Update 40 days and 40 nights
Update, 40 days and 40 nights
All who are religious know this to be the length of Lent, AKA the run up to Easter. For me right now, that's the length I've been here in Iraq, and the number of consecutive days that I've worked. I have had no days of, with no reprieve in the future. It's kind of odd, but this is re energizing my system, much like being in the field in September while still in Germany did. I have a feeling that this may make my decision to stay in harder.
I'm right now going through a couple of debates in my mind, if you read the buliten from a week or so ago, you know part of it. I'm right now SERIOUSLY considering re enlisting. Before you go nuts and start freaking out, let me explain a couple things. The way the military is now, if I get out, it's likely that I'd get called back in anyways. Why not get a bonus to stay in, instead of getting out and getting voluntold to come back, no bonus or anything. Also adding to this, is the option to possibly change jobs, thus making me MORE valuable to the civilian world if and when I do get out. Two marketable skills instead of one. You see what I'm getting at here. Last but not least, my little brother Matt. His attitude is infectious. He's getting ready to go to Germany for three years (he switched from Reserve to Active), and he's AMPED about it. Even knowing what happened to me through my stay there, he's still wanting to go. I don't know if I could live with myself knowing that my little brother out did me in ANYTHING, let alone something I started.
Off to my stay here, it's hot, but so far nothing uber huge to report. I'm enjoying what we have, to include a decent subway, and a pretty good DFAC. Best of all is the money I'm getting. YES we did get extended three extra months, but that's good for me in a way. With the extra money I'll be able to put more down, and get the car I'm looking at getting easier. By the way, it will be a 2007/2008 Impala. The only requirement I have, stick shift with satalite radio. That's pretty much it for me. Real simple to please.
Now to the recent thing that is really kind of bugging me. It was one of my NCO's that pointed this out, and made me thnk about it really. Virginia Tech, yes it was tragic that it happened. Yes 32 souls were lost, 33 to include the gunman, but IT DOES NOT DESERVE A DAMN WEEK IN THE HEADLINES!!!!. One day, MAYBE, thats a huge maybe, two. Mad at me yet? Well here's my reasoning behind this pissing me off a bit. Where am I? What happens every day here?. The answers: I'm in Iraq, and everyday we have soldiers dieing. Do they get a week per person? No, 99 percent of the time, they don't even get a mention. What makes VT so different? I mean, seriously? They lose 33 people, when we've lost 3300 give or take. Take what you want from that, but the news, and the media needs to get off VT's nuts if you ask me.
My overall mood is pretty good. I love the people I work with, so I have no real complaints. The heat gets bad, but it's only 90 degrees right now on a good day, so it'll only get worse come July and August (around 140).
In the other news, the NHL playoffs are well into it. The first round is all but over, Detroit can end tonight with a win over Calgary, and Dallas can win their series in game 7 tomorrow night in Vancouver. Our Wild however were outmatched in 5 games by the Anaheim Ducks. We did manage one win at home but really never got any signifcant offensive attack going. That's the way of the game, just regroup and try again next year. In the NBA, the playoffs have started, the first of the game 1s were played last night, with the rest starting tonight. In Major League Baseball, Barry Bonds is now at 739 career homeruns. That's 16 behind Hank Aaron for the record, 17 from breaking. My prediction on that is mid August. The biggest rivalry arguably in all of sports started the other night. Of course I'm speaking of the Boston RedSox and the New York Yankees. Before tonights game, which features the Japanese sensation Dice K's first start vs the Yankees, the Sox have taken both games thus far. Even though Alex Rodriguez has done his part to prevent it by continuing his hot hitting. But it IS only the first month of the season. Also in the Big Leagues, Mark Buerhle threw a No Hitter the other night vs the Texas Rangers, only surrendering a 5th inning walk to Sammy Sosa, thus the miss on a perfect game. Last night also saw the first triple play of the year. The Phillies turned a 5-4-3 (3rd base to second to first) triple play in the 5th inning vs the Reds.
That's truly about it for me, more updates to come as they happen of course. Keep in touch, I'll do the same.
SPC Jason Rynders 63B US ARMY
All who are religious know this to be the length of Lent, AKA the run up to Easter. For me right now, that's the length I've been here in Iraq, and the number of consecutive days that I've worked. I have had no days of, with no reprieve in the future. It's kind of odd, but this is re energizing my system, much like being in the field in September while still in Germany did. I have a feeling that this may make my decision to stay in harder.
I'm right now going through a couple of debates in my mind, if you read the buliten from a week or so ago, you know part of it. I'm right now SERIOUSLY considering re enlisting. Before you go nuts and start freaking out, let me explain a couple things. The way the military is now, if I get out, it's likely that I'd get called back in anyways. Why not get a bonus to stay in, instead of getting out and getting voluntold to come back, no bonus or anything. Also adding to this, is the option to possibly change jobs, thus making me MORE valuable to the civilian world if and when I do get out. Two marketable skills instead of one. You see what I'm getting at here. Last but not least, my little brother Matt. His attitude is infectious. He's getting ready to go to Germany for three years (he switched from Reserve to Active), and he's AMPED about it. Even knowing what happened to me through my stay there, he's still wanting to go. I don't know if I could live with myself knowing that my little brother out did me in ANYTHING, let alone something I started.
Off to my stay here, it's hot, but so far nothing uber huge to report. I'm enjoying what we have, to include a decent subway, and a pretty good DFAC. Best of all is the money I'm getting. YES we did get extended three extra months, but that's good for me in a way. With the extra money I'll be able to put more down, and get the car I'm looking at getting easier. By the way, it will be a 2007/2008 Impala. The only requirement I have, stick shift with satalite radio. That's pretty much it for me. Real simple to please.
Now to the recent thing that is really kind of bugging me. It was one of my NCO's that pointed this out, and made me thnk about it really. Virginia Tech, yes it was tragic that it happened. Yes 32 souls were lost, 33 to include the gunman, but IT DOES NOT DESERVE A DAMN WEEK IN THE HEADLINES!!!!. One day, MAYBE, thats a huge maybe, two. Mad at me yet? Well here's my reasoning behind this pissing me off a bit. Where am I? What happens every day here?. The answers: I'm in Iraq, and everyday we have soldiers dieing. Do they get a week per person? No, 99 percent of the time, they don't even get a mention. What makes VT so different? I mean, seriously? They lose 33 people, when we've lost 3300 give or take. Take what you want from that, but the news, and the media needs to get off VT's nuts if you ask me.
My overall mood is pretty good. I love the people I work with, so I have no real complaints. The heat gets bad, but it's only 90 degrees right now on a good day, so it'll only get worse come July and August (around 140).
In the other news, the NHL playoffs are well into it. The first round is all but over, Detroit can end tonight with a win over Calgary, and Dallas can win their series in game 7 tomorrow night in Vancouver. Our Wild however were outmatched in 5 games by the Anaheim Ducks. We did manage one win at home but really never got any signifcant offensive attack going. That's the way of the game, just regroup and try again next year. In the NBA, the playoffs have started, the first of the game 1s were played last night, with the rest starting tonight. In Major League Baseball, Barry Bonds is now at 739 career homeruns. That's 16 behind Hank Aaron for the record, 17 from breaking. My prediction on that is mid August. The biggest rivalry arguably in all of sports started the other night. Of course I'm speaking of the Boston RedSox and the New York Yankees. Before tonights game, which features the Japanese sensation Dice K's first start vs the Yankees, the Sox have taken both games thus far. Even though Alex Rodriguez has done his part to prevent it by continuing his hot hitting. But it IS only the first month of the season. Also in the Big Leagues, Mark Buerhle threw a No Hitter the other night vs the Texas Rangers, only surrendering a 5th inning walk to Sammy Sosa, thus the miss on a perfect game. Last night also saw the first triple play of the year. The Phillies turned a 5-4-3 (3rd base to second to first) triple play in the 5th inning vs the Reds.
That's truly about it for me, more updates to come as they happen of course. Keep in touch, I'll do the same.
SPC Jason Rynders 63B US ARMY