My thoughts on 9/11

September 11, 2001 started off like most days in basic training. Butt-crack early pt and on to training. This particular day was basic rifle marksmanship. I was on ammo detail and had the luxury of listening to the radio in the van. I heard the news come over the radio and I was in shock. I wasn’t sure if it was a war of the world hoax or for real. I instantly knew the ramifications of this act.

I knew my life would change far more than I expected. This changed a lot of people’s lives. From this point, I would spend 3 years overseas.

I have heard certain service members that joined after 9/11 state that they are more patriotic or better than others because of it. This attitude totally degrades the service of the people before them. These same soldiers go around bragging and have conceited attitudes. They feel that everyone owes them something.

This is problematic when they act this way to civilians, especially veteran civilians. I had this situation happen to me recently. I just kept my mouth shut. Someone else pointed out to the soldier that I had served in Iraq. That soldier immediately got quiet and didn’t say another word about it. He realized I knew he was feeding the room a load of crap.

My point is that 9/11 is a source of unity, not a source of narcissism. Please thank soldiers for their service and remind them of the veterans they have followed.

Too funny

Mind crotch?

Pomp and what?

So, I graduate tomorrow with an Associate’s Degree in Networking. The graduating part isn’t a big deal because I start my Bachelor’s next week. The big part is the change of schools and direction in my career.

My BS will be in Management. I am getting closer to the age of being in a position of management. It isn’t for a lack of ability or competence that I am not one right now. I am most likely going to have to find another job once I have completed the degree. My company doesn’t really have any advancement opportunities, so I need to look elsewhere.

I held leadership positions while I was in the Army, but this seems to be a different monster. I am not yet proven in the civilian world’s eyes. It is frustrating at times, but I look at it as paying my dues. It is hard to get a company to at least take a chance on a 26 year-old manager or supervisor.

I worry that I will either be too young or too old or too experienced to be get a managerial/supervisory position. I am sure things will work out, but my uneasiness about the situation is irking me. Am I just over-thinking or am I spot on?

Can’t pick your family.

The black sheep or the castaway is the usual term for family members that do little to redeem themselves or do not seem to care that their actions greatly affect others.

Most of us have that family member that we are not so proud of. Many of us have more than one of those. I am one who can lay claim to the multiple family members. Whether in-laws or blood related, these people tend to drive us crazy and make us question whose genes they received.

My family and I have been through a lot in the past 3 years with both sets of families. It is hard for some family members to realize that people grow up and have their own families. Attention is taken away from their selfish acts and they raise the level of their antics.

What they don’t realize is their behavior only pushes people away. Pride and selfishness are the main cause of the family rifts. The especially sad cases are when the children act more like parents than the parents themselves. Parents demeaning their own children to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings.

I’m not saying to completely shutoff family, because family is there when others are not. Redefining roles and who is in the family is probably the best course.

Letting your actions build your reputation and character is the way it should be. One should not be defined by the actions of a selfish fool.

My Son

Just wanted to show everyone how cute my little boy is. I am so proud of him!