here's to you

To all of you out there, wherever this finds you, at home or far from; alone or with friends; with family, coworkers, comrades, lovers, assholes; whether surrounded by intimates or deathwishers, lifelong buddies or casual acquaintances... whether you're taking it anxiously a day at a time or in vast stretches of comfort, hope this marking of time is a good one for you and bodes well for your future and that of your loved ones. For real. And CYA, always CYA, no matter the who the where the why the when. C-fuckin'-Y-fuckin'-A.

And to you guys out there reading, can't thank you enough for taking the time to read and to care and to opine and share and to have us on your mind. I'd be writing this if no one read it, count on it, but it wouldn't be the same. Not by a stretch. It's been a real kick in the ass reading the comments and the feedback and the kind words and cool comments. Din't know what to expect when I kicked this off, on an angry whim one not-so-fine day. Certainly expected more chaw and bile from my lifer buds, but din't really expect the outpouring of support and the sharing. Readers from Tokyo, Korea, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Britain, Scotland, all over the U.S. and Canada. And probably others. People who care, casual readers, high school kids, activists, veterans, military spouses... lifers even.

Wanted to wrap up this end of the calender with a sampling of your contributions and thoughts. Here is a random selection of reader comments since we kicked this off. Keep 'em coming!

See you on the other side!

28 August, 2005 01:46 anonymous said...

OMG. This blog is a riot. Are you for real?

09 September, 2005 16:34 anonymous said...

Balls!

17 October, 2005 10:08 antigone-

I enjoy your blog [...] but this post makes me feel the need to defend my chosen profession... yes, no one completely and totally understands what you guys are doing and going through over there, and yes, these pussy reporters are stay in their nice little hotels and going out to interview some people before scurrying back into their room and just verbaitim typing up the Press Release from the Public relations specialist. But don't shoot them please. We really need to see SOMETHING.

28 September, 2005 15:48 anonymous said...

Which book you readin? Cuz you sound just like Leppelman.

24 October, 2005 09:45 greg said...

This is great....when I think blogs I think 16 yr old girls writing poetry and giving shout-outs to their friends. This is what blogs are meant to be.

Keep it up. Don't get shot or get caught writing.

14 October, 2005 23:33 anonymous said...

wow, I would be impressed except something here doesnt ring true. whispers of conspiracy to get all the little hippy minds all worked up.

24 October, 2005 19:29 mrbandw said...

Wow I finally found somebody who truly appreciates the f word and puts it to it's proper use!

13 November, 2005 06:27 snag said...

The real American soldier is a Short-timer and always has been. That's the rub...these jerk-offs today don't get it. The citizen soldier's head is gettin' back home. If you want to occupy countries like we've been doing for the past 30 or 40 years, hire a cop.

14 November, 2005 01:46 charlie said...

Oh, AST... that insane, overwhelming, driving, ineluctable force to speak out, to synaptically revolt, to twist and turn and mentally somesault, to take the bastards with you as you gyrate and pyke and tuck, the gymnasium hall spinning around you...

14 November, 2005 08:13 diane s. said...

Rage! Rage against the dying of the light!

15 November, 2005 01:00 anonymous said...

You are certainly a skilled wordsmith, Joe. Keep writing as skillfully as you can. Because if you cop the same attitude with your next employer, perhaps all you'll have to fall back on is your writing skill to pay your bills. Remember, there are assholes everywhere in this world...you can't avoid them.

21 November, 2005 08:11 the un-apologetic atheist said...

You know, Short, strange as it sounds I think the Iraqi people might like us more if more of them read your blog...

06 December, 2005 07:47 tbone65 said...

Even though this task can suck, there is no need to whine and bitch incessantly about everything. Not everything is as bad as AST tries to make it in his posts. I do understand though that if he talked about some of the easy or good shit he experienced in the Army, it would ruin the finely crafted image he's tried so hard to build for himself - a steadfast rebel.

03 December, 2005 07:45 snag said...

I'd love to fight for ideals, but alas that's just the smoke and mirrors they use to keep potential candidates interested in their little game.

03 December, 2005 21:36 anonymous said...

...you sound like you can bitch as good as any military wife.

06 December, 2005 10:26 fnulnu said...

We're all short-timers on this planet and you never know when it's coming.

08 December, 2005 13:08 diane s. said...

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for consumate boozers and whoremongers and those reknowned for arguing with superiors.

07 December, 2005 16:03 diane s. said...

If I could, I'd come to 'Raq for Christmas. Come out there with a key and hand it to the first civilian I saw and say, "Here, here's your country back. We're going home now. Watch out for those dictators, man. Good fuckin' luck."

08 December, 2005 15:39 antigone-

Dude, seriously: signing on to have "Property of the US government" stamped on your ass is not the brightest idea in the world.

16 December, 2005 12:58 the un-apologetic atheist said...

We have troops deployed in scores of countries around the world. Many of them are my personal friends. I care about all of them... not just lame gung-ho "rah-rah-rah'ing" our boys in the Oil Crusade, and I'm going to fight against those who use my beloved troopers as mercenaries. I'm also going to fight against those who attack soldiers for doing what they are ordered to do, instead of attacking those giving the orders.

23 December, 2005 05:06 tbone65 said...

My mind still hurts sometimes dude. I try to push it aside and ignore it...but sometimes it takes me. No one with a heart will be the same after all this shit.

23 December, 2005 14:22 oneveteran'svoice said...

If we all speak up loud enough, shit will get changed.

28 December, 2005 12:03 sara said...

Boozer. Whoremonger. You and your Ambassador ways. They will make you Secretary of State when you return...