Hey Fellas & New (M)Sgt's

Just thought I would drop you a line since it's been a bit... Not much NEW except that I passed another test.. Yup I took te DANTES for Ethics in Amercia and passed... So all my requirements should be complete now for my CCAF, I just have to make sure my UMUC transcript has been sent..  Watch out world  T-hoe actually made him self eligible for SMSgt..

Just i would let you all know since it YOU all (and Tammy) who care..

Love and miss you all
J

Howdy BFFs

Sorry I've been kinda lazy on posting or keeping in touch. What can I say there's a lot going on. Okay no excuses...I'm bad a it.
Well I'm here in Al Dahfra. This is the most I have every seen a base set up out of all my deployments. You guys may have already heard of the many creature comforts we have here: wireless internet, off base trips, dorms, a pool, a sports complex, 2 beers a day, movie theater...the list goes on. You'd think all these things would make a deployment fun. Well it's the opposite really. I had more fun fun getting shot at and roughing it to tell you the truth. This mainly because the Fire Chief is running all the guys into the ground and destroying moral and motivation. I actually approached him about it and it ended up getting flipped around on me. To make a long story short, remember back when we use to comment on the differences between a leader and a manager(or shall I say micro-manager). Either way I have a great group of guys to work with, and they help me look past our daily battles.
Enough of the griping.
Things are well with me and the fam. Andrea made it through 29 weeks of pregnancy. This makes me extremely happy being that we weren't able to make it through 24 weeks with Ryan. The surprise that I have for her in August is definately going to happen. (I mentioned what that was to John and Sergeant G. It's still on the D/L) I'm still hoping for a boy.
Not at all upset about Tech promotions. I wasn't expecting to get it this year anyways. I know where I stand and feel I have a really good chance next year. I actually came close. I am really happy for the ones that did make it. Dillon and Skerrett both got line numbers for Master. Sorry Jeremy, better luck next time bro.
I hope that that everyone is doing well and is able find happiness during this time in our lives.

Miss ya fellas, God bless.
-HICK

Workin it

I know its been a while since I posted anything on the blog, but I figured this would be the easiest way to reach everyone. This has been a trip so far after spending around 50 days at FOB Rustimayah we finished the DFAC roof 15 days ahead of schedule, even though we had over 100 mortars dropped on use you would be amazed how fast you can jump off a 35 foot roof when alarms start going off considering the FOB is only about a quarter square mile big no matter where they hit you would hear it and the DFAC is almost in the center. We have a guy working on a slide show once he's finished I will post it.

I am now back at FOB Hammer it is quiet and peaceful but, there is so much bullshit here I would rather go back to "Rusty" and get mortared everyday. They have some of the dumbest smart people I have ever meet running the show here. We are at least 2months behind on every project and my 4 little stripes are flexed to there fullest, no one wants to be told by a SSgt they have F__k up everything from the start. But enough complaining I have to get ready for work

Later

True Friendship

I thought this really spoke about the BFF's , my local Wingman sent it to me today.

1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on mountain dew.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well

Again. I don't want whatever the hell you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end.

'Why?' you may ask; 'because you are my friend'.

Friendship is like peeing your pants,

everyone can see it,

But only you can feel the true warmth..

Nail in the Fence

NAIL IN THE FENCE
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence. (Most
importantly the last sentence)
There once was a little boy who had a bad
temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time he lost his
temper, he must hammer a nail into the back
of the fence.

The first day the boy had
driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his
anger, the number of nails hammered daily
gradually dwindled down.  He discovered
it was easier to hold his temper than to
drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the ! day came when the boy didn't
lose his temper at all. He told his father
about it and the father suggested that the
boy now pull out one nail for each day that he
was able to hold
his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally
able to tell his father that all the nails
were gone.

The father took his son by the
hand and led him to the fence He said, 'You
have done well, my son, but look at the
holes in the fence. The fence will never be
the same. When you say things in anger,
they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put
a knife in a man and draw it out.

It won't matter how many times you say 'I'm
sorry', the wound is still there.  A verbal
wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They
make you smile and encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share words of praise
and they always want to open their hearts to us.'

YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED!

Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole.

Work in Progress

So I figured since George and I have been passing some qoutes back and forth that I would just start listing some of them here.. I assume everytime that you or I edit this post it should remain near the top for all to see.. Feel free to add one if it's GOOD !!.. Lets see how this thing ends up.. Here are the 1st couple

1- He who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly answers and ceases when he has no more to say is in possession of some of the best requisites of man.

2- "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

3- How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it

4- No one, on their deathbed, ever wishes they'd spent more time at the
office.

This one for you guys

I thought this was cool..

in the sand, Pusan, S. Korea