Ramblings from Camp Leatherneck 2011-05-11

ALMAR/ALFAM/ALFNDS,

{break} {break} = Osama Bin Laden is dead!

Apparently, he was a bad man, and we finally nailed his ass. I do enjoy the liberal media, while enjoying our moment, saying it took us 10 years to do it. Thanks for killing the moment, jackholes! I did get to see our proud Americans take to the streets in joy on the TV that night… it was moving and brought a tear to my eye. Americans standing, rejoicing, crying over the death of a man who taunted this nation, killed thousands of Americans on American soil, and kept us looking for 10 years. I truly know the feelings that millions of people felt when the news hit that Hitler was dead back in World War II. Osama Bin Laden was pure evil, and just to remove him from this earth was something that needed to be done… I’m glad I was here, in this moment, when those Navy SEALS tracked him, found him, and took him out with boots on the ground… no bombs, no missiles… truly a face-to-face confrontation with a member of the US military… what a feeling that young man must’ve had when he took that shot that brought evil to its knees. They probably showed more discipline than I would’ve… I may have taken it too far and put more than one bullet in his head… I hope he enjoys hell.

On another bright note: TODAY IS MOTHER’S DAY! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM, I LOVE YOU… You did a good job raising me, and look where I ended up… in flippin’ Afghanistan. Thanks! I hope you got your card and flowers!

Story of my life: It’s no secret that I miss life on the gun line with my artillery friends… If there was one communication statement I hate seeing, it’s “Your mailbox size is over the limit”… that pretty much sums up how much I sit behind the computer pushing emails in and out… life of a communication nerd, I suppose! I’ve had no time to do any of my schoolwork this week… but I’m hoping it calms down a little. At first, working these 15-20 hour days was taxing… now my body is used to it… and that kinda sucks! I guess it really doesn’t matter, there’s nothing happening in my room anyway. We also got our new room assignments, and I’ll be moving soon. I’m the “boot” Master Sergeant in our room, so I’m out. My new neighbors will be a LtCol on one side, and on the other… two Navy E-5’s… who the hell put this together? So, saying that my room is boring and having a roommate, I can’t wait to move into solitary confinement all by myself. My schoolwork has taken a hit this week; I haven’t done anything. We’ve been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to do anything… ugh!

Kirstin had her scopes this week, and her biopsy shows some disturbing trends. I guess we’ll just have to pray and wait at this point. She is my little trooper, and nothing is going to stop her from smiling, I can tell you that! Both she and Kara are still kicking ass in school, so for that, I’m grateful to God. She is still doing the “2011 Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis” walk on June 18th in Raleigh… I’m so proud of her! If you want to read her story, it’s at https://tinyurl.com/3pjkuva

Last week I failed to report that I was down a camera. One of our Marines here was attaching some assets to one of our tall towers, and I had asked him to take a few shots while he was up there! So I gave him my camera. Let’s just say they both came down, just not together… the camera made it down much quicker than he did! I call it a “combat loss.” Either way, I ordered a new camera, and it’s on its way… snail mail.

I turn 35 this Wednesday! I’m excited… I don’t know why, I guess it’s just one of those milestones. I feel good though; I’m healthy, excited, breathing, alive, running more miles than I ever have, and living in a shithole! How awesome is my life… and… I look good doing it! I do want to thank my sister Tammy for sending me out a lint brush :-p I’m hoping for my birthday I get to talk to my girls though… it would make my day! I talked to Kara once last weekend, so I’m hoping I get to talk to them both. Kara will be 11 on the 31st… HOLY CRAP!! Instead of my “once a week” ice cream sundae (on Sundays—how clever), I may indulge a little on Wednesday! If anyone sees a place that ships body pillows to FPO AE addresses, let me know… I’m looking for one of those and a good down pillow… screw my memory foam pillow. Anyway, it’s just gonna be another day here in the RC.

Today is the day we sign up for our Leatherneck Endurance Challenge. It’s a 6-month event and tracked by miles (rowing, biking, or running). Of course, I’ll be running the whole time, so I’m going to be logging some serious miles. Since May 3, I’ve run 26 miles… not too shabby for an almost 35-year-old guy. The Challenge starts on the 10th for 6 months, and I have the option to go with Option 2 of 3… 472 miles in 6 months… we’ll see. BTW, who pays to thrash themselves? THIS GUY!

My relationship status is still the same: SNAFU. I lost who I was supposed to be with over stupid decisions and stupid pride. I thought what I was doing was right at that moment, but it obviously didn’t work out. I’ve prayed every day, especially with the tragedies hitting our nation as of late… Mother Nature is a little upset these days. Either way, this is as alone as one can feel out here. As much as “my Afghan family” gets me by day by day, it just sucks knowing you’re coming home to no one. Please don’t take that as I don’t love my daughters, because they are the reason I do what I do… and I love them more than life itself. Sometimes, a guy just likes his own personal attention… and I do like that sort of attention… it’s nice to be “loved.” I have a lot of love to give, but I also want a lot in return. Oh well, someday God will shine on me, I suppose.

I hope some of you caught a glimpse of the two blogs/sites that I’ve been following: www.semperfimomma.com and www.thesucklife.com …. they are both kick-ass sites, I must say! Signing off this week, I’m praying for continued success for our Marines out here and for all of our safe returns, my precious little girls, and my own sanity! From the confines of Camp Leatherneck, I’m out!

MSGT JOEL WEBER
II MEF FWD C6
UNIT 73920
FPO AE 09510-3920