Chaos In A Bottle

If you’re looking for the weirdness that is the usual discussion of my life, you won’t find it here. You see, this day is important to me, for a lot of reasons, and I think that deserves one of my few serious moments.

Because of the men and women who stood, and still stand, in defense of our country, I have the freedom to write these insane, irreverent ramblings. Because they took up arms in dark times, I can choose what church I want to walk into, or choose not to walk into one at all. Because they donned a uniform, I can decide where and how to educate my children. Because many died on foreign soil, I can not only criticize my government openly, I can change it by walking into a voting booth.

I can bear arms to protect my family. I can speak openly and freely. I can choose my career, my spouse, my religion. I can do so many things that others elsewhere only dream of – because of those who once served, and who still do.

My father served. My father-in-law served. My uncle, my grandfathers – they served. Dear friends of mine still wear the uniforms of the armed forces of this country, and I am proud to call them friends.

So: Phil, Don, Willie, Rusty, Billy, Alex W., Bob C., Bob L., Cade C., Cathy S., Chris F., Chris H., David L., Derek B., DJ G., Doug R., Eugene P., Jerry R., Joe B., Josh K., Kevin S., Keaton B., Mark H., Matt P., Mekala P., Patrick L., Robert S., Ross S., Shawn C., Staci C., Steve C., Todd M., Richard L., Michael S., Pat R., Denny R., Wade S. – and so many others – thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Poppies

My friend and I were doing the candy thing on Halloween, because she’s made of win like that, and I noticed that Halloween turns us into total pervs, offering candy to strange children with the blessing of their parents. I should be more surprised than I am.

“Hey, I’ve got candy, too! Come over here!” Yeah, that’s not pervvy at all.

I might also mention that this was just days after my friend spent a week in Hades being a bone marrow donor for a complete stranger. Did I mention that she’s made of win??

If this were a political blog, I could go into a big, long discourse about the recent election, but it’s not, so I won’t. Don’t judge me.

On a personal front, I’ve decided that I’m hooked on the new Hawaii Five-0 reboot, which I’m renaming “ManPain with Pineapple”, which if you’ve watched it you’ll understand, and if you haven’t this isn’t making much sense, but I’m finding it difficult to worry about you because you obviously have poor viewing habits.

I might post pictures of my kids in their costumes, but I might not. Trust me when I say they were adorable.

Thankfully, Brianna’s boyfriend and her friend’s boyfriend did trick-or-treat escort duty. Otherwise, I might have insisted on firearms. And wooden stakes.