Casey Tyler/ Dax Parsons/ and nameless other nameless names

SO... Casey Tyler.... what/who/when/why/where.... What is Casey Tyler? Who is Casey Tyler? (that one's easy) When is Casey Tyler? Why Casey Tyler?? And just where is Casey Tyler??

Man, so many questions, so many answers, so little time. It all starts somewhere around 1997. Camp Pendleton, CA. 7th Motor Transportation Battalion. (7th Motors) Just trying to set the stage.

What is Casey Tyler? Answer: Code Name
Who is Casey Tyler? Answer: Bryan Simpkins
When is Casey Tyler? Answer: 1995-1999
Why Casey Tyler? Answer: Only Natural Light has that answer
Where is Casey Tyler? Answer: TEX-ASS!

Okay, enough of the sideways talk. The other day I got an email off a comment on this blog. From Casey Tyler. Haven't heard that name in 10 years! Casey Tyler (Who's real name is Bryan Simpkins) found me. How?? Think about it.... how many Mark Brown's do you suppose are in the United States?? Um... more than 3, for sure. Anyway, Bryan was my neighbor in the barracks. I lived in 303, and he lived next door. Lots of blurry memories around that time, but regardless.... a good friend. Great times were had at that barracks. Remember, this is where i met Heather. Well... Bryan's birthday is on New Years Eve.

He once said that everybody in this WORLD celebrates his birthday. Everyone is partying on his birthday. How can you not enjoy that???? Anyway, New Years 1998 we had a party at our apartment in Oceanside. A good one at that. Why bring that up??? Cause he brought it up first.

My guess is that now that Bryan has found me and we talked last night... he will be visiting this website. Good to fucking go! I'll introduce everyone to Simpkins here in a minute. I'm gonna attach his pic on here.

Anyway, Bryan, I'm glad you found me brother. I'm glad i have your contact number and I'm glad that Heather and I finally have somewhere to stay when we go to Texas! You've got somewhere to stay when you come to NC, my friend.

Anyway, this post is a SHOUT OUT! to Casey Tyler. A.K.A. Bryan Simpkins... I know that's backwards, but that's the point.

Happy Birthday Marine!! Semper Fi Brother

Happy New Year every one.

Talk to someone you haven't talked to in years. You'll make their day.

Later skaters!

Here is the Simpkins Family:

Christmas Shopping

This has been a pretty heavy task this year, to say the least. As the kids get older i find that shopping for them gets to be more of a BITCH! I mean, they get smarter, quicker, and dare i say just a little bit more ingenious. Their requests change daily on what they want. GREAT!!! But, i will say this, I've taken them all out to go shopping and it's been pretty damn fun, as well. Hayden's the only one who needs to get the younger ones anything. They hooked Heather up with gifts, so that's done. THey were pretty stoked about buying shit for Mom.

Now, that being said, I saw a great thing years ago from one of Heather's family members. We'll just call this family member, "Tim" Heuer. SO as not to let anyone know who I'm talking about. So, "Tim" Heuer goes out and buys himself all the cool shit he wants, and then he wraps it up and puts other peoples names on who it's from. Then puts that under the tree, and so without anyone knowing... they all bought "TIM" HEUER gifts!!! Fucking awesome idea. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. THANKS "TIM."

Why can't all Christmas shopping be like that??? Just buy what you want, put their names on it in the from column and be done with it. They're just as surprised to see what it is. It's a win, win, win.

Who knew that one of the Heuer clan would be such an innovator.

Been rocking out to the FOO FIGHTERS greatest hits CD this morning. Glad i bought it. I just didn't have the patience to keep it wrapped up and put under the tree....

Hmmmm... there's a flaw in this design.

Sneads Ferry

So, we're thinking about buying a house in Sneads Ferry, NC.

WE like the area. Small, quaint, quiet, and on the coast and the New River Inlet. We're gonna go look at a few houses today.

4 of em i think.

SNEADS FERRY. Go ahead and google it... i know you want to.



Later,

MB

Time for a Cool Change...

Yeah man....

This is an older 70's/80's band... Don't really give a shit. Not a huge fan of ALL their music but I like a great deal of it. This song just reminds me of being outside on a crisp morning at the beach in Newport, OR. Just about 9 minutes AFTER Sunrise. Or about 9 minutes BEFORE sunset.

You'll get it. It's usually those moments we have that stupid talk with ourselves and our mystery NOBODY about how far we've come in our life.

Ha HA.. Funny

Anyway....

Cool Change. Little River Band.

ENjoy it.

As always, it's here on the iDisk

Buckaroo

I'm actually a huge Buck Owens Fan. Now I don't go and start wearing red felt suits and pearl button shirts with white piping.... but... i do listen to his music. Unlike the homo Roy Clark... I hated him on Hee Haw. Buck Owens and the Buckaroos....
Good shit!!!

Song...... Buckaroo.

Again.. its in my idisk



Enjoy

MB

Todays Song

As usual, on my iDisk is today's song of the day. Man, for some reason it's been stuck in my head.... beyond that.... i own the damn CD, and I have his concert on Blu-Ray...

I might be a latent closet homosexual for liking this guy, but oh well.

John Mayer.... Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

Good Shit...

Here's the link to my iDISK

Enjoy

Great

Alright, today's song is Robot Rock by DAFT PUNK

What a better way to start a Monday.



Later.


Mark

A Great Idea....

A way to motivate me to write i think.

Song of the day....

It may be what I'm listening to today.. more than likely that's it... or just may be a good song to start or end the day on, but regardless..... it's what I"m gonna do.

Today's song of the day...


The Pusher by Blind Melon. Can be found on the NICO CD....

Damn good song.

Tune in later boys and girls.... there will be another.

All these songs can be found here on my idisk. You can download them or do what you wish. http://idisk.mac.com/usmcbrowns-Public?view=web
Later

MB

Part TWO... Let the Children Decide

Okay.... I was just gonna DROP this whole issue yesterday... but I can't. It's 0434 on a Wednesday Morning. I couldn't sleep and have been up for an hour already drinking coffee (KONA COFFEE i might add. mmmmmm...) Anyway, so I'm watching the news, and I see it... HOLY SHIT! It's a news story about the president talking to the kids yesterday. No big deal right? Until I saw the protestors. MOTHERS, mostly. Ughhh... Even that would have been fine. I'm an American. You wanna protest?? Good to go. Do it. But I saw their signs. "Let the CHILDREN DECIDE." Are you kidding me?? Let the Children Decide?????? WTF?? If we all did that, we'd be eating pop tarts and drinking juice boxes for dinner. With a side vegetable of Pudding and Ice Cream Soup for dessert. Give me a fucking BREAK. Let the Children decide. And for all you mothers out there.... I'm sorry. But it was ALL Women with these damn signs. Ughhhh... As a man that came from a Feminist Mother... I'm disappointed.

Let the Children decide. Well, then what the Fuck good are we as parents if we constantly let the children decide?? Wow... This could go on for volumes right now...

We are an idiot society and an even more retarded nation when we start really believing shit like this.

I'm starting to look for places in Manitoba soon.

OUT

MB

What Really Grinds My Gears

I had to borrow the line from The Family Guy. "...you know what really grinds my gears??"

Asshole Parents and adults these days. Give it a fucking REST! So it's Tuesday. Um.... September 8th! Yeah, that would be the day that the President... President OBAMA is going to talk to the kids today. What's the problem?? Are you here on a work visa and somehow your kids are going to school at the same time?? Maybe I would agree with you and say... don't worry about what the president is saying as a parent. Other than that.... give it the fuck up! He's the President. President. President. President. President. Whether you like it or not! I didn't vote for Obama... but you don't see me over here throwing a tantrum that he's the President of the United States. Let it fucking go! He wants to talk to the kids... good to go! Good for our kids. What a way for them to actually see his face actually speaking to THEM! And i get the debate (sort of). It's all about his OTHER SPEECH he was gonna give. It had parts of the health care debate in there. SO WHAT??? You know, I don't let my kids sway my vote on what's for dinner most nights... let alone on the National Health Care debate. Wait a minute... we're not voting on it. NO ONE IS... Unless you're a member of the Senate or House. ANd if you are.... can you do something about my residency in Oregon please??

Anyway, you're not. You don't vote on it. If you're that weak minded that your kids turn your decision on this.... give up voting all together please. You'll be the same one to vote in Lindsay Lohan if she ran for office.

But he's the President of the United States of America. Try to think back to when you were say a 4th Grader, and the president was going to talk to you all. Now imagine your PARENTS throwing a fit over that... Wait... they wouldnt have. Why?? They were red blooded americans that no matter what the difference in party affiliation was, understood that he was the President. Period. Now imagine yourself trying to get out of school because he's gonna talk.... again... not happening. But we're doing it in DROVES these days. What the FUCK is wrong with us??

Maybe I have the worst luck in voting, but I'm not a big complainer on it either. I voted for Perot back in the day. Wham... got my ass kicked on that one. I didn't vote for Obama either.... SO WHAT??? Is the world coming to an end??? Maybe. Isn't that supposed to be 12/21/2012??? According to the Mayans?? If so, aren't all you religious nuts happy about that/? Get to go see you maker finally?? Be saved and all that??? Are you losing your faith or something?? Nervous???

Our kids do the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem every day before school starts. Yeah... our kids actually do that. All the kids out here do. Not just on base. Base follows NC laws out here.

It's a relief. Its nice. Its a blast from the past.

Get over it. Quit putting political ideologies in your kids' heads. Let them be kids. Let them hear the President and Let it BE!

Later, pimps...

MB

Paul A Lanquist

A few of you actually know that I have two artists that I LOVE. One of them is T.E. Breitenbach, and his "Proverbidioms"... and other various works.

The other.... Paul A Lanquist. Fantastic! Does great Oregon Prints and Alaska Prints and even has branched off into the Colorado and Wyoming areas. For me... this is the kind of art I like. I own a few of his prints. And he has so many, I'd have to be a cagillionaire to own them all, but Damn, I wish I could.

T.E. Breitenbach is another one. Man.. amazing. If you really take the time to stare at them, you'll lose your mind. If you've been to my house, you've seen his prints that i have of his. SIGNED! Yeah buddy.

Anyway... check em out, when you're bored. Just google em..

Here's some of Paul A Lanquist's prints. They're usually called PAL prints.

Ugghhh

Man, I am horrible at keeping up with the whole blogging thing.

Truth is, how many John Wayne chips do you cash in if you're a man and you have a MySpace and Facebook and Twitter account?? Just thought I'd throw that out there. I don't have a Twitter, but I have the other two. Part of me is pretty ashamed of that. Why??

What happened to letters? Over rated I'm sure. I guess. What happened to picking up the phone?? Again, probably over rated. I have an iPhone and I use it quite a bit. Doing what??? Checking my email and my Facebook. What a geek. I know. But all that time I spent on the phone checking my shit, I could have been doing something else, I'm sure. I'm trying to figure out what.... oh.. yeah..... work. Oops. Well, that's pretty over rated too I think. ha ha. Anyway, here's what I'm doing lately.

Digging the Lady Antebellum CD, for sure. It's probably not new to most people but new to me. Got turned on to it when I was in Oregon in March the first time I went. What a good CD. Pretty solid. It's country but maybe that's why I like it. Seems whenever I go back "home" I'm always listening to country. Why?? Cause that's what I used to listen to before I went in the Marines. Yep... Wrangler wearing, boot wearing, buckle wearing, country music listening Oregon Boy. Came in the Marines, and I was still that way for a bit till 97, maybe?? Not sure. But that's when I slowed down for sure and started buying more classic music. Jackson Browne, John Denver, etc.... then that made the natural transition to Jewel, and Incubus, and yadda yadda yadda. Guess that was just time back then. Who knows. Anyway, back on track. Digging the Lady Antebellum CD.

What else am I doing?? Well, work. That's taking up a bit of time. Naturally. Working for the GOVT is sometimes not all it's cracked up to be. Don't get me wrong, I actually LIKE my job but every once in a while you're reminded that you WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVT. GOVT politics dont stop at D.C. I think. They seem to leech to the other areas. Like Military Bases. Ugghhh....

What else?? Hmm... well I haven't been taking hardly any pictures lately. Not sure why. Not really proud of that either. I guess I've just been focusing on other things lately. Anyway, not a whole lot to report over here, but when I do find something, you'll see it here, I'm sure. Unless you're the lucky few who actually get to actually hear from me. ha ha.... ah.... sad....

Alright kids... take it easy and I'll be back soon, I"m sure.

Another day. Heather's on the range so it's been me making the scramble to get the kids to Youth Center and be at work on time. Ugghh... Brutal!

Later skaters

MB

Magenta

Our kids have been learning about F.O.C.U.S. WHat is it really?? Couldn't tell you. Basically, it comes down to this, they are using colors to express their emotions and feelings. Kind of neat if you ask me. Think of it as a MENTAL MOOD RING without ever knowing what a mood ring really is.

Let me side bar real quick........ If you never heard of a mood ring or knew of its existance... what would your color be at certain times of the day. Not on your ring or anything, but in your own mind.. What color are you feeling?

Okay... enough ranting.... Maisy said her color is a GREEN. Apparently green is good. No issues, no problems, no worries, no concerns. I like green.

Red is basically the worst you can be. If the counselors could color a sheet about your child, they would. You don't want to see a RED. It's angry, mean, nasty, ugly, yadda yadda yadda.

I'm like a Magenta right now. WHy Magenta? a few reasons. For one, the kids' color chart for feelings, is Green, Yellow, Orange, and RED!!!!!

Why Magenta?? I'll tell ya.. I know that Magenta is pretty close to red, and far from orange and closer to Purple which wasnt mentioned in the kids' color wheel of feelings. Doesn't matter.

I'm more stuck on the feelings meter.


Magenta.... I'm pretty happy, but I"m feeling a warm emotion too. So, that's Magenta.

I could be doing better, but .......... I could be doing a lot worse.



We all could.

Anyway, I love the idea that we can put our feelings in the shades among the color wheel.


You???????????????????

4th

So, we're off to a friends house today for the 4th of July. Who?? Ethan Allen. No, not the guy who makes the furniture. A real guy. Good friend. Used to work with him a few years ago. He's a retired Marine. I think he retired 10 years or so ago?? Not sure. I should know that, but I don't. Anyway, he used to work with me at DS-2. Before that, he worked for OSH KOSH after he got out, spent a few years in Iraq as a contractor and then came on board with us at DS-2. SO once the craziness started at DS-2, he said bag it, and started working for FORCE PROTECTION. Theyr'e the people behind the MRAP. Anyway, consequently, he works at Heather's shop now. Weird how things work out.

We went there for Memorial Day and had a blast. I had bailed out on him 2 years in a row going to his place for Mem. Day and the 4th, due to work and Heather being deployed but not this year. It's his annual bash he's been throwing for 20 years and we're all gonna go. He's got a bitchin pool and the kids love it there. The Allen Clan are good people and we can't wait to get out of here and get over there.

We figure we have all the staples.... Hot Dog Noodle salad, and 6 bottles of Duplin Wine! Yeah! I won't be drinking much. I have to drive back on base. He's gonna be cooking a PIG on his Pig Cooker. Been cooking it since zero dark thirty today.

Jim, you're gonna be jealous of all the good chow that usually shows its face around there. All the usual suspects should be there. The Bell's, Fennell's, Cornell's, maybe a few COL's and SGT Maj's. Should be a good time for some networking for Heather. Anyway, hopefully we'll get some good pictures. If we do... I'll post em. The memorial day party was bout 75 people. This should break that number hands down. HE prepares this party a year out each year. I mean, the guy brings in a PORT A JOHN to his place. He got a 2 car garage in the back of the property that is his BAR. Plus, well... hopefully the pictures later will do it justice.

Happy 4th. Enjoy. Display your flag, Americans. Do your part.

OUT!

MB/JH

Settling in

I'm starting to settle in here. Actually, I think we're all kind of trying to settle in around here. It's been a pretty busy last 4 months or so. It's just now starting to normalize.

Does Rosetta Stone actually work?? I see these commercials and whatnot, but you know how commercials are... but does it work?
If it does, that would be great. I figure between Rosetta Stone and a Passport, you could do whatever you wanted, go where you want and just disappear to where ever you want.

Been watching a documentary on Jonestown. What a good frigging show.

Thinking about going to the beach today, as well. I know there were some other plans as well, i just cant remember what they are at this time.

Back from Oregon

So, Oregon.... hmmmm.... Where to start? Well, it was both a great time and a shitty time. The shitty times were pretty few and far between and only caused by one individual. The rest of the time was GREAT! I think Heather and the kids had a pretty great, memorable time. I know I did. (Thanks Dad!) Went on a bitchin Jet Boat River Cruise that went over the History of Portland and Oregon City. Man, there was quite a bit of history that even I didn't know about in Portland, and I consider myself a pretty good history buff when it comes to Portland, and most of what they went over, I knew, but some of it, I was blown away. Like, did you know that the actual DEED to San Francisco is sitting in a museum in Oregon City?? I didn't know that! Seems Oregon City is where you had to go to for the entire west to stake your claim as a new resident to the west! If you were married you were issued out 600 acres. You just had to go and find it! Also, Portland was just a no shit "flip of a coin" away from becoming BOSTON. As most of you know, there's a Portland in Maine as well. Well, there was going to be a BOSTON on the west coast as well. It was a toss up between Portland and Boston. Guess Portland won. Thank GOD! Anyway it was a bitchin time. Kids had a freaking blast. Good job DAD! That was the shit!

Went to Newport again, this time with the family and I actually got to stay overnight this time (wink, wink... ) Anyway, pretty good time. Oregon Coasts are some of the most beautiful in the world. Pulled a couple Star Fish from the jetty. Kids and Heather were amazed. Not sure why. They're still at Mom's house drying out. One purple one, and 2 orange ones. No biggie. But according to Heather they're pretty big compared to the ones she's ever seen. I don't think they're big at all. But I'll take her word on it.

Anyway, point is, I had a good time, but DUDE! I'm glad to be back. NC really isn't that bad, and I hate to admit this, but I actually don't mind the heat/humidity either. I think all I had to do is get my Okinawa Mentality back again. It sounds so simple but all you really have to do is slow it all down a notch. Not too far, just a notch. Then heat/humidity is no big deal. Also, dress in layers. I know that goes against everything practical, but layers are the trick. But layers actually COOL you off! Trippy. Anyway, I've been really enjoying the Carolina skies and colors lately. The skies have been having so much lavender in it and oranges. It's beautiful. Plus the air takes on a whole new scent to it lately. Again, I'm not sure why but it just has. If Heather reads this..... I figured it out Heater, and I'll let you know later today. I know what the problem is. Every one else, sorry. That might have been coded. Sorry. Maybe some day.

Anyhow, I really can't wait to leave the Carolinas some day because NC has nothing but a SHIT LOAD of bad memories that I'd rather not re live again, but at the same time there's no denying it's beauty here.

Alright, I'll end this post for now, since I have things I have to do this morning. (IT's almost 0530 and I'm not in the shower yet! Yikes!) Okay,

Later, skaters

MB

Monday

Is a day like any other day. You know, I kind of find it refreshing that I haven't been keeping up with this thing for MONTHS. Lets me know who's really reading this thing, and who really isn't.

Not that I REALLY care. I mean there's only a few people that can actually influence me one way or the other on any certain issues. Both are female. SO the rest of you.... oh well.

Anyway... Today has just been a really boring day. Not much to speak of and not much to brag about. Seems I'm speaking of it quite a bit right now though. Cold hard facts.... Today sucked. Yesterday however.... GREAT! I finished putting the Body Mount Bushings on the Jeep. Holy shit.... 14 years in the East Coast weather will do a number on STEEL. Oh well, nothing an air drill, cobalt bits, and an angle grinder couldn't take care of... Oh... and some Safety Glasses. Safety IS NO ACCIDENT!

If you didn't already know.. Safety is the OXYMORON in my life. I'm employed by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to be the representative for the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune to be the SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL and OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH inspector. SO, no shit, I have to actually inspect people and shops to make sure they're compliant with OSHA and EPA. Any one that really knows me, knows I've been doing this job for a few years now and been in this field since 1997. (Second job as a Marine even before I met Heather.) YEs, I did have a life even before I met a Heuer. One spent being an Environmentalist and avid supporter of GREEN issues (primarily in Oregon and parts of Okinawa) Japan has a great GREEN way of thinking. Anyway.... off my high horse and pedestal and soap box, and rant. Whatever you wanna call it, who ever is reading this.

So, the oxymoron is that I'm the big SAFETY NAZI at work, but when I come home and work on my own shit.. I'm rarely seen with safety glasses or any PPE that would be suitable for the job at hand. That was until I saw a guy get a CHUNK, not a SHARD, or a SLIVER, or a SHAVING, but a CHUNK of Aluminum lodged in his eye. Yeah... aluminum. FUN STUFF. SO I'm a safety glass guy now. Even at home. Even.... AT.... HOME!





JUST A SIDE NOTE... Dream job.... working for the Timber industry as the Environmental Engineer / Chemist to help find the balance between EARTH and MACHINE. Long story, and you wouldn't understand unless you are from where I'm from.

But some of you might... and good for you...

I got a million dollar idea too....


It's...

2 in a ROW!

yeah yeah yeah.. I know. Really, the only person I anticipate reading this, is Heather. Well, at least today anyway. If you're reading this, and it's not 07 June 2009... then I've just made my point. Though I don't blame you.. like I said before, I'm a SHITTY BLOGGER.

Well, it was supposed to have been a freaking DOWNPOUR all weekend. Instead, it's been rather nice. God damn weather men.. Oh well, good enough. I"m kind of glad we didn't go camping. i actually got a lot done this weekend with the jeep. Replacing all the body mounts and bushings to POLYURETHANE bushings. Why?? I know.. that's the same question Heather asked. Because, its' gonna make the jeep tighter and all the other bushings and body mounts were all dry rotted and falling off the jeep. There will be a NOTICEABLE difference. Man, i just realized I haven't really put up any pictures of the Jeep since I had all the work done to it. I'll have to work on getting some pictures posted. Dark Blue and Tan are the primary colors, with secondary hint colors being BLACK. So.... it looks awesome. So all the new bushings are BLACK. Shocks are paint matched to the body, dark blue. with Black boots on the shocks and Steering Stabalizer. Tan Seats, and Dash. Brand new Tan Sail Cloth Soft Top with Tinted windows.

Anyway, I could go on and make you see it in your mind's eye, but I"m just not gonna.

I'll post pics later.

So, yesterday we all went out to LOGAN'S Steakhouse to eat. Nothing special, but Hayden... WOW.. He now eats Onion Rings or Onion Petals as these were called. He freaking loves them. THink I could get ANYONE else to even smell one or try one??? Fuck no. Heather is the classic, "NO WAY" girl when it comes to food.

Baby.... if you try it, the kids will to..

Anyway, good to go Hayden. Proud of you

Alright, I'm gonna work on them pictures.

Later, kids.

MB

Blog THIS

Okay, So I'm actually terrible at keeping up with any of this shit. Blogging, MySpace (which I do like once every solstice), Facebook, Twitter (I don't actually have a Twitter account, and I never will either. I don't get it but i just added it to seems hip and with the times, like I know what I"m talking about.) So, it's inevitable that I come back to this god damn blog and BLOG about how shitty of a BLOGGER I am. Well, if you know me, I actually enjoy writing and shit, but man, just having to get on the computer anymore is a total pain in the ass.

Plus for a while there, I just didn't feel like updating any of you with what was going on in my daily life. Mostly because Mark's Daily life was starting to SUCK. BIG TIME.

2009.... You can go and fuck yourself. YOU SUCK! Shit, I would even say Dec. 2008 through all of 2009, eat my ass!

So yeah, life has been royally sucking but who gives a shit? That's just life. Roll with it baby. Plus, most of you know about Brittany.

Cancer. WTF? Yeah, it's Stage 2B Hodkins. What's that mean??? Well, not a lot right now, as of today. She's 1/3 the way through her LAST round of Chemo right now. After that, she SAYS she's going to be going to the cancer camp UKANDU in Oxbow Park, where we're from, but we'll see. Then after that, she'll start Radiation. Yay! Then, for the most part, that should be the end of the cancer ordeal. Not really. She's still got a lot of shit to do to make sure it don't come back and monitoring.

Only good thing to come out of 2009... Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Till the FUCKING DAY I DIE, I will always try to find a way to either donate, or volunteer for the hospital. What a bunch of high class, top notch, grade A, bunch of people. SALT OF THE FUCKING EARTH! I love every one of em... SO whatever I can do... I'm gonna.

Let's talk about Cancer... I never thought I'd become an expert on Cancer, but these past few months have been an absolute learning experience. Wanna hear something cool?? I got this chick I work with.... well, I don't really WORK with her per say, but she is in the same building as I am and we talk sometimes. Get the drift?? Okay, well she got married, recently and she's got family that has had cancer and yadda yadda yadda. Her Dad I think, actually. Not sure. Anyway, for her wedding "favors" or whatevers that everyone gets..... They instead made a donation for every person that was going to come to the wedding in each of that persons name to some cancer society. Everyone got a neat little card/plaque whatever thingy that said that they have just donated to some cancer society. So, I think they spent like 10K to make sure each person donated a certain amount.

Anyway, I"m killing this story, but you get the drift. Thought that was pretty neat. She didn't do it cause I got a kid with cancer, I think it was just the motivation she and her husband needed to come up with an idea that would be different than everyone elses. Whatever.

Work has been amazing lately. Really supportive and totally amazing. I have been having people from all over DONATE annual leave to me so I can head back and still be getting paid. Amazing. You'd have to be a Marine or been one to get the letter I wrote them all referencing what it feels like to be living what we've all been taught as Marines. A few phrases "you never leave a Marine behind" and "we take care of our own."

If you never were one.... That sucks for you. But, it's an amazing feeling knowing that there are people in like 5 other states donating leave to ME. Cause, we're all a bunch of former and retired Marines working for a common goal, and we do take care of each other in their times of hardship and need. 98% of these people don't know me. They just know that I'm a Marine, and I needed help. That's it. Oh, and that I have a kid that has a "undiagnosed mass" (that's all it was at the time when they were donating leave.)

Anyway, this is getting long, and that's just how I work, I guess. I ramble on.
I really did wanna just log on and write something.

As far as our issues we're having here in 2009... To be continued, I guess...


Later, skaters.

Finally!

I have to credit Heather for all of this. Had she not been deployed and not brought up the Military Overseas Sales thing to me. We would have never done this. I was looking at Ultra Classics for a while but was himming and hawing and researching it to death for MONTHS!! literally, a long ass time. Sitting on the fence.

Last time I heard about Overseas Military Sales was in Okinawa. It's a swingin deal, and I wasn't really into it then, but fast forward 13 years later and I had completely forgotten about it. Heather said she would talk to her rep in Kuwait about it, and then we exchanged information and BAM!!! It ended up being an even better swinging deal that I thought it was going to be.

Anyway, someone wants to research this already. I'm not going to say any names (JIM) but here's the stats. ABS brakes, SECURITY, CRUISE, CB, INTERCOM, Two Tone Paint, Cast Spoke Wheels. Blah blah blah. It's even got a cigarette lighter. I don't even smoke. BUT... it'll sure charge my ipod while I listen to it through my CD/MP3 player with built in intercom/CB. It even came with the MIC/Headset for the helmet. All new 09 frame. LED lights. Fat tires.

I'm not going to tell you how much it ended up costing me, but I can tell you that it ended up being like 20% cheaper to go through Military sales than the dealership.

Oh, and I also got an EXTRA 4 year warranty thrown on to it too because of this. Unlimited miles as well. So in total, a 6 year unlimited mile warranty, and the whole shootin match!

Plus, it was delivered to New River for me. Ready to go. Only complaint I have is that the bubbas at New River must hate Military sales cause they get NO CUT in it on the deal. Oh well. Get over it.

Lucky for me I work with a retired gunny who used to work there who is gonna hook me up with some free swag from that place. Detail kit and crap like that. I guess it's all who you know. (Thanks Todd, in advance!)

It's been a long wait, but it's here. Ordered it in Sept 08. Got here in my hands on 17 Feb.

Gonna register this pig in Colorado so I can get my Marine Corps plates put on it as well.

F-ing A!!

Heather graduates today

Okay

So, Heather graduates today. After that.... who knows what happens. I keep trying to find out, but even she says she doesn't know. Frustrating.

Anyway, nothing new to report, but I know that Heather checks this thing every day whether i write in it or not. I figured I'd give her something to read before she heads to her graduation. Yes, I'll be going.

She props us up once or twice a year. Other than that, the kids and I rarely get involved in her work life. She seems to just keep it to herself. Every once in a while, we come out of our shelters and make an appearance. Marine Corps Ball, or a Family Day. Other than that, it's back in our caves.

Then every once in a while she'll graduate from a course. That's another time we are allowed out. Then after that, we know that mostly she goes to work in cammies. Sometimes. Other times, not so much. Plus, she seems to come home in cammies but not all the time either. So we're pretty sure she goes to work as a Marine but we can't really prove it. We just have faith and trust that she's really at work. Hey the checks clear every 1st and 15th. I guess that's all that matters. I know that's how Heather feels about it come the weekends. As long as we can blow 1000 dollars a weekend at Target and who knows what, then we're good.

Anyway, that's about all for now.

Next year I'll post that we were allowed out again. Look for it!!

1/3 life crisis??

Not sure, but in an attempt to NOT steal from John Mayer who refers to his quarter-life crisis (age 25) I was wondering if I'm going through mine at 34? I have been having this aching need to buy a chevelle, which turned me on to the NOVA. But a 66 Chevelle is the ideal car right now.

All this on the heals of a new Motorcycle coming it's way here in just a matter of days.

How do i justify the car??? easy... sell the jeep. I"m not stupid. I dont' just spend money. Lucky for us, I bought a Ducati in 2001. Since then it seems like the equity in things I buy double or triple since that date...


Which is great for us...

Bad for my need to tinker and fix shit!

Oh well

I'll let Heather decide.

Just so you know... she's "kind of" on board with the car.

MB



By the way....

I'm BACK.... for now....

Okay.... call it what you want... A hiatus... A turn of events... who cares... It is what it is. I've been reading everyone's blogs and I still read them but I"ve been a lazy piece of crap. No writing a thing.

Reason?? Well, there's one reason I'm not going to tell you about. Heather knows, and that's good enough.

Other reason..... Job. What a cop out, right?? Well... it's true. Changing contractors. Changing companies. Going Civil Service.

Yeah, I said that. Going Civil Service. Anyway, if you understand GS or WG or all that, it will make sense. If you don't... it won't.

I know there's people that read this blog that I DO NOT WANT TO READ THIS BLOG, so I'm not going to go in to it. Basically, MY BAMBI reads this. SO, if you wanna know.... email me.

If you dont' wanna know... good to go.



Moving on....
I'm back. What's been happening? Well, Heather is going to deploy again.

Sorry Heather, but I'm tired of keeping my mouth shut. 90 days after she got home (one week ago) she got a call that she's been slated to attach to the MEB and deploy to Afghanistan.

Yep.

No shit

Oh well. Here we go again. All that's been going on between us two the past couple months, this is not what we need, but.... we'll deal with it. Before you ask, we don't know how long, we dont' know the exact date but it's somewhere between March and May. That's for sure.

Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

That's a MEB

Want an detailed version of a MEB? Email me. I dont' wanna post it for all the world to see. OPSEC. Ha ha.. I'm serious though.

Anyway, a lot is up in the air right now, but a few things are for sure. She's leaving again. She confirmed that 2 days ago.

SO, it's real again.




OUT
MB