Real Talk…

I always wanted to run the Army Ten Miler and I did it this morning. It was a great morning for running. There was a slight breeze and the air had a slight chill. The run was long and it went up the largest hill they could find but it was great. I appreciated the course though. It was alot of fun. My time was 1hr 43minutes. I can do better than that.

I can’t wait till tomorrow and the soreness sets in.

The run was fun it’s time to get back to the weights.

I got a new partner who is real dedicated to lifting. That’s good. He is a little stronger than me which is cool because it pushes me. i also changed my workout time to the morning instead of the afternoon. This will make me get to sleep at night because I have to get up for an intense workout. Smoking is still alproblem but I am confident that I will eventually kick this habit. I really despise it.

The workout program I am on is really difficult u but i am excited about the progres I know I will make in the end. I feel alot better physically now that i am back in Iraq. I know that sounds weird but there is no reason to eat fast food like there are back home on R&R. All the traveling maked eating clean hard. Plus here water is everywhere. It is alot easier to drink water than anything else. That makes a big difference too.

Today was shoulders and traps. Mil press; Lateral Raises; Bentover Lateral raises; Upward Row; BB Shrug; Pushups, crunches, hanging Bent knee raises. Good Workout, Good Burn.

Tomorrow is Back and Bi’s

It is upsetting to me when I watch the circus that comes with Federal elections. These peolpe have such an important role and they don’t know what to do with themselves. For instance, in the election process you shpould be convining me that you are the right person for the job but not by saying how dumb the next guy is. I do not care what one politician thinks about another, I care what each poltician thinks about the issues. I really wish they would just talk about themselves. Let the media dispell their lies. I wcould talk about myself all day because I like me and I feel I am geniune. It seems politicians lack that self assurance today.

I also really hate speeches. I don’t care what you and 30 other poeple carefully drafted to ensure you do not say anything, basically. I would like to hear straight talk, no speech.

They all seems to take public service as a personal endeavor. it is not. It is an endeavor to give something to someone else. I hate hearing politicians refer to their position as "their job". It was once explained to me that the Government does not pay me to serve in our great military. They give me money to feed my family, buy a house or a car. I serve for free, Because I want to do something for someone else. When you volunteer, it is not a job, it is a service you render not for money or glory or power, not for self, but for others. A job is for self. There are many jobs in the federal government, Military, President, The House,  the supreme court and a few more are services. I would love to see them viewed as such by the ones who hold these offices.

Just thoughts.

I must admit that my diet was absolutley atrocious while I was on leave. I ate like a pig trying to get a heart attack. Lots of fast food and ots of restaurants and lots of crap. If it couldn’t clog an artery I did not eat it. The good part is I enjoyed evewry bit of it. As far as workouts, I worked out like a lazy begginer with no direction. I wondered aimlessly around the gym and barely broke a real sweat. With the horrible diet and the lack of sleep and the abrupt stopping of water drinking and the alcohol and the ten hour time change, I had no chance of getting a workout groove started while on leave. I did try though, really, I did.

 I am back in country now and I am back on the grind. I hit the gym hard this morning. I got a workout partner who is at similar strength and does not jaw jack. My diet is still lacking but fast food is terribly easy to avoid in Iraq and I want to put on some weight anyways so I am imdulging in regular food.

My wife was very impressed when she saw me and I want to further improve, for me of course, but I cant help but enjoy the reaction I got when I took of my, well you get the point.

Today was chest day and It was great. I did 3 sets of 6 reps and one set of 25 reps for various chest and tri exercises. Great burn and I still feel it.

I returned from R&R and have returned the desert. It sucked even more leaving my babies again. It was wonderful being home though. My children have grown exponentially since I left the first time. It is amazing how much toddlers change in 8 months. My wife has also had some remarkable changes. She has been hitting the gym really hard and it is real evident. I’m a lucky man. I took my babies to Sea World and the beach. I basically spent a lot of quality time with my source of motivation.   

A 15 month deployment can destroy a marriage or strengthen it. It is totally up to the individuals in the marriage which one will happen. My wife and I have had ups and downs throughout this deployment but so far we have only strengthen our love and realized even more why we married each other. She is my “everything” on this earth. I know that more than ever. Being apart has definitely made us better. These next six months will be excruciating because I miss my love more than ever but she gives me the energy to accomplish anything. 

Basically R&R was wonderful and I cannot wait to give my family my full attention for a much longer period of time. 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Memph!s!!