All For One, and One For the Road

Treasure Island went really fast. Of course, I say that after reading War and Peace just before it. I guess anything would seem short after that. In any case, on to the next one: The Three Musketeers.

This is another one that I haven't read before. I know parts of the story, but I'm looking forward to actually reading it. The edition I have was, at first sight, a little intimidating as well. Each page has two columns of text that make it look incredibly long - but it hasn't been too bad yet. Like War and Peace, I'm enjoying this one - but it takes a little more concentration...the writing style is very different.

I was going to go into an explination of why I'm reading all these books at this time, but I have a really bad headache tonight and don't feel like looking at the computer screen at the moment.

It Ain't No Kumbaya, But It'll Have To Do

I went and bought a guitar last weekend. I now know a whopping three chords (A, D, & E). I can't get my fingers to move quickly between them yet, but there it is. Speaking of fingers, mine hurt; I don't have any callouses built up on my fingertips yet. If I go really, really slow, I can get through the "Lego House" song (listen to Al Simmons sing it here). Impressive, no?

Long Time, No Sea

Sometime I surprise even myself. I finished War and Peace yesterday. It took me a little over a month of reading on the bus to and from work to get through it. I really, really enjoyed that book! I would actually leave home about 10 minutes earlier so I could read while waiting for the bus. It is definately on my re-read list.

But now, on to the next book: Treasure Island. It's kinda strange; I can tell you everything about the story, I've watched several movies about it (or based on it), I've played games about it, but I don't ever remember reading through the whole book. The first few chapters were familiar enough, but I can't remember ever getting about halfway through it. In any case, it's time to correct that issue. Besides, it has been awhile since I've read a good sea faring novel. So I'm off to the Admiral Benbow Inn - Later Mateys! Arrrr!

You Know What They Say About Assuming...

Assume - Makes an !@# out of U and ME

I certainly have done (and continue to do) my share of assuming about a wide range of topics. But I am continually amazed at what people assume about me from the one simple fact that I was in the military.

I have my service ribbons (along with a few metal pins - my sergeant stripes among others) hanging on my cubicle wall. It's a conversation piece more than anything else; that, and I'm dang proud to have served - albiet in a fairly limited way. However, when I'm not being portrayed as a right-wing extremist clinging to the edge of sanity along with my Bible and guns, I find that some people have a somewhat odd impression of me. Of course, I never claimed to be "normal."

When someone finds out that I was in the military, there are two main reactions. First, from others that served, the reaction is along the lines of "Hey, you're my best friend ever! Let's talk guns!" (Sorry buddy...I was in Air Force communications, not the infantry; I don't even currently own a gun...although that will change soon). The other main reaction is from those that never served in the military: "Wow...that must be why your desk is so clean. You must be really organized." (I don't really have a response to this other than blinking a few times.)

In all honesty, my time in the military didn't have as much of an impact on who I am as, say, joining the Church, or getting married and having kids (I won't go into the assumptions that happen when people finally realize I'm the father of the five kids whose pictures hang on my cubicle wall...).

When you combine my new position at work with my military past, my religion, my family composition, and the fact that I often wear a tie - you can just imagine what people around here think of me. It certainly isn't the same way that the people I eat lunch with think of me, that is for sure. (...and that is a whole other story for another time)