For some reason this blog won't let me put a title today.

No I was not posting from the lake yesterday no matter what this looks like.

Me and Mary did go down to where Jeremy and family were camped out and spent an afternoon after work, a youth group garage sale and a dead trunk battery kneeboarding.

You might remember posts about Jeremy in the past, he is headed back to Iraq for a second tour. That's Brittini Jeremy's wife, Jeremy, Jeremy's dad Mark and Mary back there on the knee board.

Bits and pieces today...

News from Iraq. My friend Jeremy, you may have read about him here will be home sometime in September. Should be in Kuwait in about a week or so and then home in a couple of more weeks.

Standings for the American Taekwondo Association, girls 14-16 second and third degree black belts are up. Check out 4th place.

SPARRING GIRLS 2nd, 3rd Degree Black Belt 14 - 16 YEARS OLD
1
LAUREN N. BLANKS
23 points
LANSING,MI
2
ONELIA LLANO
20 points
WAPPINGERS FALLS,NY
3
KRISTEN FISCO
17 points
PARLIN,NJ
4
ARLUNAA FULLER
15 points
SACRAMENTO,CA
4
BRITTANY RANSOM
15 points
BARTLETT,TN
4
MARY WALLACE GO MARY WALLACE!
15 points
LUFKIN,TX
4
ASHLEY CARNALL
15 points
CHANDLER,AZ
8
KAYLEE BURGARD
14 points
FARGO,ND
9
JORDAN ADAMS
9 points
COLUMBIA,MO
9
SABREENA CANDREVA
9 points
BRADLEY,IL
9
KAYLA TIMMONS
9 points
VALDOSTA,GA
9
JAZMIN GILLESPIE
9 points
SURREY,
9
KAITLIN AGGEN
9 points
PARIS,TX
9
JESSICA ZAHN
9 points
SOUTHLAKE,TX

http://www.ataonline.com/the_ring/standings/tourcurr.asp?vb=G23D&vf=

Keep track of girls 2nd and 3rd black belts 14-16 at this link. Look under sparring as there is a top 10 for forms also.

Word from Lebanon...

As always I hate to get too shrill on the politics here, even when there are events that make me mad because there are so many doing that kind of thing already. I prefer to try to have an experience of some sort, a way that I can know what is going on by reducing the filters it comes through and showing how it affects everyday people.

I often visit a discussion page, (Fender discussion Page, see link on sidebar) and meet a bunch of people from all over there. When the business in Lebanon started a guy living there posted some news with the discussion group about goings on around him. A little back ground I got from his postings, he plays the bass, 18 years old, Catholic dad, Muslim mom, raised Catholic, they can't flee because refugees from the south would take shelter in the vacant house, some bombing nearby with a civilian neighborhood containing no military targets reduced to ashes.

I sent him an email as apparently many on the discussion group did to let him know we cared and here is his reply to me:

"Thank you very much for your email. I also wish the world leaders would read this, but my guess is it wouldn't change a thing. They are doing what they want for a reason, and don't mind killing civilians along the way. But I digress. You guys on the FDP are one of the best group of friends I have. Thank you very much for your kindness and support.From Lebanon
with love,Jeff
P.S.:I always enjoy your posts."

Since there was one day this week that the local paper, The Lufkin Daily News, carried exactly zero stories on the middle east, that is the most current news I can get, something a person like you and me is going through.

Those big wire tapping snoopers have my number I am sure, I have now sent an email to Lebanon and also to my friend Jeremy with the army in Iraq this past week.

Welcome to the world of subversion.

Good news from PFC Jeremy...

I'll post an email I recieved from Jeremy's mom and dad, I don't think they will mind, I know they read here and they are glad for any prayers you may offer in support of Jeremy and all young men in harms way.

Dear Family & Friends,

We finally heard from Jeremy this morning around 6:30 a.m. It was wonderful to hear his voice! The entire 101st Airborne Division is put on (communication) blackout when anyone is injured. The blackout was lifted today and PFC Lester was ordered to call home.

Jeremy has been resting in his barracks and said his entry wounds are healing well. Jeremy went to work today on light duty answering the phones that ring during the midnight shift. Jeremy will continue to work on light duty until he is completely healed.

We told Jeremy that many people have been praying for him and God has answered our prayers. As for the other young man, he and his family need our prayers, too, as he is facing serious charges.

It aint easy for the guys over there and it aint easy for their families. As we all take a holiday today that honors war dead let's just home and pray that a better way than the sacrifice of lives can be found to deal with the differences our leaders and cultures have between each other.

News from Iraq...

You may have read here of my friend Jeremy in Iraq. Well there was an incident this week where Jeremy was stabbed by another GI. Looks like the wounds were not bad, he was taken to a hospital at Camp Anaconda, but is back at FOB Normandy now and is OK. The attacker has been arrested. Glad Jeremy is going to be fine, hope this incident is not related to that bottle of hot sauce I sent. It could not have got there this quick, but I did pay for expedited shipping.

This kind of reminds me of something my friend Waldo once told me about his experiences serving in Viet Nam. He said one of the scarriest things to him was all the American teenagers with automatic weapons.

I also had a short discussion one time with someone about war dead and he advanced the notion that a bunch of those guys have been killed in accidents so they did not really count. I guess they don't count unless you are their momma.

End all war now, bring kids home.

Busy weekend...

Got busy before I resume school activities next Weeks.

Worked an extra day at the hospital Friday. I also fixed up a care package for Jeremy, my friend in Iraq. Here is what it looked like:

The contents consisted of hot sauce, crackers, smoked oysters and pictures from recent fishing trips. I have some memories from when Jeremy was about 14 maybe and we went to the lake one time and I had brought smoked oysters and hot sauce. Very hot hot sauce. I don't think Jeremy had ever had either and he plunged right in heartily dousing the oysters with sauce and sampling huge bites. People tell me I am also like this, so maybe that is the soul connection between me and Jeremy, the appetite to try new things, not gradually, but to immerse in the experience.

Starting Friday night, I went to the LHS band banquet, the football coach, Coach Outlaw was the guest speaker and he was great.

After that I helped chaperone a 24 hour food fast for the youth at church. I also fasted. The purpose was to raise money for Catholic Relief Services, the kids took pledges, and educate the kids about hunger, poverty and injustice that a lot of folks in the world deal with daily. Good group of kids, I think they already had concerns in this area or they would not have been there so I don't know if they learned all that much or just confirmed what they suspected. The curse of my life, I hang out with people who give a shit. That means I have to be good too. Anyway it was fun and had a great meal at the end of it.

Headed back to church this morning to help with the adult classes, there is something going on about the Da Vinci code today, don't know if I will see it or not, I am not interested about the movie, the fact that there is such a big buzz tells me it is not for me, but they have a secret guest speaker this morning, and I would like to know who that is. The Pope?

News from Iraq...

Got some news of my friend Jeremy, stationed in Iraq, in an email from his mom.

Moms don't like you fooling around, it's bad enough to be in a shootin' war dude so leave the stinging critters alone.

I know Jeremy real well, I bet he ate that thing...

News from Iraq...

Here is a picture of Jeremy, my friend in Iraq about whom I post updates here now and then. It was sent to me by his mom. I don't know if there is a story behind the picture or not, I've know Jeremy since he was about 8, I kind of remember the days when he could tear up a steel ball with a rubber hammer, don't know if he has anything to do with the damage pictured here or not.

Notes from the week...

This week of tests and tooth aches is about over.

The teeth hurt again today, but feel quite a bit better tonight. I think plain old ibuprophin does better that some of the more high powered stuff they gave me which makes me feel weird. I woke up dreaming I was trying to hollar but couldn't last night and my teeth were hurting.

All over the place still on test grades, some real good others less that I expect out of myself, wonder what the teacher thinks, I guess I could ask her, I don't think she reads this so she really don't know what I think.

The big white dog showed up Sunday night, he was all sparked up, stayed about 10 minutes and gone again. Last night he showed up and got a good 10 hour nap and left after breakfast. He pisses Cathy off.

Music I listened to in the car this week:
North Mississippi Allstars and Revue Live at Bonnaroo
Derek Trucks - Songlines, his new one, buy it.
Le Roi Bros. Check This Action
Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose, great cd, Jack's pipes just don't match hers though.
Indigenous Live, from my brother the illegal downloader
Drive By Truckers another from my brother, I'll make it up to you guys, promise.
Jesse Dayton, Country Soul Brother, he grew up in Cathy's grandmothers 'hood in Beaumont as did Johnny and Edgar.
Mountain Extended Versions
Dr. John and Chris Barber, All on a Mardi Gras Day
Meters Greatest Hits
Pixies Live 2004-2005 emusic only download.
Ray Bonneville forget which one got a couple of his.

Found a Max Roach release on emusic 2 tunes about 45 minutes of music, got one of them a while back, think I'll get the other one tonight and burn that cd in the morning. I let Morgan have a copy of the first tune because it had a long cool understated jazz drum solo.

studied a bit tonight, it's been hard with the tooh ache this week, but feel like I got caught up on stuff I put off because I did not feel good. Even played the guitar a few minutes, that helped a lot. I am going to hit it hard this weekend, two test before spring break.

Got a package of cds off to Jeremy in Iraq and got the oil changed in Cathy's car.

Goodnight.

Word from Iraq...

Got an email from Jeremy's mom. Jeremy is an old scouting friend now in Iraq, some may have followed news of him here on this blog. He is OK, he called home, but they have been under a communications blackout. That means it aint too good over there right now folks.

He got a package of cds I burned for him, hope I am not corrupting fine young men with the stuff I download off etunes (shameless plug, contact me and subscribe, I'll get free downloads) and I just fixed up another package of music to send.

Music is important to me, I can't think about being without it, Jeremy plays guitar I know it means something to him too. I trust they have a way to play the music, where you find GIs you usually find stereos, so it's music for a bunch of guys.

I can't support this war, but the best thing I know to do right now is help the guys over there. If you want to help here is Jeremy's address:
PFC Lester, Jeremy M.
Maint. PLT., D- FSC, 1/32 Cav.
OIF III, FOB Normandy
APO AE 09324

He likes to eat, needs bug spray, tell him you are a friend of mine.

News of Jeremy...

Jeremy's mom writes me this:

"Well, the latest we heard from Jeremy was yesterday, Monday, Jan. 16. He was in Camp Anaconda in Iraq. He and another private from the 101st Airborne Division- Rear Detachment have not met with their unit yet. Jeremy said they are traveling with a Captain that is trying to make their way to FOB Normandy.

I think the reality of Jeremy's surrounding have set in; he sounded nervous and uneasy on the phone. Jeremy said they were lobbing mortars into the base. There is a five-mile buffer zone between the gate entrance to the base and the buildings, so he was fairly safe. Jeremy said he watched the display in the sky, which was mostly large billows of smoke."

I know some of you know Jeremy. I hope this news from Iraq reminds all to pray for him, all our guys and for an end to the war.

Email from Kuwait...

Got an email from old Jeremy himself, in Kuwait on the way to Iraq, says it's cold about 50 and muddy.

Here is a couple of pictures he sent, one I can't tell really what it is, looks like a barracks, but the other is recognized every where.

News of Jeremy...

Just got word from my friend Jeremy by way of his mom that he will be in Iraq tomorrow. He will be at Forward Operating Base Normandy, about 50 miles north east of Baghdad.

I'll try to keep posting updates as I here them for my friends, I think there are several readers of this that know Jeremy.

Friend headed to Iraq...

My friend Jeremy Lester deploys with the 101st airborne to Iraq tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. I have known him since he joined Cub Pack 135 when he was 8 years old.

I am against the war, don't get that confused with lack of support for the guys that go over there. They do their best, they are our best. It just seems that the evidence mounts a little each day that the men that send them may not be doing their best.

I'll keep praying for both, they need all the help they can get.

What a day today...

New Orleans flooded. I am sick over the destruction and lives lost. My favorite city in the world. I have spent so many good times there with family and friends and now things might never be the same. I had an old picture from the last century I was going to post but I can't find it. Made with a real camera and not on my computer hard drive it shows Cathy, Rose and Katie in front of St Louis Catherdral. Rose and Katie might be four and five, Morgan is too little to make the trip and stayed home with Grandma and Mary is not born.

I learned something from leaving the little one home that trip. If you can't make it down Bourbon St. without getting down on your all fours you need to stay home. That advice works well for adults as well as children.

Did good in school, 105 on a pop test, bloodied in battle now boy. Also handed in a short paper written on my experience of sleeping in a patient gown. It was something we were assigned to do. The teacher told me before I left it was the funniest thing she had read. Just a little gonzo journalism as praticed by the late great Hunter S. Thompson. You are part of the event you report on.

160 miles a day back and forth to Kilgore. Got 18 miles to the gallon yesterday. Slowed speed 5 mph today and got 21. Gas jumped 17 cents today.

Prayers for Nancy and family on the other side of Lake Pontratrain, Angela, Tim and Jeremy who is headed for Iraq later this year.