NightGarageS14's Xanga

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:49:16 GMT

It's the horrible things one may witness,
and be able to do nothing about,
which ensures that even in the littlest of moments,
when one can makes things better,
they will.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:27:13 GMT

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:06:11 GMT

The truth of the matter is,
The difficulty in waking up that warm Seattle morning,
Wasn't due to late night shenanigans, and odd people with peculiar urges to kiss my forehead.

The truth, lay in my refusal to acknowledge what that morning meant.
The end to a fantastic vacation,
Another lengthy period away from home,
(And they do say that's where the heart is)
Loss of freedom,
Back to war.

And as I admired the surprise note in my toiletry kit,
The scene that played out in misty mirrors hanging in a humid bathroom,
Blew any possible emotional distractions I had to the four winds,

But I was already missing what was there but a few hours ago.

Lomo LC+A,
Fisheye attachment (what you see in the viewfinder may not be what you get)
Hand held, (I shouldve brought the tripod)
Superia ISO 400 (Ran out of film and had to hit the nearest Ritz)
Seattle, Washington.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:01:54 GMT

One of the best things about being back in Baghdad,

is running into friends who are already there,
and knowing,
They're safe.

Meanwhile, or should I say prior:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2853127237_d81bc1c307_b.jpg

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:48:10 GMT

Washington.

Meanwhile, in the Northern hemisphere of Earth,

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:59:26 GMT

It's still a little dusty here.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:29:30 GMT

If money makes the world go round, what does greed do?

As with anything else, things occur during my absence.
E-mails ringing with concern,
messages of trust lost,
and questions seeking advice.

I wonder what Dave would be thinking of this whole situation right now.
I sit here, halfway around the world, in wonderment, at audacity.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:17:03 GMT

I'm not a big fan of American cheese. Perhaps it's the color. Maybe the name itself makes me think
of the tasteless Kraft fat free singles I used to eat as a trainer in an attempt to make something lean
between two pieces of dry bread taste good.
That oily, rubbery look those "cheese" slices had was such a turn off.
But it was all they had.
It would have been nice if they had lettuce and tomatoes, but I've got nothing to complain about
really. I mean, how often have we had a Subway in a combat zone?

The ground was cool, soothing and supportive. A respite from Baghdad's sun, and the body heat
I generated from my workout. It was a week and a half in the making, but I finally finished the routine
without fits of continuous coughing, hacking, and gagging.
Colds don't go over well in Iraq.
The morning had found the air mostly clear of the dust storm that had lingered the past few days, and
as such left my throat only half as dry, my mouth relatively free of the taste of the biblical past.

The storm.

My shirt had been soaked before we started Jiu Jitsu, and I apologized profusely to Jules, having
forgotten my extra top. He laughed, and made me tap when I had foolishly shot in on his leg and
left my head on the outside of his thigh. Later, I just laid there, happy that I was able to return the favor,
and exhausted from two hours of constant moving.

Tomorrow, three hour workout.

But that's nothing compared to Mike, who's getting ready for his second fight right...about...now.
He was supposed to be in the jungles of Thailand, training 8 hours a day, kicking banana trees and
eating small bowls of rice on straw mats.
But things changed, and I'll be seeing him soon enough.

And Josh.
I can't think about Mike without thinking of Josh.
And Maryland.
Pints of Guinness,
Dips in 40 degree atlantic water,
Bitching about a serious lack of hot tubs, and funnel cakes.
And really tacky souvenirs.

I wondered how that lump is in his chest.
I wondered how the chemo was going.
I havent talked to him in three weeks.
I need to correct that.
right,

now.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:09:27 GMT

It's thicker now.
No wind, yet the dust still swirls around, clouding everything within the already dark evening.
Skin instantly became gritty, where revealed,
tiny specks of what was once...something else,
whispering into ear canals,
hiding under eye lids,
drying up my nose.
As I make a half heartedly attempt to stifle a cough, my mouth opens a crack,
just enough for it to get in, to dry my throat, and make me thirst that much more.

It hadn't felt like I was back in Iraq...until now.
But, I'm missing so much.

Only a few here know what I'm talking about.

And I'm up,
while the dawn is breaking,
even though my heart is aching,
I should be drinking a toast to absent friends,
instead of these comedians.
-Elvis Costello.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:09:07 GMT

Tam's shot of me in downtown Seattle.
It's not often I get photos of myself.