my life, my thoughts, my world.

Day 102

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

There really isn’t much to say today, as I did a lot of nothing. I was incredibly tired after work, so I pretty much just crashed after I ate a can of ravioli (cold). Over R&R I’m definitely going to buy a game or two that I can play on my Mac, just to give me something else to do. Watching a few more WSBK races has convinced me that I will at some point blow several thousand dollars on another motorcycle, which will then be stripped of street gear, and made ready for the racetrack. Watching those same races also made me much more anxious to throw my leg over my own motorcyle again, and go for a nice long, spirited ride, with no particular destination.

Day 101

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

Today was totally awesome. It was ridiculously hot in my tent, and I got to move my crap all back to the microsized area it was in before – just as I was falling asleep. So much for “I will not use my grade or position for…” If I didn’t have my guitar out here, I would probably be seeing the psychologist for drugs. Good thing I only need 6 strings and a few frets to forget the idiocy that surrounds me.

Day 100

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

100 down, who knows how many more to go. Am I deployed for 12 months, or am I deployed for 15 months? I haven’t the slightest idea. What I do know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is that were all fair and just in this world, I would have less than 60 days left in the Army. Unfortunately, things are often unfair, and justice is but a word in the dictionary with little meaning in the real world.

My single joy for the day was in a little green can. So many things can go from nearly inedble, to delightfully seasoned in just a few shakes. My close friends, and family know quite well that there should be such a can on hand anytime I’m around to eat. Short of cereal, I pretty much put Tony’s on everything. Hopefully the can lasts me the rest of my deployment. As much of the stuff as I’ve eaten, I should probably just buy stock in the company.

Day 99

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

So 99 days ago, I shaved my head and got ready to board a flight that would ultimately be cancelled due to a tornado. At that point there were many songs on my iPod that hadn’t even been listened to yet. Such is no longer the case. On that long, uncomfortable flight, I rated a bunch of songs. Since, I have rated many more. Today, I worked out in my tent, pushups/situps/crunches, and a few other things with some exercise bands (yay for rubber tubing). When I decided I’d had enough, I ate lunch (tuna, apple sauce, some crackers, and an oatmeal cream pie if you must know), and then laid down on my most awesome cot and put the iPod’s shuffle to work on the whole song list.

After about an hour, I got bored with rating songs I hadn’t rated yet, and pushing next through songs I’m not sure will be allowed to remain on my iPod. So I pulled out a chair, and started reading Light, Science and Magic – 3rd ed. Definitely interesting stuff, and I can’t wait to try some of it out when I get home. Heck, I’ll probably come up with some in-the-field method to try some of it here. We all know patience is my most impressive strength….

Day 98

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

Apparently I missed an explosion today, either I had my headphones up too loud, or I really just can’t hear anymore. After my shift, I took today’s photo, though I failed to get the result I was going for – I’ll make another attempt with a different approach some other day. When that mission was accomplished, I broke out the BR864, my Macbook Pro, mic stand, microphone, and of course my trusty Alvarez RD-20S. Never before has a song so quickly popped into my head as a tune, and found it’s way to a recording. Vocals probably won’t happen out here, unless I get really bored – but the music is recorded and ready for a touchup here or there when I get the chance. There are definitely some things I HATE about GarageBand, but overall it works, and being on my laptop it’s always with me.

In other news, I got a bunch of boxes today. The majority of which were from the Scheiner’s, good people that have been our friends for a log time – and shown a lot of support for me throughout my enlistment. Also worth noting were the boxes I got from both The Jaska’s and my sister. An awesome book on creative lighting, from The Jaska’s, along with a very nice card. The older of my two sister’s is on a mission to fatten me up, though I doubt it will be of any success until I’m at least 40 – she sent a lot of food, and some most interesting photos from her trip to Cancún. Sorry Natalie, crocs are still way cooler than labradoodles. I very nearly forgot to mention I got the my DVD with the final episodes of Lost, and all I can say is OMG. That is all.

Day 97

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

The only thing I did that even remotely counts as productive was to run the line out from my Boss BR864 into the line in on my Macbook Pro so I could use my microphone to record stuff. In the process I decided to go ahead and export the songs on the Boss to GarageBand just to give it a shot. There are few things in this world more horrible than a drum machine, especially the one on the Boss (which is known to the State of California to cause ear cancer in certain species of rats). GarageBand does a better job, allowing me to change many aspects of each drum kit sound – but it’s no drummer.

This revelation of course brings me back again, to a land far away (from home anyway), at a time roughly a decade ago. There was a group of WayCoolDudes™, I played guitar with this most awesome group, well after I taught a few of the a chord or four (how many were really needed in the mid-90′s anyway?). Even then there was a real drum set in the room, and that drum set made big sound from a little dude (hell none of us were huge at 12). Long before I even had a clue who Jack Black was, or knew of his crusade to spread that which is ROCK – I knew of the Rock and/or Roll. I’m pretty sure that for the better part of 3 years, I never once came home from school on time – you could find me and the rest of the keepers of Rock (and the word of Hendrix) making entirely too much noise in a practice room on campus. Hopefully, when I trade my SGT in for a Mr, I can have a high wattage reunion with those guys as we all still keep in touch. A number of explosions, and ridiculously loud vehicles have pretty much destroyed my hearing, so I think I’ll turn it to 11 this time.

That’s all for now, I’m going to go play with GarageBand some more, and hope Iraq stays quiet for the rest of the night.

Day 96

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

Changed uniforms today, thus the photo of me putting my patches on prior to heading to work. Right now I’m occupied with the brilliant work of genius known as my resumé, which is badly in need of an update to include all the wonderful things I’ve done since OIF3. This of course also prompted me to take a look at financial matters, and decide transform my savings accout into a ICBM aimed at the balance on my 11.15% MasterCard. The launch code was entered, and I’m one small step closer to being completely debt free. It didn’t make much sense to me to continue saving at my current rate, while slowly paying off the card (and loan) when interest costs more each month than my savings account makes in a year. So, I’ve decided to nuke the debt from orbit so I can redirect the monthly payments for my loan and MasterCard back to the savings account sooner. Why I am only now thinking of this is beyond me, fortunately I only really pissed away about $200…..

Day 95

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

95 down, who knows how many more to go. I almost forgot to take the Day 95 shot, as you’ll note by the timestamp in my EXIF. There was a nice 20mph breeze of 115 degree air (and dust) today, it made sleeping interesting. Actually, sleeping during the heat of the day, and the height of wind activity pretty much always makes things interesting. Sleeping at the corner of the tent, I do tend to get beaten about the side and feet by the flapping sides of the tent. Fortunately, several years of crossing the Great State of Texas in the back seat of a Colt Vista (’89 vintage iirc), complete with a full load of siblings and parents and an interstate speed limit of 55mph has given me the ability to sleep through pretty much anything. Numerous flights across the Pacific only served to strengthen that superpower.

There’s not a whole lot else to say, I do believe that in the coming weeks I will find some way to video a walk to the laundry facility, as that tends to be when I get slammed by giant walls of flying sand. I can’t very well have a collection of short video clips from my time out here and not include walls of flying sand. It just wouldn’t be right. That is all.

Day 94

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

Today I don’t really have a lot to say, so I’ll probably just explain the photo. We’ve changed over to the boonie cap, which in my not-so-humble-opinion is the most ridiculous looking piece of headgear in the Army’s inventory. I can think of only one reason for wearing such a hat, and it involves a fishing pole – something I definitely do not see an abundance of here in Iraq. Obviously I much prefer the patrol cap, as you still at least have a somewhat professional appearance (and it doesn’t try to fly away in the wind), but I do not make these decisions, merely loathe them.

Why with the boonie cap???!?!! WHY!? If keeping your ears from getting sunburned is that important to you, I have two words: Sun. Block.

Day 93

Originally uploaded by macktruckturner

Today was one of the longest days I’ve had yet. Mostly due to the promotion board that went on, and my having to sponsor both someone that sponsored ME when I went to the board, and one of my soldiers. The first did fine, the second not so fine – but we have a month to work on that, and see if he makes it with better success. The A/C in the board’s tent was on the fritz, so it was hotter than hell, for 10 hours.

On my way back, I was supposed to stop by the laundry facility and pick up my laundry, but I forgot to do so until I got all the way back to my side of the FOB. Upon realizing such an unfortunate turn of events, I walked back across the FOB to retrieve my clean laundry. The several trips across FOB Hammer should about do me for PT today. Even in the somewhat functional A/C of my tent, there was still a constant bead of sweat on my forehead. Could be worse though, way worse.

I’ve finshed watching Lost up to the second episode from May. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the next mail truck to arrive, and should that truck not contain a box with the remaining episodes of Lost, I may well lose my mind. I can already tell I’ll be on the hook for Season 4 for sure. Most awesome show ever. Period. The End.