Beth's Contradictory Brain

Reunited and it feels so good

I'd have to say this has been one of the best weeks ever. I think it's perfectly normal when a loved one is gone for so long, like happens with the military, this little worry creeps in that it's going to be hard to readjust to them being home, both for them and for you. Fortunately, we had no such problems. It was just like Nerdstar hadn't been gone at all.

Normally in a year long deployment, the two week leave happens closer to the six month point. For the brigade she's with, that just wasn't possible. So, once she gets back to Iraq she's still got about eight months left over there. But I think it's been good for her to be home at this time. We both have a much better feel for what the other is going thru while she's gone. And being apart and going thru this homecoming and having it go so well helps be more confident for the future.

We're up at my parents' house for a couple of days. Zachary is so happy to see her!

We're still not sure how next week will go. Her family is just being so amazingly difficult. And there's no easy answer. No matter what she does they won't be totally happy with her. It's tempting to say screw it and just go to Vegas, but that's just not really an option.

Good evening

We took it easy today, as we had done since this past Sunday, and it's just great for us, especially for me!

We went to Pappadeux's for lunch, and it was during business lunch time, so there were lots of men and women dressed in business suits and looking somewhat serious. Looking at them while waiting for seating, I thought about how weird, maybe even diffucult it would be for me to just jump back into the real world, doing real work. I haven't really thought way too much about what life would be like after I'd come back from Iraq. I just wanted to make it back safe and in one piece, but if you wanted to know what idea I was tinkering with, I'd like to goto occupational therapy school.

I also found out that, despite of all the bad luck that we've had since we started to live in Austin, I am still pretty "cool" about staying here as a resident, I just don't want to work in this city.

We purchased a iPod mini today, and so far, we've downloaded about 7 hours of songs on it already! I don't need to fuss with all those CDs anymore!...well, at least until the thing dies.

Saw "50 First Dates" at Alamo Drafthouse, it's a pretty neat place where you can order stuff to eat while watching a movie. They're pretty eclectic in their movie selections. I'm not the biggest Adam Sandler or Drew Barrymore fan, but since I'm a tacky person, I like any movies with 80's music as soundtraks! I won't spill any details of the movie, but I will say that sometimes, having a little bit of amnesia can be a good thing! One of our friends came with us, and it was a good evening.

Beth has been so very great with me, and have been more understanding than wifely possible, after almost 5 years together, I can't imagine being without her and the kids!

She tolerates my shortcomings and my tacky movie and musical taste, just for that, I couldn't ask for anyone better!

Not Done Yet

Even getting a massage today, as relaxing as that is, hasn't managed to totally eliminate my anger.

Many people have written and said that the president has so many more pressing issues, wtf is he doing making a point of opposing gay marriage in such an extreme manner. But more than that, when over 6000 people take the time and effort to stand in long lines in cold, rainy weather to get married, to affirm their relationship, to try to achieve some sense of normalcy and your reaction as president - and a president who's sold himself as a nice, compassionate man - is to say to those people you are a threat to this country that must be stopped in the most severe way possible. Every measure must be taken to make sure that not only are those weddings invalid, any future such marriage must be completely prevented in the strongest of terms.

THAT is just mean and wrong. I can't imagine holding myself up as a defender of freedom and liberty and the champion of oppressed people and then using all of my power as president to try to oppress people different than me. Evil is a strong word, and one President Bush likes to use, and I'm very close to saying he is an evil man. At best he is thoughtless and cruel if he is unaware at this late date the affects of his words on every gay person in this country, much less those who work for him.

And that's my other point. My Nerdstar is now employed by a man who openly seeks to marginalize her, discriminate against her. And she has no recourse. I wish every gay and lesbian soldier and government employee could stand up to their boss/commander in chief and say I refurse to work for you.

If you've read this site for any amount of time you know I have supported Bush and the military, thinking our efforts in Iraq and the world are worth the sacrifices made. Now I'm just pissed.

Loving all things funny and sometimes stupid

Hi again! I just wanted to say this week has been great in my exposure to bad movies and shows on cable tv ("Joe's Apt.", "E-True Hollywood Story","Crank Yankers", just a few examples.), and I also got a few DVD with titles such as "Good Times-the first season", and a few Spongebob Squarepants DVDs. I also have been flooding Beth with lots of non-sequiturs, even though I know that as we prepare to goto our perspective families, there will be lots and lots of stress.
Humor is what is missing amongst the general body of soldiers in Iraq. I think it's one of the most important components of survival, whether or not you are a deployed soldier. Over where I am at, there are so much dramas and rumors about and between people, the frustration is more poignant when you add on the ban on sex, drinking, and the most important of all, free speech. (Some people say that the ban on sex is the worst of all, but I think some viewings of badly produced porn may just be the cure for that, but that's just what I think.)
I think it'll be interesting to see what becomes of this ban on everything, I, for one, will go back prepared. I have prepared a whole collection of funny movies and books to keep me connected to all things funny and sometimes stupid. Having Beth with me also relaxes me, and reminds me that what's out there is simply a badly constructed social experiment,and that there will be a end to it.

Pissed!

It's 11 p.m. and we're settled in after a good day of lovely facials, good food with a good friend, browsing at a bookstore, and now channel surfing.

In reading the blogosphere's reaction to Bush's stupid ass statements today I'm more sad than ever. It's not the reaction of the bloggers on my blogroll that bothers me, it's some of the fuckhead comments on their sites.

This is going to be a long ugly battle over gay marriage. Even if the ammendment process starts this year it could take several years to go thru congress and all fifty states. And I'm already tired of it. Did the civil rights era in this country teach us nothing? If equal doesn't mean equal in America, where the fuck in the world can it?

I don't use the word hypocrite much. Today Bush became the biggest hypocrite I can think of. How many speeches has he given about bringing freedom to Iraq and other parts of the world? Yet today, he clearly stated his desire and intent to deny basic freedoms to a minority population here.

As I've written before, my Nerdstar is one of the soldiers Bush is supposedly so supportive of, yet today he totally fucked us over.

I haven't changed my mind about voting for a democrat, but I sure as hell changed my mind today about voting for Bush, I won't do it. I will simply go to the polls on election day and write in NONE OF THE ABOVE! None of them have the balls to stand up for me and my Nerdstar, so none of them will get my vote.

I never thought I would or could become a gay rights activist. I am all about live and let live. Today it more clearly than ever became personal. I refuse to be classified as a second class citizen.

Going Girly

Today it's a haircut for Nerdstar and facials for us both. Neither of us have ever had one, so this will be cool. Then tomorrow we're both getting hour long massages :-) Life is good! We're just not going to mention the few pounds I'll probably gain this week from all the good food.

Damn Pandering

I caught a brief news blurb about Bush's newest attacks - and at this point it really has become an attack - on gays this morning. It deeply disappoints me, mostly because as I have said before, it is simply him pandering to the most extreme in the Republican party, which I don't believe is the majority. The ammendment will never pass, everyone knows this, so that makes his statements supporting it even worse. For there is no real gain to be made, just political posturing of the worst sort.

Andrew's reaction is stated much clearer, and probably stronger than mine, go read!!

Very Nice!

It's so nice having my Nerdstar home!! It's great to not have to worry about her and how she's doing and if she's safe, to not have to wonder when I get to hear from her again. My mind can finally relax.

This week is all about food and sex and sleep. We'll hit all our favorite restaurants, do some shopping, maybe catch a movie, mostly relax.

Next week is all about family. Saturday we'll head up to Dallas to spend a couple of days with my family. Then Monday we drive to Houston to see her family. I think we've worked out the time with her family. Her uncle had requested that I not stay the nights at her grandparents' house. I would just send her down there by herself if it was only for a couple of days, but they really want her there as long as possible. I told her I couldn't give up that many nights of snuggling when it's going to be so very long until we see each other again. So we're going to get a hotel room and she's going to spend the days with her family and I get her at night. I'll probably spend one day with her and her family, but that'll be about it.

Yes, it's all kinda crazy. I try to be understanding about how her family feels. But it's always hard to have your relationship so disregarded. Poor Nerdstar always feels caught in the middle, and I hate that. But, this two weeks is all about my girl being happy, so whatever that takes I'll do.

It's good to be back!

Hi everyone! Almost fresh off of the plane from New York! After so many change of planes I am finally back on good ole US soil! It is so nice to finally take a shower, eat pizza, pet the pets, and you know...snack!! :-) It has been really cold from my stop in Athens and on, like this global freeze sort of thing!
I plan to take it easy for a few days, just concentrating on the Mrs. and the kids, and then deal with my genetic family, I look forward to seeing everyone! Not to mention some of the shopping that I will do for my fellow troopers (There's really not that many).
By the way, did I tell you how good it is not to be in my grungy, making everyone look sexless uniform?
Thanks for all the support, online or otherwise, so far! I am not going to think about my return to Iraq for as long as I can....all I can say is that how about we send Bush/Cheney back to Iraq instead of me? I'd like to see how long they'd last!
Ramen is giving me that "I need attention" stare, I must tend to him now! Later!

Waiting and More Waiting

Damn, could this day be any longer?? I didn't sleep well last night in spite of taking tylenol pm to do just that. I tossed and turned all night. Which also means I didn't burn a few hours of waiting by sleeping late this morning.

I dropped Ramen off for a bath so he won't smell like a wet dog when Nerdstar hugs on him. Then I had a short meeting for my SXSW volunteer stuff. Throw in lunch and I think I killed maybe two and a half hours. Showtime is running a Soul Food marathon which is holding about 40% of my attention.

At least I haven't obessively watched the news all day making sure there weren't any plane crashes.

And to make it all worse, instead of having a happy anticipatory brian, I've got a neurotic dickhead brain that keeps running thru ideas of all the ways the next two weeks can go badly. (Most of those have to do with dealing with her family, which I don't really want to go into yet.)

UGH! Abby asked what first - I have a feeling a shower will be the first order of things. When I talked to her on the phone last, she hadn't showered two days. Then probably food. Then, well... I'll let you know :-)

Coming Home

Kuwait to Athens
Athens to New York
New York to Atlanta
Atlanta to Austin

If all goes well, she'll be here at 10 pm tomorrow!!!

Whew!

Nerdstar finally made it to Kuwait! I got the only acceptable kind of wake up call at 6 this morning, her telling me she's that much closer to home. She still doesn't have a set itenarary, but we do know that they're going to fly her all the way to Austin instead of just to Dallas, that's a good thing! But it could be 12 or 24 or 36 hours before she flies out of Kuwait.

I think since I'm up so early it's time for some Krispy Kremes!

Bleh

This is when being a military wife sucks. I haven't heard from Nerdstar since that email I posted parts of yesterday, about 36 hours or so ago. I'm not even sure where she is. I don't know if she was going straight from Mosul to Kuwait or going thru Baghdad. She said she'd call once she got to Kuwait. But I've also read the line to use the phones in Kuwait can take up to four hours.

Traveling is one of the most dangerous things soldiers can do over there. And while I'm not terribly worried, it's not all sunshine and light in my head. I won't really stop worrying until she's in my line of sight. And right now I don't know when that will be.

It's odd, the closer she's getting to home, the more worried I get.

Making It Personal

I was fairly certain at least one of the women writers on Dykewrite would make their way to SF and get married, I'm happy to read one did. Here is her story.

It still pisses me off to no end that her and her wife's relationship is deemed in any way "less" than any straight marriage out there.

Love It

Even if it's totally irrelevant to my life (and hopefully always will be) the song Don't Want You Back by Eamon cracks me up!!

And I'm going to believe that the video for I Believe by The Darkness is pure brilliance.

YIKES! Nerdstar Update

I am at the airfield now, thankfully, there is a internet cafe across the street. While we are holding for the plane to take us to Kuwait, we'll be staying in the lovely tent!

I am not suprised that there was a long wait for phones in Kuwait, but hopefully, I will be in luck when I get there.

Last night, a mortar round exploded about 30 feet in front of me, I was standing with my 1st. sgt., and it was loud! I sort of froze there and then collected whatever senses that I had and ran to get my combat gear on. For as many times as they have been trying to shoot us, I am glad that most of them shoot terribly!

I can't wait to get back to you too! I was telling my roomate, "guess what? I am going to have some sex"! throughout the evening.

For Abby

This is why I talk to strangers. You just never know who they'll turn out to be - not in a "they might be famous" sort of way, but in a "hey it was really really nice meeting you" kind of way. And even if they're not particularly "nice" to meet, well, then at least they'll be more interesting than listening to myself think a minute longer.

Very Nice!

There's not much that beats getting really good mail. I came home tonight to a letter from Nerdstar and some pictures she has taken over there! She's so cute!!!

Then, one of my dear readers sent Nerdstar and I the South Park movie on dvd. Thank you so very much! I had ordered her the first and second season dvds to take back with her after this two week break and now she'll have the movie, too!

It's good to be back home even if all I can see when I look around is all the cleaning I need to do before Nerdstar's plane lands in Dallas.

Brain Break

Sorry for the light posting. I've been up at my parents' house since Saturday taking a short vacation from my brain and from staring at the same walls all the time. (yummy, my Mom makes the best french toast and I can smell it cooking now.) Saturday night my brother and I drove over to Shreveport to go gambling. No luck. I decided Nerdstar must be my good luck charm! It's definitely more fun with her around. I've spent the rest of the time hanging out with little Zachary. Nothing like a little boy to get you out of your head!

I brought season 1 of Buffy dvds for my mom to watch. Last night Zach couldn't sleep so he got up and was watching them with us. It was the episode where Buffy tries out for cheerleader. Zach looked at the tv, say the cheerleaders and said "Wow!" Heh!

Nerdstar is about to start her four or more day trek from Iraq to Dallas. I can't wait to see her!! I've got some house cleaning to do before then though!

Ok, time for french toast...

Just Wondering

Do more people have sex on Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve?

Don't be shy - tell me your best holiday sex story - birthdays and anniversaries count. You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Damn!! We have the most beautiful big fat white snowflakes I've seen in my 8 years in Austin and my stupid digitial camera won't upload the pics!! GGrrrrrr.

Yes, it really is almost 3 am. Because if I wait until morning it'll probably all be melted already! (The high tomorrow is supposed to be 51.)

I took Ramen out to run around in it. I think he was just happy to not be indoors. Some neighbors a couple of duplexs over were outside with their dog, too. Kinda surreal to be outside at 2 a.m. in the pouring SNOW in Austin. I love it!

I know, I know. Most of you are sick to death of snow and winter, indulge me.

Not the same

I'm pretty much tuned out to the whole Valentine's Day stuff. I sent Nerdstar's gift box about three weeks ago and she got it a week early. Which is better than a week late! V Day is the first of four big days in Feb. March and April. Both of our birthdays are in March and then our anniversary is in April. Those are the three days I'll miss her the most! Because our birthdays are two days apart we try to do something really fun. Vegas for your birthday ain't bad! And this is our five year anniversary so it would have been nice to be together.

All I can say is that next year - watch out!

Hitting bottom is not a weekend retreat

On what could end up being the coldest day this winter here in Austin, I finally got around to watching Fight Club again. I haven't watched it since it was first released on dvd. While you can never watch it with virgin eyes again, it's brilliance is more evident with every watching. And I guess I'm surprised that I still enjoy it so much after 9/11.

In the time since I last watched it I've also read several other books by Chuck Palahniuk, so his voice was much clearer this watching. Sometimes reading his books is a lot like watching multiple car wrecks, you want to shield your eyes but you can't look away. Oddly enough, his books are right next to my David Sedaris collection on my book shelves. Can you imagine if those two ever collaborated?

What was so cool about Fight Club was that it came out at a time in my life I was going thru a very minor version of some of the same realizations when it came to personal finances and other general obligations. My mantra became "I am not obligated to anyone for anything". I had spent so many years being so damn nice and decided it was time to be selfish. Naturally I loved the way the movie was so completely radical. I can only hope I never get to old and settled to not appreciate those ideas.

This and That

For the second week in a row, Donald Trump fired the nice person who didn't take up for themselves over the lunatic meanies. Huh. I would have been one of the people fired. I find it very hard to defend myself sometimes, usually thinking it's a waste of time to try to change someone's mind. I'm afraid of "protesting too much."

How sad. Barbie breaks up with Ken. Everyone assumes Ken will be spotted out and about with his boyfriend soon.

I think three strikes you're out should apply with the Massachusetts' legislature.

Reality vs Theory

I've written enough about gay marriage as a political issue, but haven't really written about it personally. Would Nerdstar and I get married if we could? I know there are gay couples out there who don't want to get married even if it becomes legal.

We bought each other wedding bands the first year we were together. We were going to Vegas and I knew she was going to surprise me with a ring. (I'm hard to surprise!) I thought at least one of us should be surprised so I bought her a ring.

We've talked about getting married in the abstract because we never thought it would be an option. Mostly we joke around about just wanting a big bar-b-q and the gifts.

The following exerpts from our IM today give you a rather intimate look at our thoughts on this, and into our relationship. Nerdstar approved me posting this.

Survey

For my lesbian readers... There are two surveys at this link. One is for lesbians in a relationship six months or longer. I took this one, it is rather long, but that's good because it seems rather thorough. The other one is on gender issues and I haven't done it yet.

The British Version

How the civil union/gay marriage debate is looking in England - this story in the Guardian is interesting. The links to more stories on the left side are great, too. (via Neil Gaiman's journal)

Whirlwind

Ace has several good posts about her thoughts on this whole gay marriage whirlwind that seems to be gathering. You can start with this entry and scroll down for more.

There's just so much I don't understand about all the legalities and possible legalities of what's going on. The most basic idea that I can't ever seem to wrap my head around the idea that Nerdstar and I are so fundamentally different from straight people that we must be a danger to society and must not be allowed to marry one another. Fuck that. In a country that's all about equality and civil rights I simply cannot fathom such a basic right being denied to a group of people. That's not to say I'm not familiar with the assinine arguments against gay marriage or why people spout them. I'm saying from a legal perspective, this type of discrimination in this day and age really is beyond me.

I know many people feel going thru the courts to achieve the right of gays to marry is the wrong way to go about it. I'm not sure I see an alternative. Unfortunately, I think it's going to be a long messy road.

Anyway, go read Ace!

Repeat

Have you ever woken up from a dream and thought, huh, I've had that dream before? Weird. No, it wasn't a memorable dream, nothing special, just a repeat.

Rain and Comics

Running errands in the pouring rain isn't all that fun, but stopping by the comic book store can change that. I thought 1602 #7 would be out today, but it's not in the store until tomorrow. Fortunately/unfortunately, I found two other four book series that are pretty cool.

My Faith in Frankie is funny. This poor little god leaves his hometown and finds a baby who believes in him. He is her own personal god while she's growing up, then the problems start when she is a teenager and wants to find a boyfriend and her god gets jealous. It's really cute (which is a terrible word I know). When Frankie ends up making out with this guy in his car, Jeriven (her god) sends a bunch of rabbits and the guy freaks out and takes her home. She gets pissed at Jeriven and calls him to show up. He brings her a baby rabbit as a peace offering. Frankie tels him: "That fucking rabbit comes near me, his name is gonna be stu." "You really need to watch your langauge. I told you, he's a baby." "He's a rabbit, Jeriven. Fucking was the only word in that sentence he understood." That cracked me up.

The other series is Thessaly: Witch for Hire. Thessaly was a character in the Sandman series. I like the way the story is narrated over all the action. And the guy in this one is smarmy as hell. It was a good read.

Rain Rain Go Away

It's raining again. Ramen doesn't seem to understand me when I tell him that while the lightening and thunder won't kill him, I might if he wakes me up in the middle of the night again!

More fun

This video clip is pretty damn funny. I'm assuming no one got hurt.

(via Andrew Sullivan - who, by the way, looks awfully cute in his cowboy hat!)

279

My Nerdstar has been gone from home 279 days, 87 of those she's been in Iraq.

I guess I try not to pay too much attention to every single day. Especially being unemployed and having to find ways to fill up all the time, it's all really bluring together. My wacked out sleeping schedule just makes it all worse. I swear 2:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. have become interchangeable in terms of what I'm doing at either one. Each can find me watching tv, surfing the internet or sleeping, it's all the same. I'm not saying this is a good thing, I'm just saying that's how it is for the time being.

I was going to go up to Dallas and spend a few days with my family, hang out with little Zachary this week, but my brother called and since the following Monday is our Mom's birthday, it's better if I wait a week. Now I'm at the start of another six days and nights to fill up.

A bright spot on the horizon is that Nerdstar's two weeks of leave during this year deployment are probably going to happen pretty soon. She has a very tentative travel date of Feb. 20th. Two weeks from now. It's a bit early in the year deployment, but I don't care. Of course, nothing is absolute with the military until she's actually on the plane!

The other night while lying in bed and missing my girl I decided that telepathy would be a great thing. Ok, not uncontrolled mass telepathy, but the kind where I could send her little thoughts on how much I miss her and she could do the same would be very nice.

We actually got to IM for over an hour today while she was working the graveyard shift. That always helps!! I haven't posted any updates from her lately because fortunately, things for her are really quiet and boring over there. They can stay that way as far as I'm concerned.

Once again I'd like to say thanks to everyone who sends us will wishes and prays for her safe return and all. It means a lot to both of us!!

On the lighter side

Fantastic valentine's day email cards for those not so into valentine's day!

What she said

Because I was up almost all night again, I missed the Bush interview on Russert. I'm sure I'll either read the transcript online or catch most of it on different news channels today.

For the record, I really do watch the democrat debates and stump speeches and such, well, at least as much as I can stand to listen to. I had really wanted to hear what Bush had to say.

Fortunatley, Michele's got it covered. This is what I've been trying to say.

UPDATE:

Read the interview for yourself.

CNBC reran the Bush interview and I recorded it and am watching it now while surfing around reading different takes on it via Andrew Sullivan and Instapundit.

The first half has been on Iraq and WMD and setting up a new government in Iraq and such. I think he answered it all very well. I'm sure it's hard not to be a smartass and say stuff like "what have I said about this a million times already?" and not to point out the obvious slant to the questions.

Some people didn't like the way he seemed to backtrack and take time to formulate answers. I'd rather see that than to get the feeling that it's all just canned answers.

Also, Mr. Jarvis echoes my sentiments (or his wife did) about just how important the president is or isn't, making the case for agencies like the FCC and our local governments actually having more of an impact on our every day lives. Go read the ways he says we can all be better informed and more active.

Heh

I was telling a friend of mine the other day that Kerry is just too ugly to be elected president. This certainly won't help him. (via Instapundit)

Go Read

Ace and Terra are jumping into this blogging life - go tell them hello!

Wow

I never thought I'd get past the first round in blogmadness, and the only reason I did was because of double elimination. Nevertheless, I'm gonna ask for you to vote for me again :-) Funny thing is, I voted for the entry I'm up against in the last round. So play fair and at least read her before voting for me!

Datytime TV as Drivel and Reality TV as Therapy

Michele has been sick and on her sofa for a few days and manages to sum up what I've been mulling over much better than I ever could.

Yes, I admit it, I'm addicted to cable news. Mostly because I can't bring myself to watch the other drivel on during the day. I'm burned out on the Learning Chanel trying to show me the light on self/home improvement. I never could watch the talk shows or the judge shows. But she's right - the news is all the same. And it's all just smoke up our asses. They don't even try to be objective anymore, it's all about who has the better guest poser who can spout out the best sound bite of the day. At the very least, if they wanted to really present issues, there wouldn't be three minute time limits to each segment. Just once I'd like to see a news host have the patience and perserverance to make the guest just. answer. the. question.

What I am addicted to watching is shows about "real" people. Yes, no matter how much Real World sucks, I'm drawn in, not to mention these endless Real World/Road Rules challenges. But that's just the start. Now that I have Showtime I've gotten to watch Freshmen Diaries. Then there's the new Survivor with the past players. (Which is an idea I thought of long ago, except I wouldn't have had any of the winners back.)

And what I'm seeing is that having a camera crew film you for months on end - and then having the opportunity for you and the entire world watch your life (yes even edited) doesn't seem to make for good therapy. I used to wonder if it would. Back in the early days of Real World I wondered if they sobered up or were better boyfriends/girlfriends, or nicer people after watching themselves be complete asses and idiots on tv. But now that we're seeing those same people again and again, we see that they don't change. Yes, to some extent, even the non-actors end up playing a role of themselves when the cameras are around.

What I do know is there's not a chance in hell I'd let a camera follow me around for a couple of days, much less months. I'd rather be oblivious to my quirks than have them on tape to be so clearly seen.

Previous Post Continued

I truly believe gay marriage will be a reality. I also think it's going to take several years. A constitutional ammendment to ban gay marriage will never pass, so it's a mute point. While a lot of people are going to try to make this a big issue in the election this year - it just isn't. Public opinion has been slow to change regarding gays, but it is changing, and so is public policy. My right to get married really isn't up to whoever is president for the next four years. (I guess just how much power the president has over anything other than military/defense issues is a valid debate.) On the other hand, national safety and defense is very much in the hands of whoever is president.

The questions Lileks raises below are the only ones that need to be answered in the next four years. I think we're taking it amazingly for granted that there have been no more attacks on American soil since 9/11. As DenBeste wrote the other day:

Captain's log): Yesterday was Super-Sunday, the day the Superbowl was played. In some southern city somewhere, the top two teams in American football met and played the last game of the regular season, and one of them won it and became the champion. (For at least some people. which teams they were and which one was the victor was really important.)

Nope. The biggest story was the one we didn't read: "Terrorist attack causes 30,000 deaths". It is the deafening silence, the dog not barking in the night. For the third straight year since 9/11, a crowd the size of a small city concentrated itself in a stadium and sat for several hours to watch the most heavily televised live event of the year. And then that crowd dispersed and went home.

I just don't believe a democrat president will prevent terrorism from happening. And that's really the only issue to vote on in November. Because an even worse attack than 9/11 really renders all the other issues null and void.

Update 2/11

One of my commenters emailed and asked that I delete their comments from this post and the one just before it so they can remain anonymous. I can understand and respect that.

No brain

My sleeping schedule is so out of whack that my brain is about to cease functioning. I've still been awake at 5 a.m. the past two mornings. Got a few hours of sleep and then got out of bed around noon.

Thankfully, Lilkes brain is working just fine today - so please go read him. (You know, both of you who haven't already.)

I’m waiting for a Kerry speech in which he seems angrier about 9/11 than he does about tax cuts.

O the shrieking that would result should such an ad run. You can’t even ask those questions, even though they’re the most relevant questions of the election.

My own short sidenote on Kerry. He's not for gay marriage any more than Bush is, yet gays and lesbians will vote for him simply because he's not Bush.

I think there might could be a real, viable third party if people weren't so willing to compromise - on both sides - just to make sure the other guy lost!

Ugh

Just Another Soldier is having to close up shop. This really pisses me off. I don't recall him ever writing anything that would give away too much info or put anyone in danger. I am well aware of the military for all intents and purposes owning you body and soul while you're enlisted. But this still pisses me off.

Way cool!

This is a fucking brilliant idea for writing! Fair warning, it'll be a time suck! (found via Neil Gaiman's journal.)

I used to think it would be fun to take parts of overheard conversations and write from there. I'm always making up profiles of people I watch and telling them to Nerdstar. There are many times I'd love to go talk to the person and see if I have anything about them right. But I know that's too creepy!

Nerdstar and pets

I got to hear my Nerdstar's voice today. You can't imagine how nice that is! They're starting to work out the schedule for their two weeks leave. I might get to see her in the next four to six weeks :-) It's a little early in the deployment, but I don't care. I'll take her any time I can get her!

She's so cute. Her one request today is that I send a big box of dog treats! There are some stray dogs around their camp and she wants to take care of them even a little bit! If it wouldn't cost a small fortune I'd send a big bag of dog food.

I told her that in order to sleep without being jumped on, I've had to close the bedroom door and keep Little Man out. So what does Little Man do? He goes into the bathroom and closes the door. I keep finding him like that when I have to go pee in the early morning. He used to do this in our old apartment, but hasn't in a long time. But the past three nights I've closed him out he's done it. Freak!

Heh

How fun! An Iraqi blogger with a sense of humor and sarcasm!

found via BuzzMachine

More Voting

Yes, I'm boring, but that shouldn't stop you from voting for me!

Blogmadness ends up being a double elimination deal - which is really good for me! So starting at midnight eastern time tonight, you can vote for my sad little entry one more time. Please?!?

Still Boring

Once again I find that a boring life makes for a boring blog. Sorry dear readers!

The highlight of my day was finally getting my taxes done. I knew I'd be getting a refund, and I need the money. Now I just have to decide what takes priority, probably getting my motorcycle fixed. Very soon the weather will be perfect for long afternoon rides!

On a good note, things are boring for Nerdstar, too!! She's back to working over night "babysitting the radio and the weapons." Her roommate is being a floozy, so Nerdstar says it's just as well she's working nights. At least the airforce guys are being nice and checking on her throughout the night. From what she's said Airforce guys are the nicest. I wonder why.

I finally got smart and figured out a good alternative to those fake chew bones for Ramen, I picked up a package of beef soup bones. I boiled them and gave him one. It's kept him very busy and is lasting much, much longer.

Different looks at Iraq

A Minute Longer writes about seeing the abject poverty in Iraq. I think the overwhelming hopelessness those in such poverty feel contributes a lot to things like this. Hope is an amazing thing, and to live without it is true misery. I guess my hope has been that the removal of SH would bring a sense of hope for a better future to the people of Iraq and they'd embrace freedom.

When I hear people bitch and moan that we could be spending the budget for military operations in Iraq on the poor here in America, I think of stories like this and how selfish we can all be. I, for one, am glad that my government isn't as selfish as I am. Besides, there is no comparison in the amount of money we've spent on Iraq to all the money we spend on social welfare at home.

Kevin Sites has two great entries. I love the photos of the women and children in Iraq. Then he has a long entry about soldier's in the 82nd Airborne's final mission in Iraq before coming home and the decompression soldier's have to go thru before and after coming home.