"Combat Shower"

This seemed to convey the message rather effectively, posted at a camp in the Kuwaiti desert. Now,  I am thinking of posting this at the gym where I work out in the morning.  Maybe it would startle some folks into lingering a bit less...

Random Military photo of the week

I was browsing some photos of my time in Afghanistan, and chuckled when I saw this one of me, and "Commander Qand", a local man of note, former Afghan Militia Commander and veteran of fighting against the Soviets and the Talib.

Yes, meetings bore me too, CDR Qand.

Should you find yourself in Chicago....visit Lincoln Tavern

Should you happen to find yourself in Bucktown (that is a neighborhood in Chicago, for our out of State friends) you will want to drop in at Lincoln Tavern.

Hey, Look here, right on Wabansia!

While a real neighborhood bar is the first thing you will see...

Is that an Elvis picture?

Pour me a Blue, wouldya please?

 Don't think that is all there is to this place...the dining room hides off to the back.

 The food was startlingly good - the ribs were reviewed by a hungry 13 year old (my son) as "awesome!". Everything else was too.  If you have a hankering for game, they even do that once in a while.

The brother and sister that own and run the place were personable and made sure we hade a relaxing time.

Lincoln Tavern
1858 W. Wabansia Ave. (1700N, 1900W)
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-7778

Go have a beer and a bite, ok?

A landmark reborn

Out with the old....

In with new....Mars Cheese Castle.  One cannot cross the Illinois/Wisconsin border (near Kenosha)without at least wanting to stop at the Castle.  The iconic cheese, beer and sausage shop became so popular, they had to move (across the parking lot) to a bigger building.

Man, now I want a brat and some New Galrus beer...

I'm back

Had lost my voice, so to speak for blogging.  Well, I think I am ready to return.  Standby for posts....

Whew, I'm Glad That's Over

I thought this BBC article's headline was a bit too trite.  Maybe it's just classic British understatement.  "No need to worry about that anymore..."

I wonder why I can't even find this story on CNN, USAToday or Google News.

Veteran's Day 2011

This will be my last Veteran's Day while I am "in".  Next year this time I will be in the "grey area" (retired, but not yet drawing a pension, etc).

So how did I get here?  I think it best to lay it out in a simple "if, then" statement:

If

Dad (1945)

Grandpa (1943)

Uncle Jack (1943)

Then

Me, in Afghanistan (2004)

Me, in Iraq (2008)

Unlike my forebearers, who left the plains of Iowa to go down to the sea in ships, or climb into a B-25, I chose to pound the ground as a Soldier.  Oddly enough, I may have seen more of the world because of that - times beinng what they have been.

Thanks to all those who have served, whenever it was or wherever it was!

A contradiction...?

I saw the following on a company's website:

It is the policy of ____________, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, to attract and retain the best qualified people available, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Um, doesn't "affirmative action" regard "race, color, national origin, gender"?

An Interview

Several of us prior service OIF and OEF vets were interviewed for this particular site.  Give it a look and see a few stories of adjusting to coming home.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

I'm so happy that the moon was in a waning crescent for the equinox this year, not like last year.

I know I've tried twice before and failed twice before, but this year I am determined to relate to you what happened to me on the eve of the Autumnal Equinox in 2005, while we were deployed to help with Hurricane Katrina relief.

Go to Illini 6 for the whole story.

A new Donut - my Army Career

I am adding a new donut - I turned in my paper today to retire from the Army.  Since I enlisted in March of 1985, and I will retire effective July 1, 2012 - here is my career in the Donut format:

I had to steady my hand when signing.  Except for a few months as an 18 year old, I have spent my entire adult life as a Soldier - National Guard, Reserve or on Active Duty.  But starting July1st, I will be in a new status...

Neither Forgetting nor Forgiving

I cannot do either, seeing these images again.

Never to Forget stays - but I will work on the Never to Forgive.  Only, I suppose, if we live "Never Again."

Not in Charikar...

I was unhappy to read this.  The people of this city (and, of course, all Afghanistan) do not deserve to have this happen.

I did spend more time at the orphanage than the governor's office:

The provincial governor is someone I had met in his old job - Kabul province police chief:

I remember when meeting him, his biggest concern at the time was for his son, who needed an operation to possibly save his hearing.  We did only a little professional work - mostly concerned with Kabul roads linking to Parwan province.

Awaiting a response

I have e-mailed the IHSA about this story.  I asked what information they used to make their determination of
"There's this overriding safety issue," IHSA executive director Marty Hickman told the Record. "Our sports medicine committee continues to feel that being in shape and being in football shape are two different things. We've had this issue a number of times. It's been brought to the board's attention, and they've consistently said that they're not interested in modifying this policy.

[Emphasis mine]

I will let you know what, if anything, they send back.

Hey, why cannon no work...?

Hmmm. This cannon at Fort George doesn't seem to be functional.

I can determine why! Trust my judgment. After all, I am a professional, Ordnance Corps qualified officer...