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August 26, 2004Marines in IraqFor those who have not seen it before, Brian Palmer has been with the 24th Marine Expeditionary unit for about seven weeks and has documented the time with a weekly digital diary including prose and photos. The final installment of the six week project is now online. For a good insight on what our Marines in the 24th have been going through over the past couple of months, you can read the whole thing. Although anecdotal, here's a taste of what U.S. Marines in Iraq are feeling about the 2004 Presidential election. Yes, I confess, Mike and his wife are close friends of mine. Whether you agree with his sentiments or not, please keep them in your prayers. Posted by Adam H at 05:29 PM ~ Link Cosmos
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Chapomatic linked with 24 MEU: Reporting Done Right The Command Post - 2004 US Presidential Election linked with A Marine In Iraq's Opinion August 19, 2004Floating AwayAs if all of the great outdoors fun I've had this year wasn't enough, I'll be heading out here shortly for another weekend river trip. I was originally slated for another BYOB weekend on a sandbar in the Arkansas River. However, fate stepped in like it often does. I'll be en route to Noel, Missouri, to float the Elk River with a group of folks. It will apparently be a rather easy float. I called my brother last night who has floated it many times and he reported that the only time he has flipped on the Elk was after he and his partner had split 41 beers. I told you he was an offensive lineman in college, right? In any event, I'll be the advance team, as everyone else will be arriving later that night. Heh. I get to set up the camp to my own liking. That could be dangerous. We'll actually be camping on a 12-acre island on the river and that ought to be pretty cool. And besides my own stuff, I'm assigned to bring beer and a watermelon. You see most of those folks are coming from Oklahoma where the beer is legally restricted to 3 something percent, so, of course, they're all clamoring for "some of that good ole Arkansas beer." I told them I'd bring the 30-30 (Miller Light and Bud Light; we've got to do the taste test you know). Heh. So folks, I'll be off in a bit for another great adventure with a yellow dog. There'll be pics and debauchery to report I'm certain. In the meantime, keep (or start) making your plans for the Jawja Blogger Meet. (Incidentally, that will be along a river, too. I wonder if being born under the sign of Pisces might explain all these watery escapades.) Thanks...I thinkOne time in high school, my family made the trek to Altus, Oklahoma, to visit all the family from out there (Momma's an Okie). My cousin Randy and I decided to call up a bunch of his friends and play basketball. I suppose I was a senior or something because my sister had started growing into the beautiful young woman she is and one of the Randy's friends had met her earlier on the trip. This one particular friend was in some sort of phase where he was all g-hopped gangsta style muh nizzle. I enjoyed shutting the little "G" down on the basketball court. I mean, really, if you've ever visited Altus, Oklahoma, you know the place is not among the hot spots of Crips and Bloods activity. This was around the same time that HBO's Gang War: Bangin' In Little Rock documentary was being filmed in Little Rock. Just from being around those Little Rock bangers, I had more "G" in my cracker pinkie than all of Altus if I wanted to turn it on. Anyway, at some point during the game, little "G" boy remarked that my sister was "f---'in" hot. All I could think to say was, "Thanks...I think." One of the best things about Rob, aka Acidman, is you damn well know where you stand with him. So it was with great curiosity that I went over to his site after seeing I had been the lucky recipient of an Acidbath from my sitemeter. Just scroll down to the last paragraph to see what Rob had to say about your humble SSG. Thanks for the link Rob...I think. Just Damn! August 18, 2004Trying TriathletesYour humble correspondent had an incredible weekend. As I reported earlier, I spent the weekend down at DeGray Lake to cheer my cousin on in the Iron Mountain Man triathlon. Now gentle readers, this wasn't a leisurely 5k or 10k. This was a half Iron Man competition. That translates into a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile bike ride, and topped off with a 13.1 mile run. Just Damn! Luckily, it wasn't a typical August day and the temperatures were rather mild for such a test of endurance. I'd never watched a triathlon before and it was intriguing. The transition area was packed with bikes and gear the participants would switch between. This wasn't some sort of amateurish event. Though it's still not clear to me how it all works, but there were folks from all over the country and this was some sort of nationally rated event. We're talking there were folks from as far east as Dunwoody, GA, west to California, northeast to New Jersey, Northwest to Colorado, etc. At the event, my cousin and two of his club members from Oklahoma City competed among the over 500 contestants. I have to confess, I'm more than a little inspired to get into something like that. I'll probably start by getting back into running and some mountain hiking. Part of that reason has to come from this exchange with my sister who had also come down to cheer our cousin. Sis: You know there's a bunch of girls here that could really kick your @ss. SSG: I know! I was just thinking that. Sis: You better behave yourself. Heh. SSG: Well, I figure if any of them got after me, I could probably get a head start for a little sprint. Sis: Adam, these girls run 13 miles. SSG: Yeah, so I guess I'd climb one of these pine trees and throw pine cones at them. So, what do you expect your humble SSG to do with so many finely tuned triathlete women roaming around, their bodies glistening in the sultry Arkansas August afternoon? Well, for one thing it's important to remember that a female triathlete is not nearly as dangerous after completing a Half Ironman. You might be able to take 'em. Now imagine hopping into a comely triathlete's SUV to show the way for a beer run, and she pops in a Rodney Carrington: Greatest Hits CD. Now you tell me--what is a SSG supposed to do? At this point, there is no more decisions for the SSG to make. His subconscious just takes over. It is out of his control. Besides, can you think of a better way to honor the Summer Olympics? But, alas, the comely young triathlete had to go home to (Undisclosed location). Longtime readers are well aware that I tend to not kiss and tell except for only the most trusted of friends. And due to certain sensitivities, I'll not provide any details that would betray her identity. Heck, with a name and a google search anyone could be looking at pictures of her in seconds. Maybe some of my more trusted pals at the Jawja Blogger meet-up will hear more of the details. We rounded the weekend out with an afternoon back at Lake DeGray swimming, playing stickball, telling lies, and sharing jokes with the cousin and his girlfriend, and my sis and brother-in-law. We left the lake and headed over to Hot Springs to share the wonder of the waters with our guests from out of state. We had a fine meal at The Faded Rose. The crawfish etoufee there is excellent and you should have seen the triathlete girl's steak. We finally made it back to Little Rock around 11 that evening, exhausted but happy. Jawja Bloggers Ride AgainOh, gentle readers, trouble is a brewing for a little hamlet called Helen, Georgia. You see the time has rolled around to lay out plans for the Jawja Blogger Meet Up. This time the inimitable Velociman is laying on the plans for us to rendezvous for the Helen Oktoberfest in the North Georgia Mountains. Oh the tales that will be told and the ones that will be created.... Unfamiliar with the Jawja Bloggers Meet-Up? In a nutshell, it started with Acidman two years ago. He had put out the word of where he was going to be and was surprised by my good blogbrutha Dax. Last year, the crowd multiplied exponentially and boy what kind of fun we had. And Acidman has put out the call. Now it looks to grow again and if you are anywhere near Helen, Georgia or are willing to make the trip out there, I must insist that you make all efforts to get there. It wil be well worth it. I can honestly say that friendships were made on that meet-up last year that have lasted. My blog sis- Kelley, Dax who carted me all over the North half of metro Atlanta looking for my clothes and keys. Eric, my Marine friend who has been my reliable guest poster, Key who has been my sounding board on a number of issues and vice versa, Kenny who I later met out drinking in Marietta, and, of course, Denny who helped Kelley and I circle the wagons at the Greater Atlanta Blogger Meet Up. There's many more and I apologize for not naming us all in this entry, but you can look back here for all the folks that were there last year. And this is overwhelmingly important to add--you don't have to blog or be a blogger to come. Readers and commenters are not only welcome but encouraged to attend. I won't promise you'll get a word in edgewise, but in all truthfulness we like to hear what you have to say often more than what we are spouting off about. So make your plans now: Helen, GA, October 15 and 16. (Now I have to go check airfares to Atlanta or somewhere halfway close. Who wants to pick me up at the airport?)  
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