This post is going to be directed toward the men out there. It has to do with something that I'm sure we've all been through. Something that is so simple in it's action, yet so difficult to bear in a social situation. That is...using the restroom. Okay, now let me be clear in this, I have no problem using public facilities. In fact during boot camp, it was shoulder to shoulder pissing into a stainless steel trough with a trickle of water coming out the back.

Now with all that said, the men are probably nodding their collective heads and recalling their adventures in urination. It's an almost unspoken etiquette that men give each other when you are faced with a collection of urinals and 2 or more guys trying to use them. However, in the corporate environment that I work in, these little rules seem to be disregarded. So for those of you who are confused about what I'm referring to, here is a helpful collection of rules to follow in the head:

1) Never, and I repeat, NEVER use the urinal immediately next to your fellow man. Doing this will no doubt cause stage fright in one of you.

2) Use BOTH hands. Don't prop yourself up against the wall with one. Don't do your best "spread em for the police" routine. Just stand there and do it.

3) No speaking! I don't know how many dang times I've had someone try to hold a conversation while I've got the full display out. What is so important that can't wait for 20-30 seconds? NO, talking will NOT help me relax when it's a full house in there.

4) When on the crapper, try not to make too much noise. Cripes, I've heard people here make it sound like they are giving birth to a litter of whoopie cushions! A little decorum in there please.

5) When the urinals are in this order: Full - Empty - Full...don't take the empty one. I don't care how bad you have to go. Chances are the other two are finishing up, and it's only going to suck even worse for the people that come in behind you. They'll have stand next to you and hold their gear until you take off just to make it look like they're doing something.

6) Final rule. Keep your dang hips still! Nuff said about that.

For you gents out there. Hope this guide is helpful. Read, learn, live, love. Semper Fi world

September 11th, a day of infamy for a new generation. Do our children understand the importance of what happened on that dark day? As Pearl Harbor changed the course of human events for that past era, so has 9/11 changed this one.

Since that day, we have invaded two countries, detained hundreds of people without charge, changed the laws affecting personal privacy, told open lies to the world community, and have declared as a whole that any discontent against government policy as "unpatriotic". Wow, we've come a long way in a couple of years haven't we? Now a lot of you are probably thinking that I'm either going to take a side against what's been happening, or try to convince you to support our actions. Thing is, I'm going to do neither.

The purpose of this article is mainly out of concern for the teenagers of today. In their little MTV-soaked, high-speed internet surfing, fast food eating, demanding little minds...do you really think they know the importance of what happened? The side-effect of that great tragedy was an outpouring of patriotic feeling. Suddenly it became "hip" to be patriotic. The mainstream media jumped on that like a fat guy on a cheeseburger. Eventually, as all things "hip" eventually do...the patriotism faded. 9/11 was just another one of those things that "sucked". The in thing now is to be as militaristic as possible without looking too violent. Everywhere I turn I see kids of all ages wearing cammies. Oh that makes the Corporal in me wanna kick some hip tail.

What I'm afraid of is what these kids will become in less than 10 years. These jaded youths of prosperity are going to grow up and run this ship. Some of them will be smart enough to get a backbone and join a cause greater than themselves. Others will continue through life, expecting that someone, somewhere, owes them something. In a sense, they are right. I owe them a good swift kick in the Herd Mart knock-off cammie capris. Parents, if you are reading this, I beg you. Please don't let your kids grow up to expect anything. If they want something, make them work for it. There's an entire world out there that hates and envies your children. It would be a pity to let them grow up thinking that the world's going to treat them with any dignity at all.
The hard truth is that it's essentially us against them. Right now we are the big guy on the block that got a black eye two years ago. We can either become the bully, or the protector. The choice is made, not by the politicians of today...but by the parental teachings of self-sufficiency to tomorrow's leaders. Good luck parents, the future of the free world is in your hands.

I'm going to make this post a bit brief, as my mind is unable to keep a thought process going for more than 3 seconds. Just going to put one gripe in and finish off my root beer. Ever have that one thing you were good at, and to do it any other way was wrong? For me it's folding laundry. My wife...the dishwasher. That outstanding piece of technology that enables any common garden slug to throw a dirty dish in and have it come out clean. Now doing my research in this matter, I have found that the companies that manufacture these great items, do not give you a guide on how to put the dishes in there. I mistakenly thought I could manage putting in several dishes and cups into the contraption and start it up and have them come out clean. Wrong! Not only did I not get the placement perfect, I failed to consult my wife in the placement of said dishes.

Okay, now I have served in the Corps, grew up on a Reservation, seen the world and done many things in my life. Apparently after doing all these things I still can't load the dishwasher on my own. Bad thing is...my wife actually becomes angry at me when I fail to do it correctly. "Oops hon, I guess I should have put the plate 3 inches in THAT direction" Grrr...as my motto goes, "It's always the little things." There are more important things in this world to be upset about. The placement of cutlery in a box that shoots water should not be one of them. Let it go...worry about something that matters...like your sniper skills on Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. BHD FOREVER BABY!!!