Miscellaneous Ramblings - Dear Diary
Telephone
I sure have kept you busy lately, Telephone. I think I spent most of Saturday and Sunday talking at you. Of course, the 2 1/2 hours spent talking with old friend Jeff on Saturday was wonderful, though I almost killed your battery doing it. But shared old times are good times.The weekly call to Mom is always good. I hope I'm as sharp as she at 89. We look forward to seeing each other next week and spending time in Angel Fire. The long two-day drive will be tough, though.
Telephone - you know there are two Cs in my life - the one who is my wife, and the other who is one of the best friends I've ever had. Nice long conversation with her - sharing old laughs, and looking towards the future. She had her own bad bout of illness and hospital time, but glad she's okay now.
Speaking of old friends - there is one I've known since I've known C - in fact I met them both at the same time that fateful night in Viet Nam at the 24th Evac. Bra is concerned about C's mental health right now - and with good reason. Thanx for the call, Bra - been too long since we've talked.
Telephone, I was talking to C last night when another call came in - this time from Boy San. I wanted to take that call as I know he and his family had been without phone service since Hurricane Charley blew through. Not that his life hasn't been interesting lately - wife with major surgery and a complicated recovery, hurricane causing the family to spend the night in a closet while hoping the house holds together, and now with a child from the first marriage who wants to live with him rather than mom. Frankly, Telephone, I'm glad he has those problems. He's a lot younger than his father is, and I'm sure he can handle him better than me.Then there are the nightly calls to C, Telephone. You hear us go the emotional gamut as she watches her very sick father go into surgery, not do well, get worse, and then start to do better - all this while trying to deal with some dyfunctional aspects of her family.
Telephone - you've been busy lately.
And I'm a guy who doesn't even like the Telephone.
Home
Home, you've seen a lot of changes. Wait until C gets home this Saturday and sees the new bookshelves. They're full of books now - china too - but that's because I've been so busy unpacking all that "stuff." The guest bedroom now can take a visitor. Mom won't see a neatly arranged room - still too many boxes for that - but at least she will have a bed and a place to put her suitcase..The cats make it "home" too. Bao and Pookah are fine - the usual hissing and growling when the outdoor cat (Pookah) comes in to get fed, only to be chased by the bored indoor cat (Bao). One of these days, Pookah is gonna figure out that Bao has no front claws and will quit taking the harrassment.
But, I am getting tired of frozen whatevers to eat, Home. I'm just about out of such food - and will be more than happy to turn over the meal-fixing chores to C again. And the shopping chores. And the laundry chores. And the checking-Mark's-mail chores. And the other "rat-killing" chores
Blog
Well, Blog - what can I say? I read blogs such as The Main Point and marvel that a man with a wife constantly in the hospital finds the energy to blog as well - and as often - as he does.But, Blog - I'm beginning to discover something about myself. While I pride myself on "deep thought", the reality of it is that I'm usually just daydreaming. I blog best when there is something of real interest in my life going on, and not when I'm trying to solve the problems of the world.
Besides - taking care of the world's problems is not in my job description. I'm told its in God's/
Posted on August 24, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Trying to Get Caught Up
Okay okay okay – I know it’s been almost two weeks since I’ve posted. As a minor defense, I haven’t read my favorite blogs in about a week, either. I was reminded that some people actually do read this thing. A friend emailed me wondering what was going on – and said she could not tell from Virtual-Doug.
C remains up north as her dad is having a hard time recovering from surgery. We’re going to have to discuss what will happen if he is not out of the hospital by the time she is scheduled to return on August 28.
In the meantime, her oldest brother is finally on the list for a liver transplant, but is now battling a blood clot in his leg.
My son’s wife had no more heard the good news that her thyroid tumor was benign when Hurricane Charley decided to call. The eye went right over their home in Orlando. Trees down, no power, brick wall and chimney down, trying to run a business with no communications (except his BlackBerry), and problems with the first wife thrown in for good measure.
In the meantime, I’ve been unpacking books and getting them on the new shelves. A lot of china has been put in the cabinets too. I guess that’s part of the reason I haven’t posted as much as I would like. I just gotta clear out the boxes from the guest room before my mother arrives on August 30.
Then, it’s off to Angel Fire, New Mexico, for a short week of seeing family, sharing with them, and getting input from them.
When all that’s done – and assuming we are accepted to teach in Viet Nam - we’ll have some decisions to make. Looking at the state of my in-law’s health, and input from my family, we’ll have to make the decision to go to Viet Nam this coming spring. If so, I’ll put in for retirement, then hang ‘em up in December – then off for training and eventual travels to Viet Nam.
Life is certainly interesting – Yes? No?
Posted on August 20, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Getting Caught Up
Sometimes you just gotta quit trying to write something “deep” (whatever that is, though I keep trying to be “deep”), and just write down all that has been going on.
And, there’s a lot.
C is still north with family – and I’ve been a geographic bachelor for a month. Today, her Dad had his surgery. Seems to have done as well as can be expected for an 80 year old man. He’ll be in ICU for a couple of days, but recovery time is still unknown. In the meantime, C and her brothers will be there for their Mom and try to get some things down around the house for her.
And, my gorgeous daughter-in-law had her surgery last Friday. After the entire thyroid was removed, she came home Sunday. I was quite startled tonight when I called – and she answered the phone. Doing just fine, thank you.
Also found out an old friend, and former brother-in-law had triple bypass surgery. Ray is a tough old Tennessean and should do just fine.
In the meantime, the bookshelves are in, and I’ve spent every spare moment unpacking more boxes, getting books on the shelves, and putting china in the cabinets. Its not that I’m suddenly domestic – I just have to clear space in the guest bedroom for my mother to sleep when she visits at the end of the month.
By the way – I highly recommend “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”, listed to the left.
Finally, something serendipitous happened regarding Viet Nam. In talking about another topic with a senior administrator at my university, it came out that he was stationed in Saigon way back in the early 60s – before the war got big and we only had advisors there. He is considering going back to research and the classroom, and told me he loved the people and the country of Viet Nam. We had a wonderful discussion as he ponders the possibility of teaching there. I offered to put him in contact with the people at the University of Da Nang. Hope he goes.
Cuz I wanna go
Posted on August 09, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – The Journal
I’m still a geographic bachelor, though I am by no means bored! C remains up north while her dad awaits surgery – and she is very bored. Our nightly phone calls are a lifeline. It appears she will not return until the end of August.
Yesterday, the long awaited book shelves + cabinets were delivered and installed. This husband’s eye says they look nice, but we’ll wait for the final verdict from the wife. My evenings will now be taken up with unpacking boxes and putting up books and china. C wasn’t quite sure the cabinet maker had followed her directions, so I had to take a couple of digital pix and email them to her.
Life at work is the norm, but as I confided to a friend, my heart is not there. I feel guilty that I don’t submerse myself in my work with the same enthusiasm as I normally have. My mind seems to have already retired, despite the fact the decision to go to Viet Nam in February has not been made yet, and despite the fact I have not told anyone in an official position that I intend to retire.
Someday - someday soon.
Posted on August 03, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Adventuresome Wife
Hey - its a tough life, but somebody has to do it.
While C is in Ohio to be with her Dad during and after his surgery, she took a break with one of her brothers - and they went kayaking on Lake Erie!
And this is a woman who has trouble putting her face in the water while taking a shower!
Posted on July 30, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – What’s Goin’ on in Life?
I’m really not into dualism. In other words, there is just one God, and not two – Satan is not another God.
But, we must have pissed off somebody. There’s a lot going on right now.
I’m surviving being a geographic bachelor, but the frozen dinners are a bummer.
Somebody trying to tell us something?
Posted on July 23, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – The Joys of Family
Ah yes – the joys of family. The professional conference I attended in Orlando was great (it really was), but spending time with my son and his wonderful family is even better. The joy is tempered by the fact that C can’t be with me. She left early to go be with her parents – her elderly father is having serious surgery on Monday.
Not only that, but today is our anniversary – and we’re apart. The past two anniversaries were spent in Viet Nam. Happy 33rd anniversary, Babe.
I’ve gotten behind on my blog reading – and don’t care. Time was better spent last evening with my son as we smoked good cigars and solved the world’s problems. Sure, bloggers are world-problem solvers too, but then again most bloggers aren’t my son, and I have yet to enjoy a cigar with a blogger. We did that after taking the nine year old grandson out for wings – and showed him how to play pool. He beat his dad is his very first game of pool when my son decided to sink the eight ball early. Yeah, I’ve heard all the clichés about male bonding, but it was a special evening anyway.
So this morning, I tapped into his wi-fi network at home, and caught up on my blog reading. Tejas de Korea’s posting about ducks and dogs made me think more about our plans to live and teach English in Viet Nam. Coincidently, RealLivePreacher’s comments about the Bible as a weapon were read right after this morning’s coffee conversation about Christian fundamentalism.
One of my mini-dreads about getting old is that I will miss the intellectual stimulation I get from good conversations. I have my doubts many of my new neighbors enjoy such conversation - - - but then again, I am reminded that I will have the blogosphere for my community. I hope the Internet will keep my world from getting small too soon.
Travel back home tomorrow, then a truly busy day Monday. It will be Tuesday before I can start to get my breath back.
Posted on July 17, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Visiting Family
Ah yes - this is nice. A little mixing of business and pleasure. I have a conference here in Orlando this week, but (by coincidence) Orlando also happens to be where my son and his family live. After an excellent workshop yesterday on the use of PDAs in higher ed, I'm enjoying sitting in the living room with my four grandkids around me.
I'll figure out something heavy and deep to write later - right now, I'm having too much fun.
Posted on July 12, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Ants on the Log
I have a vision in my head of a cluster of ants on a log that is going through river rapids. As they splash and bump and try to hang on, each of the many ants thinks he is steering the log.
That vision applies to higher education in this country.
I was reminded of that as I read an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education a few days ago. It seems the American Council on Education had written a letter to members of Congress regarding the pending reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
The Chronicle article is by subscription only, thus most of you will not be able to read it in its entirety. But, this post is not about the virtues or problems with the bill. Rather its about the mindset of those in higher education.
Wrote David Ward, president of the American Council on Education: Some provisions of the bill could "significantly alter the relationship between the government and high education."
Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Howard McKeon (R-California) replied: "With all due respect, that’s been the point of this process all along - change."
The differences are about money – and of accountability. It seems the lawmakers would like to audit schools that raise tuition rates by more than twice the rate of inflation, and to create a "consumer profile" providing information about school missions, tuition and fees, graduation rates, and other information, that would be made available to the public.
Higher education operates under the serious delusion that they are steering the log. Administrators and professors alike act as though they can do anything they wish - and worse, that they are the only people who should have input into running public institutions. Much time and energy is spent lobbying legislatures for more money, but resistance is strong when the legislators want to see how the money is being spent.
Not long ago, I attended a meeting of senior university officials. An architect asked the deans for input into the long range campus plans. Many words were said about the need for more faculty office space, more parking, and more classroom space. Finally, my seams burst - and I mentioned that using blended learning courses, in which students take one third of their course work online, would reduce the need for more parking and classroom space by one third.
Stony silence.
The architect finally broke the silence, and said that he was about to mention distance learning, and was happy I had brought it up.
Stony silence.
No – I am not advocating all classes should be taught online, but I am advocating an informed look at the use of more blended classes (and yes, some totally online courses) purely from the standpoint of greater efficiency. Buildings cost a lot of money – so do parking decks.
About fifteen year ago, we saw the beginnings of the health care system we have today. Most people - physicians and patients alike - will tell you the system is broken. Today, highly skilled physicians must deal with minimum wage insurance company clerks as a part of their medical practice. One of the reasons for the shift in power is the result of the physicians saying “We are the experts, and only we have the ability to modify the system.” They acted like the ants on the log, refusing to see they were going through the river rapids of economic change.
I see the same happening in higher education. The resistance to change is incredible. Any suggestion that professors be told what to do is met with “You’re trying to interfere with my academic freedom”, whether that is actually the case or not.
But the great river of economics, politics, and public opinion keeps moving the log along.
Posted on June 18, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Technology and the Public’s Perception of War
Lately, I have been fascinated by military bloggers stationed in Iraq, such as those mentioned in my post titled Perspectives from Soldiers in Iraq. I’ve also been inundated with forwarded email messages of a new ilk – the assertion that the news media is distorting the picture in Iraq. I even read an op-ed piece in a newspaper, written by a soldier in Iraq, saying the home front is not getting the correct representation of events.
But I recently came across a set of statistics developed by Mr. Paul Westermeyer. He posted it to a military history list serv, and I was fascinated by it because I am a semi-serious student of warfare, a semi-serious student of the use of technology for education, and a student of technology as communication.
Mr. Westermeyer goes on to state that our casualties thus far in Iraq are only 11% of the average suffered during the average year in Viet Nam. They are only .05% of the casualties suffered on average in Korea. Finally, 643 KIAs is only .006% of the casualties suffered per year during World War II.
In other words, despite the large number of troops committed to Iraq, it is an observable fact that our casualties are drastically lower than in previous conflicts.
I shall assume it goes without saying that any combat death is one too many. I lost friends in Viet Nam, and have some in peril in Iraq. ‘Nuff said.
But, to the “man on the street”, we are in a major conflagration in Iraq. Why this perception when the casualties we’re suffering are a tiny fraction of pervious wars? Some thoughts and ideas:
Just one last thought. If any of my “maybes” are correct, is the antidote more technology? Can the milbloggers change the perception of the public?
Posted on June 14, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – America Doesn’t Deserve These People
Well, maybe the title is a little strong, but not by much. I was in the company of heroes today
C and I drove to Ft. Hood, Texas, and had the incredible honor of being in the presence of the wives and two of the wounded from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. The battalion has been in Iraq since March.
We met four of the wives from Charlie Company for lunch. One of the women had her first baby three days before Daddy deployed. He has since been wounded, although only slightly. Another is raising three year old twins by herself. A third is raising her two daughters while her wounded husband recuperates and prepares to return to Iraq in two weeks. These are tough women! No whining. No complaining.
As one told me, she knows her husband’s soldiers are more important to him than she is – and that is okay. She knew she was marrying a career soldier, and that’s part of why she loves him.
Later in the evening, we gathered at the battalion headquarters building for a covered dish supper and a prayer vigil. Open, heartfelt prayers for the soldiers – and they asked nothing for themselves but the safe return of their men.
I watched and listened to this group of women, and I thought of all the complaining I hear in my daily life about the high price of gas for the family SUV, or how miserable people are in their jobs, or whether we should be using Styrofoam rather than china coffee cups at church. Yet these uncomplaining women are bound together by a strength unimagined by most people. While most of us bitch in the midst of our unbridled conspicuous consumption, these women face impeding tragedy with smiles, laughter, and true bravery.
Nope – not really sure unappreciative America deserves these true heroines.
Posted on June 05, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Frozen Yogurt
I had to run some errands during work today. They had to be done during the day because I'll be working late tonight.
And this would be my chance - - while out, I would be able to score some chocolate frozen yogurt!
But - - - it is impossible to find yogurt shop that is open at 10:30 in the morning.
My heart broke.
Posted on June 02, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Green Tracer
This is the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States. Tim, Bene, Rachel, and others who live outside the US - this is the day when Americans remember our war dead.
As I nursed my Saturday morning cup of Vietnamese coffee, I read the requisite newspaper story about the meaning of the holiday. The front page had a story about the families of two local men who died in Iraq. Marine PFC Dustin Sekula was killed on April 1. His mother reflected “This Memorial Day definitely takes on a different meaning. I see things in a different light now. Most of the kids I see these days here in the Valley spend their day just wasting time and being foolish. I want to go up to them and say ‘Hey – don’t let Dusty’s death be in vain’ because he gave it all up (a college scholarship, family, girlfriend, etc.) to go over there.”
My son once asked me what I would have been like if I hadn’t gone to Viet Nam. The simplistic answer is that we can’t know what we might have been, but there probably are some personality traits that are attributable to having been in combat.
Like Mrs. Sekula, I have little patience with the trivial and the silly. Like her, I question people’s values – or more exactly, their lack of values. When you’re being shot at, or when you lose a son, you tend to develop a keen eye for differentiating bullshit from the real. Worrying about whether the boss likes you so you can get promoted? That’s bullshit. Joining something (church, civic club, marriage) without a commitment? That’s bullshit. Does every sentence you speak have the word “I” in it? That’s bullshit. Complaining about the high cost of gasoline for your SUV? That’s bullshit.
Back in the mid-seventies, my work partner was a guy named Jeff. He too had been a grunt in Viet Nam. Though we didn’t talk much about our experiences, I remember one conversation in which we agreed that though we had good jobs, nice homes, decent cars, and all that sort of middle-class American stuff, we were neither happier nor less happy than we had been while humping a hundred pound pack on our backs that held all our worldly possessions.
There is a hackneyed old expression about freedom having a flavor for those who fought that the protected will never know. Like most clichés, it has a basic truth to it. I watched a story on CNN about a severely wounded soldier now recuperating from wounds received in Iraq. His smiling observation was that life seemed so much better now.
Not being s shrinkologist, I didn’t know there was a name for my feelings. For years, I wondered why I would get so impatient with the silly – why petty bickering over little things at church upset me, or why non-essential assignments at work made me angry. After one display of idiocy by the bosses at work, I was commiserating with a coworker who had flown Navy bombing missions over northern Viet Nam. He mentioned seeing “flying telephone poles” (meaning surface to air missiles) coming up to meet him. From that conversation, I coined the phrase to describe myself – I called it “green tracer theory.”
The Communist troops in Viet Nam were equipped with Soviet and Chinese small arms. The ammunition fired from the weapons included green tracer, as opposed to American red tracer. When green tracer comes in your direction, you know someone is trying to kill you. Only important things, like your nearby buddies, or Mom, or staying alive are important.
Green tracer theory describes that restless part of my personality that makes me impatient with the meaningless. Maybe, just maybe, it is green tracer theory that causes me to walk with God so I can find those things that do have meaning in life.
Posted on May 31, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Perspectives from Soldiers in Iraq
I have a new fascination – “Warbloggers” who are actually stationed in Iraq. I’m sure there are more, but I’ve been reading Doc in a Box, Iraq Calling, Dagger JAG, and Reliquary: Fred-Bob the Dancing Queen’s Imperial Dispatches (who is not in Iraq any longer, but is in the US recovering from his wounds.)
These are articulate men. They are good observers of their world, and they communicate their observations well. As I read their postings, an old feeling came back to me: I remember the disconnect I felt when I returned from Viet Nam in 1970. There seemed to be some huge, yet undefined difference between the way I felt and what I read and heard around me. Of course today’s soldiers have access to technology undreamt of thirty four years ago, so they know exactly what is being telecast on the news and written by the pundits. They don’t have to wait until they get home at the end of their tour to take the pulse of the media. They neither have to wait to know what is being said, nor wait to respond.
And, they seem to disagree with the media. They seem to think the media has it wrong. Here are some excerpts.
Doc in a Box writes:
As for the blog, you've probably noticed I've tried to stay away from the personal viewpoints on politics. I'm a supporter of the war, but I don't really lean to the right. I don't always agree with reasoning that they used to justify coming in here, there were many good concrete reasons like Saddam using chemical weapons on his own people, mass graves, etc. Saddam was a pretty bad dude and I have a firm belief that the world is a much better place without him. Of course there is no clear cut black and white answer to exactly we came out here, maybe it was the war on terror but only historians further down the road are going to be able to give the world the true story. People can dance on streets yelling for answers and protesting but I don’t thing it’s going to make it come any quicker.Terrorists need to be stopped, now do I believe that we can do it? I look at it this way, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, these guys are some pretty evil bastards in my book.
Iraq Calling writes:
Its hard to communicate the magnitude of the disconnect between what I'm seeing on the TV, along with everyone back home, and what I'm experiencing on the ground. Every report seems to start with "things just seem to get worse and worse". The blood is in the water, the media feeding frenzy and self perpetuating news vortex goes on and on.
Dagger JAG writes:
Morale is keeping steady here. We don’t get to see the news that much but we’re aware of the uproar that’s happening back in the states. Between the scandal at Abu Ghraib and the recent beheading it seems like the only news coming out of Iraq is one bombshell after another. I know it’s been said so many times before but there is very little attention being paid to the day to day work that’s going on over here. That’s okay and I don’t think many soldiers mind, but I think we have a different perspective than most people living in the States. It’s interesting to see the swings in public opinion and in the newspaper Op/Eds as one big story follows another.
Reliquary writes:
I used to worry that the people back home didn’t have an accurate understanding of the situation in Iraq. We really did have a trust and a peace established with the people in most of the country. The attacks that were happening were coming from a determined minority, a small group. But now I feel like thanks to a series of mistakes, we’ve seriously damaged that trust. Insurgents will always be a minority but if you piss off enough of the indifferent majority you’ll have an angry plurality; if we don’t have a working relationship with the people on the streets the insurgents will find it that much easier to fight us.
I’m not naïve enough to suggest that these four men can speak for all the soldiers and Marines in Iraq, but if you drill down and read their blogs in depth, you begin to realize they see the war in a different light than what we do after the media has filtered the news.
This is not a media bash – I’m just saying I like the fact that I can get news unfiltered.
Posted on May 25, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Going to Viet Nam: The End of Phase I
At last - the old house is sold. We closed Friday and the new house is paid for.
Now we can concentrate on the next phase - finding a job in Viet Nam.
Posted on May 24, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Pookah: The Rest of the Story
I’ve blogged for almost a year now, and I’ve discovered that it really doesn’t matter if others read my posts – I blog for me. Its just a school girl’s diary made public.
I sat down tonight to write of the death of Pookah, our calico cat. C and I were on the way to a meeting at church when we passed a smushed kitty. Though it was a long way from the house, we thought it was her. After looking at the mangled heap, we went on to our meeting – and friends consoled us. I came home afterwards, got a shovel, and buried her in the back yard.
But C’s heart told her it wasn’t Pookah. She called - - - and sure enough, out comes our cat, blinking in the porch light, and getting skittish over all the fuss.
I’m tempted to try to find some deep theological meaning in this – unto to the least of these, resurrection, faith healing, etc.
But what the hell - - I’m just happy she’s back.
Posted on May 17, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - A Reunion
Its so good to be back together again.
Back together with my books.
My primary hobby is constructing the history of the unit I served with in Viet Nam in 1969. To do that, I have amassed a rather large collection of books and primary source documents - plus all the photos and stories sent to me by the men of the unit. For the past month and a half, it has all been in boxes - stored elsewhere while we moved. Tonight, the three-ring binders of S3 Journals and other reports were pulled out and placed on bookshelves, while I resisted the temptation to open and read them.
My friends are back - and soon I hope to find time to do research and write more - - then post it on the www.tallcomanche.org web site.
Posted on May 08, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Getting Ready to Go to Viet Nam (More)
Part 2 of Phase One is upon us, and Phase II begins.
Huh?
As you know, we moved into a new home - part of the "downsizing" necessary to prepare. The old house went on the market Tuesday - and we had an offer by Wednesday. The buyers accepted our counter offer. If their loan is approved, the sale goes through on June 1st. That's the "Part 2" of Phase One.
And today begins Phase II - looking into what we will actually be doing in Viet Nam. Note the early hour of this posting. Today its off to a conference of folks who serve in Viet Nam. This will give us three days to meeting others working in the harvest - a chance to network, see what is going on, and generally prepare ourselves.
Note how sneaky I am - I'm not telling you where the conference is being held, nor the name of the umbrella organization. With a government demonstrably hostile to Christianity, we're using a little "operational security" to shield the meeting from those who would try to keep God out.
Our excellent adventure continues - we could use your prayers!
Posted on April 30, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Living in a Manufactured Past
Do you get those schmaltzy pass-along emails from friends and acquaintances? I do - and I just got one from a favorite person of mine who goes to the same church.
And - I just had to reply. I stripped all the cutesy animated gifs from her email, but here is the text, followed by my somewhat acerbic comments. (By the way - when you get to the point about polio, she is one of the two people in our church who got polio and is in a wheelchair to this day.)
This was MY life!!!
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN...?
All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
It took five minutes for the TV warm up?
Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?
Nobody owned a purebred dog?
When a quarter was a decent allowance?
You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?
You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?
Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?
They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . .and they did?
When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?
No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?
Lying on your back in the grass with your friends and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a .."
And playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?
Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger?
And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace, and share it with the children of today?
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home? Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.
Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.
Send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.
As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool,
and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar. Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that"?
I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a double dog dare to pass it on. To remember what a double dog dare is, read on. And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care.
How many of these do you remember?
Do you remember a time when...
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!!!!!!
Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown-up" life . . .I double-dog-dare-ya!
And, here is my reply - -
Let's see - this would be around and about 1957 to 1960 something? Not sure this Pollyanna recollection is quite so true.How about the Cuban missile crisis of 1962? We now know that was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. I remember it because my family lived in south Florida. The roads south were clogged with military convoys and I remember pictures of Hawk missiles on the beach at Key West. True, War was a card game. It was also a cold war, when we had over 500,00 soldiers in Europe, and all able-bodied men were eligible for the draft - something we haven't has since 1973. And oh yeah - by 1962, the US had already suffered as many casualties in a little place known as Viet Nam as we have thus far in Iraq. Do you remember civil defense drills in school? Duck under your desk and cover your head in case you saw a bright flash? There were civil defense buildings too. Seems as though I know two of my favorite people at church contracted polio sometime during this period. "Race issue was arguing over who was the fastest." Segregation was still the law in many parts of the south, and most of the north practiced de facto segregation. That means a significant part of the population didn't think the '57 Chevy was a dream car - they couldn't afford to buy one. The certainly weren't allowed to go to the right school to get the education needed to get the job to buy a cool car. Ask some of your Mexican-American friends if their Mom was home all day back then. More likely they were either cleaning white people's homes, or pulling onions in the fields. No - the *best* times are right now. The present is always the best time. We can't do anything about the past (unless we manufacture some neato recollection) and the future is unpredictable. Enjoy God's gifts in the now.
But - - I agree with you on the ugly girl's gym uniforms. They *were* ugly.
Posted on April 25, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Lawrence Welk Meets Led Zeppelin
This should be interesting. We’re in the new house – and in a “retirement community.” The fact is, we’ve moved into a neighborhood populated by folks who are our parent’s age. Most of them ride golf carts around the streets (though carts are forbidden on the golf course– go figure), and the Friday night “Happy Hour” in the club house starts at 4:30. Many of the homes have carved wooden signs proclaiming the name of the couple and their home town – and all but two I’ve seen so far are from Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin.
While merrily unpacking boxes, we needed some music. The laptop has a couple of gigs worth of MP3s, so I hooked up a set of powered speakers, and cranked up some Hendrix, Stones, Creedence, and other classic rock tunes from the 60s and 70s. (Okay – an occasional number from the 80s – maybe even the 90s.) I doubt if such music has been heard in this park before.
During the evening, I was out in the patio area while C was at the store when an older couple came by walking their dog. Polite – courteous – and very welcoming, but I could see their eyes dart to my ponytail.
It will be sometime later this week before we have Internet access (I’m posting this from work), and we’re going through withdrawal pains without it. The desktops are running – the wireless network is up – just no cable connection.
In the meantime, the new house looks like a goat exploded – boxes and paper everywhere! This too shall pass.
Posted on April 20, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Move (or I'm Outa Internet Range)
The first part of Phase One of going to Viet Nam happens this weekend - we'll be moving into our new home. Once that happens, then the current home goes on the market.
But - the move means I'll be "out of Internet range" for awhile. I don't know how long. The cable company has promised to hook us up tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes. I'll also need to move the computers, set up the wireless network, and all the other "stuff" that goes along with using the Internet.
I'll post pictures of the new home when I can. In the meantime, we thank God for the adrenaline rush He is giving us.
Posted on April 15, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - I Knew There Had to be a Ministry
Okay - you see my picture to the right.
I have a pony tail.
And, I have needs. I have issues, and maybe my ponytail is a cry for help. Of course, I am delighted to see Christians somewhere are worried about me and my kind.
Story in The Lark.
Posted on April 12, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Requiem
I have indeed lost one of my sons. One of Comanche's own is dead - and I grieve.
On Palm Sunday, April 4th, Company C, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division was in a bad firefight in the Sadr City area of Bagdhad. SGT Yihjyh L. Chen, 31, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, who listed Saipan, Mariana Protectorate, as his home of record, was killed when his patrol was hit by RPGs and small arms.
SGT Chen entered the Army on Jan. 20, 2000, and had been stationed at Fort Hood since June 20, 2000. Four men from Company A, 2/5 Cav, were KIA in the same firefight. They were Specialist Robert R. Arsiaga, Specialist Ahmed A. Cason, Specialist Israel Garza, and Specialist Stephen D. Hiller.
I never met SGT Chen. Why do I say I lost a son? Because I had the great and honorable priviledge of commanding Company C, 2/5 Cavalry in Viet Nam. A little over a year ago, I was asked to speak to the senior sergeants and officers of the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry at Ft. Hood. While emotion constricted my throat, I told them I did not doubt their bravery in combat, but knew they would proudly carry the legacy of those of us who preceded them. The next week, the troopers who are Charlie Company took a vote - and the voted to retake the name Comanche that we old-timers carried into battle.
SGT Chen is my son. I mourn for him as I did for those who died in combat with me way back in 1969.
America - do not let him die in vain.
Posted on April 09, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Salute
No other physical action strikes me in quite the same emotional manner as a well-meant and well-executed salute. It is one of the truest expressions of honor and respect.
The war in Iraq came home to South Texas.
The man executing the perfect salute is the father of Marine PFC Daniel Sekula, killed in action in Iraq. No drill sergeant could fault his ramrod position of attention nor the perfectly straight arm and hand.
No American can doubt the respect this family has for a fallen son. Today, PFC Sekula is my son too.
On a personal note, I know some of the recent dead in Iraq are from my old battalion in Viet Nam - the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. These men proudly carry the name "Comanche" into battle - the same name we had in Viet Nam. Each of the men in Company C, 2/5 Cavalry are my sons too.
Posted on April 08, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Phew! Life is Hectic
One of the advantages of blogging is that I will be able to look back at this period and see what was going on in my life - rather like my mother and sisters kept diaries, except the whole world can read this one. (No - there are no stories of broken hearts and revelations of formerly illicit activities on this blog.)
But, the past few weeks have been crazy. We have indeed found a new home, and put down some earnest money for it. We also have contacted a realtor, and the current house will go on the market soon. In the meantime, we must clean up and make it ready, which means moving many things out of sight. Houses must be unlcuttered when one sells - that's not how we live in houses, but it is how we buy and sell houses.
But lots of other things are going on as well. I've cashed in various investments and gathered the money together in one place so we can buy the new home for cash. (We need to be debt free in retirement and when we're in Viet Nam.) As the chief drug buyer for the Medical Mission to Honduras, C has been knee-deep in buying medications, printing labels, and otherwise preparing for the June trip.
We also will be going to a meeting soon to talk to others who work in Viet Nam. We'll have a chance to network with Christians who work there, and get a better handle on what may be the best way to conduct a Pauline tent-maker mission. In addition to a trip to visit "the kids" (son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids) in July, we'll also travel to Angelfire, New Mexico to meet with my siblings and mother.
Plus - we're dealing with a bit of a medical situation right now. Privacy dictates we not tell the world all the details, but we covet prayers for C's health right now.
Busy? yes. Tired? A little. Bored? No. Thankful? You bet!
Posted on April 01, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Suicide Rates for Troops in Iraq
A very interesting news story surfaced recently about the number of suicides by US troops in Iraq. I use the Associated Press story as my reference.
Once again I am struck by the tendancy to see the soldier as a victim. Knowing that makes me sound callous, I shall remind the gentle reader that I am a combat veteran with the Infantry in Viet Nam, with the holes in me to prove it. I am not callous towards the soldier - rather, I wish to point out something - - but you have to read the entire article first.
Did you read it? Go ahead - read it.
Of course you waded through all the statistics that indicate suicide is rising, and that it is higher among those in Iraq than among state-side soldiers. None of this is rocket science.
No -the telling statistic is the last - the one at the very end. In fact, some news agencies did not even include this one statistic.
It is this - - - the rate of suicide amongst soldiers in Iraq is lower than the rate among people in the same age group who are not in the military. Substantially lower.
Why? I don't know. I can only guess. But, I'll take some stabs at it. I think it has something to do with purpose and family. For a young person, having a purpose is important. Many wander around rootless. But soldiers, especially those in Iraq, see themselves as having a purpose. I also think it has something to do with family. No - I don't mean they see themselves as being in Iraq to protect thier families. I mean they see the Army as their family. A number of studies have shown that young people join street gangs because of the deep-seated need to belong - something they may not get from their biological family. But the Army provides that sense of belonging. Strong bonds are built among people who go through tough times together.
I agree with every effort that can be made to provide help to our soldiers in combat. No problem. I just wish we would begin to see them in a more postive light than as victims.
I wonder if the early Christians bonded partly because they went through persecutions together. Hmmmmm.
Posted on March 26, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Getting Ready to go to Viet Nam
Yep - we're really doing it. The process has begun.
I wrote of the call to go to Viet Nam back in February. Of course, the process requires a bit more to do than just getting on an airplane, and we've begun the first part.
Obviously, we will "retire" before going to Viet Nam. I am blessed in that my place of employment pays the premiums for health care after retirement. We need to be dept-free, which means we must be sans mortagage - and that means downsizing.
Yesterday was a day of looking - and maybe finding - a suitable new home in a suitable park. While a mobile home will be much smaller, we have seen some that a truly quite nice. Also, the past few weeks have seen a lot of consolidation of financial assets.
In the meantime, it has been great to see and hear the reaction of friends and family. Not surprisingly, we seem to be the last to realize we were going back.
Its also been interesting to be in the "over 55" mobile home parks. Most people are of my parents' generation. I suppose we will be the first in our park to be blasting Led Zeppelin on the stereo rather then Lawrence Welk.
I'll keep you posted - the adventure is just starting.
Posted on March 14, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – The World: It’s Not a Pretty Place
I am waiting nervously to find out if he is still alive. Back in December, I posted a concern from my alcoholic friend . Things have gone downhill from there. Last contact was an email a couple of days ago saying he was going to check into the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Atlanta in the hopes of preventing himself from committing suicide.
My friend the priest has come to love Mexico. For the past few months, when visiting a friend in Reynosa, he would entrust his car to an obvious drunk known only as "Padre". He came to Reynosa for work, but found being a parking lot attendant the best he could find. He committed suicide the other day.
Another friend finally made a connection with his twenty something son who had stormed out of the house at age 18 wishing his father dead. Reunion was quickly followed by pain as the son stayed all of a few days, then the reunion failed, and the son stormed out again.
Another friend drove hard for three days to rescue his brother who had fallen into hard times by his own actions. Alcohol and drugs.
Still another friend has a list of medical problems that makes him a walking case study of maladies. A dangerously bad back – tuberculosis – post polio syndrome – cancer.
We have an elderly widow friend. She is so lonely, but knows her world is not the same as the couple-oriented world C and I are in. So, she leaves the house.
Christian platitudes just don't seem to hack it with any of these situations. I struggle to move past the platitudes and get real about God loving me and other people.
Note: My alcoholic friend is alive, if not well. He spent a few days in lock-down at a Veteran's Administration hospital.
Posted on March 11, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - God is Smart Enough to Be Sure People Have Different Personalities
I was sitting in another of those long "team meetings" this morning. I do some of my best thinking either in the shower or in long meetings. One advantage of having a thought in a meeting is I usually have a pad of paper to write down an idea.
The meeting dealt with a major project at work -I mean a great big huge culture-bending project. Towards the end, the guy in charge of the Internal Audits office spoke about the "quality assurance report" he would be making to the President each month.
Boring.
I couldn't help it. I scribbled on a piece of paper"
"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you""I'm from the Audit Office, and I'm here to help you."
I'm sure he would not have appreciated my thoughts, but he has probably dealt with the fact that nobody likes auditors, so I'll assume he is content with his lot in life.
But, thankfully, I thought a bit deeper.
The raison d'etre for an auditor at a public university is to keep the university out of trouble. We have to avoid financial scandal, and those tax payers demand we be careful with their money. We need auditors to be sure projects come in on time and on budget, and get at least some return on investment. But the fact remains, there is no production value to an audit office. Stated differently, auditing is management, not leadership.
Then there are people like me. I have spent most of my adult life driving past my headlights. My self-image is that of "visionary." In other words - I don't want to run things - I want to start things.
If the world was made up only of auditors, there would be little progress. The best way to manage risk is to create an environment with no risk. If our university president was an auditor, we would not be very forward-looking - but we would stay out of trouble.
But - if the president was me, we would have fifty new programs in the first year, half of the faculty would feel liberated and the other half would hate me - - and I would be in jail within a year for lack of fiduciary responsibility.
God was smart enough to create lots of personality types - - to counter balance each other.
Posted on March 05, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings: Viet Nam, Retirement, and Callings of the Holy Spirit
What a whacky title for this post. If it doesn’t pique your interest . . . . .
Much has been happening lately, and its time I wrote it down so I can begin to understand it myself.
I have become more and more bored at work. I have a good job (actually, it’s a great job), and I work with wonderful people. They are creative, dedicated, and hard workers. I am blessed. When I took the job two years ago, I told my boss my unwritten rule was to take web-based learning from cutting edge to mainstream. Whether because of me, or simply because web-based learning has come of age, the Center for Distance Learning has moved from “bleeding edge” to being part of daily life at the university. But, I like to start things, not run things. The fun of a start-up is disappearing.
As I said way back in October, I did not handle my sixtieth birthday well. My mortality became all too obvious. Yes - - I’m in good health now, and the mind still works, but I also know that if I am to do anything adventuresome, I need to do it within the next ten years. In July, I can retire. That means I get healthcare provided, and I can begin to tap those retirement accounts we’ve worked so hard at building.
But mostly, I’ve just had a restless spirit lately. Not unhappy – not anxious or worried - - just restless. C and I would both think about Viet Nam, or doing more in mission work, getting more “real” in our relationship with God. We talked about it a lot during our drive home from Angel Fire last month.
Then last Sunday, God used our priest to hit us both in the back of the head with a two-by-four. Basing his sermon on Luke 6:17-26, he talked of God sometimes making us uncomfortable. Then, this sentence:
“God speaks to us in the uncomfortableness of our lives. Times when we thought we should do more but we were frozen by fear and by not knowing what to do. If you repeatedly expose your soul to God during this time of uncomfortableness, woes can be transformed into blessings.”
I looked at my wife, and we both had tears in our eyes. Taking my pen, I scribbled on the service bulletin “Mission work in VN?” Our friends around us had no idea why we were wiping tears from our eyes – and the music team probably thought they were in the Spirit to move us – but it really was a feeling of being spoken to. (BTW – here's the entire sermon.
So - - what’s next? Details are few now. We called our friends Chuck and Joette of Vets With a Mission, and shared the news with them. They had great advice – especially to pray about it. We know we will need to sell the house, and downsize into a mobile home in some nearby Winter Texan park. As the Vietnamese government won’t let someone in with the words “Christian Minister” on the visa application, we will have to work as Paul did, and support ourselves.
One of my favorite blogs is Food for Fish. Hey Travis – have any tips on being a missionary in enemy-held territory?
Posted on February 19, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - A Viet Nam Vet in the White House?
Being a product of the time when I came of age in the 60s and 70s, I don't put a lot of emphasis on politics - I vote, I research candidates, I read - - but nobody can accuse me of being a "political activist." That's becuase, like many of my boomer friends, I think government is given too much credit for things when events go well, and too much blame when things go wrong. I eschew labels for myself, mostly because my views often diverge from the labels. I'm often "conservative", but have views on some topics that are commonly held as being "liberal."
But I got an email from my sister-in-law a few days ago. Knowing I am a veteran of the Viet Nam war, she wondered how I felt about John Kerry as he had served honorably in Viet Nam, yet protested the war upon his return home. Below is an edited version of my reply.
Oh, my goodness!!! You are gonna sucker me into politics now! (grin) I am up to my ear lobes in work, but I just *gotta* answer this.Funny, I have actually thought about this topic. I belong to a number of online Viet Nam vets groups. In one posting lately, a man calling himself a registered Republican said it was about time we had a Viet Nam vet as president, and then went into a long dissertation about Kerry. My only response was to ask why he had not included Wesley Clark if being a VN vet was his primary criteria. Clark too served with distinction, and like Kerry, was highly decorated. I am sure military records will come to the fore in the election if either Clark or Kerry win the Democratic nomination.
During New Hampshire, there was a small flap between Clark and Kerry about rank. Both served in Viet Nam as fairly junior officers, but Clark said something about having been a general, he probably knew more about the military than Kerry, who got out of the Navy. Though that was supposedly a slap at veterans who held lower rank, it is also true in that Clark's longer service, and rank, gives him a better overall perspective of the military.
Let me say up front that my opposition to Kerry is based on his record and political philosophy. I tend to be a political conservative, even though I hold strong liberal views in many areas. His record in the Senate is not quite as liberal as his fellow senator from Massachusetts, but not by much.
But - you asked about Viet Nam. This is *personal* - and should *not* be taken as something you might use in making *your* decision.
In Kerry's favor - he came from a well-to-do family, and therefore had the ability to dodge his service in Viet Nam, much as Al Gore could have or George Bush did do. (You might listen to the Credence Clearwater Revival song, "Fortunate Son.") But - Kerry went into the Navy anyway, and served as the commander of a small boat that delivered Navy SEALS to their combat destinations. To the best of my knowledge, he served ably and well, and was decorated for bravery under fire. Whether that qualifies him (or anyone else) to be President is something you have to decide.
Against him - I resent an officer protesting against the war. If my studies over the last decade have revealed anything, it is that the American public was so consumed with its selfish best interest, we abandoned the Vietnamese to Communism. I believe Kerry, as well as many other Americans, saw things from an emotional viewpoint and got caught up in the sweep of events. To me, that does not show leadership - it shows that one is not willing to swim against the current. I admit to a prejudice, however. I admit I took my vow as an officer *very* seriously. I tend to hold askance those who did not take their vow as seriously as I did.
I shall take the risk of comparing myself to Kerry. After I got out of the Army in April 1970, the US went into Cambodia on May 1st, 1970. I was living in a little concrete block apartment in Orlando. I watched my B&W TV, and was *pissed* as I watched the news about the Cambodian incursion. I very much wanted to be back with my unit because going into Cambodia was something I felt strongly about. I had actually seen the headlights of Communist trucks driving around on the Cambodian side of the border, and I knew I had to wait until they crossed over the border for me to fight them. Kerry's reaction was to protest - mine was to keep up the fight.
As to how other vets feel. I'm not sure its my place to speak for other VN vets. Many did in fact come home to protest. It is, however, and based on some research, my opinion that most are still quite proud of their service in VN. I am not one to knock the news media as being too liberal - but I do know more people will watch a news story about a vet protesting a war than the story of a vet who comes home, takes off his uniform, and quietly goes to work on the family farm or in the local factory - no story there. There is an impression many vets were against the war - I do not believe that.
There are a lot of parallels between the debate about Viet Nam and today's debate about Iraq. In 1964, President Johnson asked Congress for permission to do whatever he thought necessary to fight the Communists in Viet Nam. That was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. As you know, President Bush did the same for Iraq - and Kerry voted in favor of giving Bush the authority to fight in Iraq.
During the war in Viet Nam, the argument centered mostly about whether or not the US was correct to be in Viet Nam. Today, I see the same argument concerning Iraq. The fact is, in both cases, we were in Viet Nam, just as we are in Iraq. Whether we are right in being in either place is a moot point - we were in Viet Nam, and we are in Iraq. Period.
The real question *should* be this: "Now that we are in Iraq, what should be do to the mutual advantage of the Iraqi people and the United States?" Because we never discussed that issue about Viet Nam, we stranded millions of Vietnamese to the Communists - with disastrous results. If we don't change the argument concerning Iraq, and quit worrying about whether Bush "sexed up" the intelligence reports, etc etc etc, we will have the same failure. Iraq can fall to the terrorists, the Iraqi people will be enslaved again, and American soldiers will have died in vain.
So - unless Kerry can come forward with an openly discussed plan to advantageously disengage the US from Iraq, I can only fall back on his previous behavior, which advocated the abandonment of the South Vietnamese to the Communists. During the four and half months I was privileged to have commanded my company, ten men died. That's ten lives thrown away because America abandoned its promises.
I will be curious, provided Kerry gets the nomination, if his campaign folks will want to highlight Kerry's involvement in the anti-war rallies.
Posted on February 05, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The Ski Trip is Over
Damn! I hate the trip being over! We got a good dump of eight inches of snow a couple of says ago, more trails are open and groomed - and I gotta leave!
As my sister says - "This is why we go to those sucky jobs!"
Today was bright, clear, and cold - - perfect ski weather. But tomorrow its up and at 'em early for the drive to the Albuquerque airport to drop off family, then we drive on home to Texas.
But the drive will be good. C and I know we are at a transitional point in our lives, so we have much to talk about while locked inside a car for two days.
Posted on January 22, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Ski Vacation in New Mexico
Okay - I leave 85 degree weather in San Juan, Puerto Rico and go on vacation in Angel Fire, New Mexico - and it is 20 degrees outside.
The snow gods have frowned on New Mexico this year - easily the worst conditions I have seen since coming here 15 years ago. There just is no snow.
But - this is a family trip. My sister and one of her grandchildren, my brother and his wife - all here, and we're having a blast.
Its also given me a chance to do some writing and thinking. I'm enjoying!
Posted on January 19, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - I'm in Puerto Rico
Okay okay - - I'm in San Juan at a business meeting. Go ahead. Say things like "Tooooooo bad!", or "What a terrible business trip to make." Make your comments dripping with sarcasm.
I live in deep south Texas. There are lots of palm trees, we live near the ocean, its warm in the winter, and there are a lot of people who speak Spanish.
Kinda like Puerto Rico.
In other words, as nice as Puerto Rico is, it ain't no big deal.
Posted on January 15, 2004 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Gettin' Back into the Swing
Bet you wondered if I'd died.
Well, I didn't. Like many others, the holidays just kinda sucked up time. But, just because the fingers weren't typing doesn't mean the brain wasn't spinning.
Here are some of the things that have been on my mind lately - -
My 87 year old mother has been visiting with us for the past two weeks. She is remarkable, and still my supporter, intellectual foil, and molder of my values. I hope I am as sharp at 87 - yet I see the inevitable decline each time I see her.
C's parents are another story. Her father has been in the hospital twice, keeps falling, misses his independence, and grows more cantankerous. Her mom wrecked the family car, and gets feebler. There is a question of how much longer they can stay in their home of forty years.
Certainly, parents will have a major place in any planning C and I do for our future. (Maybe one of the reasons I did not get that Fulbright to Viet Nam, eh?
I keep wrestling with the concept of "church membership." What does that mean? What are the benefits? The obligations? Why be a member?
I have been having a ball with some new software - Sunday Plus!. As our traditional denominational church moves slowly towards being less traditional, our priest sees us doing more praise music, projecting lyrics, and using other multimedia. I told him I would buy and learn the software. We'll experiment for awhile on the Wednesday evening services - and if it works, we'll buy a large projector and make more extensive use of the terrific capabilities of the software.
My Monday evening men's group continues to be my support and strength. Many a time I don't want to go - I'd much rather veg with a good book and cigar, but always leave the meeting refreshed and strengthened.
Speaking of my men's group, I got some good advice last night. Though we aren't a "support group" per se, everyone of us has had some sort of chemical problem at some point of our lives. I was telling them about my friend mentioned in "Alcohol and My Friend", and told them I am determined to call my friend at least weekly. The advice? Don't wait for a schedule - call when the Spirit moves me.
But, I have another friend who is trying to stay sober in the face of huge problems. When one visits home for Christmas, one does not expect problems - but he got them when his alcoholic father decided to quit AA and get drunk. Ouch!
And, another friend - the lady who hired me 4 1/2 years ago - is getting bored too. She has a lot of issues, such as rasing two kids, wanting to give something back to the world, and moving on in her career. I don't have her intelligence, nor do I have her energy, but I understand the need to give back and have a sense of adventure in life.
I lied. Well, maybe I didn't lie - maybe I just didn't see things clearly. True enough, when I was refused the Fulbright, it hurt a bit, but I find what I really miss is that I don't have a dream now - something that brings high passion to my life. I need my adrenalin fix. But, I also don't think the vision of Viet Nam is past - or at least, I don't want it to be past. I'll keep looking.
But, my other passion continues. I put more work into the Company C, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry website than I do on this blog - and I enjoy it. I'm busy organizing all the goodies I brought back from the National Archives.
All this sounds like a lot of posts for the future, eh?
Posted on December 30, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Spider Holes
I missed my fifteen minutes of fame!
Coming home last night, and checking my email, I found the following:
Hi there. I'm writing something on the history of spider holes, and noticed your photos (posted on your blog) of spider hole demonstrations in modern-day Vietnam. I'd love to ask you about seeing those demonstrations. If you have a few minutes today (before 5pm EST) could I give you a ring? Please let me know if you're available, and if so, where I can reach you. Thanks. Sincerely,
It was from a reporter at the Washington Post. I guess she Googled "spider hole", and found the pictures on this blog of the spider hole demonstration at the Cu Chi tunnels in Viet Nam.
Of course, the spider holes in Viet Nam are (were) quite different than the "spider hole" Saddam Hussein was found in. Vietnamese spider holes were meant for fighting, not hiding. Revolutionary soldiers would conceal themselves in them until the right time came to pop up and take a shot at their American, French, or South Vietnamese adversaries. Holes were often connected to each other by tunnels. They certainly were not lined with concrete, and equipped with a breathing hole as Saddam's was.
But, alas - it was after 5 PM Eastern time when I found the message. My vanity wishes I could have been quoted in the Washington Post. Sigh.
Posted on December 16, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Iraq = Viet Nam (But Just as Funny)
Okay - this one put me on the floor laughing - - the last line is just exactly what we used to say thirty some-odd years ago in Viet Nam. (Well, kinda sorta what we used to say.)
Posted on December 06, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - The 1st Cav Goes to War - - Again
Yikes! It been a week since I have posted. Tsk tsk tsk.
Though I am traveling right now (Denver), I just had a call from a young officer currently assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division - - - my old outfit in Viet Nam.
And - they are going off to war, sometime this spring. They will replace the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad. I was thrilled to be invited to attend this year’s Christmas family party – and devastated I had to decline as I will be in Washington, DC, at the time. Oddly enough, part of my visit will be to the National Archives to do more research on C 2/5 Cav in Viet Nam for the www.tallcomanche.org web site.
But, now I shall have to do some work myself. This is the time for me to rally us old-timers to the cause of supporting today’s young troopers. They will know those of us who preceded them have our total support and prayers while they undergo their baptism of fire.
Strangely enough, I envy them. I grew up during combat – so will they. They will earn the quiet pride of having performed the difficult tasks, while lesser people leading pampered lives abuse the very freedoms soldiers protect. I am no war monger – but even in my dotage, duty calls one last time – the duty to organize and lead support for the men who will leave their own loved ones behind - and see green tracers come in their direction.
Posted on December 03, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Family
Have't been around much lately - and that's because C and I are traveling - spending time with my 87 year old mother in Florida, and also a few days with son K and his family - and the four grandchildren!
But - this is a good time to explore my new tasks to investigate the use of technology of worship - we visit their church tomorrow!
Posted on November 15, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Bitching in the Army, Iraq War Style
I was struck by an article written on October 16 in the Chico News & Review. Its a letter written by a soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Iraq.
As you can easily see from being on this blog, I am a combat veteran of the war in Viet Nam. I'm not retired military, and most folks would not classify me as "conservative." That said, some thoughts.
If you have not been in the military, you may not understand that bitching is as much a part of being in the Army as arguing with the ump is part of baseball.
"Why are we here?" is the constant question of anyone in combat. I would think less of SGT Talbott if he didn't express doubt. I'd think him a nut case if he *liked* being in Iraq.
As to the mortars - lets see: there are tanks from the old Soviet Union, AK-47s from China, rockets from the French, and mortar rounds from the US. Sounds like Mr. Hussein was an equal opportunity weapons user. What SGT Talbott does not know is where those US mortar rounds came from. There are dates on the cardboard tubes - if the dates are old, there is no telling what circuitous route those weapons took prior to winding up in Iraq. They could have come from Bulgaria, for all we know.
As to expired ID cards - surely a Noncommissioned Officer is not implying that American soldiers are being kept in the Army against their will. A civilian reading his letter might think so. What he means is there is no time for all the fancy paperwork in a combat zone. An expired ID card does not mean your enlistment is up.
SGT Talbot's is the newest generation to find the difference between watching movies and seeing the mangled bodies of their buddies. Will he see an appreciative American public fight to increase veteran's benefits? Hell no - since the end of the draft, and particularly since the end of the Cold War, there have been fewer and fewer soldiers. There is no longer a critical mass of veterans as existed after World War II and Viet Nam. . Most people's lives go on as usual - and the home folks will worry far more about their golf scores, or whether they like the preacher at church than they will care about the soldier. The families of those who died on 9-11 will get far greater monetary compensation than the families of the soldiers killed in action.
Bitch on, SGT Talbot. I'm not worried nearly as much about you as I am about an American public that has no appreciation of what you are going through, and even less about what you are doing for them.
Posted on November 01, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings – Welcome Home, Soldier
I finally had the chance to repay an old, old debt today. I owed that debt to a man whose name I do not know.
As I write this, I am sitting in the airport in Austin, Texas. I’ve seen a number of soldiers get off planes – on their way home to nearby Ft. Hood. They are in their desert uniforms, dirty boots and all. I tried my damndest to keep my eyes dry as I walked up to some, extended a hand, and said “Welcome home. Thanx for the work. I appreciate it.” To one Staff Sergeant, with an freshly sewn-on Combat Infantryman’s Badge, I added “Wear that CIB with pride.”
Many years ago, I too came through an airport on the way home from a war. I had a long wait in the old Atlanta airport, and wandered into a bar for a beer. In the corner were some businessmen talking. One of them spotted me, got up, walked over to the bar, and called the bartender over. “Send me the tab for whatever this soldier wants.” Looking at me, he simply said “Thank you, son.”
Of course, that war was Viet Nam. It was an era of protests, and there were stories about people calling soldiers “baby killers,” I never experienced that myself, but I had a businessman buy me a beer.
Today, we have another unpopular war, but I hope some soldier gets to sit in his or her mom’s kitchen and say “You know, some pony-tailed old coot came up to me in the airport today and said he appreciated what I’m doing in Iraq.”
Well – maybe its at least the first payment on that old debt to the businessman in Atlanta.
Posted on October 27, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Turning Sixty
Yes - today I am sixty years old!
That means I am no longer middle-aged. Of course, I'm not elderly either. Nonetheless, I am well past eligibility for membership in the AARP.
I had no problems with turning thirty - or forty - - - even fifty. But this one is different.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not wallowing in the depths of depression. I live a much-blessed life. Besides all the gifts God has given me (including life itself), I have a wife of 32 years who actually still loves me. Family? A son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids who define what family is supposed to be. And - a mother who, even at the age of 80 something, is my spiritual and intellectual foil.
I've led a life doing things movies are made of - I been a homicide detective, an Infantry officer in combat, and a weapons trainer. I've jumped out of airplanes, earned a Master's degree, and ridden motorcycles too fast. I learned to ski in my forties, and I've gone on mission trips to Honduras and Viet Nam.
But I am also aware that if I am to do anything else in this life that requires physical stamina and health, my time is limited. I'd better do it in the next few years.
Of special note is the Internet. I watch some older folks' world get smaller as they loose their mobility. But, thanx to the Internet, the world has redefined community. Though I may eventually be unable to maintain community defined geographically, such as neighbors or fellow church members, I will have this marvelous community of people around the world.
What a great life. Happy birthday to me!
Posted on October 21, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Reading the Lord of the Rings
I've been bad blogger lately.
Every two-three years, I make my pilgrimage back to Middle Earth. For those of you who have lived on another planet for the past few years, you don't know that the three movies composing the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings has renewed interest in the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien back in the 50s. I first read The Lord of the Rings in 1969.
Recently, while on a flight coming home, I sat next to a pleasant young woman reading the second of the three books. I just had to ask her why. Of course, she had seen the movies, and was prompted to read the books. She, along with others, are usually thrilled with the movies, but the books are ever so much richer.
For instance - Gandalf died and was reborn with far greater power.
Gandalf the Grey died and was resurrected with far greater power - becoming Gandalf the White
Tolkien was a devout Catholic Christian and one of his best friends was atheist-turned Protestant Christian apologist C. S. Lewis. In reading the books, the careful reader notes much of Tolkein's beliefs shine through. Would that every Christian's life be like that - that people see God in you.
Tolkein insisted to his death that there were no analogy to the work - it was just a story. But that does not mean much cannot be learned from reading the Lord of the Rings.
I am not going to compare the wizard Gandalf the Grey to Jesus. First of all, Gandalf was not deity, and secondly, he most certainly was not the world's savior. But - - if you recall, he fell to his death at the hands of a Balrog - a super-demon from deep inside the earth. In the books, you understand that Gandalf died. In the meantime, the "head wizard", Saruman the White, had turned evil. His decline into evil was indicated by his clothes changing from being white to multi-colored. Upon Gandalf's "resurrection", Gandalf assumed the leadership of his order. In other words, Gandalf had to die before he could assume his rightful place of power.
Just some pondering. Read the books - you will find more.
Posted on October 18, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Welcome
I finally made the leap - this is the new home of Virtual Doug. I think you will find this new system to be much easier to access and navigate. My thanks to fellow blogger Rachel Cunliffe for the design. I love it.
The one thing I do not like is that there is no email list. Some of you used to get an email telling you I had posted a new message, but Type Pad does not have that feature.
But - the big addition is the Photo Albums. I will be adding pictures to it as time allows. I will also begin adding pictures from our missionary trip to Honduras in June.
Doug
Posted on September 25, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - New Life for the Soldiers Who Fought in Iraq
This is a tough posting to categorize - should it be "Miscellaneous Ramblings", or "The War in Viet Nam"?
I was stirred as a I read a story in today's New York Times. Its about the troops who just arrived back home from combat in Iraq. Damn - some of it sounded all to familiar.
The military is doing a lot of things right today. Even before leaving Iraq, the troops were given help in dealing with their conflicted emotions as they departed for home. When they got back to Ft. Stewart, Georgia, they received more help. In one session, and after being asked what they missed the most (guess what that might be), they were asked what bothered them most now that they were home.
"Less tolerant of stupid people," Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Jordan of the First Brigade, Third Infantry Division, said bitterly. "Stupid people doing stupid things."
I recall that emotion clearly. After spending time watching green tracer bullets go over one's head, and having to make decisions that literally mean people live or die, it is difficult to return and hear about the vapid concerns of those whose lives remained essentially unchanged.
These soldiers have just joined a club - a very exclusive club. They have paid their dues, and no amount of money can buy a membership in that club. Membership in that club means others will never see the world in the same light they see it. They will have the uncanny ability to separate the important from the bullshit.
And I am proud of my fellow Viet Nam vets who made sure there were some of us old timers there to welcome the new vets back home. We will try to do for you what our country did not do for us.
From this aging vet to those who have newly won CIBs on their chest - - Welcome Home!
Posted on September 12, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - More Comparisons of Viet Nam & Iraq
I've had an interesting exchange with Brian of the July blog. In August, he posted an entry that compared the current situation in Iraq with the war in Viet Nam. In my comment to his blog, I made an assumption that the author really didn't know much about the war.
Wow! Was I wrong!
In a delightful exchange, we agreed and disagreed on various points. One disagreement was about the events after American troops began to pull out. I recommend two books to anyone interested the war - "A Better War" by Dr. Lewis Sorely analyzes the changes in strategy that GEN Abrams made when he replaced GEN Westmoreland. Another excellent book, though not as well researched as Sorley, is "Unheralded Victory" by Mark Woodruff.
But - my main disagreement still stands - America deserted the South Vietnamese. And I made my argument in a posting in August.
We made a commitment to the Vietnamese after ours troops were gone, and we did not live up to our promises. As a result, millions (yes, millions) of Vietnamese lost their lives trying to escape the Communist government, or they spent many years in re-education camps. That war could only be won by the Vietnamese - - and the same is true in Iraq today. Only Iraqis can govern their country - but they need the assistance of the US to create stable conditions upon which a viable government can be built. To do otherwise is to leave the Iraq to spiral dwon into tribal warfare and revenge killings.
America - do not desert people to whom you have made a commitment.
Posted on September 05, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - My Souvenir from Honduras
Okay - admittedly I have not posted to the blog lately.
As I keep playing with this medium, I am beginning to feel like a newspaper columnist would - the obligation to post everyday. For good or for bad, I am just not smart enough to come up with something new every night. The muse doesn't visit often enough.
But lately I've had an excuse - I just flat don't feel well. After returning from Honduras (link to the journal from that trip - find all the postings in the Christianity category), I brought home a souvenir. My stomach decided to get nasty with me and bring lunch back up, and I was very tired. I discovered Pepto Bismol masked the symptoms, so I chewed many a Pepto tablet during the visit to Viet Nam. But - - I forgot about taking the Pepto after the trip to Viet Nam, and my stomach acted up again.
Today was the day for tests. The docs wanted to check both ends. All I asked was that if they were going to use the same instrument, that they probe through the mouth first. The only discomfort was getting the IV started, and the rest of the time I was in la la land.
Tummy is tender and bloated, and I should know the results of the tests soon.
Posted on August 26, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Freedom of Expression on the Web (and this blog)
I chewed on this one - I really did. I even went against my wife's advice. (Always a risky proposition) For many bloggers who have done this for awhile, its old hat - but not for me.
It has to do with power and tolerance. You see, a comment was made to the second of my postings about homosexuality. No - there was nothing obscene in the comment, and you can read it for yourself. Its just that the comment made light of something I felt deeply about. It seemed so flip and inappropriate. I have the power to delete the comment, but more importantly, I need to learn tolerance.
The commenter is a friend of mine. I've known him for over 30 years. In an email, my wife told him I would probably delete the comment.
But I haven't - and I won't. There is something for me to learn. You see, I have a history of being judgemental. People are usually nice to me and say I am just a critical thinker - or they just ignore me. But age has told me that some of my diatribes are really just outlets for a superiority attitude.
So - its not up to me to decide if someone else's comments are appropriate or not. Besides, as a good Netizen, I know the culture of the web is to have an open and uncensored exchange of ideas.
Post whatever comment you wish. The only thing I will delete will be out-and-out obscenity and obvious spam.
But - be gentle folks. I'm a sensitive sorta guy.
Posted on August 05, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Leaving Iraq: Shadows of Viet Nam
Okay - like many veterans of the war in Viet Nam, I am already tired of the comparisons between what happened in Viet Nam and what is happening in Iraq.
Maybe I should restate that to "what I think will happen in Iraq."
I already hear rumblings in the media about "bring our soldiers home," and "leave Iraq for the Iraqis," and "this is not worth American lives," and "another quagmire."
I am not debating whether we should have fought the war in Iraq - the fact is, we did fight the war. Period. That fact cannot be changed. Just as the debate about whether we should have ever been in Viet Nam is fruitless, so is any debate about whether we should have gone into Iraq. Please don't waste time and key strokes to argue about learning lessons, because most people cannot even agree what the lessons are that we were supposed to learn in Viet Nam.
But I do know this - whether the United States was right or wrong to fight in Viet Nam, we know that the people of the south came to depend on us. So, while we scaled back our troop support for the south, they continued their fight. China and the Soviet Union continued their support for the Communist north. But when all the American troops were finally home, the United States broke promises to the south. The United States failed to come to the assistance of the south when the north launched a naked assault on the south in the fall of 1974, and the Communists rightly interpreted that as a sign we would not help at all - hence their successful campaign in the spring of 1975 that culminated in the fall of Saigon in April. Not only did we not come to the aid of the south, but Congress cut funding. The south was left to fight the well-equipped troops of the north with old equipment and little ammunition.
The result? Over 1.6 million Vietnamese had to escape Communism at great peril using small boats on the high seas. Many went on to live elsewhere. There (obviously) can be no exact count of the numbers of escapees who perished when their boats were swamped, or who were killed by pirates. Of course, there were the thousands who were "repatriated" back to Viet Nam because the nearby countries such as Hong Kong and The Phillipines refused to take more refugees.
Fact - American abandoned the southern Vietnamese. In our guilt, we took in many hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees.
Now, casualites are piling up in Iraq. I have little faith in the American public's abilty to do much of anything over the long haul. Our society focuses on the short term - and often the focus is on shallow things - and the focus is usually on ourselves.
We have rid the Iraqis of a terrible dictator who killed tens of thousands of his own countrymen, and caused tens of thousands more to die in a fruitless war against Iran. He raised his sons to be brutal torturers and rapists. He lived in unbelievable luxury while his people died for lack of medicine. We forcibly removed him from power, and are now settling in for the long haul - and it is still costing American lives.
But there is the selfish best interests of the United States to keep in mind too. We have already seen that failed states such as Afghanistan and Sudan are breeding grounds for radicals enmical to America.
As a soldier with a Purple Heart pinned on me in Viet Nam, I wonder if once again I will be embarrassed by my country's lack of intestinal fortitude. I wonder if once again we will abandon a people for whom American blood was spilt, and leave the Iraqui people subject to yet another brutal government.
Posted on August 04, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Miscellaneous Ramblings - Montezuma is Alive and Well (and Living in My Intestinal Tract)
I know - - I know. I haven't been a good blogger and posted lately.
But - I do have an excuse. If my Mom lived nearby, I'll bet she would write an excuse for me to take to my teacher. You see - I've been sick.
After we came back from Honduras, I had a little bout with "loosing my lunch" one day. Felt pretty puny too. But, not wanting to risk not going on the trip to Viet Nam, I discovered Pepto Bismol worked well at masking the symptoms. So - I chewed on a lot of Pepto tablets while traveling in Viet Nam - and did just fine.
Then, we got home and I stopped the Pepto. Last Friday I went to work, only to go right back home and loose breakfast. Most of the weekend was spent in bed feeling puny. Yesterday morning was spent at the doctor's office - and this morning they gouged my veins in an attempt to find blood to check. I also must collect "stool specimens." As my friend J. Bradford says, that means I have to get my ---t together.
I promise to write again soon - as soon as I get my ---t together.
Posted on July 29, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Getting Started
It had to happen sometime. I've been looking at blogs for sometime, wondering if this medium might be something I would be interested in using. After wandering around the medium for awhile, I thought I would explore blogs for myself - and see how they might be a part of my online life.
There are a few parts of my life that I am prone to think and write about -
This blog will give me a chance to experiment and find out if this medium is for me. We'll find out, eh?
Posted on June 07, 2003 in Miscellaneous Ramblings | Permalink | Comments (0)