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“Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the fuck you were going to do anyway”

-Robert Downey Jr.

I’m glad that for the most part I am the only person that reads this.  The only person that takes into thought the things I scribe on this internet journal.  It’s odd sometimes when you’re under the impression that you’re doing what you feel, what you think is right in a situation and what actually is needed is pretty far from what is necessary.

It’s hard to go into a given situation with the impression that you’re needed to preform at an olympian level, even if that’s not what you are.  You are who you are, and most of the people around you on a daily basis know what that is.  They know who you are, what you like, what you hate, and what you’re passionate about.  Whether these things are people, things, foods, wines, or arts.  Everyone has their indulgences, but beyond those indulgences are the things that make you uniquely you.  The most difficult part, is to find the people who share those indulgences with you.  Search, and you will find.

Football season is something most Americans eagerly await during the early months of the year.  Just before summer begins, we begin to get glimpses of what our favorite teams have in store in attempt to create a Super Bowl contender.  Towards the tail end of summer, we get the chance to witness our teams in exhibitions known as the “Pre Season”.  Soon, in another 3 weeks, the regular season will begin and the race to the Super Bowl will have commenced.  With that comes the things that along with football, create an American tradition.

Fantasy Football - Fantasy Football tops my list simply because my personal fantasy draft with friends from Singapore American School, is tomorrow.  Fantasy Football is an extremely fun way to follow football closely, keep in touch with friends, and talk an exceptional amount of trash to said friends.  I highly suggest trying to get into a league with co-workers or friends.

Bar-B-Q’s - Whether you’re a family man, a college student, or work a nine to five job, Bar-B-Q’s go hand and hand with Football.  It’s a good way to hang out with close friends, talk about the typical blunders of our week, and still yield to none as you’re loudly exclaiming how poorly your quarterback is doing (I’m talking to you Jay).  It’s also a great way to get out of the house, throw a few back with the boys, and toss some meat on the grill (be it brats, burgers, dogs, steaks, chicken, or pork chops).

Beer - Beer is essential in the weekly ritual that is Sunday football.  It’s the wine that goes with Church.  There is never a better reason to make a stop by the liquor store after work than “Tomorrow is Sunday, I have at most a 6 pack.  This presents a solvable problem.  Pit stop”.  With that, unless you’re in college, I pray you can pick up one of the numerous fine American brews (No, I am not referring to Keystone Light, Natural Light, Rolling Rock, or Miller Gold…though I will stand behind my stance that you can’t beat Pabst Blue Ribbon for the price).

Friends - There is never a better reason to drop what you’re doing and head over to a friends house than “Hey, the games on in 30; want to watch it with the guys and I?”.  Just be sure to not show up empty handed, at least pick up a 12 pack.

That Feeling You Get When Your Favorite Team Wins - Or the sinking feeling you get when they let 9 first half sacks against a mediocre team (I’m talking to you Chicago Bears…).  Either way, the way football can change your emotion from touchdown to touchdown is a great feeling (when the touchdown is your teams favor…).  The feeling when your team wins is a great one; when they lose, well, there’s always next week.

Madden 12’ - Yeah, I just put a video game on the list.  A game of Madden between friends is something that is extremely enjoyable.  Playing as your favorite team, and even your favorite player, is an enormous amount of fun for us Football nuts.  Needless to say, keep the trash talk respectable; this blogger has lost more than one friend due to his excessive Madden talk (or losing…not that it happens often).

Let the pre season continue tomorrow night with my Bears facing off with the New York Giants.  Go Bears and enjoy the 2011-2012 football season America.

Wow.

It’s been 7 months. 217 days. 5208 hours. 312480 SECONDS.  That’s the length of time I have been away from everything I know: friends, family, work (as shitty as it was; fuck you Pizza Hut), and the civilian world.  It was an experience (if that even begins to describe it).  It was something that as soon as I arrived at 0100 on a bus at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I began to question.  Was this really what I was supposed to do?  Joining the Army is a huge decision.  It’s signing your typical American rights away and trading them in for a much more strict, disciplined set of rules you must abide by daily.  We were told on zero day, that “Less than 1% of the American population will serve in any branch of the armed forces”.  Was I really the kind of person that fell into that 1%?  

To me, I was not the typical build for a soldier.  I had always had issues listening to authorities, staying out of trouble, being disciplined, and more so, knowing when to NOT be a smart ass.  Day zero, I questioned my decision and as I came to realize, so did everyone else in the dark, quiet barracks at Fort Jackson.

To sit down and write a complete recount of the 217 days I spent in training is something I plan to tackle, just not now.   All I want to get across to, well, myself I guess, is that is was worth it.  All the inner questioning, all of the grueling physical tasks and even more grueling mental stresses presented to me all were overcome.  I learned a lot about myself throughout the entire experience but the biggest thing I learned was to never doubt myself.  Doubt is the easiest way to fail before you try.

As cheesy as it sounds, the Army values hold a lot of meaning to me, but the one that best relates to the past 7 months is “Personal Courage”

“Face and overcome fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral)”

I am going to do my best to no longer neglect my Tumblr, as small as it is.  So for now, I’m back itty bitty Tumblr…I’m back.