http://dustmans.fotopages.com/ In the middle of my 4th Iraqi adventure. I'm 35 years old, been in the Navy for 14 years as a Corpsman (medic for all of you non military types). Got out after 7 and a half the first time when I was stationed at Naval Weapons Test Center China Lake, figured there had to be something better out there then being stuck out in this middle of this desert. I wanted to do something totally different so I went to school for Autotronics, got the degree and worked the field till right after 9/11 and then realized that my real talents were being put to waste. Came back in and was sent to a Marine Helo unit that was 60 miles south of China Lake back in the same hellish desert that I was originally running away from, sigh. Now I'm in San Diego with another Helo unit, much better with an active duty unit Married to a pink haired goddess, have a son named Collin who's 14, been in love and out of it. Life's not bad when you're keeping your head above water. I rockclimb, had a day or two of partying, read way too much and getting to the point in my life I can fix anything body, soul or machine. In 6 years I'll have to find a job that can use my various talents (maybe photography?). Anyhow that's my blurb Disclaimer: The thoughts, views, pictures, comments expressed in no way represent the Views of US Navy, Marines, Department of Defense, CPA or human race in general. If you are offended by what is here, leave a comment, if you like what you see leave a comment, take care. Sat, 17 May 2008 11:33:10 GMT Sat, 17 May 2008 11:33:10 GMT http://www.fotopages.com/images/rss_logo.gif http://shw.fotopages.com/ 40 60 When a sailor talks about coffee, he talks about it like he would a lover. Any Navy place you go to, there’s a coffee mess, usually with a tip jar towards supplies but it actually doesn’t matter if someone puts money in there or not. Because there is always going to be someone like me or my doc who will pay out of pocket to fill the thing up just to make sure it’s stocked. In Iraq, I’m drinking some of the best coffee I’ve ever had. Why? Because of the soldier support folk who send out some amazing coffee care packages. Starbucks? Got it. Hand made hippy French Roast? Yup. Voodoo Child Jimmy Hendrix coffee? Got that too. Sweetened condensed milk to go with espresso? Oh yes. Thank you, you know who you are, my happiness is in direct proportion to the volume and how good my coffee is. Thank you Doc’s sister and Charlene, my taste buds are very happy these days. You notice the espresso machine on the right? Before you go and think about how spoiled I am (I might be), let me tell you the story behind it. A couple of months ago, my mom and I were going garage saling around Prescott Arizona and saw a sign for 50% off everything at a garage sale. That espresso machine had a sticker for 5 bucks on it, I brought it up and they gave it to me for 2.50. Can’t beat that. It was a wedding present to a Mormon couple who didn’t drink coffee. Bonus! Probably the best two-fifty I spent last year and it’s going to give years of great service to this department long after I’m gone. The French press arrived today, it was a gift from my Doc’s sister Penny with that huge sack of Gimme! French Roast Coffee out of Ithaca, New York. Some of the best coffee that has touched my tongue. Thank you! http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1474677 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1466857 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT my pictures won't seem to upload, will try again later http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1448346 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1444722 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1436880 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1431919 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm about to leave on my 4th trip out to Iraq and I've had this song stuck in my head for weeks so I made it into a video to remember us by. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c9hG85N4po(Video can be found here) Just a reminder to my bride that I love her and not to forget what we have and what we’ve gone though, I love you hun. http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1407350 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT cheepo new camera that didn't show it was stamping my pictures till Iooked at them on the computer $-) http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1400167 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tonight I attended the MAG 16’s Marine Corps Ball celebrating 232 years of faithful service to our country. Let me tell you a secret, I always get stage fright going to these things. Must be something I’ve carried over from being so nerdy in high school. I always complain about going till I get there and have without fail, have had a great time. A couple of weeks ago I attended the Navy Birthday Ball and comparing the two will have to say, the Marines know how to get down and party. This ball topped all of the other balls I’ve gone to by far, it wasn’t the biggest but it was the smoothest. Great crowd, everybody was on the dance floor and having a good time. The food was excellent and the ceremony was flawless. http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1338965 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://dustmans.fotopages.com/?entry=1327392 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT