Cowboy

D-Day, April 6, 2006

2006-04-06T13:25:00.000-06:00

Well, after studying countless notecards and reciting the NCO Creed 2 million times, I went to the E-5 promotion board and got recommended for promtion.

Thank God that's over! I have had a head-ache for the last three days waiting for this board. It was me and an E-5 who were attending the board. I went first. I was in there for about 45 minutes. Throughout the board, the president of the board kept interviening the other board members to give small lectures to me. Finally, right before I was dismissed, I was asked to ride a chair like a horse and sing a song about why I wanted to be a cowboy on the mounted color guard. (The color guard needs more recruits to tryout) Oh and by the way, the NCO Creed I engrained into my head forever ... didn't have to say. The president said he knew I would know it and wanted to see what kind of character and sense of humor I had, hince the chair thing. All-in-all, I got recommended and I'm happy.

Empty plate ... no, not quite

2006-03-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Get over it's been a while since my last post. So, I was supposed to go to the E-5 promotion board in March. But, the list that that tells you whose sitting on the board and the different topics they'll ask came out pretty much the day before the board was scheduled. To say the least, I was not prepared. I guess it's my own fault because I should've been studying during the month prior, but you really don't start studying hard until about a week or two out. Oh, and during that time I was writing an eight page research paper about five different government agencies, their role in the hospitality industry and why the government feels they should be involved. And taking a final for the same course (Hospitality Law). Well, I finished the course recently, made an A+ and have registered for two more courses. My new promotion board date is April 6. The day after my board, the only other two Soldiers working in my section are moving to Germany. So, guess who is becoming the new editor of the Mountaineer the day after the board? Let me add for you how many people will be on the staff then, Three. Two of the people already have a section of their own, so they really don't count as staff writiers. So, it's just me as editor and writer. So, for anyone who might have read the paper before, don't be surprised if it's a little "different" in the near future. I may have a full plate with an evergrowing 56 page paper.

Hospital sleep sucks

2006-02-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Well, on Thursday evening I took my two-year-old son Ethan to the ER because his breathing was labored. After two chest X-rays, one IV, several vials of blood and oxygen tubes up the nose, he became a resident in the Family Care Ward due to RSV.

The first night was hell. He couldn't sleep and I couldn't sleep. A vinyl pull-out chair for a bed is not quite the same as ... well, a bed. I've had better nights sleep in a leaking tent in the rain.

Katy spent the second night with him and then I spent the last night with him again. My second time around wasn't as bad. I think I got about 4-5 hours that night. Ethan, he slept the whole time. The next morning he was ready to go and so was I. Unfortunately, the DR. on call was busy in the ER and didn't get up to release us until about 3 that afternoon. Ethan is home now but still needs O2 at night. He will see the DR. later this week to make sure he can come off it. Did you know if the O2 level in your blood drops to 80 whatever it starts to cause brain damage. If it drops to 70 you can go into coma. Normal is mid 90's. Ethans was in the low to mid 80's that first night. But, he's fine now and Katy and I have got a hospitalized child under our parenting belts now. After times like this is when I'm very thankful for the Army and that FREE medical care. But, again, joining the Army while the kids were young had great baring on why I joined. We knew they would need medical care more in their young lives than any other time (hopefully). By the way, does anyone know of a good paying company with decent medical coverage?

Happy Valentine's to ME!

2006-02-08T17:00:00.001-07:00

Just so everyone knows, (especially my wife ... SHHH) I have the greatest wife ever. I have been watching the Ronco infamercials about these fabulous knives for quite some time. One morning my wife suggested I just get them. But, I'm not one to spend money on something I already have. Our knives worked just fine, they cut things. While OOing and Ahhing over Ron's knives, my wife was on the computer ordering me the set with the block. I love her.

Then to make my week even better, she called a man about some saws he had listed in the newspaper I write for. Now, I look through the classifieds every time the paper comes out. I have even called several times about things, all tools, but they are always sold before I call. So I thought the same about these, but when she called he still had them. He wanted $120 for both, but after some negotiation, I got him down to $100. Man what a deal. $120 would have been a deal. They are both bran new, only used just a few times. Man I love her.

But, I think she knows what she is doing. I'm the cook in the family and the carpenter. If I have the right tools for the job, the job is usually a meal or a project for her. I love her.

2006-02-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

My parents at Garden of the Gods during a visit this Jan.

One of the photos I took last summer at the zoo.

My youngest cowboy, Ethan.

I'm getting closer ...

2006-01-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

As all three of you may or may not know, I have been taking online college courses for almost a year now. This is one of the greatest benefits the Army provides. The medical care and the opportunity to get a free college education, which is exactly what I'm doing, is fantastic. There is no way I would have been able to work full time and afford to take courses and support my family if not for the Army. I was in a catch-22 situation. I couldn't find a job that payed enough because I didn't have a degree and I couldn't get a degree because I couldn't pay for tuition. I'm sure I could have done it, because people do, but this way made it a easier and free.

I take courses from Columbia Southern University in Alabama. I love how they have their courses set up. It is so easy to navigate their site and if I had to pay tuition, it is really affordable compared to most online programs. I'm only taking one course right now because I'm also getting prepared to go to the E-5 board in March. I didn't want to over extend myself by taking two courses and studying for the board at the same time. Two courses is the max you can take at a time from CSU because the courses are only 10-weeks long. But trust me, when you get into senior level courses, you only want to take two. I've done pretty well so far with my grades, but I could have done better, you can always do better, right. I've made a few A's and more B's, but my lowest is a B. I was upset with my last two courses because I made an 89 in one of them. I think I would have rather had an 80 instead of being so close to an A and not getting it. Oh, and for those that are under the misconception that grades don't matter as long as you get that degree ... wrong. I was searching jobs the other day and one of the qualifications specifies a degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Can you say pressure. I'm in the 3 point something and intend to stay there, but now there is pressure. Just passing some of these courses was pressure enough for me, now I have to make a B or better, shit!
Well, I also intend to get my MBA from this school, too. I'm going to use my GI Bill (another great military benefit) when I get out. Not only will the GI Bill pay for me to get the MBA, but it will also refund me the difference of the cost. The school set it up for military vets using the GI Bill to get maximum refunds.
Maybe there are some service members who read this little pathetic blog, and if so, maybe this post will at least make them think about working toward that college degree. Every college credit counts when it's free. Tuition at CSU is $175 per credit ($525 a course) and this is really low compared to others. Now, just taking five courses a year for four years saves you $2,625 a year and in four years you have an associates degree. A total of $10,500, something you may not want to pay for if it's coming out of your own pocket. A bachelors cost at least twice that much. And this is an inexpensive school folks. And by-the-way, a person with a bachelors degree makes over a million dollars more than a person with a high school diploma over their life time. Basically, all I'm saying is service members need to take advantage of the benefits while they can when they can.

A good experience

2006-01-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

I have another bragging story from this past weekend. Since I'm a journalist in the Army and a sports fan, I was chosen to cover a mass re-enlistment at the divisional playoff game between the Broncos and Patriots. The photo was requested for the Army Web site for a feature photo. And since I was the only military journalist there, I also took photos of the coin toss because the commander of NORTHCOM was the special guest. Being on the sidelines and the field with 75,000 people in the stadium was pretty cool. To be so close to the players that I could have reached out and touched them while they were conducting the coin toss was an awesome experience.

The other cool part about that night was that my ticket for the game said I was in section 7CC row 1 seat 7. When I learned that section 7CC was the Champions Club (Budweiser suite) I knew working on a weekend would be worth it. There was a free buffet all game long and an open bar. I met several ex-players for the Broncos and had a great time. I stayed in the suite for about 90% of the game eating mixed nuts and drinking Bud from the tap. I would step out to the balcony every now and then just to get a grasp of the stadium atmosphere, but mainly I watched the game from the comfort of a bar stool with the restroom about 15 feet away. I had about three plates of food and enough beer to make my bus ride back to Fort Carson quite comfortable. It was a night I won't soon forget. I felt like a high roller for a night ... it was quite a change. I have determined I definitely need to be wealthy now, because the nose-bleed seats aren't going to do it for me anymore.

Did ya miss me?

2006-01-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm not a geek like most of you are. Just kidding. If that was the case my wife over at Poop, Paxil and Pageantry would be the biggest geek of them all. Anyway, I just thought I would let all three of you know who visit my site that I might start posting every now and then.
Just to get you a little caught up, if you care, I will post stuff from the past. I would like to comment on my wife's post about my drunken stooper Rose Bowl night. First, Hookem' Horns!!!
Although there was not a sole there in front of the TV with me, I obviously had a good time. I warned Katy for a week that Wednesday night was my night. I told her I was getting a 12-pack, but honestly I didn't plan on drinking it all. I was just drinking and drinking so fast that I didn't realize I had drank that much until it was too late. Did I mention that Texas is National Champions, Erik.

Well, to say the least, I would only believe half of Katy's post because I don't remember what happened after the game ended. I do know that there was what looked like spaghetti in the bath tub the next morning, and I did eat spaghetti that night, but how do I really know it was me? I cleaned it out because Katy seemed not hung over and the kids couldn't have eaten that much, so I took her word for it.
The next morning at work was a little rough. I spent the first part of the morning reading all the stories about Texas' victory. I had to make sure I didn't imagine it. You may think it sounds pathetic that I drank alone, but I drank with thousands of people that night. The only difference was they were in Pasadena, Calif., and I was in Colorado Springs, Co.

Good day sir

Sounds pretty good

2005-08-31T14:25:00.000-06:00

I was sent this plan for world peace, which Robin Williams came up with. It sounds pretty good to me. We don't think Robin really came up with this, but it's still good to read.

1) "The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their

affairs, past & present. You know, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo,

Noriega, Milosevic, Hussein, and the rest of those 'good ole boys', we will

never "interfere" again.

2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with

Germany, South Korea, the Middle East, and the Philippines. They don't want

us there. We would station troops at our borders. No one allowed sneaking

through holes in the fence.

3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and leave.

We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be

gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of whom or where they are.

They're illegal!!! France will welcome them.

4) All future visitors will be tho-roughly checked and limited to 90 days

unless given a special permit!!!! No one from a terrorist nation will be

allowed in. If you don't like it there, change it yourself and don't hide

here. Asylum would never be available to anyone. We don't need any more

cab drivers or 7-11 cashiers.

5) No foreign "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If

they don't attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home baby.

6) The US will make a strong effort to become self-sufficient energy wise.

This will include developing nonpolluting sources of energy but will require

a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The caribou will

have to cope for a while.

7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel for

their oil. If they don't like it, we go some place else. They can go

somewhere else to sell their production. (About a week of the wells filling

up the storage sites would be enough.)

8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we will

not "interfere." They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain,

cement or whatever they need. Besides most of what we give them are stolen

or given to the army. The people who need it most get very little, if

anything.

9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an isolated island some place.

We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, the building

would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.

10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way, no one can

call us "Ugly Americans" any longer. The Language we speak is

ENGLISH...learn it...or LEAVE...Now, isn't that a winner of a plan?

"The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying 'Give me your tired, your poor,

your huddled masses.' She's got a baseball bat and she's yelling, 'You want

a piece of me?' "

The quick & dirty

2005-08-13T20:24:00.000-06:00

Well,
Hello folks,
I know I haven't posted in a while, but I haven't been feeling it lately. A lot has happened in the last month when I was away from my blogger friends though. (side note: sorry Erik if you get a little jealous about some of my entries, I wish I was in Iraq experiencing what you are, wait ... no I don't) Over the last month, I have:

1) Gone to an excellent July 4th celebration, here, at Fort Carson
2) Gone sky diving for the second time (this time for free)
3) Went to Texas for one of my best friends' funeral (29, cancer)
4) Won a camper trailer for the weekend and went camping with my bud from Carson
5) Got orders to PCS to 7th ID right next door (staying at Carson, hell yeh)
6) Went to Broncos training camp and had lunch with Jake Plummer
7) Finished my two college courses, thank God
8) made a stool for the twins to step on when going potty
9) Missed an opportunity to buy a 12" DeWalt mitre saw for $150, bought vacuum cleaner instead, woo hoo
10) Won the Power ball at $232 million

Although all ten of these events really happened over the last month, oh wait, one of them really didn't happen, I will still tell about a few.

Having a hard day fishing. No fish, but I did get sun burned though.

Me and Ethan went to Texas just to see my parents' pigs. I want to teach my children first hand. We were learning the letter "P" in the alphabet.

My buddy JR and I spent a night reminiscing about old times after my friends funeral.

Spent some time in Denver at the Broncos training camp. Met Mike, Jake and the other fellas.

I'll post more details about each of these events at a later time. I can't catch-up in one night. I'll also post more/better photos of them as well. Take care to all whom sleep with a weapon; and get out and do something to contribute to society to the rest.

I'm not dead

2005-08-05T10:58:00.000-06:00

All right, all right. I know I haven't posted in a while, but unlike most of you blog fanatics (Katy ole' darling wife of mine), I have a life. Just kidding nerds, I think blogging is a great hobby and a good way to keep in touch, I just really haven't been motivated to post. I am on a computer most of the day at work and try to get some college courses on it at night, so blogging hasn't been a high priority lately. Besides, when I'm not doing school stuff on the computer, my wife Katy hogs it. And she can eat a lot of computer. I only have a week left before my classes end and then I'll have some more free time. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Real Self Portrait Friday

2005-06-25T09:20:00.000-06:00

What the hell is she thinking. Or better yet, what the hell was I thinking giving her my password to blogger. Anyway, this photo was after a long day of journalistic journalizing as a journalist. I need a life.

Self Portrait Friday

2005-06-25T09:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, since Clint has been so unreliable when it comes to posting, I Katy, thought I would help him out. So here is my darling husband in all his glory. Enjoy!!!! Bwahahahahahahahahaha.

Can't wait

2005-06-23T20:19:00.000-06:00

Only one more week and I'll be standing knee deep in a brisk Colorado stream hoping to hook a nice sized rainbow.

My wife's step-sisters from San Antonio have been staying with us for awhile, and on July 4th weekend their mom and my father-in-law will be coming up to get them. While they are here, my father-in-law request that just he and I go fishing for a day. What a pain in my ass ... yeah right. We have lived in Colorado for over a year now and I still have yet to go fishing. It is a shame to live in such a beautiful area and not experience all it has to offer. Don't get me wrong, I am a Texan through-and-through, but Colorado is the next best state. It has been about 20 years or so since I last went fly fishing in a Colorado river and I can't wait to do it again. I have been researching my ass off to find a spot suitable for our fishing zen and now I think I have found it. If anyone from the sand box reads this, don't get jealous your time will come soon ... and so will mine.

Self Portrait Friday

2005-06-17T09:12:00.000-06:00

Hello...It's me Katy. I am posting these pics I took of Cowboy this morning. He wasn't exactly thrilled, but I do not really give him a lot of choice. The price you pay when I know your passwords. Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!

Feel free to leave him some comments. Not only am I a comment whore on my site, but yes, it does extend to his as well. Do I need help? Good god, No!!!!!!!

I'm back

2005-06-16T09:14:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been awhile since the last time I felt like writting anything on here. After my idiot move with the tooth guaze thing, I had to resort to some home remedies and they worked. I'm starting to eat better and plan on having a steak Friady, Yea! I have started running again in the mornigs and I thought I would be exuasted because of my bedresting and taking two weeks off of exercising, but I'm not. I think because I lost weight not eating I don't have as much to carry.
Well, between trying to work, catch-up on my college courses and my fatherly duties, I'll get back to posting some more rubish here.

I'm an idiot

2005-06-10T11:40:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I felt a huge relief in pain after the Devil Dentist put that "plug" thing in my dry socket. They didn't tell me to not take it out after eight hours. That thing tasted like ass. The only instructions I was given was to, "not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes." I was about to take it out earlier than I did, but it felt good having it in there. I stupidly removed that thing because I thought I needed to in order to eat dinner, who know, for survival. Well, today I started to feel a sense of pain again. Not as bad as before, but the same type to a lower degree. After doing some internet research, I decided to put a warm, moist piece of gauze in there. It seems to help a little, but if I have to go back to the Devil Monday, I'll be kicking myself. And if so, I'm leaving that "plug" in until it becomes a biological part of my mouth. Yep.

Ahh ... it feels good

2005-06-09T15:42:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in awhile. Mainly because I have been in some serious pain. Apparently, I got a dry socket in one of the four giant holes in my mouth. The pain was getting worse and the pain pills were getting depleted. Last night I decided I was going back to the Dentist Devil for some sort of black magic relief. But the only thing was, it wasn't black magic or any secret treatment. A simple medicated "plug" and presto ... no more pain. If I had only known all this sooner.
I'm going to be a horrible old man.

I'm the type of guy who doesn't like to go to the doctor unless I'm bleeding profusely from the head. But aside from the pain, the worst thing about getting all those teeth removed is not being able to eat more than what a small rodent would. I'm starving!!! When I get to 100% again, I'm going to eat a steak with a side of tortilla chips and queso. Yea, that's it.

Finally ... more money

2005-06-06T18:02:00.000-06:00

Well the day finally came. I was eligible for a promotion waiver in January hoping for February at the latest. Instead, I got June 1, 2005. It was such a joyous occasion. The whole famb damily was there. Waiting this long helped us be extremely thrifty. I hope we can stay just as thrifty so we can take care of these bills (student loans, see side bar, no pressure).

Don't you think Katy looks great pinnin' me? That is my Lt. Col. on the other side. I really don't have much else to say. It didn't seem like a big deal in the scheme of things, sorry. I was glad the family was there though, it was the highlight of the "ceremony." "We" just want the extra money, and "I" like how Specialist Stein roles off the tongue.

Bubble wrap

2005-06-04T16:10:00.000-06:00

Found this on Juner's site, Well actually on Jennifer's World. Anyone like poping bubble wrap? I go into manic mode and can't stop. It's childish but fun.

Ouch, I hurt

2005-06-04T12:36:00.000-06:00

If you read my wife's blog at all, you know by now what has happened. If not, let me give you the quick and dirty. Thursday morning I went to the hospital for an evaluation on my wisdom teeth. Guess what, they pulled all four of them on the spot. Well, I say pulled, but it was more like pulled two, yanked one and cut out the last. After taking four teeth, a piece of my jaw bone and giving me two stitches, I came home to rest.
But the resting didn't last long because my 2 and half year old son climbed up on a dresser that had a 20" TV on it and fell over, dresser, TV and son. The TV landed on his head and the dresser smacked his twin sister in the head and face. They were bruised and the son has a big mark on his head, but most importantly, the brand new $300 TV we just got them is OK as well. Just kidding, I checked out the next of kin before I worried about the TV.
Anyway, also that day I found out I am getting promoted finally. It was supposed to happen Friday, but because of the sudden oral surgery, it will have to wait until I go back to work on Monday.

I'm so cool ... to me

2005-06-01T18:00:00.000-06:00

I thought I had lost this photo on a CD somewhere, but thanks to my mom I have it for all to see. Being a journalist, I get the opportunity to see things that most people don't. One of them was the Stanley Cup. They brought it down from Canada last year to Fort Carson so Soldiers good take a peek. I made it my mission that day to get my grubby palms on it.

Several years ago I missed my chance to see it when I turned down an invitation to a college party at UT in Austin. I worked on the river in New Braunfels at the time and met this guy from UT who I became friends with. I think the friendship started out because I would let him float the river for free if he brought ten people with him. I thought I was creating a good marketing ploy and he thought he was creating a good hook-up. In the end we became good friends. Anyway, apparently the owner of the Dallas Stars has a nephew who was going to UT and who was also friends with my river bud. When they invited me to this party one night, the year the Stars won, I nor they realized the "nephew" was bringing over the cup. My river bud came back later with photos of them drinking beer from the cup and some "other" types of photos with the cup. I was so jealous, maybe it's a guy thing, I don't know.
Although I didn't get to drink beer from the sporting worlds holy grail, I did get proof I at least touched it. Finally, another thing marked off "the list."

I can't wait to get that degree

2005-05-31T07:30:00.000-06:00

Man, after 11 years of being out of high school I'm just 11 courses away from a bachelors degree. I know that should say doctorate, but that wasn't 11 consecutive years in college. It really feels good taking classes again. I have a different outlook about the whole thing. Instead of trying to make the grades and do as little as possible and still pass, I want to learn the material. Don't get me wrong, when I was in college the first time, I wanted to learn the material that was in my major curriculum, but not any of that other junk like biology or political science. I was studying to be a Hotel Resort Manager. Why did I have to learn how the insides of a frog work.

Anyway, I'm more interested in things now. I don't want to go into the back yard and catch a frog for my own experiments, but I enjoy learning new things more than I did ten years ago. I even go as far as researching business information on the internet. I have decided after having three children that Hotel management would take to much time away from them. Eventually I want to have a small campground/RV/river resort thing of my own ... Oh, and I will. So, the cool thing about the internet is I can find out how to get started and tips from people that are actually doing it and have not just studied how to do it. I'll post those theories later. But to make this story one sentence longer, I need that degree under my belt as some sort of accomplishment trophy to impress an employer into hiring me until I can get the resources to be my own Man.

Hello NFL

2005-05-30T07:44:00.000-06:00

My youngest son Ethan is a basher. From the first time I saw him I knew he was going to be a big boy. He is 16-months-old and is up to 26 pounds. He is only about 1 to 2 pounds lighter than his older brother who is a year and a month older than him. He's almost as tall, too. The twins push him around a little and he falls a lot, but that's just making him tougher than them in the long run I think. Also, this kid eats like there is no tomorrow. Last night he shared steak with Katy and me. But he's not fat. He has a barrel chest and tree trunks for legs. He looks like a defensive lineman or maybe a big tightend. Either way, I know this boy was meant to play ball.

P.S. He also has the blond hair and blue eyes to help please all his fans.

Thank You

2005-05-29T20:16:00.000-06:00

I have received our (family) biggest donation today. I started a College Loan Relief Fund awhile back to help us get rid of that monster ASAP. Like a lot of high school grads, I didn't have the money to afford college on my own, but I had the grades to get me in. Even working full time at a local hotel, I still needed the financial assistance ... Loans. Yes, I received some Pell Grants, but because of some dumb ass rule you have to go by parents' income until 24 years old, I could only get maybe half of what I needed. If they'd used my yearly income I'd been sittin' pretty. Nevertheless, I started to get so far in debt I even had to put tuition on credit cards. I became so stressed out trying to work, make grades and pay rent, I needed a break. It was the ever so popular, "I'll take a year off and come back to finish," break. Yea, right. The next thing I know, I'm working in the field I was studying for, Hospitality and Tourism, getting married, having twins and even a third child and eventually joining the Army. I am currently taking correspondence courses and plan to finish my degree in about a year and a half from now, and the bill's on the Army this time around. That's it in a nutshell.
Now, the only thing really left to do is to get those loans paid off. I started my button because of all the crazy things I see people donating to, buying off E-bay or giving to crooked pastors, I thought maybe there would be some people willing to help us out for a good cause. Unless otherwise told, I want to keep those who donate to my fund anonymous. But let me tell you, If anyone matches the recent donation, it would definitely not go unnoticed. To the one who donated today ... Thank you. Your a great example of generosity and compassion. You must have been were I was at one time and can feel my pain. And if so, it makes your contribution that much more special.

I'm drowning

2005-05-29T10:13:00.000-06:00

I got a comment from an old friend yesterday. He asked about my donate button for my massive student loan debt. After switching from one blog host to another, it was left off on my new site. Well, now it's back (Side bar). I don't really know what to say in order to encourage complete strangers to help me and my family pay this thing off, because heaven knows I'm not the only poor sap with student loans. I just thought it would be a helpful supplement to what we are trying to do to pay this sucker off asap. If a looney person can make thousands from holding his own rabbit ransom and another man can get donations for a new Cadillac, I thought I could get a little support for trying to better myself for my family's benefit. If you've read any of my post, you know I'm a PFC in the Army and that does not pay real well. On top of a car payment, which we have never been late on in over three years, and the rest of the usual bills everyone has, I've got this "Other" bill poking in my side. We really want to boost our credit rating and lower our debt to income ratio so we can get a house and a good start on life after the military. We have great goals, good morals and a beautiful family. I want to make the best I can for the ones I love the most, but I'm afraid I'll be behind the curve if I can't take care of this loan. I'm not begging by any means, I just thought if people give money to looney toons and porn sites, there might be some people out there that would like to give to an actual cause ... my beautiful family.

The next president

2005-05-29T09:46:00.000-06:00

One of my old high school friend's big brother, Brandon Sanders, has been published. When I was in school I looked up to this man as one of the smartest and hardest working people in politics. He has been involved in several political campaigns and I believe he worked as an aid and campaign manager for Tom Davis? who ran for Texas State Rep. in 92. Well, if you link to one of his sites, he explains it much better. He wrote a book called "Heroes to Remember" about World War II vets and their stories. It is a multitude of first-hand accounts of what took place through the eyes of the vets themselves and much of his own research. The book is also in the Library of Congress as an official history of WW-II. He has always been fascinated with this generation and I knew one day he would open the rest of the world up to what he saw in these brave men. If you have any interest in WW-II or the untold stories from the men that were there, check out his site and order his book or download the pdf file.

Who likes the zoo?

2005-05-29T08:46:00.000-06:00

The zoo is one of my favorite places to visit. I love animals as long as I can just look at them and move on. It's like what grandparents say about their grandchildren. They like to visit and play with them, but the best part is they can give them back when they're done. I like to take the kids to the zoo the most, now. We took them for the first time last year, but they were only 1 and a half. It was much more enjoyable for them this time around. They did so well and walked about half the time. Their favorite part, and mine, was feeding the giraffes.

My new site

2005-05-29T08:19:00.000-06:00

Well, I have converted. My wife, Katy, talked me in to moving my blog site to this one. She designs my layout and does all the cosmetics on it. I just don't have the time. She has all the time in the world ... after she locks the kids in the closet. Ha ha ha. I think she's done a really good job so far. I love my new look and now maybe I'll be more inspired to post some enteries.

Self Portrait Friday

2005-05-20T12:02:00.000-06:00

My wife says Fridays are "self portrait Friday". So, I guess this means I have to play.

Ethan and I are playing some Splinter Cell on the PS2.

No time for blogging, gotta get to work.

My love

2005-05-18T11:58:00.000-06:00

My beautiful wife engaged in her hobby. When she's not blogging on the computer, she's grooming herself to look good for her man. Love ya babe.

2005-05-14T08:49:00.000-06:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

My dad

2005-05-12T08:28:00.000-06:00

My dad has a cattle ranch that he loves to work on. He has been building a new barn for a while now and had a little accident the other day. Somehow he got a piece of plastic in his eye, which caused it to swell and be irritated. He finally went to the doctor and had the object removed. For a bonus, I hope, they gave him these cool sun glasses.

Finished

2005-05-12T08:15:00.000-06:00

I have finally taken my final in the math course. I say finally, but I still had another 5 weeks to complete the course if I wanted to. I know, I'm an over achiever. Kidding. I just want to get started on some other course and finish them and start two more before the end of the fiscal year. While serving on active duty, you can use up $4,500 of tuition assistance per year. If I can get four more courses under my belt before the end of this fiscal year, then I'll be able to coast my way home to a degree well before I get out of the Army and it will all be free. Free. I'm soaking a student loan debt so big and the Army is giving away education. I wish I would have done these things in the opposite order, Army then college. Maybe I wouldn't have so to repay. Oh well, live and learn, right. Anyway, my first two test grades in the math course were A's and a feel pretty good about my final, too. I'm hoping to graduate Magna Cum Laude, and I think I can with some monetary incentives. Any takers?

Mother's Day vs. Father's Day

2005-05-08T08:31:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm almost half way through Mother's Day and it seems to be going well. My wife, and mother of three, has been in bed for about 17 straight hours so far. All she wanted was to be away from the kids and catered to all day. I think I have complied quite well. I got up with the kids and made her breakfast quasadillas? and brought it to her in bed. When the kids went down for a nap, I went to get a hair cut. When I returned I brought her frito pie and snickers bite-sized candy in bed. That's all she wanted, to stay in her T-shirt and panties all day in bed. It may have been a little more enjoyable if she felt better. She has a slight cold or something, but at least she's getting her rest. To be honest, I think it would have been much easier to have bought her a bracelet or ear rings, but this means more right? Oh, with her breakfast came flowers (or yellow weeds) and two Mother's Day cards from her children. Anyway, when it comes time for Father's Day, all I want is a full round of golf. I didn't get my full round for my birthday, only 9 holes because I had a party to attend. I didn't want a party at 30 years old, but it was a nice gesture though. I used to play golf constantly, I was even on my high school golf team. Now, I'm lucky if I can get a full round in each year of my life. I bet I've played less in the last 5 years than I did in one week when a wasn't a dad. But hey, that's a pretty good trade if you ask me. I love my kids to death and my wife is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Do you think I'll get a full round now?

My truck

2005-05-05T08:35:00.000-06:00

How do yall like my new truck? Hopefully in a few years it will actually be mine. I can't live in Texas for too long without owning one of these big boys. When our Montero is paid off, we'll save up for a couple of years. Then, it's my turn. Ha Ha, Hopefully?!?!

Splinter Cell

2005-05-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

Guess what, I have started playing my PS2 again. I got it as a Christmas gift from my wife two years ago. She also got me some used games too. I don't care if they are used or not, it's actually smarter and cheaper that way. Anyway, I did want one really cool game. I'm an adventure game guy. I talked about Splinter Cell, so she bought me the first edition on E-bay. When we first moved to Colorado Springs there was not any housing available for move-in. We stayed in a one-bedroom extended stay hotel for about two months until we got on-post housing. That is a story in itself. Well, while the kids all slept in the bedroom, my wife and I would play Splinter Cell. She enjoyed watching me play. She could give advice and help me figure out what to do next, but wasn't really great at actually operating the controller. Finally, after what seemed like a decade of staying at that hotel, we moved on post and I never saw Splinter Cell again. Now, the kids have a new TV in the play room, so I can go up there and play Splinter Cell while they play and crawl all over me. This is actually good Army training because I still need to focus on shooting a bad guy in the head while hanging from a pipe and keeping 2-year-old twins from pulling on the controller cord before the bad guy hits the alarm switch across the room. I know I have college courses to attend, but it's different studying with kids around as opposed to playing video games with them around. Besides, I need to catch up on the game, Splinter Cell 3 has already come out and I haven't finished the first one.

Another "A"

2005-05-03T08:39:00.000-06:00

As you may or may not know, I have been taking college courses online in order to finish my degree before I get out of the Army. Well, I'm almost finished with my first real course, Math. I took my second exam Sunday night. Although I missed two of the easiest problems because of stupidity, I still made an "A." Now, all I have left is the final and I'm that much closer to a BS in Hospitality and Tourism. I hope I can take the final this weekend sometime after the big yardsale and before the "The Contender" Sunday evening. If this is the case I will have finished the course in half the time allowed by the school. The next two courses I will be taking are History, before the Civil War, and Earth Science. Can't wait, after those courses only 11 more to go. Yee Haa.

Glad to be in Colorado

2005-04-30T08:40:00.000-06:00

These are some incredible photos. I complain about the weather in Colorado and then I see this. I've never seen anything like this that wasn't in a movie. I can't decide if this photographer was in the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever the case, he or she took some great shots.

update: I was cruising some regular blogs and found that Blackfive has these pics posted as well. Head on over and see what else is going on there.

Off-Roading

2005-04-29T08:43:00.000-06:00

I love jeeps. I love to off-road. There is a 86 jeep wagoneer in the paper this week for $500. It describes as "looks rough, but runs good" I want a wagoneer so bad. I want the older model too, like an 86 or any early 80s or late 70s. I would love to have one as an off-raod project. There are so many things I would like to do to it. How many times have you seen a decked out early model wagoneer? It would be so cool to have that large back seat for passengers to enjoy the rock crawling and mud swimming fun. I used to have a 89 wrangler, loved it. Now, for some reason, I want a big machine ... BIG! But, we have so many other things to take care of first. Besides, wagoneers are everywhere and I'll have to have a shop to work in first. Oh well, I can dream for now.

I'm an entrepreneur in a journalist body

2005-03-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

I have been writing for a military news paper, the Mountaineer, for a little more than a year now. I joined the Army in July of 2003 at the age of 29. I know that may sound strange at first, until you hear my story, but it was the best thing I could do for me and my family at the time. But more about that later on another post.

It expands one's mind to be able to do different things throughout life, and it makes one a more rounded person. Although I appriciate the experiences I have received while in the Army, I think too much like an entrepreneur. I am constantly thinking of starting my own business or ways to make money on the side while I am in the service. But, I do not let this distract me from my job, excuse me, duty, that I have to perform in the Army. I do, however, use the way of life I have become accustomed to now as a motivating factor to succseed when I get out. My plan, to start a business designed to help families grow close and to have fun. I let you know what that is at a later time as well.

My first blog

2005-03-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am. I hope this blog works out for me. My wife has been blogging for a while and loves it. She's really good at it too. I wanted to start my own, but couldn't use the same host she is using because I had problems posting pictures. Anyway, I look foward to this blog experience. I need to get ready for work now though. I'm a journalist in the Army stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.