Is it not ironic that the older you get the faster time flies? It seems to me that per usual, this summer has flown by. Once again, I've only accomplished approximately one third of the projects that I had originally set out to finish. August is at our doorstep, ready to lead the charge into fall. As with most of us, I have numerous excuses such as work, family, and recreational pursuits for not completing my chores or being able to come up with anything interesting to write about.
It is not as if the World has remained dormant this summer. It has been excessively hot here in the West but then again, that is to be expected. I believe the desert regions of Nevada, West Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California have been rather suffocatingly hot for the last few thousand years; or, is this a recent occurrence due to global warming? I'll call Al Gore and see what he thinks. Of course we all know by now of our impending doom, but as for me, I'm buying stock in garment companies that manufacture insulated clothing. This way, I'll reap a huge stock dividend when these same scientists jump the gun and declare an upcoming ice age.
Of course the Global War on Terrorism trudges on unless that is, you happen to be John Edwards and believe that this war is no more factual than Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Politics is a weird game of seeing how many voters the candidate can convince into believing that he or she is the greatest thing since ice cream in August. The presidential race is now in full swing and everyone is interested. Fret not however, the new TV season starts in September and nobody will pay attention any longer to the pontifications of a few windbags attempting to promise your personal deliverance from all of your worries. If only we would even make the attempt to be responsible for ourselves and our own actions, then perhaps these politicians would get the message, stop talking and try doing for a change. I guess that the transient citizens of Washington D.C. haven't yet realized that the electorate is cynical and no longer tuned in to their incessant hyperbole. The military, on the other hand, remains focused. I ran into a Special Forces "A" team in the Safeway store in Hawthorne, Nevada and none of them were unclear as to their mission, its effect on national policy, or the long term effects that their efforts would have in slowly strangling the hold of terrorism in the Middle East. This will be the second tour in theater for the majority of the team members. I guess they didn't get the message the first time out with regards to the inefficacy of their efforts so, they're being sent back to get it right this time. I am speaking in jest and I was extremely proud to see that the "Force" is in good hands. The team members looked fit, charismatic, knowledgeable and yet, to the man they maintained an air of quiet dignity. Sometimes I truly miss being around such "men". Those of you who have never felt the sting of battle or had to endure unbelievable hardships will never truly know what it means to be alive or to have a camaraderie with men such as these.
Seriously, all sarcasm aside, these men have given me a renewed sense of urgency to follow the path of our country. I am currently investigating the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. I am in the data acquisition stage of my work. I am trying to find out how many members have been to Afghanistan and Iraq and I intend to collate their political stance with their presence, or lack thereof, in the theater of operations. Thankfully, this task will only require my laptop, access to the Internet, and a cold glass of ice tea. I guess all of those outdoor projects will have to wait until next summer. Oh well, my yard isn't going anywhere.
De Oppresso Liber
