Off The Trail Less Traveled

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

2010-09-11T06:55:00.002-04:00

No... I'm not talking about the band. I'm talking about me. So.... Blogging. It's really a chore to keep up. As I'm sure Leslie can attest to. Not fun, and when you don't keep it up, people quit checking it, and then when you do update it, you're probably just updating it for yourself because no one's reading or looking anymore since you haven't updated it in almost a year! Wow... are you still following me here?? Good.

So, I was actually reading another blog this morning, (which i NEVER DO by the way) and it's from a woman i went to school with until my Junior Year when, at that time, we moved to Molalla. Anyway, name not important. So, i'm reading her blog and it's written JUST LIKE I WOULD HAVE WROTE IT! It's amazing. It's like reading my own work! She types things just like she says things. That's my trick! Hey, WTF... I've been plagiarized. Anyway, it doesn't matter at this point and I'm relatively sure she's safe from any legal battles that might come down the chute. So, i'm reading this blog, and about 1/2 way through my reading of her 2nd post, I just start laughing, because, this is just amazing stuff. At the same time, you almost feel like a peeping TOM. Why? i'll tell ya.

For one, did anyone catch the part that this is a woman i knew since school all the way up until my Junior year??? Yeah. So, lets recap here. So from our formative years until basically 16/17. Then...... that's it. I moved. Graduated High School at Molalla Union High School, got a job, got married, had a kid, got divorced, joined the Marines, moved really really far away, still loved the Marines, moved closer to home thanks to the Marines, got married again, married a Marine, started have many more kids all born in the same month. Again, thanks to the Marines, moved to Nebraska, thanks to the marines, moved to NC, thanks to the marines, built/bought a house, thanks to ..... well.... me actually, but my point is, a lot has happened since about 1990. A lot. Then Facebook comes around and it gives you almost this hidden permission to intrude into other peoples lives that you otherwise would have never intruded on at all! Let me give you an example of that as well; my wife has friends on Facebook and somehow i became friends with her friends aunt?!!! Sorry. had to end that. But there i was, friends? Anyway my point is, here comes facebook, here comes the excuse to now be "friends" with someone that you haven't even talked to or heard of or seen in easily 20 years. What kind of a friend is that????? That's kind of messed up on the friend scale i think.

Anyway...... it was facebook. Yep. Facebook and all of our witty posts. That's what got me to follow and read her blog today. As I'm betting, a few of you that are new to this are doing the same thing, right now. Following my Facebook info page to this page.

So, thanks Lynda. Thanks a lot. Now what to write about tomorrow?

Casey Tyler/ Dax Parsons/ and nameless other nameless names

2009-12-31T17:34:00.003-05:00

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

2009-12-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-17T11:57:00.001-04:00

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...

2009-10-02T05:33:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-22T20:43:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-22T04:43:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-14T05:36:00.003-04:00

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

What a better way to start a Monday.

Later.

Mark

A Great Idea....

2009-09-13T11:05:00.004-04:00

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

2009-09-09T04:34:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-08T05:28:00.002-04:00

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

2009-08-25T18:30:00.006-04:00

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

2009-08-06T05:31:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-25T21:42:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-04T12:54:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-03T07:30:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-02T05:06:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-08T18:15:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-06-07T07:19:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-06T08:38:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-02-17T19:42:00.005-05:00

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

2009-02-11T05:16:00.002-05:00

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??

2009-02-09T22:39:00.002-05:00

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....

2009-02-04T19:17:00.002-05:00

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

Well Deserved Break

2008-12-17T05:19:00.002-05:00

11 days. Well deserved. 11 intentional days. Heather and I have had a lot of things going on around here, and quite honestly I didn't feel like blogging or doing anything. So.... WE DIDN'T.

One thing we have done is use the Tarawa Terrace Saturday Night Day care. We are set to do it again this Saturday. We got some great shopping done the other week when we had NO KIDS around us. This weekend should be the same. The Sat Night Day Care is great. They watch your kids from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. It's intended for parents to have a night to do a date night and get out and blah blah blah. We've done that, and will do it again. Count on it. But how could we pass up a time to do some good Christmas shopping when it's just US TWO???!!!

Plus, we went to Logan's after shopping last week and got 1/2 shitfaced, and then had to cool it, and sober up, and then pick up the kids and be straight so we could drive through the gate. That is a semi bonus to living on base. If you're smart you know when to cool it so you dont get a DUI going on base, cause they will get you. Used to be a pain in the ass when we were younger and wanted to party. Now.... it's like our happy reminder of when we need to cool it. Jim can attest for that. (Chris' Party) Jim was of course the hit of the party with the young ladies and the abnormally short bald Marines. Not sure why, but.... in reality, I know why. He's pretty fun.

I remember when I was in the Marines. Jim was the same way then, too with Heather and I and our friends.

So... other than shopping, Heather and I have just been hanging out and getting ourselves refocused and retooled. After 10 years, you need to do that i suppose. Overall... all is GREAT here in NC with the Browns!

Wish you all could be out here for this Christmas.

On a sad note.... Jill and Manny, our across the street neighbors and fellow Californians will be leaving Saturday. Manuel graduates from D.I. School in a couple days and then they'll be driving to San Diego to make it there before Christmas. We're gonna miss them two. Great great great great people. Big Hearted, great friends and awesome parents. Hayden and Maisy and Mason are sure gonna miss Caesar, Michael and Arriana. They all used to play together.

Anyway.... that's the latest update.

Take Care.

MB

Taking a Break

2008-12-06T12:40:00.002-05:00

It may be awhile before I post.

Got some things going on. Consider this your fair warning.

MB

Too many

2008-11-30T16:37:00.002-05:00

Okay, I wish I was like Leslie and posted so many pics you didn't know where to start. However, I"m not...

SO, I'll post these. We had a fucking GREAT TIME!! I really miss Hawaii.. Heather and I talked about it, and i told her this....

Hawaii seems to be a little exploited by us "main landers." Which is sad. Luau... Aloha... Mahalo..
Anyway.. it's like we as "main landers" not Americans, cause, we're all americans.. but.. regardless, we as mainlanders, like to see the hawaiians run around in their skirts and grass speedos and whatnot.. it's a little played out. All i wanna do is find a cool tiki, a cool tiki bar, and go hike a bit. That's my idea of a perfect vacation ANYWHERE.

Regardless.. Hawaii was great. Heather and I have NEVER gone ANYWHERE together since we got married. I mean, I had duty soon after we got married and we never went on a honeymoon or did shit! So this was nice. We drove over 600 miles on that island. Anyone that's been there before will tell you... 600 miles in 6 days. That's pretty good.

If I were to live ANYWHERE on that island, it would be near the north shore. FOR SURE. Or on the Windward side. Regardless....

Waikiki.. you can have it. it sucks. The rest of the island (the non touristy spots, and yes there are a 'FEW' are great) is awesome. Scenic, alone, off the beaten path. A little rainy and if you can deal with the tradewinds, then you're okay. And hey.... they have WALMART, so we're in there.

Anyway.... i loved it, and wouldn't mind if Heather got orders there.. EVER. I imagine we'd have more family visiting us if we got stationed there... I'll bet a finger on it. Atleast i can count on Chris and Leslie and the kids coming out.

okay....

I'm done.....

MB

The Day After

2008-11-09T19:58:00.002-05:00

Well....

It's the next day.

One day closer to leaving. All I keep thinking about is Hawaii lately.

Good.

I'd rather think about that, than anything else right now.

Is it me?? or does EVERYONE try and think about that ONE or (actually it was 2 in a ... to be continued) episode(s) of BRADY BUNCH when they go to Hawaii and "poor Greg" gets jinxed from stealing the idol from the cave in the island. Actually..... come to think about it, wasn't that the episode where Bobby got the Tarantula crawling on him in the bed in the hotel???

Dam, dude.... that show was the shit, wasn't it????

I actually miss the BRADY BUNCH. It was like MY GENERATION'S "Leave it to Beaver" and our Generations answer to the Cleavers, wasn't it???

Okay,

Enough ranting.
MB

Tiffany Had her Baby

2008-11-08T10:04:00.003-05:00

At approx 0031 (1231 A.M.) Tiffany had her baby. So... it was born on Nov 8th. What a good god damn day to be born, I say.

Not sure what her name is. I can't remember to be honest with you. Bailey? Maybe. Anyway..

I talked to Tiffany yesterday at around 9 maybe?? Her water broke and she was headed to the hospital. This was on the 7th. I told her it would be born in the 8th.

I'm a god damn fortune teller. As Heather will tell you, I have this knack for picking birth dates. AND I'm like 8 out of 10. Still good damn odds.

Later, skaters.

MB

I got a pimp ass suitcase/duffel for my birthday. Thanks Heather. Plus a Wallet. Gotta exchange it. Not her fault. Women should never buy men a wallet. Just like MEN should never assume that "she'll love this purse." Negative Mister. If you get right, first shot out of the box, you're a fucking HERO in my box, dude.

Other than that, if you don't... you're just par for the course.

Good day so far. Easy to remember Tiff's kids birthday now.

Shit, I really should know her name. Oh well... I'll find out sooner or later. Someone will post..

Over

2008-11-06T05:03:00.002-05:00

Man, am I glad the election season is over.

Good god! That's the ONLY part about elections I hate, is the god damn commercials. I don't really mind debates, and reading about it in the paper (yeah, I still read a paper at work almost every day. What a concept. A NEWSPAPER!!)

But it's the god damn commercials. Whew!! Done. Mark that off.

MB

VOTE!!!

2008-11-04T17:35:00.002-05:00

If you don't vote, you're lazy.

If you don't vote, you have no room to bitch about our govt. until you do vote. Until then, shut up.

If you don't vote, you're a turd.

If you don't vote.. well... then you DIDN'T VOTE!!!

This all applies if you're healthy enough to vote, aren't in a coma in the hospital, or if you're living in a cave.

Other than that.... no excuses.

Vote, god dammit

Especially you on the west coast, my Oregon and California family.

Colorado?? You're fucked, it's just eastern California. Good luck.
Colorado is like California with a rocky mountain view, and tornadoes, and snow.

Anyway

VOTE dammit.

We did it, and we don't even live in our state that we voted in. If we can do it, you can do it.

I don't care who you vote for, but just do it.

She's Home

2008-10-26T11:01:00.002-04:00

So, now we're gonna go to Target.

Why?? Because Online shopping at Target is never good as actually going to the REAL Target store.

No problems transitioning to Home Life. So.... Good thing I can go back on overtime now. That way she can keep going to Target.

Anyway, we're gonna go pick up some Candy for all the booger eaters that come to the door and say the magic words. Then, after that... who knows. I wanted to go on a bike ride this morning. But.... we're going to Target. So, we'll probably come home afterwards and eat string cheese and drink Coors' Light.

MMmmmmm...........

No thanks.

MB

Nice

2008-10-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

Thanks.....

Now....

Moving on.

I'VE GOT A SECRET

2008-10-23T20:05:00.001-04:00

Guess....

Fucking Bullshit!!!!

2008-10-16T05:47:00.002-04:00

Okay, I don't know how much GAS is over where you are, but I imagine it's still over 3 bucks a gallon.

So, Oil is like 74 bucks a barrel right now. Let me just put that into perspective for you. I think oil got to a high of like 148 dollars or 160 dollars a barrel a few months ago. Highest it's ever been. That put gas here at like 4.50 a gallon for cheap 87 octane. And that was the BEST price in town. Actually it was on base..

If 74 dollars a barrel is 1/2 that or more... then shouldn't gas be about 2.25-2.02 a gallon??? NO. It's not. Its 3.20 a gallon here still.

We're getting FLEECED!! This shit pisses me off. I really enjoy the fact that i work 5.5 miles from home, cause I would LOVE to just walk to work from now on. Only problem is, most people walk at 3.5-3.7 miles per hour. So it would take me 1.5 hours to walk to work. Oh well.

Anyways.... FUCKING GAS!!!! And there's NOTHING you can do about it. You'll keep buying it. Probably buy it TODAY!!

Mason's first day of School

2008-09-07T09:08:00.002-04:00

Actually, his first real day was Sept. 4th. I'm Johnny come lately on the pictures but oh well. They've been on the .mac gallery for a while now.

Nada, zip, zilch...

2008-09-07T09:04:00.003-04:00

Kind of....

Just an ASS LOAD of wind. It mostly happened while we slept. Surprisingly, we all slept through it. Benadryl and Booze. That's one way to get all of us to sleep through a storm. Ha ha.. not really. Anyway, rained quite a bit. Not much flooding here. Some, not much though. I can't express how much wind there was. And that's only a tropical storm. I'm telling you, if we get some no shit hurricanes.... We're out of here. I'm not sticking around for that shit.

Anyhow. No big deal, i think. Easy Breezy. Kids actually enjoyed not having to go though it. The school was getting them all hopped up about the "hurricane" that was coming. SO the kids were paranoid but by the time they went to bed it was hot outside, and there was no rain. They were cool with that.

Okay.... no problems.

MB

Tropical Storm Hanna

2008-09-05T12:34:00.003-04:00

So, I just got off work. They locked us out (sent every one home) and I just got done prepping the shed, trampoline, Jeep, Car, kids' bikes, Motorcycles, and any other loose shit around here. We're gonna ride this out. Shouldn't be that bad. Loud as hell, I'm sure. We've been through 3 Trop. Storms, and those were loud enough. Full of lightning and a SHIT load of Rain. I'm sure this will be no different. I just hate the wind. It always sounds as if the roof is gonna come off. Well, I have the Camera on full charge and the memory card is empty. The camcorder is fully charged and ready to go incase any good shots come throughout all of this.

Anyhow, if we still have power, and an internet signal, I'll update everyone on what's going on.

Alright everyone... Enjoy!!

Next post i hope to have some pictures up.

MB

Last Child in the Woods

2008-08-28T17:19:00.003-04:00

What a great book so far...

I've only read a part of this book so far, but wow.... I highly suggest reading this book.

I'm mostly speaking to Chris and Leslie, and Heather, my brother Greg (these are all who probably agree with me and would agree with this book.) Actually, there's nothing really to try to agree with, come to think about it.

It's about how kids these days don't do what we used to do even just 15-20 years ago. Which is being outside. Walking thru the woods, experiencing nature, trees, animals, being able to identify what kind of tree a certain tree is by looking at it.

How these days, kids are just missing out on nature and our environment because of lazy parents.

It's great.

Throw the Wii, Playstation 3, XBOX, and all that other shit away and get outside. Dont' settle for parks.

Get outdoors.

Anyway....

Read it

MB

1st Day of School

2008-08-22T17:21:00.002-04:00

Anyone remember when School started the DAY AFTER LABOR DAY??

I grew up in Oregon. We even had to account for Snow Days. What's their excuse for mid August??

Let me Dig Deeper

2008-08-20T16:52:00.003-04:00

Tax Free Year. I don't think I went into that enough. How does someone prevent the scamming of that? Well, you have a Social Security Card. You also (and I HATE saying this) but create a form of ID like i mentioned yesterday. But in order to get that ID card, you have to have a SSN. There's how you find your illegals too.
Okay, like said, last digit in your ssn is the year you get a tax free year. Mine's a 2. SO i would have 2012 Tax free and so on. I mean, the average HUMAN being is only gonna have 6 tax free years in their life considering that they wouldn't really be a functioning part of society till about 20. There's a hitch to this though. You have to be either working or a full time student and not be on welfare the year prior or after. To rate it. If you do file for welfare of some sort of assistance that appears to be scamming, you immediatley fall into a audit. And you have to use your card to get all your shit tax free, so it's all on the card in a database. You owe it all back, now. Or a percentage, depending on the crime.

You can't be a felon, or known sex offender. Not an accused sex offender, because of the innocent until proven guilty clause. There would be a few laws on it, but not many. It's simple. Your year... Your year tax free.

How could it not boost the economy? Every year would be a BANNER year for the auto dealerships. Real Estate would go nuts. People would have extra money to help pay off debts once every 10 years, or twice if you're married. But, if you're married, twice the bills, too.

There's so many benefits to this. This is actually something myself and another guy came up with like 2 months ago. We have looked at all the angles and talked about it with everyone. It's a huge topic at my work. Every time you have a negative for it, you find a positive, and move on.

Look, I seriously love this idea. What did your incentive check do for you this year??? How much did you contribute to boosting the economy with that? I didn't really contribute SHIT to it. I had to buy 4 dollar plus a gallon gas. Now, imagine your pay check each week, or bi weekly or whatever with only ONE deduction on it.... Social Security or Medicare or whatever it says. That's it. No federal, no state. Now, imagine your property tax bill that year? NADA, ZIP. Auto Tax?? ZIP Sales Tax? ZIP
Tax on your cell phone calls?? ZIP Cable taxes that year?? ZIP Think you might spend some money that year?? Or save it to spend next year/? My point is, you're gonna spend and improve your quality of life with it, and at the same time, boosting american economy. Might even feel obligated to NOT shop at WAL MART and buy something made in America, if you can find it.

Let me tell you, the first sorry son of a bitch that adds that idea to their platform, I'm gonna vote for him or HER. I don't care. Could be a fucking GAY transvestite. I don't care.. I'm voting for it. That person will be a NATIONAL HERO in like 2 weeks.

Tax Free Year baby....

Tax Free...

MB

Republocrat

2008-08-19T20:00:00.002-04:00

That's my party of choice. Seriously. Haven't you heard? I know that most of you are already saying... Okay, you're describing an independent. Uh..... no I'm not. Independent is someone that reserves the right to not make up his or her mind until someone has made up his or her mind for them but reserves the right to change his or her mind depending on what him or her have last heard on the way to the polling station on ROCK 105 or KISS 101 or what ever his or hers favorite radio station is, considering that "back when i lived in Cali, it was cool to be a democrat, but i remember what it was like to live in rural colorado, and i HAD to be a Republican" doesn't interfere with what they truly feel knowing that back when his or her parents raised them as a .............................. whatever they raised them as.

So, I'm a Republorcrat. Watch.... It's going to be a term used. I want to be the first person using it. I actually think I'm a Republocrat. I believe in A Woman's right to choose, however i believe in less taxes. I believe in ..... Wait a minute... Read the words i just wrote. "BELIEVE" DO we actually BELIEVE!! anything or do we really just AGREE with what someone is trying to make us convinced of? BELIEVE is a shitty word. You know what i believe??? I believe 100% that i LOVE my kids. I love my wife. I believe that i enjoy being alive and breathing every day.

Okay, back to what i was saying.... I agree with less or no taxes. I have an idea on taxes. TAX FREE YEAR!!! Yeah, man!! Tax Free Year. Everyone has a SSN.. (for those of you that are illegal aliens... that's a Social Security Number) Anyway, what's the last digit of your SSN?? Well........ whatever that number is... is the year you get EVERYTHING TAX FREE!!!!!!!!! That includes, property tax, Sales Tax, Gas Tax, Luxury Tax, Income Tax, blah blah blah.... Think about it... IF you knew that ... lets say your income is .... 100,000 per year (what the company pays you)... Okay, well.... We all know that 1/3 or goes to taxes!! Shit , one might make the argument that 1/2 goes to eventual taxes per year!!!! Imagine if that didn't exist for you? You'd by a new car.!!! Everyone would!! Imagine every year how many people bought a new car???!!! or new clothes, or a new house, or a business, or whatever. Boost the economy EVERY YEAR no matter what!!! That's my solution to the economy!! You all get a card. Kind of like a MILITARY ID CARD. You scan that bitch... no taxes.

It would work.
So will Republocrat.

I have too much time to myself....

If you really think about it, and honestly discuss this at work.... you'll find that it's a win , win, win for every one.

Who should be the first Republorat???? Um...... my nomination is.......

Work

2008-08-14T19:00:00.002-04:00

I had an idea where I was gonna take this posting but as i thought about it, I thought.... You're just gonna sound like a whiner. And I'm not gonna feed the ideas of others that I KNOW are out there that think that anyway. So, I did the retrospective. Again, could just be more whining but.... I don't have anyone to talk to here, so I suppose retrospectives are all that i have right now. OR self analization (sp?) Anyway.. Work SEEMED so much "easier" for my parents growing up, that being said, I know that it was actually HARDER in reality. However, I have parents that are both self made successful people, but on the same hand, I have a Dad, that spent over 25 yrs. at one place. That is almost unheard of these days. I would love NOTHING more than to spend 25 years working at a place. THis isn't a knock on being a traveling family at all, by the way, but it's an undeniable trend that MOST Americans these days don't spend more than 4 yrs with an employer without moving on to another. Why is that?? Are we just a greedy generation? Probably. What made us greedy? Are we a whining generation? Maybe. But what the fuck made us such whiners? Well, if that is even true, that falls on our PARENTS and our UPBRINGING doesn't it? We only know what we're taught, right? Anyway, I don't think that's it either. But, what i think it is, is EMPLOYERS of today are the 70's / 80's Reagan era generation "whiners" and "self consuming" "all for me and none for you, I got mine, I don't care about yours" generation of Americans. Therefore, this is our option in this generation. We have these people to guide us and to "lead" these generations of "workers." Well, I hate it. I absolutely hate it. It's completely out of the question, but what i wouldn't give right now to be Grizzly Adams and just fucking live in the woods. Who cares. I can see the "intelligent" comments off this post already just by my reference to Grizzly Adams.

Anyway, Most of us reading this post had a parent at home raising one of you. Unless you're 40 or younger possibly. What caused that? Why is it necessary that it be so different these days? That's a whole other discussion i suppose, and one that i don't want to get into right now, either. But, my point is, My Parents put up with some shit growing up with their jobs, but I can't believe that they put up with the amount of "political" bullshit that we seem to put up with now a days.

I used to love my job.

I still do like part of it, but damn... now I work for a HUGE corporation (Lockheed Martin) and have to deal with the end result of contracts negotiations and military allocations associated with military contracts, and so on and so forth. The politics that is created with the end result of both of these factors is ridiculous.

My political part of this isn't who's in charge now, and why he should or shouldn't be, but I'm watching a corporation toy with peoples jobs (a lot of peoples jobs) all because 4 people have a "plan" that betters themselves and makes them a "hero" for about 2 weeks. WOW. This doesn't really involve my job, and that may be the irritating part of this that it's irritating me. It doesn't affect me one way or the other, but the fact that other people are sweating it, is making my god damn job HARD. There's hard jobs and then there's HARD to morally stick around for jobs. This one's becoming the latter of the two.

Is the pay good? Yeah, for now. Is that about to change? A little, but I don't really care about the money. I care about the principle.

Heather has told me to QUIT probably about no shit... A dozen times. That would be easy to do, and wouldn't be a problem. Then what do i do? I actually enjoy the end result of this job and "why" we are here doing this job. Americans wonder what they can do to support the troops. I actually LIVE it every day, and we actually better the troops morale, welfare, and way of life just by doing the things we do. As a Marine, all you wanna do when you get off that bird or boat, is go home. What we do, ensures they do that, for one example, but there's so much more going on with this place than that. So on one hand it's one of the few REWARDING jobs i've ever had in my life. All of us Marines that work there, feel like we're giving back to our Marine Corps that we love so much by doing what we do. It's a good feeling. Heather knows what's happening where i work, and she may need to post a comment to make it real for every one else that she really thinks i should quit just for the sanity of things with this job. It's an option, considering that we plan on getting some orders out of here within the next 15 months. She looks at it as, we don't need the money, I can stay home with the kids after school, and during the summer doing neat things, and blah blah blah... She has a point, but god damn... We did that in Nebraska. And contrary to popular belief Heather was behind 100% of me not working and staying home. It's not something i came up with for the shit's of it.

Anyways. This part is for you Heather... I hear you, and you're right. I should walk. But i can't right now. If it gets worse, and you know what i mean... I will. But for now, I have to stick this out. I'll be safe no matter what, but I have to stick around just to be there for everyone else at work. It's a blue shirt thing. I would love to do what you talk about with me, and that would be a great plan considering the bonus that's coming and our situation that we would be in because of it, but I have to work, just to keep my damn mind busy. Where is the happy medium?? I guess there is no happy medium right now. Hopefully this thing will all work itself out.

I guess there's always the GI Bill? Ha ha.. We'll see... (inside joke / conversation)
Would be nice though. That is an option if it comes to that.

MB

2008-08-09T22:24:00.004-04:00

Heather...

I know you love these pictures, so i wanted to put them up here for you. Everyone else, Heather sent these bears with Luggage tags as well with the kids' names on them. The kids love them. The tags are separate but the kids won't take them off the bears. Each one of them sleeps with the bears. As mason puts it, "where's my mom bear?" So here it is.....

"MONDAY" Night Football?

2008-08-07T20:11:00.002-04:00

Uh... Last i looked.... It was THURSDAY!!

WTF?

Why is MONDAY night football on tonight?

God I hate Pre Season. I'm starting to even hate Football. I wish I could get back into it, but no thanks.

Give me Frank Gifford, please...

Pre Season SUCKS.

Enjoying Kuwait

2008-08-06T20:44:00.006-04:00

Heather's Really been enjoying Kuwait. Or Kamp Kuwait as she called it one time. Anyway, haven't talked too much to her, except in relatively short emails at work, but she seems to be really enjoying herself.

Good, we're glad she is.

I'm not sure if this is play time or party time but this is her and her Buddies...

Anyway, she's having a lot of fun over there.

We miss you.

The Best Day Ever

2008-07-31T19:18:00.002-04:00

Uh, ... Not really....

It was for somebody. Whoever you are, good for you.

However, today was a real awakening experience. A lot going on at work, and elsewhere. I'll go into it more later, or not. Depends how I feel. I'm exhausted from dealing with it.

Regardless... Kids are doing good, and today was 105 (Feels Like Temp) and humid as hell. Anyway, didn't want a day to go by without a entry, no matter how mundane it was.

That's all for you Heather.

(I gotta keep her in the loop, you know)

MB

Club Duplin, Shmooplin

2008-07-30T19:29:00.002-04:00

What the Fuck...

If you've ever visited us, it seems that someone always wants to go to the Duplin Winery. Whatever. Well, Nov last year, Heather and I joined Club Duplin and 4 times a year you get a box full of wine and blah blah blah. Last time i got a box?? January.

What the Fuck...

It just hit me. That's sad. Anyway, I'll be calling them soon.

Heather, this post is more for you than anyone else.

MB

Okay, Okay

2008-07-28T19:22:00.005-04:00

Enough. I've had LITERALLY, 7 Emails on my BACKGROUND on my computer that was on the "REALITY TV" blog. Alright, here's the pic.....

Alright, that being said... Here's the real pic.....

Where's this from??

Onslow Beach here on base. I know it looks like night... but if you're really smart, you'll know that the sun does not SET on the Atlantic. If you're not... Sorry about your luck.

Anyway, this is our beach we usually go to. This was our Sunrise... And I love it as my desktop. It was cut, cropped, and blown up. But, I really do love this shot. SO much happened on this weekend. This was the weekend of Heather's birthday, 2007.

Does that answer the questions???

Just kidding...

I dig the questions, and the emails, you all.

MB

A Weekend Thang

2008-07-28T19:08:00.002-04:00

See, you thought me just adding blogs was a "Weekend Thang." Whatever....

Well, this has been one of the better weekends I've.... NO KIDDING.... had in a long time. Only thing I have going on is that we are trying to get back on level ground here at the house. i.e., Kids and me. We've had Family here since basically June 11 - July 21st.

So, kids and I went to Breakfast on Sunday Morning. Got back to basics, and got back to normalcy. Was it great having the Auntie and Gma and Gpa in here?? Uh... Yeah! BUT, That being said... We had to get back to normal. We're back in 3rd gear.

Why not 5th???

That's cruise control. You get comfy, they walk all over you...

MB

Back In Black

2008-07-27T10:13:00.003-04:00

Well, this has been a Moving Target for the better part of 3 months. I've been experimenting with different paints, different temperatures, and humidity levels and how it all reacts to painting plastics. Plastics are a bitch to paint. I'll tell you that for sure. I've been trying to achieve a "textured" look. Not too textured like RHINO LINING, but like an orange peel look. But in Black, and still glossy. They don't make paint to do that, so you have to figure out certain levels and temperatures to paint at to achieve the same effects. Anyway, to make a long story short. I finally got what i was looking for.

May i mention again, that Plastic is hard to paint. You have to find paint that has a lot of flex agent in it so it'll hold up to stress and not crack.

I don't claim to be some DuPont specialist in all things paint, which is why I've been chasing the tail of this thing for months. I finally got what i was looking for though.

Reality TV

2008-07-26T19:18:00.003-04:00

Today was a great day. Mostly due to the that fact that Heather and I talked today using the Computer to do so. Webcam and IM'ing. It's a little complicated at first, but easy once you get used to it. If it would just quit crapping out once in a while.

Anyway, we just set the cameras to our everyday going on's and every once in a while the kids or I would go over and say something. It was almost like she was there. She got to see the house, animals, kids, and just every day life for a few hours. So did we (get to see her everyday life on her day off)

Here's the Pic of what we basically saw all day...

So it was like having our own Reality TV without all the frickin' drama. My kind of Reality TV.

This post was really for Heather, so she can see what we see when we see each other and always wonder what we each see.

MB

No PICS

2008-07-26T15:27:00.001-04:00

I've repainted the KLR. It's all black.

Orange peel effect on the bike. Why no pics?? Didnt take any yet. It's just mocked up

I'll take some soon.

iCarly

2008-07-25T17:26:00.002-04:00

Why in God's Creation do I know what iCarly is??? Because Heather and I have 3 kids who LOVE iCarly. Including Mason, I might add. Whoa. I think Hayden's got a crush on one of the girls in that show. I haven't quite figured it out, but my money is on the brunette, and Heather knows why. (Heather.. Think, Pendleton Day Care for Hayden) anyway, there's a theory on why men choose the women they pattern for their spouse (or spouses, if you're like me or a few others i know. We're not perfect. Sometimes you have to screw it up once badly to figure out how to do it right from that point on. Good life lesson. That one is free.) Anyway, back to iCarly. I decided last night that i would give all TV privlages to kids last night. It was one of those nights. Anyway, they ALL (including Mason) wanted to watch iCarly. They even asked if I could "PAUSE" it while they took Roscoe out to go poop and one other time when they had to go pee. I love TiVO. Have I ever told you?? That's for a later day.

Okay, well, I started watching it. It's actually a pretty cute show.

Plus, just like in the 60's and 70's and what became the defining statement for ALL PEOPLE (thanks to Quentin Terintino and Pulp Fiction); "You can classify people into two groups: Are you a Beatles Fan, or an Elvis Fan? There's never a fan of neither." Well, that defined the generations that missed out on the 60s and 70's and if you were a music fan, you had to answer that question. Try it!!

Well, there's a new question for this generation. "Are you a Disney Channel Fan, or a Nickelodeon Fan?" I know there's Cartoon Network, but Cartoon Network is the Led Zepplin of Cartoons. You can't put Cartoon Network in a box that will fit anywhere near the other two.

Kids that are hip usually say NICKELODEON. You wanna know why?? They don't limit themselves to JUST cartoons, even though they have SPONGEBOB, FAIRY ODDPARENTS, BACK AT THE BARNYARD, BACKYARDIGANS, and so on. but they have DRAKE AND JOSH, and iCarly. Wow, I am totally gay or I am totally buying to the Parent thing. Either way, RIGHT now it involves there not being an adult WOMAN at the house right now for the next 3 months. Arcane humor. You have to dig in to get it.

Well, the LONG of what should have been SHORT, is that the kids are WAY HUGE FANS of iCarly and it's just too funny to watch them get all Jacked in a good way knowing that there's a new iCarly or Drake and Josh that's going to be on. It was like my brother and i when we watched Starsky and Hutch and Dukes of Hazard.

Chew on that for a while.

MB

The Weez

2008-07-25T05:19:00.002-04:00

Heather and I are pretty big fans of Weezer. It's kind of odd that we both agree on music sometimes. She's into what you might find on KISS FM or Z100, and then somtimes whatever's on the country station (right now) and then of course the oldies (moldy oldies) So when there's someone we both agree on, it's not a RARE experience, but it's not an everyday one, either.

Weezer's Red Album is pretty damn good. I"m just wondering if she's had the time to listen to it yet. I've been sending the thumb drive to her and whatnot with music on it. Music to add to her computer so there's something new to listen to. Which is ANOTHER reason I've been buying music when it comes out. I bought Madonna's Hard Candy. Not a HUGE Madonna fan, but I though Heather might enjoy it. So I felt like a HUGE FAG showing up with my Weezer, Offspring, Motorhead, and my fucking MADONNA CD. I may as well have been buying tampons. You should have seen the lady at the PX. She was scanning them, and she's a younger girl (22 maybe) so she's NOSY. She's reading all the CD titles pretty quick as she scans them and i got the audible "hmm" when she got to my MADONNA CD. Oh well. I didn't even try to explain it. She looked up at me and smiled. Bagged my shit and the kids and I went on our merry way with Madonna in TOW.

Wait till i tell you about the Mascara and Lipstick Moment.....

MB

A Million Dollar Idea

2008-07-24T19:41:00.003-04:00

Think about it. What is the biggest Scam in the world? Bottled water. It's absurd the price of BOTTLED water. It's like 1 buck for a bottle of Dasani water. Then there's the whackos who actually think there's a water that TASTES better than other bottled water. Dude... It's water. That's it. WATER. I think we just buy certain types of water just because it's there and, "why not, I'm thirsty" comes to mind when you're at the 7-11 and whammo, you just did what retailers call the "impulse buy."

Well, here's my idea. Actually, it's not MY idea, it's my idea and a guy that i work with. We thought about making our own bottled water. This is actually legit. We're gonna call it BRIAN water. "Water like you drank when you were a kid." The original idea was to take hose water and put it in bottles and sell it. Instead, due to bacteria and what not in water, we decided that we would add just the "hint" of hose taste to the water. Nothing major, just the ever so subtle hint. Some slogans... "BRIAN makes water manly again." or "BRIAN water, it is what it is." or "BRIAN's hose water, straight from the backyard to your fridge. Nothing fancy, water for the working man."

Think about it. You could be a millionaire in about 10 minutes. People would buy it just to SEE if it really did taste like hose water. And let's all face it, before you all start making faces. You drank the SHIT out of hose water when you grew up, and most of us still do it on a hot ass day, and you're too damn lazy to go inside for water. You just pony up to the spigat and slurp it down. We've gotten too fancy here in America. Time to get back to basics. Sell it at Wal Mart or ANY damn store for that matter. Sell it for 1/2 the price of regular bottled water. The label.... this is the best part. Ever been to FORD and taken your vehicle in to get fixed? See that mechanic and the shirt he wears with his NAME PATCH over the left pocket on his shirt?? That's the label on our water. It just says "BRIAN" on it. Make the bottle Green with a brass colored cap.

People are morons (Specifically Americans) and we buy shit just to buy it.

Ever drank water from a creek?? It tastes like shit usually, but we line up at the stores for spring water. Hose water is the same as the water coming out of your tap.

It's a damn good idea. I wish i had the ambition to actually do this.

The possibilities are endless. The commercial... Show some dude filling up empty bottles with hose water, setting them down on the lawn and some other brain dead hick screwing lids on em.

Proudly Made In America. Support The Troops. Drink from the hose. Save money. Little monikers you can put on the back of the bottle.

And yes, we really do have nothing better to do with our time than come up with brilliant ideas like this.

If i see Brain water in the stores in the next year I'm suing someone.

MB

Re-Up

2008-07-24T16:47:00.004-04:00

So Heather Reenlisted on the 22nd. Most of you already know that, but a lot of you don't. So, I just thought I'd put that out there that she did.

As always, she had a female Marine reenlist her as she usually does. It's the Girls only club. Which is pretty damn cool if you really start to think about it.

Anyhow, she's proud of it and I'm very proud of her. So, Congratulations Honey and We love you and Miss you here at home.

MB

Rediscovering Coldplay

2008-07-24T05:20:00.002-04:00

No, I'm not some Johnny come lately. Since the ever came out, I always thought Coldplay was pretty damn good. Infact, you know when you hear a song or a band, you can almost place an event or a time in your life that it strikes a chord on?? Well, if i had to place Coldplay in there, I'd say it reminds me of Leaving for Desert Fire Ex, and convoying out with this SSgt of mine. Also, the big rage of the age music then was all the songs from the "City Of Angels" soundtrack. Remember that movie with Nicholas Cage? God that movie sucked.

Anyway, i bought their new CD when it came out (yes, I'm one of those people that anxiously awaits new music from bands i really enjoy and but them on the day they come out) and uh.. it's okay. Not as good as their older stuff.

Anyway, i find myself listening to Coldplay a lot right now.

Also.... WOW, do i have a good CD to talk about. The Offsprings new one. Holy shit. I bought this the day it came out. Man, it's so friggin good.

All you cali people can start bragging now that you knew Noodles and he used to be a janitor at the school. Go ahead, I've already heard that story like ONE BILLION times. And also go ahead and tell me that he wears huge glasses too. Go ahead.

Anyway, the offspring. Get it.

MB

Kuwait Calling

2008-07-22T19:15:00.003-04:00

Yeah, well it's not the CLASH, and it's definitely not LONDON CALLING, but what it happens to be, is a package that Heather received from Johnstown, CO.

This has to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in my entire life.

One time, I was in Phouquet (cant' remember how to spell it) anyway we were just days away from leaving to Seoul and then on to Phohang (again, my spelling sucks.) anyway, we were previously in Fuji and Misawa, Japan. My point.... Is this. I had a package that was coming to me, and it kept chasing me around the frigging globe. Every time we'd port, the chopper would bring in the mail to the boat, and then we'd be on land long enough that it would fly into where we were, but I'd be put on details that would meet up in another site. What that means is I'd end up flying to one destination, and my box ended up getting back on the ship and or sometimes, back on a bird to get on another ship to be flown back onto where it could find me (and a lot of Marines, I wasn't the only one getting mail.) Well, by the time I had got my package, it looked like HELL, and most every thing in it was FUCKED up or stale or stained from other shit breaking in it. It was a travesty. That box ended up taking like 5 weeks to get to me. Granted, mail was very slow anyways back then getting to me even in Okinawa, it was worse that i was floating around the world on top of that. It was my Nana that sent the box and I never had the heart to tell her what happened, to this day. Well, she's dead and has been for years so what's the harm.

Well, my box didn't look nearly thins bad as this one does of Heathers. THis is awesome. As I understand, not much broke in this one. She's lucky. Anyway, it's always the thought that counts, and to be honest with you, my ratted up fucked up way busted up box that i ended up getting to me when I was in Thailand ( I think I was in Thailand or Korea, I'm still hazey on the exact location, it was 12 yrs ago for goodness sakes.) was the best feeling in the world knowing that I atleast got SOMETHING from SOMEBODY, no matter how fucked up or perfect it was when it got to me. It was always the thought that counted. Plus, it was from family and that made it all the better.

Anyway, here's the picture. What i love is that it showed up in a bag.

MB

FUCK GAS!!

2008-07-03T17:40:00.002-04:00

Yep I've had it with gas. More over, I think I've had it with Americans. Why aren't we banding together and just saying FUCK IT and NOT BUY ONE GOD DAMN gallon of FUEL for anything. Live like Grizzly Adams for a MONTH. If you can't survive for a MONTH like our ancestors did, you're a human being that needs a realignment. It's not that hard. One Month i think would CRIPPLE this damn country. I would bet you a finger that prices would be A BUCK o' FIVE again most ricky tick. I'm so pissed off with gas and the way these prices are getting so out of whack. I do not live in California anymore, but I'm sure it's even worse than here. Either way, I've been riding my BIKE to work lately. I work 6 miles from where I live, and with my hours the way they were before, it was damn near impossible to get the kids to Day Cares and make it to work on time even in a car or motorcycle. Now that our hours have been readjusted to 0730-1600, I can now commute with the bike and make it to work on time and make it home to pick up the kids on time, as well. I have a TREK 4100 Mountain bike that i bought a number of years ago to commute to work back in Fremont, and recently, I have rediscovered my new found love for biking again.

First off, i actually biking. I loved it as a kid, and as an adult as well. Having kids slowed it down some, but now that they're older its been easier and more fun to get back into it again. Anyway, I got a new toy. I've been abusing the TREK pretty bad. And yes, i know it's got a lifetime warranty on it and all that, but I found another bike that I freakin' dig. So, i bought it. A Cannondale F4. So, I'm doing my part (sort of) and I'm REFUSING to buy gas to go to work with. Unless I absolutely have to. I'm a hippocrit ( i know i spelled that wrong) for not TOTALLY bucking system but OH well. I'm rediscovering the Oregon Tree Hugger in me that i miss. So, we walk everywhere and bike it as well.

I use the truck to do vacation stuff and family functions and getting groceries. If I had a trailer i could attach to the bike, I'd use that god damn thing. But as it stands right now, that's not an option.

I'm done ranting.

Joe Horn, out.

Deadwood

2008-07-03T17:35:00.002-04:00

Holy cow.

If you have not seen this series. You need to. The language is REALLY rough. So if you can get past that, it's a bad ass series. It was on HBO for a few years. It was only 3 seasons long, but wow. All i can say is that am I glad that Roger and Mom turned me onto this. Heather is watching it in Kuwait as well. Again... think SOPRANOS in the Black Hills. It's based on real events and whatnot. Either way, what a good ass show. Have i said that enough times yet???

Anyway, it has my 2 thumbs up. If i had another set of arms like that girl in India, I'd give it 4 thumbs up.

Later, skaters.

Dias tres

2008-06-08T19:47:00.001-04:00

and counting.....

3 days till A LOT HAPPENS. Mom and Rog will be here, AND the kids will be out of school.

So, what does that mean?? Well, not a lot except that it'll be kind of busy around here. Just so you know, Heather... Yes.... there will be ample amounts of pictures taken, and I will be sure to upload them to the web gallery as they happen.

Side note here.... Aunt Donna will be here in July, as well. Looking forward to all of this that seems to be happening at the cyclic rate.

Alright... that's the update. More to follow. I have more updates as to how work is going as well, also on our new unit that we are tasked with. LAR. Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. Can't wait!! Starts Monday.

MB

Web Gallery

2008-06-01T16:03:00.001-04:00

Oh yeah, I'm done with the .mac iweb thingy. I know... It's a pain in the ass... But regardless, all you mac people probably knew about this, but I'm going to the WEB GALLERY and doing this blog.

Here's the link. Email to follow

Thanks every one.

http://gallery.mac.com/usmcbrowns

MB

Hasta, Bush

2008-06-01T11:55:00.003-04:00

Yep, hacked the hell out of that damn bush. I got tired of seeing it getting so damn big.

So I went to Lowe's and spent 45 dollars and got some hedge trimmers and went to town on all the bushes.

New look

2008-05-28T21:36:00.002-04:00

Another new look for the bike. Drag bars. A guy I work with also does Powder coating.

Did some parts on my bike and Heather's bike. Pipes are soon to follow in high temp powdercoating.

Yeah, Man...

2008-05-23T17:03:00.003-04:00

Got me a new Intake for the Bike.

I thought this was going to be a royal bitch to install. I know it SOUNDS easy to do, but after you look at the "instructions" or "go-by" it seems a little intimidating having to mess around the fuel injection and reinstalling shit.

Infact it took about 1.5 hours to do, but worth it.

Star Wars and the battle for Hayden's Room

2008-05-21T03:37:00.002-04:00

Hayden has really been into the Star Wars thing lately. On top of all that, he absolutely DIGS Lego's. Anything Lego's. Doesn't matter if it was how to put together a Lego Shaped Roscoe terd, he'd put together the terd... and then build a spaceship out of it. He's got a pretty creative mind. Well, last weekend he was bored in his room and decided to build himself an armada out of his toys. Lego Toys, models, transformers, and he's been on my CASE about taking a picture. So, here it is. I promised him I would do this, and promised him I'd put it on the internet.

Here you are Hayden.

Well, it happened

2008-05-12T02:22:00.003-04:00

I got sick. Holy hell. This sucks. I don't know what I did, or who I was around, but I got sick. My throat feels like I just got done swallowing flaming tacks, and my head feels like I just polished off 5 bottles of Duplin County Muscadine Wine. I don't know what's worse, the Congestion? Or the sore throat? Either way, this SUCKS. I don't even feel like eating, and swallowing any form of fluids, whether it's Gatorade, Water, or Milk, is an arduous process. On top of that, I TRIED to explain to the kids why Dad's a little slow to get EVERY request satisfied. Doesn't matter.

Man, on top of that, we had a gnarly ass bitchin set of storms last night. We're talking... Tornado watches, Severe thunderstorm warnings and watches, HAIL, Massive amounts of rain. On top of ALL that, right in the MIDDLE of a BITCHIN' Rain / thunder and lightning storm, Maisy wants to know " why can't we go to the beach?" Too much. We were on our way back from the Main Exchange. We bought some Cepecol and the Bee Movie. Both were worth their money. I asked if she was serious... Her answer was that "we NEVER get to go to the beach and I just want to go to the beach." If gas weren't almost 4 bucks a gallon, I would have driven to the beach and made her get out of the truck and play in it, just to see if she'd do it. 10 foot seas and all.

I've figured her out. You have to just straight up, call her out on her bullshit sometimes. I missed a fabulous opportunity yesterday. It would have been a great educational experience too. I could have busted out my Marine Biology knowledge from College on her and shown her (from the truck, cause she'd be outside and I'd be dry) all the neat Marine Life that thrives during storms. "Never pass up an opportunity to train." A great and famous quote from SSgt Radaker.

Anyway, it's like 0231 here and I'm wide awake. Coughing, and clearing my raw throat. I should get to sleep but I gotta be up in 90 minutes, anyway. I'm out of creamer, otherwise I'd start the coffee.

Here's a cute picture to go out on. Caught them being cute in the morning. Rarely happens around here. But they were caught in the act of GETTING ALONG.

Later, skaters

MB

A whole new week

2008-05-06T04:34:00.002-04:00

Well, I've been talking to Heather regularly. Mostly Daily as a matter of fact. Kids are not "daily" but they're talking enough. Sent a package, now the only that that's gonna get there late is her Mother's day stuff. The kids want me to wait until their Mother's Day stuff is done at school before I send any Mother's day stuff. So... Heather, when you read this, we didn't forget about you on Mother's Day. It's hard to explain to the kids the delay in shipping. We didn't forget about you, we are all just waiting until EVERYONE can send you something on the same day. It's only fair (quoting Hayden.)

Priority shipping. Quick rant. Usually not that big of a deal. I've got a computer to send to Heather, and so I went to the POST OFFICE to pick up a Priority box to send it in. NO FUCKING BOX!! NOT ONE PRIORITY BOX!!! WTFO?? How do you call yourself a post office with the ability to ship Priority and YET.. Dont' have the shit your AMERICAN customers NEED to ship PRIORITY!!!??? This drove me NUTS all night last night. I can't win for losing. So, TODAY, I'm gonna try it again. This time I'm taking like 30 boxes from those fuckers and just keeping them. Well, maybe not 30 but I'm taking a handful you can bet your bottom dollar on that.

Anyway, learning steps I guess. Slow as she goes. I'm learning Heather! Plus, now I have to go to the Commissary to get groceries and CAT LITTER!! God, I hate buying cat litter. It usually means that you have a FRIGGIN' CAT!! Not only that, but you have a cat that SHITS a lot and you need to change the CAT LITTER a lot. AAaarrrggghh!! Cats. Friggin' Maisy... If she wasn't so damn cute, we would not own a cat right now. It's her fault. If she were just ugly, it would have been so easy to tell her no.

I'm only kidding.

MB

Bambi Shmambi

2008-05-01T17:02:00.003-04:00

Bambi aint got a damn thing on my ANDRENA. And I'm about to tell you why.

I just got a phone call from Andrena's sister (my ex sister in law, Dena) As it turns out, Brittany (my daughter) has not been going to school this year. Just so you all know... Brittany is 13 and will be 14 in October. Has moved about 3 times this school year and come to find out hasn't even attended a school. Or, if she did, it was for about a week or two and then stopped. All at the OKAY of Andrena.

I know what you're all gonna say. Call the State of Oregon and tell them. I tried that about 4 months ago and I got told BY THE STATE OF OREGON, that they no longer have a truancy division (lack of funding) and that Children Services just wanted to know if there was any physical abuse going on. Never fear, I'm still going to call Oregon and bitch like holy hell. See, Bambi at least has them go to school. Mine does crazy things (that I hear about) like a raving drunk, smacks Brittany around, demeans her mentally and the list goes on and on.

My frustration is that I hear this shit from so many people in Oregon, (they all tell me things) but they never tell the right people. Like CSD (children services) or the school system. See, they witness this stuff. I only hear about it. I can only do so much 3500 miles away.

This is about Brittany now. What the hell is happening over there in Oregon?

So, Bambi... You've just been one up'd.

MB

New site

2008-04-28T20:06:00.002-04:00

Well, I talked to Heather today. Actually she called my office DSN.!! SO it was totally free. I've got her DSN number as well.

I also have her mailing address, and call me old fashioned, but I'm not gonna post it on the internet. If you all want it, email me and I'll launch it out. The tip when you send shit.. On your declaring sheet, put Point of Origin as US. I don't know why, but I"m just doing what the boss lady is telling me.

Moto Mail.... I have a little more info on it. But once I get it seamless, I'll repost on that as well.

http://web.mac.com/usmcbrowns

Check that out.

If you're bored.

MB

Boys

2008-04-27T16:43:00.002-04:00

Yep...

The Trampoline is broken. Boys. That's all I gotta say about that. The straps that hold the netting to the poles... Broken. Gee how did that happen??? Could it be from all that leaning on it??

Anyway, the trampoline is out of commission. Until I can find a way to jimmy rig that damn thing.

Boys.

Maisy's Birthday

2008-04-27T16:29:00.003-04:00

Well, Maisy had her birthday party, today. It went off without a hitch. All the girls were over. They had a blast. Maisy was quite the Miss Priss today. She was in heaven. For about 2 hours there were more hugs and awwww's and oooohhh's and even more hugs and "oh, my goodness" than I could even prepare for. Hayden, Mason and I just stood by and watched it all unfold.

This is Maisy, all super stoked about her "Pet Shops" toy.

Like I said. We had a good day.

Heather called at 1300 today. Right on time. She's using some LCpl's (her roommate) computer as of now to correspond with me through email.

Your mission: Get smart on SPAWARE?? I think that's how you spell it. As well as MOTOMAIL.

Motomail you can write like an email, and it's gets sent to them like a letter. An actual piece of mail. They get it in like 2 or 3 days, also. It works both ways.

SO I thought that would be real cool. I guess that's the big ticket over there, right now.

Alright...

I'm out.

MB

Flying to Kuwait

2008-04-26T15:52:00.002-04:00

This is a post that's primarily for Heather. There's a bit of voyeurism in all of us, so I know that you'll just continue reading all the same. Plus, it's on a blog, so what's not to be expected is usually expected. That being said... since you're gonna read anyway, let me give a bit of a background; Heather left on Sunday (20th) to check into Tampa (MARCENT) all of her peers left on Thursday and she was told to stay and get a little more "training" before she goes. She's going to be dealing with MARCENT on a frequent basis. So she is scheduled to fly out on Saturday (26th, day before Maisy's birthday. Maisy desperately wants to talk to her Mom today. She wants "...to be the last kid to talk to her before she leaves the United States" as she said so desperately last night. Cute. She will land in Kuwait at 1700 ish on Sunday Kuwait time. Incase you're looking for a quick formula.... It's 7 hours ahead of the east coast. If it's 1700 in Kuwait on Sunday.... It's 1000 at my house on Sunday. Make sense??? Alright, that being said.

Heather, I know you're gonna get a chance to read this soon enough, and we have been talking every day since you left, about 4 times a day at least... You're worried if that's too much for the kids or not enough, for their own minds and you leaving. It's been perfect. This has been one of the best transitions I've seen. The kids are sad, but they're happy that you're always happy on the phone. You cry and they cry. But in a good way. It makes you more "real" in their eyes for some reason. It's like they can relate to why you're so sad. Hayden finally broke last night. Took 5 days, but he broke last night, and I can relate. He's so much like his father. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. He was strong at the airport and was strong for 5 days. It finally caught up with him and he lost it. He misses you desperately. Mason is getting better, and Maisy is Maisy.

Myself.. I miss you. But, I'm doing okay. I know that you're looking here to see what's new and what's happening with us. I'm okay. You've asked me a few times and that's what I keep telling you. It's just the logistics of you being gone. Basically, I think that, as of today, I finally have it made. Ive developed the pattern that we were looking for. I'm now ready for you to be gone, but I'm ready for you to be home ASAP, only because I miss you. But, I told you at the airport that you don't need to worry about ANYTHING on this end. I've got it from here. You just need to look out for you, right now. You don't need to sweat or stress anything happening or not happening at home. You just stay smart, stay safe, and listen.

We talked about this before, and it's something that Chris said before. Look, listen, and digest. Stay smart, and you'll be just fine. Those of you wondering about what I mean when I say "smart." Don't worry, Heather knows what I mean. It's not about being "smart" to prove something. We get it, and she knows what I'm saying.

Remember, sight alignment, sight picture, breathing, center mass and .... whip it on!

I'll see you in 7 months. I love you and miss you. I look forward to your call from Kuwait.

I've got it on this end.

MB

2008-04-24T03:47:00.002-04:00

Here's another picture for you, Heather.

Kids say Hi, and love you, and they miss you.

MB

The Rain.... Has Stopped.... For now??

2008-04-23T04:50:00.002-04:00

Doesn't matter. It's not raining right now. I took Roscoe out for his 0425 PEE and I was dry as a bone when I walked in. Dry as a bone... Hmmm. I'm sure there's a reason that expression has is place in the american lexicon... but "dry" as a "bone." I have like over 200 bones in my body. Not one of them damn things is "dry." As a matter of fact, they're covered in muscle and all kinds of other fluid. Actually, I don't really know that, either. I DID take Anatomy back in college (Oregon City) but we're talking about something 16 years ago. Anyway... "dry."

But yeah... No Rain, however, our "weather guesser" says we have a 50% chance of rain today. Wow... really went out on a limb there, didn't he? 50% chance?? That mean's he's got a flip of a quarter of being right. God damn weather men... what a scam. I could be weather man. Mark's mobile weather service. About every hour I could just call in to the studio from my truck or motorcycle or whatever, look up at the sky.. "Yep... I'm gonna give it about a 50% chance of rain. Partly cloudy. Bout a 50% chance of the sun breaking through later this afternoon. Overall... gonna be an average day."

That was easy. Now pay me.

Scam.

MB

Did I actually see that???

2008-04-22T20:24:00.002-04:00

Did I actually see a FORSBERG JERSEY on an Avalanche player last week??? When the FLIP did that happen????

I meant to bring it up earlier, but I just lost track of it. I thought about it again watching Stanley Cup playoffs tonight. Caps/Flyers.

But.... PETER FORSBERG??? ADAM FOOTE??? JOE SAKIC???? I mean it's like a flash back to 2001 again!! GOOD TO GO!!

Anyway, I know I've been out of the loop, but wow.... I wasn't ready for that.

MB

This is for you Heather

2008-04-22T20:18:00.003-04:00

Okay... Let me explain. I've been telling Heather just how clean the house has been since 1635 on Sunday early evening. Just 3 hours after we dropped her off (you gotta find something to do to get your mind off of things.) Anyhow, we ALL here have been taking a concerted effort to keep it this way.

Kind of hard, but remarkably easy on the same hand.

Anyway honey... this was for you.

No pictures??

2008-04-22T04:52:00.003-04:00

Nope. No pictures. Wanna know why? Cause I'm Lazy AND my camera is in the truck, and have I told you that we have had a hovering twisting circling storm over Camp Lejeune for 2 DAYS!!! It's still raining.

Man, well it's 0455, and I'm about to get the kids up and ready for Day Care and Youth Center. I told them since they were ready so quickly yesterday, that I would wake them up 15 min. later today. I'll hold up my end of the bargain, but they better get moving, or tomorrow it's 0455 again. I know it only takes about 10-15 minutes for the average human being to get up, get out of bed, drag a comb across your head (ooo a good beatles reference) but it literally takes 3 times as long for our 3 kids!! I don't know why... I don't really care, either, I just know that if I don't take some preemptive measures to counteract this phenom, I will be paying the price later.

Alright, You all enjoy today.

MB

Day One

2008-04-21T18:14:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been 24 hours. 6 months from now, I'm gonna look back on this and feel silly for even bringing that up, but for now, I'll take it. Anyway, the kids are taking it pretty well. Not bad at all. Maisy's doing better. She's still sad, but only when she's quiet and has time to think about Mom being gone. They're staying pretty busy.

Mason is getting sick?? Who knows?? He's been coughing and hacking, but no fever, yet.

Anyhow, we've talked with Heather 4 times so far. She's going to be an Admin Chief over in Kuwait at the Reception Center where Marines will be coming and going. Pretty cush. Not bad. I'm happy about that. Moreover, she's happy about that. There's 3 friends you need in the Marines. Admin, supply and an armorer. If you have those 3, you're golden. Period.

Anyway, I'll keep you all updated as I hear more.

MB

I'm glad that's over

2008-04-20T16:49:00.002-04:00

Wow.. That was probably the most painful thing I've gone through in a lot of years. Poor Heather. Poor Maisy. Maisy took it the worst. We were all quiet and sharing nervous laughter in the truck on the way to the airport. We all knew it was inevitable at some time. Well, checking in the baggage took about 15 minutes, and then it was off to the metal detector part of our voyage. Here we were. First person to say goodbye (or rather NOT want to say goodbye) was Maisy. She was already crying. That was it. It was over after that. Heather was losing it. Mason looked like he didn't know what to do, Hayden kept his sunglasses on, and I was slowly losing it myself. Poor Maisy. It was one of the hardest kisses to ever give or receive. I told her "I've got it on this end and not to worry." (She's been nesting for the past 7 days getting ready, making sure nothing was NOT done.) She said "I know, and I love you." That was about the gist of it all. I won't go into details. Those are ours to keep (Myself, Hayden, Maisy and Mason.) It was a long walk to the truck. Longest 400 feet I've ever walked in my entire life. As a matter of fact, it's 188 steps from the counter to the truck. We all said nothing except sniffle and wipe our eyes, all the way to the truck. In fact, it may have very well been the quietest we've ever all been before.

Maisy said the cutest thing on the way home. We stopped by BK and got some happy meals (the irony in that word is staggering at that moment) and on our way out of the drive thru, Maisy says, "Dad, every time I try to say Mom's name in my head or my mouth I start CRYING!!" Man, I'll tell you what, kids are amazing. I know that kids are the biggest liars at times, but sometimes the way they put the truth that is in their little hearts is enough to topple the biggest man, I don't care who you are.

"Well, you know what, every time I try and say her name, I get a bit emotional too" I told her. Well, like I said, I'm glad that's over. I don't want to do that again for a long time. I'm not sure how families do that over and over again. Especially like some of my neighbors on my street who are sometimes usually home for only 5 months before having to do it all over again. That's devastating. We're all bound to go through this again, I just hope it's not for atleast another year or so after she gets back.

Alright, more to come.

MB

Boots On The Ground

2008-04-20T10:04:00.003-04:00

Today is the day. Man, I haven't been looking forward to this day AT ALL. But, regardless, it is here. Heather, if you get a chance to read this before you punch out on the bird, I miss you already. Be safe, be smart, and more importantly, try to have fun at the very minimum. The kids and I can hardly wait for you to come home. We're proud of you and I know how important this is to you. If you haven't ever worn the uniform or stood in the boots, you'll never get it, and I quite frankly don't expect you to. Anyone that ever has... Gets it.

So, that being said, I'm gonna have to start writing more on this blog. I think MySpace is a no go over there, but she may be able to pull this page up I think without it pulling a red flag on the filters. That being said, stay tuned.

We're off to take Heather to the Airport. I love you honey. See you soon.

Toppers

2008-03-01T14:03:00.002-05:00

Man, it's days like today that I REALLY miss California.

I'm trying to get a Topper for the new truck, and I have like 2 places to choose from in about a 200 mile radius.

No Snug Top Dealers. Nearest one is Tennessee. Only thing around here is LEER, Century and A.R.E.

However, You're limited and stuck to the prices and people, due to the LACK of people in our populations. What I'm getting at here, is there must have been about 25 different topper places to choose from in 200 mile radius in S. California. Eastern Carolina?? Negative

Eyes are open.

American Idol

2008-02-27T20:47:00.004-05:00

Okay, I need to start by saying that I think that American Idol is rigged, and if it never appeared on TV agin, I wouldn't ever care.

That being said, I saw this kid on there on last night's show. Adam Archuletta or something like that, and holy friggin' shit, that was probably the best version of John Lennon's Imagine I have ever heard. Possibly even better then John Lennon's version.

Anyway, that's all. I still think the show is a farce, and if this kid don't win, then it's true.. The show's rigged.

I'm done.

New Mac??

2008-02-23T16:55:00.002-05:00

Yep.. Let me tell you what's been going on. We've been basically without a computer for a few weeks. Actually, we just got our new computer about a week ago, so, anyway, it's been a while, actually. Had to load all our shortcuts and pages we usually visit (Note: when you back up your computer on an external drive, it doesn't save your safari bookmarks and shortcuts. Lesson learned. Sorry, Leslie, that's why we haven't been visiting your page, lately.) Anyway

This all starts about 5 months ago, when on my ibook, it kept not allowing me to put a disc in the drive (i.e. a CD) so, I called Apple care and I shipped it to them, and had it back in 3 days. CD drive was working. Month later, CD drive goes tits up again. This time, I can't even get a CD in it!! Like something is in the way. WTFO? SO, I call Apple again, and I ship it to them, and have it back in 2 DAYS!! By the way, sidebar here.. Apple is AWESOME!! Their customer service is the shit!! I called at like 7 at night, and the next afternoon, they sent me a BOX to send my mac in, pre packed with foam and postage paid. All you do is call DHL and they pick it up. I get it back in 2-3 days sent overnight. On top of that, when you call Apple you get an american usually in either CA, or CO of all places. They are fast, efficient and kind.

Okay, on with my story. They sent it back in 2 days, and it was fixed. They replaced the Super Drive. Well, no shit.. a month later, the super drive shit's the bed, again!! At this point, I'm positive it's not the drive, it's the alignment on the computer. Something is stripped out or beyond repair. I called, Apple, and they reassured me that if this happens again, they're sending me a brand new computer. No if's and's or but's. I mean, new, not refurbished. Anyway, I send off the computer and get it back in 3 days, and first disc I put in comes right out and it shit's the bed, as well. SO, I call Apple that night, they tell me no problem, and they think it's the functionality of the computer, and constant replacements that has caused permenant misalignment of the superdrive. Your new computer is on it's way. All I had to do was send my broken computer to them, and as soon as FED EX picked it up and scanned it, they shipped my new one off. Literally, within 35 minutes of them picking up my computer, I got an email with a tracking number for my new laptop. No SHIT!! It was here 22 hours later. That's amazing. Shanghai to Camp Lejeune in 22 hours. Wow.

On top of all that, they sent me 4 of the identical computers. On accident obviously. The honest integrity filled Marine in me called Apple and told them I have 4 laptops, and Thank you for the belated Christmas. They were like, "what??" Oh my god!! They had and still have no way to fix it. They can't even see where or how I have 3 extras!! These are not on their billing label or in their system. They are now, now that I read them the serial numbers and when I did that... They couldn't "see" those numbers in their system. I know this sounds hard to believe but it's all true. So, they are STILL taking my word that I have 3 EXTRA laptops here. My shipping label should be here monday, and I'm sending them off.

Before anyone emails me asking if they can have one.. NO! I'm not taking the chance of having 5700 worth of laptops not show up and they fix their mistake and tag me for it.

Anyway, the point to all this, is that we now have a computer once again. Leopard and all. Brand spanking new. One gripe.. No Appleworks or ANY real Word Processing program on here. Anyone got a fix for that?? Maybe Microsoft office or anything?

Alright, we'll talk to you all later

Mark

WTFO??

2008-01-30T04:39:00.001-05:00

What the Fuck, over??

When did I get to be some weak piece of shit?? Let me set the stage for you. I playing with the dog, the other morning, and as I was getting up, I had to "basically" do what looks like an actual Marine Corps pushup... And I damn near couldn't do it!! A push up!!
Holy shit! That's the end of that. So every morning, I've been doing 20-30 pushups first thing in the morning. It's great. Takes about 30 seconds to do this workout and then I just get gone. Take a shower and go to work. Anyway... Yeah, I mean, I turned 30 and what.?? I just turn into a slime??? Wow. I'm changing this.
Well, if it hadn't been for Roscoe.. Who knows how far this could have gone. I mean, I'm no Brad Pitt or some sort of Jack LaLane, but god damn man... A push up?? And, get this, when I realized that my push up might not happen, I was like, oh hell no.. I did like 10 more to prove to myself that i could still do it. Well.. I about popped a damn vessel in my eye straining so hard, and I thought I was going to dislocate my shoulder.

Anyway, let's just say I had my reality check the other day, and it hurt.
Alright, I gotta take a shower, and take the kids to day care and go to work. Walk about 7 laps around the motor pool and get some work done.

Later, skaters

Back to work

2008-01-28T18:55:00.000-05:00

Well, Chris is back to work today, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Believe it or not, my job is WAY political at times. If there's one thing that I would change about my job, is the politicism surrounding it on what seems to be almost a daily basis. Other than that... I love it. Well, Chris has been out for roughly 6 weeks due to knee surgery.

Well, today he's back. Chris runs everything at our building and is in charge of our entire building. He's not really my boss, but I work rather in tandem with him and other shop leads through out the Eastern Carolina region. By the way.. What the hell is it that I do?? I'm a Environmental Inspector, Safety Inspector and a couple of different inspectors for all ventures regarding the Marine Corps and Lockheed Martin& Day Zimmerman aboard Camp Lejeune, New River, and Cherry Point. What does all of that mean?? It don't mean a damn thing. Anyway, Chris is really one of my better and great friends I've ever had. As I've said before, Retired Master Sergeant, Force Recon in the Marines, a bit of a crazy man.

Well, now that my gay moment is over, I gotta tell you that I'm happy he's back. Let him handle all the political bullshit, now that he's back, because I had my fair share of it while he was gone. Plus, maybe now something will get done. They're all a bit afraid of him, in truth of it all. That's the real funny part.

Anyway, I'm out.

LOST

2008-01-24T19:21:00.000-05:00

Alright, I've just about HAD it with this WRITERS STRIKE. The only saving grace is that LOST starts on Monday, the 28th. I should preface this with, "I am a LOST dork. Heather and I watch it all the time. Yeah... That's right... We own all the seasons. And yes.. We are that couple that will continually re watch shows that we have bought as seasons on DVD.

Did I mention that we also have a PS3, and the big debate in all our DVD purchases is Blu Ray or HD DVD?? Well, anyway, I wish they'd also figure out the new DVD thing. Blu Ray or HD DVD.

Also, we are the proud owners of Guitar Hero III for Playstation 3?? Oh yeah!! Man, again, I don't know what it is, but I'm way hooked to this "retarded" game. I love it.

Anyway, just thought since I haven't contributed a damn thing to this blog in a while that I would go over some dork stuff happening around here.

What are we watching right now, tonight, during the writers strike???

The Office.. Season 2

Pirate Weekend

2007-11-15T16:59:00.001-05:00

Over the Columbus Day Holiday, I went with Chris Hill and Ed McAvoy, two guys I work with to the Shakleford Banks, just south of Harker's Island. It's an island all by itself at the southern end of the OUTER BANKS. Holy cow. This is an amazing place.

History goes that this was one of Blackbeards many islands he frequented and used in his times as a pirate. On top of that, he had a few ships go aground near there. Which leads me to this point. There are actual WILD HORSES (Ponies) on that Island.

And have been for hundreds of years. Since the days of Blackbeard. Apparently one of his ships carrying a shit load of horses, went aground at the shackleford banks and they've been living there ever since. The state has them all tagged and is watching them all, but they are protected and there is actual fresh water on that island. It's a great place and I plan on going back soon. I had the time of my life. Fishing, relaxing and just plain KICKIN' it on the island, completely by myself. No sounds of cars, no other boats, really to speak of, no other people. You're on an uninhibited island, aside from the ponies and wildlife. It was great.

A must do, if you have access to a boat.

I took this picture at sunrise the next morning. It's amazing how sunrises look so much like an Oregon Sunset off Tillamook. Gave me goosebumps of the similarity.

Can't get enough of this show

2007-11-15T16:52:00.000-05:00

Mars Rising. On Discovery Science Channel

Man, It's got William Shatner commetating it and I must admit a gay love for William Shatner. I don't know why, and I'm thoroughly prepared for the onslaught of abuse I'm about to recieve for admiting that, but if you actually knew me, you'd know that already. I've had Shatner Albums (music) for the last 15-16 years. Still have it and anyway, enough about that...

Either way, this is a friggin' GREAT SHOW

I'm hooked. Heather's got Survivor and Private Practice and Brothers and Sisters and all that other bullshit...

I have Mars Rising and...

wait for it.. wait for it..

Family Guy.

This is the best show ever made. Enough said about that.

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=2627

Family Coming In...

2007-11-15T06:36:00.000-05:00

Yep.

My Mom and her Husband, my step dad, Roger should be here Nov. 30th. Staying for about a week. Looking forward to it. I'm sure the kids will be super stoked. They usually enjoy these types of visits from family.

Now we just gotta find stuff to do around here in Late Nov, Early Dec. I'm seeing a trip to Blackbeard's museum or the Duplin Winery? Possilbly even a trip down to the USS N. Carolina.. or if we're lucky... Heading to Quantico, VA and spend a day or two there. We'll see.

After

2007-11-15T06:32:00.001-05:00

The Jeep

2007-11-15T06:24:00.000-05:00

Time to start posting pictures of the Jeep, I imagine. Now that the lift is done, and all that.

Here's a before picture...

The Move

2007-09-18T05:07:00.000-04:00

The Move is official. I know that most of you have no clue what I'm talking about, but, we were once in French Creek Bldg 375, at that Maint. Center, and now we are at a Maint. Facility that is twice the size of 375. French Creek 270. What's that mean? Well, Osh Kosh was kicked off the base and now we have the contract for the MTVR's (7 Tons) Also, DynCorp was kicked off base and now we have the C3 contract (Carc Paint Booth and blast facility.) Also, we got cleared hot to take on MWSS-272 at New River Air Station. Also, contracts are in negotiation to start at Cherry Point as well. What does all of this mean?? Well, to you, probably nothing. To me, and Heather... Security. For one, the team that we have here at DSD-2 here on Camp Lejeune is top notch and is the best crew I've ever worked with, even to include my Marine Corps Career. These guys and girls that I work with are the best. I actually wake up each day, exited about going to work. I haven't felt like that since Sleep-n-Aire. Anyhow, the move on our part is complete. Now we're just waiting on our "Division" component to get off their asses and getting over here.

Later

Jeep

2007-09-06T19:19:00.000-04:00

Yep..

Got one.

Wrangler YJ

Let the Lift Kit and 35's begin.

Yay, me.

Heather's project

2007-08-26T10:49:00.000-04:00

I have taken over Mark's blog for a moment, hope you don't mind? I decided to try something that I had never done before, strip and stain a dresser. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out so I thought I would share.

As you can see this is the before shot when the dresser was Maisy's

This is the after shot and now it's Mason's.

Here's the close up. Needless to say I don't think I'll be doing a project like this again any time soon.
-Heather

1st Day of school pictures

2007-08-25T19:33:00.000-04:00

Well here are a couple pictures of the kids. Mason didn't want to participate.

Hope you like the pictures.

Heather

I think that I'm in trouble

2007-08-25T12:05:00.000-04:00

Man, I'm lookin' at Jeeps.

I know. But not a new one. I'm looking for an older one. Either a CJ or YJ to toy around with and put some fishing pole holders on the front and lift it and play around with the kids and Heather with.

I know I want a Jeep, but I just don't know what kind. I suppose I'll know when I see it.
Chew on that for a while.

I'm out.

Long day

2007-08-22T12:33:00.000-04:00

Well, thought that I would come home for lunch today and get a healthy Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra Ice Cream... Mmmmm. Glad I did that. Tomorrow the kids all go back to school. First day back. Will we be taking pictures?? Doubt it. Unless Heather decides to stay home and do that before she goes to work. I gotta be at work at 6. So, that's a no go for me. Too bad, I guess. Hayden and Maisy and getting excited about going back to school, even though they really enjoyed their summer at the youth center with Movie Theater Trips, swimming at the pool, bowling, and general playing.

Anyway, I suppose that I'm back for now. Though, I just don't see me putting a bunch of pictures up here that much. We'll see how that goes.

out.

2007-08-21T20:00:00.000-04:00