Monday, May 31, 2010

Lake George Memorial Day Parade.

Here are some photos from the parade and the ceremony. I also stuck in a few random shots. I will call this, "Back of Heads Memorial Day."












Thursday, May 27, 2010

Moving!

So, I’m moving…in with my boyfriend. I have never lived with a significant other before so, wish me luck? I’m thinking this blog might start to explore my new roll as “house girlfriend”. We’ll see…





Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Spc. Robert A. Rodriguez is a Scumbag & Fingerprints On Gun That Killed Staff Sgt. Amy Seyboth.

Just wanted to share these two stories...

"An Alaska-based soldier is under investigation for a video on his Facebook page that taunts smiling Iraqi children by asking if they're gay, if they engage in certain sex acts and if they would grow up to be terrorists."

"Above the Facebook video posting, which was titled, "future gay terrorist!," is written, "i got bored in iraq ... so I kept myself entertained!"

Rodriguez is a fucking piece of shit and I hope he pays for this.

Read the story here.

If you're following the Seyboth story you'll find this interesting...

Maybe she didn't commit suicide?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Under Attack.

Welcome to Camp Anaconda aka Mortaritaville in Iraq! Watch Rene and Alex (a few soldiers I deployed with) run for their lives during a mortar attack. Notice how they don't give a shit.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Fat Ass.

My gym membership just went up $10 for no apparent reason. This absurd increase got me thinking. First of all, I can’t even remember the last time I went to the gym. Months and months ago. So, why am I paying $29.99 for a gym membership? I’m paying $30 a month to do nothing. That’s a lot of money to do nothing. I’ve also maintained my weight pretty much since high school (always been between 115 and 120). However, during basic training I gained weight and the same thing happened in Iraq. There has to be other female soldiers who have dealt with the same thing, right? So, here is a little piece about my weight gain in Iraq.


I began to grow in Iraq. I gained muscle mass and my diet changed dramatically. My weight shifted from 120 to 135 pounds. My uniform was clinging to my thighs and my ass could have been mistaken for JLos. Because I’m vegetarian, I lived on cheese sandwiches, rice, and pizza. I was continually asked, “Why don’t you just eat salad?” I hate lettuce. I hate tomatoes. I hate onions. I hate salad.

I grew upset with the food selection at the dining facilities and decided to write a commentary for the newspaper. I asked for things like tomato sauce instead of meat sauce, vegetable Lo Mein, and possibly meatless products. Kellogg, Brown, and Root (this is the corporation our government pays millions to feed us, and whatever else the military needs them to do.) replied, “KBR does offer meatless sauces for pasta, meatless soups, cheese pizzas, vegetables…It is very helpful when patrons with special dietary desires discuss them with the government…This question is a great start!” Within a couple weeks, I noticed fake steak strips with rice dishes next to the salad bar. Even though the food was tasteless, I had won. But I kept eating cheese sandwiches.

My curvy figure began to attract attention. On a Sunday afternoon while Gonzalez and I were cleaning our room, a male soldier came to our door and handed Gonzalez a letter. She looked at me like I had been keeping a secret from her but I told her I had no idea who he was. Gonzalez and I sat on my bed like two school girls. I imagined opening up the letter, having him ask me if I would meet him at the porta potty after tower guard duty. Instead, this soldier told me that my black frame glasses and thighs caught his attention.

“Thighs?” I screamed.
“Katie, you have nice thighs.” Gonzalez said.
“I’m white. You don’t tell this white girl she has nice thighs!”

Gonzalez wouldn‘t argue with me. After this letter we agreed to take our names off of the door.Gonzalez had at least a dozen groupies that would randomly stop by and I didn’t want anyone else telling me they liked my thighs.





(Maybe I'll start going to the gym again)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Blah blah blah Iraq mix.

This is amazing, brave, and hilarious!!

"Created by Codey Wilson and his elite step team of volunteers. The video is an EXAGGERATED act of a possible future military that is open to any sexual preference. Please don't try to cause us any problems. We're just a few good guys trying to enjoy ourselves and get this deployment over with. No one in the video is gay... that we know of, nor am I. Sorry guys. Not that there is anything wrong with that! (political correctness) I am NOT saying it IS ok to be gay in the military. I am not saying it's NOT OK."

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Four Elements: The Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven

Here is the documentary my partner (Kayla) and I have been working on throughout the semester. Check it out!

A short documentary analyzing the religious connections and interactions between the members of a small Wiccan coven in upstate New York.

Four Elements from Kayla Galway on Vimeo.



The Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven website.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Have an Opinion Regarding DADT? You'll Need a CAC to Share it.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

UAlbany Veterans Bottle Drive!


Help us raise money for the newly-created Veterans' group by donating your bottles and cans. All proceeds will be used to promote veteran-related causes at the University at Albany.

Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: American Legion Post 1520
Street: 4 Everett Rd Ext.
City/Town: Albany, NY

More information here.

Stephanie and Michelle.

First and foremost, I am sorry for your loss. The reason I am posting blogs regarding Jesse’s death is because your loved ones story is being ignored by the media and the VA. I find it horrifying that a soldier can take his life on the steps of a VA hospital and be forgotten about within a weeks time. He is a causality of the war, the VA, and the negligent media.

You have both expressed different opinions regarding Jesse’s situation. Michelle, you are correct, I do not know Jesse’s past. Maybe he suffered from depression before his deployment…like you said, life isn’t black and white. However, when a soldier goes to war and comes back a different human being, whether that be mentally or physically, the VA has an obligation to do whatever it possibly can to assist that soldier in readjusting. I am not aware of the treatment Jesse received from the VA but I do have friends who have been/are currently being treated for PTSD. It might be possible that the way to go about treating soldiers isn’t with five different prescription medications that make them feel like walking zombies.

By posting clips I find regarding Jesse does not mean I am “believing every statement written.” My intention is to enlighten those about his situation and to hopefully get people talking about it. How many more soldiers need to take their lives before people start paying attention?

If you are unpleased with those speaking on Jesse’s behalf, I am pretty positive the media would hear your side of the story. I know I would love too. Jesse’s story should not go untold. I believe he chose to take his life on the steps of a VA hospital for a reason (and you may disagree)...it could be possible that he was tired of the treatment he was receiving, tired of feeling ignored, tired of feeling out of place in the civilian world, or tired of fighting the realities of war within himself…you lost a loved one and the military lost a good soldier. Michelle -- Stephanie has expressed wishing to get in contact with you. I hope you speak with one another and find some sort of peace. My heart goes out to Jesse and your family.