and "world travelers" as if that were a job description. I read their bio's and wonder how such things were ever possible in this world. I mean these people strike out on their own before they're fucking old enough to shave. Imagine watching your family killed when you're 8, at 11 years old making your own way in the world, becoming an Indian Scout at 14, getting married to an outlaw and having a kid at 16.
Shit like that was commonplace in these people's lives. When I was 8 my Alamo was refusing to learn Cursive. (Which I am embarrassed/proud to say I still cannot read or write.)
When I was 14 all I wanted out of life was to touch a booby and my biggest worry wasn't getting scalped, it was asking a girl out. These people had killed a man with their bare hands around the same time I raiding Ralph and Karen's fridge for Wine Coolers.
And while I am jealous of these long dead G's I take solace in the fact that they never played Wizard Staff. They never speed down 81 doing 90 mph in the Green Monster with the windows down and The Who blasting. That kind of shit I would not trade for anything.
What I want is to combine the two. I want adventure and danger and infamy, but I also want Beer Pong, Facebook and personal hygiene.
Is there a space for a modern day adventurer? Or has the West been Won, the Last Frontier tamed and all the blank places on the map been filled in?

202 Times

I will not spear other soldiers.
Why you ask? Well because today I threw a metal spear/javelin dealio at Chandler. It was awesome/funny and he wasn't hurt because we were wearing our body armor. However, at the moment I released my spear my Commanding Officer (who is a Captain) came around the corner.
I got a new asshole torn, so did Chandler, so did my Sgt. Now I am writting 'I will not spear other soldiers.' 200 times.
Lessons Learned:
Do not throw spears.
Do not yell when throwing spears.
Do not damage body armor.
How body armor works and why it is 'fragile'.
Think before you act.
and most importantly:
Look around before you act to see who may be watching.

I Am Sober

I've been thinking a lot. I always think a lot, but today I thought more than I usually do for a Saturday because I didn't get drunk today. Drinking helps with the thinking, so does work sometimes, and sex, and television and books and all manner of things. It dulls the edges of the thoughts and makes them manageable. But today I didn't mind. I rocked a Shower Power Hour for over an hour, which was relaxing to say the least and the whole time I was thinking.
When I come home again it will be June. CH will be open. I have not been to the Hill in so long it makes me very sad to think about it. August '07 was the last time I was there.
Reminds me of the last time I saw someone. It wasn't as long ago as '07, more like January '08. That was the last time I saw them, and the last time we talked. Its been over a year and I still remember what was said. A lot has changed since then. I would like to think maybe I've become a little bit more grown up, and maybe they have too. I doubt it matters though, we're still the same people. They did what I knew they would do, and instead of doing what I always did I just let it be. And I don't know how they feel about everything now, but I know that I miss being friends with them. So when I come home I'll do what I should have done a year ago.