Hello All,
This is a quick message to let you all know that things are not totally lost here, and that sometime you have to make your own fun. Yesterday was not a good day for my platoon. A soldier in 2nd squad lost an uncle back home and had to fly home on emergency leave, and then I lost a soldier to Headquarters platoon due to a bad foot. I was a bit down in the dumps, losing 2 of our guys in one day, but have no fear, God has a sense of humor and threw me some material. As I sat down in a Port-O-John I read the following message on the left wall:
"Toilet tennis, look Right," and I looked to my right. On that wall it
said:
"Toilet tennis, look Left," and I looked left.
"Toilet tennis, look Right,"
"Toilet tennis, look Left,"
It's the little things that keep us going, at least from playing in the middle of traffic during rush hour.
The next morning my platoon sergeant told me that another of our guys needed to get home ASAP because his pregnant wife's placenta had separated. Nuts! I grabbed my shower stuff and hauled across the compound to get in a quick shower & shave. As I was getting undressed I saw a marine's rifle, and there was a sticker on the butt stock of the weapon that said, "I love (in the shape of a heart) Hooters." Chauvinistic. Yes. Against the regulations? Hell, yes! But it was just enough out of the ordinary to make me stop and giggle to myself. The looks I got weren't too friendly, giggling in the shower, but everybody understood and laughed along when they saw the rifle. I can only wonder about what tomorrow is going to bring.
I love you all,
Will
Glad you found your smile again. Keep safe
Posted by: debby on June 10, 2003 10:58 AMHi Will...
As you would expect coming from a female, first one; hahahahaha, second one: grrrrrrr (unless it's my boyfriend who is saying it to me!) :)
Guess I can't expect much different from a bunch of guys who may not have seen any in some time, eh? But hey..I can see 'em everyday! Hahahahahaha ... I just gotta look down! :)
Ooops..sorry. *still grinning*
Keep looking for the lighter side of life, take care, and hope you guys ALL get your orders soon.
Judi
Posted by: Judi on June 10, 2003 11:04 AMGlad to hear you're that things are relaxing over there!! Keep smiling, we enjoy hearing about it.
Stay safe!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie on June 10, 2003 11:16 AMWho won the toilet tennis match??
Posted by: Shell on June 10, 2003 12:06 PMAnd what type of raquet do you use for that? :)
Hopefully tomorrow brings more smiles and more people heading home (for good reasons)!
You probably just over-heated a few of the 'posties' with that image of a group of naked men laughing in the shower...
Chauvinistic? Nah. Everyone loves hooters.
Posted by: GORDON on June 10, 2003 07:38 PMHi Will,
I'd like to get back to the movie question. How about John Tesh as you if it is a musical (think South Pacific) or how about Josh Harnett for drama (what, too young?) OK, George Clooney. Now how about some titles for this movie? Will, I think you can come up with some winners. Our input : "Long Nights and Camel Breath" or "Kuwaiti Rinse and Spin in 3 D"
Keep your head down, you're still not out of the woods.(ok, desert)
Williams family from Va. Beach.
Posted by: Williams family on June 10, 2003 10:10 PMHi Will,
Glad to hear you found something to bring a smile and laugh. Sometimes it may be where one least expects it. I agree with the Williams family regarding having George Clooney play you. That'd be cool ;) You're in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there, stay safe, and keep the posts coming.
I think Clooney is tooo old to play Will. I think Will has the talent to play himself if he is so inclined.
Coupla scenes I would like to be on set for when they shoot, if I may be so bold (y'all know I am:
All shower & port-o-johnnie scenes. Will in his poncho while his clothes are getting the "wet sand drying" treatment. Ya know hafta make sure the wardrobe is accurate.
Well maybe I just need to be on set everyday as and AD or AP - heck I'd settle for craft services. Make sure always have Johnnie Walker on hand, right Will?
Script can not go into production til we know how this whole darn cluster f*ck is gonna end, tho - so let's just take it ODAT for now.
Until then, Who'll be needing a power wash and a rinse? Next!
Oh! Don't forget to put your tip jar out.
Wax on/Wax off,
SzaffireBlue
Posted by: SzaffireBlue on June 11, 2003 12:26 AMhi Will!
Nice to hear some good news from you, after the tale on your fellow soldier's outburst....
At least, fortunately for you (and for us...too)there are days the mood is decidedly better in which. Let 's see the strange case of marine's rifle and his love for the hooters..But why hooters???NOT WOMEN..BUT HOOTERS!!!
Did you find out why he loves hooters?Is it a name in code? Mah..i'm too courious.
let's write soon again and perhaps to announce your return to home. The contdown is just started, isn't it?
Stay safe!
Ciaooo!!
Ilenia
As long as you can find something(anything) to laugh at, there is still hope.
It's great that some of your guys are going home--even if the reasons aren't so good. Perhaps you'll get to be next but let's hope for happy reasons.
Take good care, Will. Be safe--things seem quiet over there(at least from over here) but one would hafta live under a rock to know that you're still in a dangerous place. Guys are being killed every day and you can't afford to let your guard down.:)
I am just glad there are things that keep you laughing through out the day! Take care of your boys and come home soon!!!
April
Well Will....things are looking a bit better for you...and I'm glad! My husband just got back from Jordan (Army) and he came back with a surprise. Yep! he has a girlfriend so I served him with divorce papers there goes 10 years down the shitter! He got back the first week of May and we were (me and are two kids)so excited but he's to busy with his new love (see army bitch)! Well you think you have problems....I should be on Jerry Springer!
Later, CS
Posted by: CS on June 11, 2003 01:47 PMHey Will!
I can relate to how you're feeling, my guy came back and got stuck at Bragg for 2 weeks while the top brass had pissing contests over who was in charge. Although it is BS work that you're doing right now - just remember "this too shall pass"
One thing about life - even though it seems like the worst of times - you are still positively affecting the lives of people you don't even know. Over the past several months I've read all of your post and most of the comments. I know you and your "guys" have touched the lives of so many people and we feel like you are family. You've helped me understand a lot of what you guys are going through and you are a GREAT story teller!
Hang in there Will - you're going to be a fantastic officer. Encourage the guys in your unit to stay in and reap the rewards they've earned (college $$) - hopefully the worse is over.
Hugs from your Jax FL fans
(PS Don't play T.Tennis too long - you might get stuck! But then that would be another story)
Glad to hear you found a few ways to make your life over there a little more exciting. It Toilet Tennis and Hooters is all it takes you should have thought of that sooner!!! Just make a mental image of BOOBS!
I hope you make it home soon! Take Care and Keep the GOOD Spirits until then.
GODSPEED MY FRIEND!
Kelley
Just what I was thinking Shell. Who won the tennis match?
CS, make him eat shit and then some!
Take care Will, can't wait to read some more. Glad to hear that you are keeping your spirits up.
I dunno...I mean, it's REAL hard to laugh in a portapooper when your being baked alive at a nice 135 degrees. Maybe it's not so hot over at Camp Doha over by the port, but at Coyote-West and even here at Ahmed al-Jaber it makes a Yuma summer seem like a good time to show off you collection of sweaters.
Be cool!
Posted by: CPL Fiero, Russel T. on June 16, 2003 08:20 AMYour "Toilet Tennis" story reminds me of a similar experience. While traveling I-90 across S Dakota in the late 1960's, I pulled into a rest stop to use the facilities. Scrawled on the wall was:
A man’s ambition must be mighty small,
to write his name on a shit-house wall.
Signed,
LBJ
It certainly made an impression since I still remember the ditty. I’m sure “Toilet Tennis” will have an equally long life! Much better than all those, “For real fun call 555-1212”.
Will is a pretty good writer and this is the collection of his writings. It'll be interesting to hear updates from a soldier's point of view, so I'll be posting them for all to read.
Take care Will