Sic Semper Tyrannis

Cradle of civilization

2009-04-28T22:15:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd post some pics of this crazy country called Iraq. Not much else to this blog.

This is the city of Husaybah. right on the Syrian border, and right outside the FOB. Al'Qaeda used to pretty much run the city, until the Iraqis rose up in the "Awakening" and started chopping heads off.

The city on he hroizon is Albu Kamal, located just across the border in Syria. Bad guys LOVE to hide out here and try to sneak into Iraq at night.

This pic of me, at the Euphrates River. I have a feeling Alexander the Great stood in this same spot!

That's all I've got for today. I love you and miss you so much, Sarah, and watch out for the swine flu.

Milk, 3rd world style

2009-04-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

The packaging on food here is very specific.

Iraq, again

2009-04-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

Well, for those who know me, you know that I've been in Iraq for a little over two months now (or is ot more? I can't tell). Here's me, it's not the best pic, but it's me nonethless, in case any of you were thinking I was an imposter of some sort:

For those who have never been to Iraq, just trust me when I say it sucks. Ever wake up to find yourself covered in an inch-high layer of dust and sand? That's no exageration, either. It's been fun so far, though, and the excitement is steady. More details on that to follow in subsequent blogs.

That's pretty much all I have for now. I tried some more pics on here but the internet's super slow, and I don't want to push my luck and have it disconnect. I love you Sarah, and miss you so incredibly much it hurts. I can't wait to see you, my lovely.

Carnivale

2008-11-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

Just started watching a new series, "Carnivale". Good show. Check it out if you haven't already. I think they have 3 seasons so far, not sure if the series has ended or not. It's pretty freakin' weird, which makes it my kind of series.

And speaking of random weird stuff, here's an addition to my last post. This pretty much sums up what I'm about, politically at least:

Words from a GOOD president. One of the last, actually.

2008-11-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

"Liberty has never come from government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it."

"I would rather belong to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to be in love with liberty. "

- Woodrow Wilson

Sic Semper Tyrannis!

(This is in no way a commentary on any elected official in particular, just pretty much all of them in general, since they all pretty much suck now, Republican OR Democrat. Just thought I'd add that caveat.)

USMC B-Day Ball, 2008

2008-11-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

Well, this is just a follow-up to my last post. Our ball was Friday night, the 7th. It was at Disneyland. I got a room at the Disneyland Hotel, which cost WAY too much money. I also spent WAY too much money on booze, but how couldn't I when there was just so much of it?! Not only did I spend too much money on booze, I also drank too much of it, so I'm really surprised I found my room on the 3rd floor, let alone made it there without getting nabbed by the security guards for some reason. The room was really cold, as most hotel rooms are, so I think it gave me something because I've been feeling crappy all weekend.

Oh yeah, on a side note, if you're pissed that Obama won the election, comfort yourself in the knowledge that McCain is just as much of an idiot, and no matter who won, America lost. Go Bob Barr!

Since I don't have any pictures of 1st Radio BN's ball, here's a picture of the Commandant at HIS ball, with a giant fancy cake. Our cake was pretty small-time compared to that monstrosity.

233 years

2008-11-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Actually, it's that "two times" a year, because my birthday as a Marine is only two days off from the Corp's birthday. This November 12 will make it 7 years for me in my Marine Corps. November 10 will be 233 years of a great tradition of jarheads killing everyone from Barbary Pirates to Mexicans, from Germans to Vietnamese zipper heads to hajis in both Iraq AND Afghanistan. I know, none of that is PC for me to say, but if you don't like it than don't read my blog. What happened in the days when it used to be honorable to talk about killing foreigners, and the mere fact that one had done so was a mark of pride to be carried throughout one's life?

I hear all this argument about the reasons for the war, how there were no WMDs, it's just for oil, etc. Do we NEED a reason? Every Marine will tell you that no, we don't need a reason. Just point the way, we say. Leave it to the retards in government and to the civilians who have no actual idea what goes on in war to debate and argue over it's virtues, tragedies, and justifications. I have my own opinions about politics and war and foreign policy, but in the end, ultimately, like all good Marines, I want to blow things up. Maybe it's just because I never got my fill of fireworks as a child, and my brain is just that right amount of chemically imbalanced where the site of a headless body doesn't phase me, and the thought of bullets whizzing by makes my heart race with anticipation. There are two options for people like me: Put them in a psyche ward forever, or put them in the Marines.

It's not that long until I have to go to the big sandbox again. Like everyone else who goes to a foreign land, the sadness is painful. I've been married for a little over a month and have only lived with my wife for about two weeks. When I leave, we'll have only really had maybe two good months together. The thought of that is heartwrenching. Yet at the same time, just thinking about going back is making my heart pound and my adrenaline rise in a dreaded earnestness that only those who have deployed will understand. A note to any future Marines, or currently single Marines: If you're girl just doesn't get what that means, that feeling I just described, then it isn't meant to be. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache if you end it before it ends you. Trust me, I know. One failed marriage and a daughter that I don't know nearly as well as I want is a testament to that. That's why I'm so greatful now to have a beautiful wife who knows what that means, and understands why I do what I do.

So, on November 10, drink a beer for all those Marines who have come before and who serve now. For 233 years, we've been spreading death across the world so that the rest of America can live their lives and pretend that everything's fine and that their precious security just magically wills itself into existence and sustainment.

1st Radio Battalion, my unit.

My favorite Marine Corps painting, "The Last Night of the War" by Neary, depicting the fight at Belleau Wood. It's where we first got the name "Teufelhunden", or "Devil Dog".

About me

2008-09-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Curtis. I have a car. I live in a small house. My car is blue. My favorite food is steak. Do cows cry when they die? I don't know, I've never been a cow. I like to watch T.V. and play video games. I went to school a long time ago. I don't like school, reading is dumb and the kids all made fun of me. I wish I could be on T.V., because then I wouldn't have to watch it on my T.V. at home, but I could meet the people on T.V. How come when cartoon people talk, their chins don't move? I think that's funny. Do you know what's NOT funny? Clowns.

Blogging for the first time

2008-09-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog on this "blospot" thing. Haven't done it before, but figured I could since half of my in-laws are on it. For those who aren't aware, "Sic Semper Tyrannis" is what Brutus said before stabbing Julius Caesar. It means, "Thus to Tyrants", obviously implying that all tyrants need to be stabbed to death. I myself am an ardent supporter of the fatal stabbing of historically reknown dictators, but at the same time I'm a bit torn because Julius Caesar was so BA and ordered the deaths of thousands upon thousands of Gauls, which I must say is awesome. As I've alwas said, the only good Gaul is a dead Gaul, and I like to think that me and Julius Caesar see eye to eye on that one.