Attitudinus Behaviourisms
07.13.06Just a little more on the mentality thing over here…
oh, and just a little insert here…I ran into one of my basic training flunkees over here…I hated all of those guys, I’m not gonna lie. Anyway…this guy’s Reserve’s and he’s still fat as hell. That pissed me off. Just wanted to get that out there.
I can’t help but constantly be reminded of how important attitude is over here. You see the effects of it every day. You can see how one person can ruin their whol day by having a bad morning, and then you can see how others can just go about their days just fine by keepin’ the ever-cool head. And then there’s those time’s where the little things get to you. Even the people who say “don’t let them get to you”…they get gotten as well. (don’t correct my engrish…this is my blog, I’ll mis-type whatever the hell I want)
The other day I get picked to roll out with the PSD team on my “maintanence day”. Of course, this means I’m rollin around Bag-Dad while the rest of my platoon is gettin our trucks sqaured away and then bein able to take care of all their personal needs. I’m out savin’ the world yet again. And of course that job alone is enough to sour one’s attitude for the rest of the day. Somehow I managed to keep my head on straight cuz I really wasn’t all that pissed. Yah I was kinda upset that I had to go do all that stuff while everyone else is breakin’ at 1200 for lunch, while I’m cookin’ in a truck in 113 degree weather with a humidity level of 85…that sucked lemme tell ya. The only “upside” I got out of that day was when we stopped by BIAP(Baghdad International Airport) and I got to grab some Booger King. But you can guess just how good that stuff is in Irak. Healthy too.
So anyway, we get back around 1700 hours…ah who the hell am I kidding…it was 5 in the afternoon, so I finish downloading my gear out of the truck and head to my room to climatize(read: cool down) and enjoy some good ole fashioned relaxation(read: sittin’ there doin’ nuthin’.) Throughout it all, my day went well cuz I kept a good attitude about it. And not to mention upon my return to my room I found that my internet line was installed so I don’t have to pay too ungodly of an amount to enjoy teh inter-web(yes, I know how freakin’ lucky I am, but this isn’t war, so it ain’t hell.)
I’ve come a long way in the military, moreso on a personal level than at a…for lack of better words, a military level. Granted I’ve been promoted twice, but those are given. I’ve gained so much personal insight through these last few years in the military, I wonder what kind of a person I would have been had I never joined. I know I wouldn’t be the same person, but would that be for the good or the bad? I’ll never know. God pounds His nails.
So I been thinkin’ why my attitude has been so…up…these last few days, weeks..month?…and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s due to my recent kicked up trend of reading books. I started off a while back when my first laptop crashed and I had absolutely nuthin’ to do. So I went and found me some Stephen King novels. Yah, I know, not the GREATEST of authors, but I love his imagination none the less. So I read about 5 of his books and thats when I found Orson Scott Card at the PX. Just for ya’lls information, OSC is my absolute favorite author. Has been since about 9th Grade when I first picked up a copy of Ender’s Game at the local library.
Anyway, long story short, I’m 4 books into his Alvin Maker series, and i just finished Ender’s Trilogy(for the second time.) Everytime I read his stuff I’m always intellectually stimulated due in part to his vast knowledge of…just about everything really. Ender’s Trilogy is a dive into Humanity’s traits and I love how he nails it all on the head. He has an awesome understanding of how we tend to act against the unknown. And the Alvin Maker series is just a great way to feel like you’re back in the pioneering days…with a bit of a twist.
So I think all that reading has kept my head on a better level instead of being constantly downed by the fact that I’m in Irak…and this country smells of poo gas. I’m glad I learned to read in High School. I probably would be pretty miserable right now if I hadn’t.
Dag! If you don't get it then noone
Anyways… this OSC guy, did he write Interstellar Pig? Cos I remember that book kicked my arse. Can’t remember his name. Well I just googled it, and no… it’s not him. That was Will Sleator. And he’s a good one too. I’m overdue on sending you something, so let me know what you have in mind.
house update - flooring complete. popcorn ceiling scraped. recessed lights in the living room complete. Gotta trim it out, and put a few door jambs in. the place looks sexy. wait till you see it in a couple months.
Chad
July 14th, 2006
If the PX doesn’t have the books you’d like to read, you can request them from Books for Soldiers. We are a web-based organization of volunteers from across the U.S. No corporate largesse or politics from either side, just a lot of ordinary folks who like to read and want to pass their books on to a soldier away from home. Volunteers check the request posts and if they have it, they’ll send it directly to you.
To make a request, fill out the request form on the main web page at www.booksforsoldiers.com, or feel free to contact me. I’m one of the site’s volunteer administrators and I’d be happy to hook you up.
Take good care–
-Julie
J.R. Hobus
July 14th, 2006
It’s funny how the military turns soldiers into readers. My son got off the plane from Korea a couple of months ago carrying a copy of “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest”. Who taught him to read?
I’m glad you are holding up, but in your recent posts, I sense a little bit of a hardened heart. That’s not neccessarily a bad thing. It may make you appear rougher on the outside and scary to little children but it will also make you one of those people that everybody wants with them in the middle of catastrophic event when all hell is breaking lose and weaklings are gnashing their teeth. I had an uncle that drove tractors for a living. He was always sunburned and his whiskers scratched your face when he bent down to kiss you. He has tattoos on both arms and his voice just boomed every time he spoke. We were terrified of him, but he had the respect of all the adults for some reason. He didn’t take anything off of anybody and he spoke his mind quickly and loudly. I often wonder if he didn’t have a life changing event (such a war to deal with) that made him like that? Don’t think you won’t come home changed…. in some ways better, some ways worse…but changed you will be.
We’ll still be here reading and learning.
Be careful.
stoicmom
July 14th, 2006
Hey we’re still open for requests ya know! All you ever mentioned was peanuts…..how would you like some salted, in the shell? Speak up oh mighty warrior! Hey…I like that you have a computer again
SK
July 14th, 2006
Kat in GA
July 14th, 2006
STAY SAFE IN SANDYLAND
craig
July 14th, 2006
First off…I like the feel of this posts responses..very friendly down to earth chat. Good stuff. Thanks.
Second: Craig, yah, I just always refer to it as The Trilogy, if only out of habit. But I’m currently workin on gettin the whole series, including the Shadow Series. I read Enders Shadow, now I gotta read the nest three. I just finished Xenocide, and I gotta find Children of The Mind now. Can’t wait to get it.
Julie: Thanks for the tip…I’ll definitely look into that.
SK: Ya, i know I aint requested alot. I feel too self-righteous when I do. I know I have it pretty good here as opposed to others in crappier places, so I don’t feel deserving. Not to mention, my company doesn’t help makin those small comments about me havin a “Wish List”…I didn’t ask for it. I swear. But I’m definitely appreciative…fo sho.
Chad: Glad to hear you enjoyed the post. Even more gladder that you’ve been knockin out some home improvements. Can’t wait to see it. Maybe I should just wait till I get home to see it…like an even better home coming. Make it a suprise for me. Good deal. And if you really wanna send me somethin, you could send me some of William Sleator’s books. He had some good ones too. Singularity was the best. I remember you liked that one too. House of Stairs is a good psychological thriller. Anyway, whatever you wanna do bro.
Sure Fire
July 16th, 2006
Dude. tell those panty wastes that it was my idea to git you a wishlist, and that they’re just jealous that you have people hookin you up.
Chad
July 16th, 2006
Bwaaa haha. Ya ok dude…we’ll see how that goes over.:roll:
Sure Fire
July 16th, 2006
Hey SF, me again! Yes, you have it better than some. They are not forgotten and they have received much more support than you have from strangers, including me. Most of those I support, I select from the worse locations. For anybody reading this, SF has NEVER asked me for anything….I offered. So, I’ll send what I want, even if you don’t like it:wink:
SK
July 16th, 2006