Everybody Say, "Awww"

This morning as I was rushing out the door I took a moment to write Lisa a note, "I Love You", folded it and snuck into her purse.

Little things.  Little things like that - while not as often as when we were courting and first married - are a reminder that we are still in love and still happy.  Yep, we still hold hands, cuddle at bed time, and go on date nights.

When I got into work I found a note in my bag that read, "I Love You".

When I called to thank Lisa for my note she didn't return the gratitude.  She hadn't found the note I placed - she just wrote one on a whim.  The same time I did.

<Insert your Aww here>

I Was Raised By Drill Sergeants

I joined the Army in 1987. I shipped off to Basic Training to Fort McClellan, Alabama in the heat of that summer and was met by Drill Sergeants who taught me to respect authority in a whole new way while simultaneously teaching me the tasks and skills of becoming a Soldier.  Simple things like rolling my underwear and socks to "taking up a good prone supported firing position" are still things I do today.  

Among the many things I learned and learned to love in 1987 was art of Drill and Ceremony - known to civilians as "marching".  I loved the unity of 40 Soldiers marching in unison in a platoon, or 160 marching in a Company. The movements, when performed with precision, are inspiring.

By 1990 I was a commissioned officer - officers do not march Soldiers - Non Commissioned Officers, or NCOs, do that.  My military career found me in the nearest Army Reserve to my home in Cortland a Drill Sergeant unit in the Army Reserves in the 98th Training Division.   

A few years later I was the Company Commander and my NCOs never missed a chance to correct my Drill and Ceremony or show off their own skills when moving troops around on Annual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  I learned the inflection of the commands and how to project my voice across the void. 

[That skill would later come in handy when I was working Cadets - a booming voice that never rose to a shout but could instill fear and or despair in my poor students.]  

I have always appreciated what those NCOs taught me so, so long ago and I have never forgotten how to do it.  So earlier this year when my Commanding General shook my hand and told me that I'd be the Commander of Troops for his Change of Command Ceremony I took it in stride.  While many other officers cringe at the prospect I had no fear.  

A One Star level Change of Command is big affair with hundreds of Soldiers on the field, dozens of dignitaries and family members, a review of the troops, a band, and cannon salute.  The Commander of Troops, or COT, orchestrates the event through a series of commands, gestures, salutes. And while NCOs march Soldiers - this esteemed event is run by an officer.  The commands are specific, the timing is precise, and all eyes in the audience are upon the COT.  

Of course the key to a successful change of command is rehearsals; and rehearse we did for six hours the day before the event and then another full rehearsal the day of.  The rehearsals were miserable - too many Chiefs and not enough Indians, unreasonable heat and humidity, and tiny little errors that made us have to start over several times.  

The Change of Command was damn near flawless, if I do say so myself.  I had senior NCOs come up to me an offer their high praise - an honor that I shared with 1SG Joe Konsuit, SFC Frank Evangelista, MSG Rob Johnson, SFC James Barber, SGT Lee Rowland, and the rest of the professional Soldiers of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 389th Regiment, who helped make me part of the officer I am today.

There Ain't No Cure for the Summertime Blues

Mid summer.


It is so hot outside you can feel your clothes getting warmer as you walk from air conditioned building to air conditioned car.  Most days the humidity is oppressive at 8:00am making running outdoors a chore instead of a pleasure.


The days stay hot and humid until sundown but not before a passing thunderstorm removes any possibility of a dip in the pool.

The littlest one needs a better outlet for play and his built up energy and until his big brother gets home Grant is more surly than usual. Last night we wrestled for the first time since I got home and I think he bruised me. He likes rough housing - the kind TJ can give him.  Grant likes being a young brother - the kind of younger brother that (currently) worships his big brother.


My schedule has barely afforded me a nice summer evening around the house; two and half weeks in Jordan, four weeks in Kentucky, a long weekend in Maryland - it doesn't feel like summer to me.  I haven't seen our neighbors to hang out or have a late night get together.


Lisa is on her own schedule too. Camp takes up time, but not as much as it used to.  Nonetheless, she needs to be away at times when I am home.  It has the appearance that we are never on the same schedule and when we finally do get together we're too tired to play.

It makes it more frustrating to see other families be able to manage - or is it budget? - time for trips to the beach, or mountains, or museums.

It all just gives me a sense of the doldrums - in the middle summer.  TJ comes home this weekend and my travels and Lisa's travels come to an end next weekend; so maybe August won't be a total wash?


Summer.  Phineas and Ferb make it look so easy.

4th of July - Rich's Story

Some reflections on Independence Day 2016.


Another holiday away from home.  Although I have missed many holidays away from my family by my count this is only the second 4th of July - the first time being in 2009 in Iraq. Lisa, Grant, and Betty are taking the long weekend in Arapahoe, NC, while TJ is at Camp, and Sam is on her own in NY, while I am finishing up my duties at Fort Knox.

Sigh. I'd rather be with them.

Last night I put on my American flag shirt and went to a cook out put on by some of the staff and cadre who are supporting Cadet summer training at Fort Knox, KY.  Since the forecast called for rain all day on the Fourth it was my one opportunity to appreciate the holiday in true American fashion; beer, bratwursts, and stories around the picnic table.  Of course, the topic of the moment was impending storm that was due in the area in the next hour or so.


Last night was my first real tornado experience. I have received Tornado Watches in the past, but last night was the first time I got a text Tornado Warning. I kept on watching a movie until I heard the faint sounds of a siren in the distance. Huh, that's odd. Then the sirens went off near my apartment. Loud. Clear. Loud and clear; it was time to move to the basement of the apartment complex as others emptied their small studio apartments for shelter. We spent the next fifteen minutes waiting for the sirens to stop and the rain to pass. One good thing about technology is that you can track these storms as they go by. And it did; the rain passed, the sirens silenced, and the skies lightened.  I have no idea if and where a twister touched down.


This morning I ran "Four for the Fourth" - a nasty, humid, slog across Fort Knox. I've been running a lot in the past twelve months but this morning I had to find my motivation from Facebook as one of my running friends ran 4 miles. Fort Knox was in between rain storms and I seized a window of opportunity to run under sunny skies. However, the relative humidity was close to 100% and I ended the run drenched in sweat.


I am spending the rest of the day working at a water logged Fort Knox, KY as Cadets are allowed to enjoy a half day off from their training. Unlike years past, the weather is not cooperating and the rain is off and on like an unreliable lawn sprinkler; you can never be sure if you're going to get soaked or when.


This year I didn't get fireworks. I'm okay with that - although I did see someone's Magic Kingdom Fourth of July Fireworks display on YouTube.  I'll catch the fireworks with Grant in September when we go to the Magic Kingdom on our Father and Son trip.