...Ruby Red Slippers

If only I could click my heels three times and find myself back home. The obsurd rules and people here make me completely doubt this war and if we are even doing any good by being here. If someone has to worry about wearing clean boots, dusting 3 times a day, vehicles all in a line, and other random chores. Should one begin to ask themselves why do we have time to worry about these things. Our command rants and raves our great our medical skills are, but our soldier "tasks" aren't so great. Well we run a clinic, treat patients, shouldn't our medical skills rank higher in priority? Right now I am ashamed to find myself under the command I am. No regard for the people, treating us like we are completely worthless and that the mud outside is more valued than us. These are the people that I have no respect or compassion for. I needed something to preoccupy my mind for a little while and found myself creating another list for you all. This time it is my favorites quotes. I hope you enjoy. By the way I will be home the first week in March for 2 weeks. Love you all.



I have spread my dreams beneath your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W.B. Yeats



We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

Sir Winston Churchill



When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.

Edward Teller



Everyone of them words rang true and glowed like burning coal, pouring off every page like it was written in my soul from me to you.

Bob Dylan


If I fail, if I succeed, at least I live as I believe.

George Benson



I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometime. - Lynn Anderson

Rocking the Socks

I am a bonafide rebel, outkast, trouble maker, and devious soldier. I wear white socks with my uniform! I rock my white socks! Let me explain to you that the military has a uniform policy that my socks must be green or black in color. Well I have always had an issue of getting uniforms in my size. I now have the uniforms however I still have not been issued these mysterious green socks. No matter how many times I have brought it up to my command. My commander even pointed out my white socks 3 months ago when we were in Kuwait. And I told him until I have been issued green socks I would continue to wear my white ones. Well the other day he pointed them out again, this time not in a good mood. I gave him my same response. His reply was that the last time he checked I got a paycheck twice a month, I quickly replied with a "last time I checked I didn't get a clothing allowance"...which is perfectly legit because the military either has to issue you uniforms or give you a clothing allowance. I guess he was not to pleased and I was written up for my white socks. I disagreed and wrote a paragraph on my counseling. I have tried to get the green socks from supply over and over, even put them with my supply order and everything else came, but my green socks. I refuse to buy these green socks you see because they are 10 dollars a pair...I don't even like socks period let alone ones that I have to spend that much money on. So you see I am rocking my white socks!!!!

Ducks in Row

I literally found ducks in a row here on our camp. I went out exploring the other day looking for some inspiration and pictures and this is what I found. I didn't think that I would find anything worth taking a picture of and a couple of them came back pretty good considering I was using a camera that I had never used before. This is just a short little blog as I am extremely tired from work and plan on spending the day relaxing in bed and watching movies. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Love you all very much.

To Climb or Not to Climb...

That appears to be the question I am asking myself this very moment. I have been going through severe withdrawals from rockclimbing. I am in love with it, it's more than a sport for me, it's a lifestyle. Boundaries, respect, strength, trust, determination, commitment, these are all lessons found everyday in climbing. I sorely miss the smell of chalk on my hands, the feeling of rope running through my hands, the leather shoes gripping my feet, and the determination of ascending a route. I still to this day remember my first problem climb; my archnemesis route became a 5.8+ with a heel hook on an overhang. I was determined to ascend this route...it took me a week before I completely ascended it, but I loved that route. How I wish I could just pick up my gear, drive up to the mountains, and spend a little rendevous with the mountains. I know it will be February soon and I will get that chance again. Until then I believe I have come up with a plan to possible quench my thirst. Our clinic is brick and I believe that I can buy a couple kits and build a few short routes up the side. It'll all have to be slab climbing, but I can't be picky out here. So I have a project to work for the next couple weeks...building my own wall out here. Let's see if I can get it done. So now I'm off to look up holds and screws for the wall. I'll be sure to report any progress I make and post pictures. By the way, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Miss you all terribly.

Love,

Beth

Fall into the Season

Fall and Winter my two favorite times of the year. I can close my eyes and imagine the leaves turning colors, and gently falling to the ground. Vibrant colors all around; orange, brown, and burgandy transcending into our homes. Picking up squash, pumpkins, and cranberries at the grocery store. Breaking out the recipe books in search for a new dish to prepare at Thanksgiving. Dusting off the sweaters that have laid on shelves for the past several months. I love the ambience that these two seasons throw into our lives every year. The colder it gets outside the warmer the inside of our houses become. Hot chocolate and smores. I remember the first time my niece made smores at our house she was soo excited. She was full after one, but kept wanting to make them. I couldn't end her fun, so we had a tray full of uneaten smores by the end of the evening and one happy, tired little girl. Well it is late so I will let you go for now. Until next time. Take care and love you all.

Beth

Time

How often we go through life not even noticing how the days pass us by. And if we do we are counting down to something...wanting the days to pass us quickly so we can enjoy the day we are looking forward to. Back home I am an opposer of this, I soak up every moment that I can. Whether it's a day in the park, taking a walk, or shopping at the local market. It's these little things in life that I love. I know I am a passionate person, whether it's about cooking, photography, music, or my niche for the day. How boring would it be not to have passion...it get's your heart racing, puts a smile on your face and light in your eyes. Expression tags along with passion and I believe without those two life would become dull. A day in and day out routine that I refuse to conform to. Call me nieve, but I believe it's possible to live in the moments. So has hard as I might find to do that here, I will and I am. Music and photography can follow me here. Thoughts are always flooding my mind, pen and paper my obsession. So I leave you with this quote and hope you take something away from my rambling.


“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
Charles R. Swindoll

I'm OK don't worry

I'm not sure if it's gotten back to family or not, but I don't want you all to worry. We had some things go hectic here at our camp for awhile. Everyone's safe, we are a little shaken up. Set things into reality that we are at war in this country and not to become complacent with our surroundings. Here's a picture of me at the Victory over America Palace....behind me is where our missle came through and blew it up a couple years ago...kinda surreal to see it all in person, how one thing can cause so much damage. I hope you all are well. By the way I have an address now. Hope you all had a fun halloween, I dressed up as an Army soldier in my PT uniform =). Love and miss you all!

Beth