The 1st One

So after much trial and error with the language settings for these Arabic networks, I was finally able to get a blog up and running. I don't really care much for LiveJournal anymore, I don't really think anyone would read it anyway. However, I kind of miss blogging and I haven't actively done it in a few years. This is primarily because of the Marine Corps iron grasp on my life, but things have calmed down for me and I find myself with a lot of time to reflect on myself.

As it stands, on my 2nd deployment to the beautiful nation of Iraq. This time, however, I'm no longer in the infantry. Well, I'm still technically, but I've received a promotion in billet from an Assaultman Squad Leader at the company level to the battalion level billet of "Battalion Artist" or somesuch. I find that billet title somewhat childish though, and I prefer to refer to myself as a "Combat Artist." About half my job is photography however, as the one photographer we do have, LCPL Perez, usually isn't enough to cover all of the assignments we are tasked with.

As the means become available, I'll be posting photos from my issued Canon 1D MkII, as well as scans of my artwork from the missions I go on periodically.

Though I'm stationed in al Asad, I'm in Ramadi right now on assignment. Ramadi is a nice base, it's a lot like al Asad but very tightly compact. Everything is within walking distance, at least everything I could need. Unfortunately, with mission delays and so forth, I find myself with very little to do over the past couple of days. I've spent a lot of time at the MWR (Military Welfare and Recreation) center, on the computer looking at new cameras and on the phone with Didie--my beautiful wife. They also offer videogames here, you check out a game and a controller at the front desk and go play for as long as you want. I think there's technically a time limit but since hardly anyone actually plays, they don't need to enforce it.

Yesterday I spent about 5 hours playing Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles on the Wii. The game itself is extremely short, and even less complicated. It's an on-rails shooter exclusive to the Wii, utilizing the Wiimote as an aiming device to shoot all the zombies, lickers, hunters, dogs, and the other beasties common to the series. Being a huge fan of the RE series, I was kind of disappointed at how simple the game was. It doesn't really offer much of a challenge, just frustration as things become either hit or miss.

My computer was broken last time I was at al Asad. I came back from a mission up at COP Heider to find that my Toshiba laptop no longer worked. Not wanting to spend money on a new one, I have a few recovery discs being mailed to me, but it will probably be a little bit before I actually get them. Until then it's MWR and office computers for me. The MWR isn't so bad, my only gripe is everything is somehow greasy from people using it. The keyboard, mouse, phones... all of it.

We've been here for almost 3 months now. We're almost half way there, and after this I only have about 5 months left in Hawaii before I get out of the Marine Corps entirely. I'm being urged by all the staff NCO's and officers to re-enlist. But the more I look at how the military wears on people of higher rank, the less I want to do it. I'd like to get out while I still have some youth, and continue my life where I left off. Though I don't think I'll ever be quite the same, I still want to go to CalArts and get an animation degree. Charlie the Zombie and Ragnarok are still at the top of my list, and they have become increasingly more complex as they bounce around my head--as I bounce around the back of an MRAP or 7-ton.

Well I'm going to run to chow, the chow hall here has a smoothie bar! It's actually a milk shake bar, but the people who run the chow hall don't typically speak English so we let it slide.

Toodles.