Just to reiterate how great it is to get some of the little things from the real world…
The two happiest moments I have had the last couple days are when we opened care packages from some church to find, among the other goodies, chocolate pop-tarts and salad toppings (you know, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, seasoning, etc.). I was so happy to finally be able to add some toppings to my salad at lunch today.
MMMMMMMMM
And chocolate pop-tarts are my favorite. I had actually been thinking about them earlier in the day when I was eating a blueberry pop-tart; the blueberry just isn’t nearly as good.
Tomorrow I am going to have French toast with breakfast, and a root beer float with lunch.
If only I could get a double French steakburger with cheese from Nationwide Meats in Sacramento. Then I would be in heaven.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
The World Cup and Whatnot...
The World Cup is a pretty big deal over here. It is really fun to not tell the scores to the detainees who have been caught. We talk about it enough to get them to ask us who is winning and who is losing, but then we don’t tell them. Hahahahahaha
It is great.
Anyways, they do things the right way over here. This Arab sports network is airing the games over pay-per-view to most of the countries in the Middle East. That doesn’t fly to well over here. Most of the citizens are not going to be able to afford pay-per-view. So a couple of the networks are broadcasting them for free. That is right, the network is paying the $100 bucks or whatever to buy the telecast, then airing it over their free airwaves for everybody to watch.
This is so freaking awesome.
And what is the Arab sports network gonna do about it?
Absolutely nothing is what.
The Iraqi government is too busy trying to set itself up and convince the people not to blow up buildings to worry about this kind of crap. I think that the FCC will be one of the last branches of the government they create. And besides, when the men are watching soccer, they are not out blowing shit up. Everyone wins, except for the Arab sports network trying to get over on the common folks.
Wouldn’t it be great if someone could get away with this in the states?
But this is how I have been watching the games, in Arabic. I go down to the interpreters’ quarters to watch on their little TV. It is fun because they are so into it. I would love to have been watching the games on Armed Forces Network, but they couldn’t secure the broadcast rights.
That is such bullshit.
AFN doesn’t have the money to pay for broadcast rights. Pretty much every American sports league lets us have the games for free; you know, it is part of that whole “thank-you for defending our freedom to turn a profit” thing. The World Cup, however, sold their international broadcast rights to some stupid Swiss company that is charging every country’s military network for the broadcast rights.
What assholes.
Though there is a shining light…
Good Ole Rupert Murdoch took some of the change out of his couch cushions and arranged for we servicemen and women to watch the matches involving team USA, the semifinals, and the final.
What a guy; you can read more on the Aussie's generosity by clicking here
So at least for the USA’s last match against Ghana, I will be able to understand what the broadcaster is saying. Though it really wasn’t that big a deal before, I mean, there is only one way to say Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!
It is great.
Anyways, they do things the right way over here. This Arab sports network is airing the games over pay-per-view to most of the countries in the Middle East. That doesn’t fly to well over here. Most of the citizens are not going to be able to afford pay-per-view. So a couple of the networks are broadcasting them for free. That is right, the network is paying the $100 bucks or whatever to buy the telecast, then airing it over their free airwaves for everybody to watch.
This is so freaking awesome.
And what is the Arab sports network gonna do about it?
Absolutely nothing is what.
The Iraqi government is too busy trying to set itself up and convince the people not to blow up buildings to worry about this kind of crap. I think that the FCC will be one of the last branches of the government they create. And besides, when the men are watching soccer, they are not out blowing shit up. Everyone wins, except for the Arab sports network trying to get over on the common folks.
Wouldn’t it be great if someone could get away with this in the states?
But this is how I have been watching the games, in Arabic. I go down to the interpreters’ quarters to watch on their little TV. It is fun because they are so into it. I would love to have been watching the games on Armed Forces Network, but they couldn’t secure the broadcast rights.
That is such bullshit.
AFN doesn’t have the money to pay for broadcast rights. Pretty much every American sports league lets us have the games for free; you know, it is part of that whole “thank-you for defending our freedom to turn a profit” thing. The World Cup, however, sold their international broadcast rights to some stupid Swiss company that is charging every country’s military network for the broadcast rights.
What assholes.
Though there is a shining light…
Good Ole Rupert Murdoch took some of the change out of his couch cushions and arranged for we servicemen and women to watch the matches involving team USA, the semifinals, and the final.
What a guy; you can read more on the Aussie's generosity by clicking here
So at least for the USA’s last match against Ghana, I will be able to understand what the broadcaster is saying. Though it really wasn’t that big a deal before, I mean, there is only one way to say Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Bipolar motivation...
When I went through basic training over six years ago, our battalion commander came in and spoke to us on our first day. He gave a speech that motivated me through all of the rough times in my 10 months of training into the Army. He started out with all the normal crap about what a great thing we were doing for our country, how this would change our lives, and all the people back home who were rooting for us. Then it took an unexpected turn, he asked about the people back home who were not rooting for us, the people who were waiting for us to fail and return home with our tails between our legs, the negative motivators.
Immediately I thought of this prick from the Army ROTC back at USC. It was the first day of class in my second year. We were all introducing ourselves and when he mentioned he was in ROTC, I told him I thought of joining the Army. Before really talking to me and before getting to know me, he looked at me and told me to stop thinking about it because I wouldn’t make it.
What mother fucker?
Come again?
Anyways, I never really thought about him all that much after that. He wasn’t why I joined the Army or anything. Not until the commander gave that speech had I thought of that arrogant piece of trash. But it was simply the first of many times.
When I was struggling through the obstacle course, I thought of him.
When my hands were freezing as I tried to keep up in a road march, I thought of him.
When I was aiming my m-16, I thought of him.
I thought of him laughing at the thought of me quitting. It became important to me that I improved because I was not going to let him win.
The other day I was talking with one of the sergeant’s from the California National Guard unit who is here with us. He was talking about his brother the Colonel and I happened to mention that my battalion commander in basic training shared his name. Turned out to be his brother! He asked me what I remembered and all I remembered was the negative motivator speech and how it was one of the major influences on my military career. He then went right into it word for word. I was sitting there listening to it all over again and, amazingly enough, all the old emotions came rushing back. I thought of that prick back at USC and if he could only see me now. And what I would do or say if I ever saw him.
Then it occurred to me that the asshole is probably a captain by now and all I would do is salute him and call him sir.
Immediately I thought of this prick from the Army ROTC back at USC. It was the first day of class in my second year. We were all introducing ourselves and when he mentioned he was in ROTC, I told him I thought of joining the Army. Before really talking to me and before getting to know me, he looked at me and told me to stop thinking about it because I wouldn’t make it.
What mother fucker?
Come again?
Anyways, I never really thought about him all that much after that. He wasn’t why I joined the Army or anything. Not until the commander gave that speech had I thought of that arrogant piece of trash. But it was simply the first of many times.
When I was struggling through the obstacle course, I thought of him.
When my hands were freezing as I tried to keep up in a road march, I thought of him.
When I was aiming my m-16, I thought of him.
I thought of him laughing at the thought of me quitting. It became important to me that I improved because I was not going to let him win.
The other day I was talking with one of the sergeant’s from the California National Guard unit who is here with us. He was talking about his brother the Colonel and I happened to mention that my battalion commander in basic training shared his name. Turned out to be his brother! He asked me what I remembered and all I remembered was the negative motivator speech and how it was one of the major influences on my military career. He then went right into it word for word. I was sitting there listening to it all over again and, amazingly enough, all the old emotions came rushing back. I thought of that prick back at USC and if he could only see me now. And what I would do or say if I ever saw him.
Then it occurred to me that the asshole is probably a captain by now and all I would do is salute him and call him sir.
I helped 11 out of 15 people
A little context: A 32 year old teacher was arrested for allegedly sleeping with a 17 (now 18) year old student.
I would just like to defend myself and say that the moderator edited out about 4 paragraphs of brilliant rhetoric. I wasn’t defending her, I was just saying that all the people who felt she manipulated that guy were a little out of touch with reality. What was left, while the general theme of my comments, makes me look like a pervert. But hell, that is the media for you I guess.
Oh, and she looks way better in this picture.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Charlie's Updated Reading List...
I know it has been a while since I have posted this, but my book reading has dropped considerably. This is due to many things which include watching DVD's, reading magazines, chatting on the internet, sleeping, and less free time in general.
I did read a couple of really good books though, The Virgin Suicides and March.
March was interesting. It tells the story of a Union chaplain during the civil war; the catch being that the Union chaplain is the absent father of Little Women.
Anyways, as before, an asterisk is a new entry and Summerland really sucked.
Douglas Adams
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
-Life, the Universe and Everything
-So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
-Mostly Harmless
Mitch Albom
-Tuesdays With Morrie
L. Frank Baum
-The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Erma Bombeck
-The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
-Aunt Erma's Cope Book
T. Coraghessan Boyle
-The Road to Wellville
Geraldine Brooks
-Year of Wonders
*March
Dan Brown
*The Da Vinci Code
John Buchan
-The Thirty-Nine Steps
Caleb Carr
-The Alienist
-The Angel of Darkness
Willa Cather
-My Antonia
Michael Chabon
-Summerland
Agatha Christie
-After The Funeral
Joseph Conrad
-Heart of Darkness
-The Secret Sharer
William Pene du Bois
-The Twenty-One Balloons
Jeffrey Eugenides
*The Virgin Suicides
John Feinstein
-Season On The Brink
Ian Fleming
-The Spy Who Loved Me
Sue Grafton
*"A" is for Alibi
John Grisham
-Skipping Christmas
-The Brethren
Nathaniel Hawthorne
-The House of the Seven Gables
Robert A. Heinlein
-Starship Troopers
Stephen King
-Different Seasons
Elmore Leonard
-The Big Bounce
Alice McDermott
-Charming Billy
James Patterson
-The Thomas Berryman Number
-Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross #1)
-Kiss The Girls (Alex Cross #2)
-Jack and Jill (Alex Cross #3)
-Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross #4)
-Pop Goes The Weasel (Alex Cross #5)
-Roses Are Red (Alex Cross #6)
-Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross #7)
*Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross #8)
*The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross #9)
*London Bridges (Alex Cross #10)
Joe Queenan
-Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
J.K. Rowling
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
H.G. Wells
-The Time Machine
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
-The Shadow of the Wind
I did read a couple of really good books though, The Virgin Suicides and March.
March was interesting. It tells the story of a Union chaplain during the civil war; the catch being that the Union chaplain is the absent father of Little Women.
Anyways, as before, an asterisk is a new entry and Summerland really sucked.
Douglas Adams
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
-Life, the Universe and Everything
-So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
-Mostly Harmless
Mitch Albom
-Tuesdays With Morrie
L. Frank Baum
-The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Erma Bombeck
-The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
-Aunt Erma's Cope Book
T. Coraghessan Boyle
-The Road to Wellville
Geraldine Brooks
-Year of Wonders
*March
Dan Brown
*The Da Vinci Code
John Buchan
-The Thirty-Nine Steps
Caleb Carr
-The Alienist
-The Angel of Darkness
Willa Cather
-My Antonia
Michael Chabon
-Summerland
Agatha Christie
-After The Funeral
Joseph Conrad
-Heart of Darkness
-The Secret Sharer
William Pene du Bois
-The Twenty-One Balloons
Jeffrey Eugenides
*The Virgin Suicides
John Feinstein
-Season On The Brink
Ian Fleming
-The Spy Who Loved Me
Sue Grafton
*"A" is for Alibi
John Grisham
-Skipping Christmas
-The Brethren
Nathaniel Hawthorne
-The House of the Seven Gables
Robert A. Heinlein
-Starship Troopers
Stephen King
-Different Seasons
Elmore Leonard
-The Big Bounce
Alice McDermott
-Charming Billy
James Patterson
-The Thomas Berryman Number
-Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross #1)
-Kiss The Girls (Alex Cross #2)
-Jack and Jill (Alex Cross #3)
-Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross #4)
-Pop Goes The Weasel (Alex Cross #5)
-Roses Are Red (Alex Cross #6)
-Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross #7)
*Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross #8)
*The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross #9)
*London Bridges (Alex Cross #10)
Joe Queenan
-Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
J.K. Rowling
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
H.G. Wells
-The Time Machine
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
-The Shadow of the Wind
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Tit deserves tat
In their infinite wisdom, management has decided that 12 hour work days just aren’t long enough and we need to have a 13th hour added to the daily schedule. This 13th hour is spent in the classroom covering incredibly important topics like drinking lots of water and not having sex while in combat. I guess there are also more combat oriented ones like how to use certain crowd control weapons that just don’t apply to where I work. As you can probably tell I am very excited about this wonderful addition to my schedule.
Apparently they have added this 13th hour to our workday because everyone who is in contact with detainees needs this important training.
Hmmmmmm
Are we sure that EVERYONE who is in contact with detainees needs this important training?
The medics who treat the detainees don’t need it.
The food service team that delivers the detainees’ meals doesn’t require it.
The soldiers working at the visitation center do not find it necessary.
The soldiers who work at the detainee education center don’t have use for it.
The intelligence agents who interrogate the detainees seem to get by without.
Most importantly, the in-processing personnel from the last 3 freaking years found a way to accomplish the mission without it.
So I need a 13th hour added to my workday and all of them don’t?
I just wish that if they are going to say it’s mandatory for everyone working with detainees, then they actually MAKE it mandatory for everyone working with detainees. I mean seriously, if it is THAT important…
Oh and here is the kicker… I even have to go on my day off. So there won’t be any sleeping in because I will still have to be there on time.
Oh Wait!!
Now that I think about it, starting tomorrow, those of us who are Sergeants and above will not be allowed to have days off anymore anyways. So I guess I won’t have to worry about it after all. Well that is a relief.
What sucks about all of this is that I really want to just toss in the towel and skate by half-ass the rest of the way. I really want to do only what is asked of me and no more. It would be great if I could just be a shitbag-good-for-nothing for the next 4 months. But I can’t. That just isn’t who I am. And it sucks, the treatment we get deserves much less than I will end up giving.
Apparently they have added this 13th hour to our workday because everyone who is in contact with detainees needs this important training.
Hmmmmmm
Are we sure that EVERYONE who is in contact with detainees needs this important training?
The medics who treat the detainees don’t need it.
The food service team that delivers the detainees’ meals doesn’t require it.
The soldiers working at the visitation center do not find it necessary.
The soldiers who work at the detainee education center don’t have use for it.
The intelligence agents who interrogate the detainees seem to get by without.
Most importantly, the in-processing personnel from the last 3 freaking years found a way to accomplish the mission without it.
So I need a 13th hour added to my workday and all of them don’t?
I just wish that if they are going to say it’s mandatory for everyone working with detainees, then they actually MAKE it mandatory for everyone working with detainees. I mean seriously, if it is THAT important…
Oh and here is the kicker… I even have to go on my day off. So there won’t be any sleeping in because I will still have to be there on time.
Oh Wait!!
Now that I think about it, starting tomorrow, those of us who are Sergeants and above will not be allowed to have days off anymore anyways. So I guess I won’t have to worry about it after all. Well that is a relief.
What sucks about all of this is that I really want to just toss in the towel and skate by half-ass the rest of the way. I really want to do only what is asked of me and no more. It would be great if I could just be a shitbag-good-for-nothing for the next 4 months. But I can’t. That just isn’t who I am. And it sucks, the treatment we get deserves much less than I will end up giving.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
It's Been A Long TIme
I got back to Abu a little over a week ago. Leave was amazing; it was too short in fact. I will put up a travel log later this week. I am sorry for the lack of communication. I'll try to shoot out some stuff now...
-I finally read/listened to the Da Vinci Code while on leave. It was an OK book. I didn't think it was really all that great. I can think of at least 25 books off the top of my head that are better. I think that its subject matter is more the reason for its sales than its writing. The book presents a lot of unprovable arguments as facts. I don't know how I feel about all of it. Hell, I could write 50 blogs on that. But in regards to the main themes and historical conflicts in the book, think about this:
History books and bibles are written by the winners.
-It hit 120 freaking degrees today!!!!!
You know what?
It actually wasn't that bad. Granted I wasn't pacing around in it all day like the poor guys out at the camps. But I know I could go running or play basketball in this weather. Now, come July when it is 140 degrees outside? THat is most likely a completely different story.
-The Sharks choked against the Oilers. They were up 2-0 and had a clear path to the freaking Stanley Cup and they choked. That loss hurt man. Hopefully next year, after a full season of Thornton and Carle and maybe a free agent or two, they will finally get that freaking cup in California.
-As a Giants fan there are two things that I crave in my baseball. I want to see the GIants win and Barry Bonds hit home runs. Both don't even have to happen at th esame time. I'll settle for one or the other. Now when neither happens, like last year, CHarlie is an unhappy Giants fan. This year Bonds isn't hitting a lot of home runs, but the team is competitive. So I am alright with that. I can't wait for Alou to come back too. No one really talks about them outside of Barry, but they could win this division. Quick side note... The National League West is the only division in sports where every team has a winning record. Just thought I would let you all know.
-There is someone here who we are all pretty sure doesn't have a job. Seriously. I have no idea what his title is. He doesn't have an office. I am not sure if he has work hours. All he does is walk around from here to there and play solitaire on our computers. You guys probably think I am exagerating, but I promise you I am not. We have spent many a morning trying to figure out just what the hell this sergeant does. I told him he could hide out in his room for a month and no one would know. Everyone would assume he is just walking around to a different part of the camp "working." I wish I had his life. Don't get me wrong, 12 hours indoors in front of a computer ain't bad. However, I could be essentially collecting unemployment benefits like the other guy.
-The day I got back from leave my air conditioner broke. Well it didn't actually break, but it would only run for less than an hour before I would have to flip the breaker. No big deal though right, because there is a breaker in my room.
Jokes on you Charlie!!!
That breaker doesn't do shit. You have to downstairs, outside, and around the building. Oh, and it's over a 100 every day now.
Lovely.
But sure enough, they came and fixed it. Now I can crank my AC and shiver in my room. It is wonderful. But I had quite a few sweaty nights while wiating for it to get fixed though. And all they did was clean it a bit and change the breaker.
-We leave in roughly a month whether our barracks are ready or not. Some general or civilian in an air conditioned office with a fishtank and a mini bar has decided that even if the soldiers have to sleep in tents on the side of the road, we will be out of Abu Ghraib on schedule.
Thanks Sir.
Really appreciate you looking out for us and all.
What Sir?
You say that back in Nam you would have been happy for the sleep, let alone the tent to do it in?
Well I don't know about you Sir, but I don't trust any sort of Vietnam era recollections from Americans. True historical accounts are written by the winners.
-I finally read/listened to the Da Vinci Code while on leave. It was an OK book. I didn't think it was really all that great. I can think of at least 25 books off the top of my head that are better. I think that its subject matter is more the reason for its sales than its writing. The book presents a lot of unprovable arguments as facts. I don't know how I feel about all of it. Hell, I could write 50 blogs on that. But in regards to the main themes and historical conflicts in the book, think about this:
History books and bibles are written by the winners.
-It hit 120 freaking degrees today!!!!!
You know what?
It actually wasn't that bad. Granted I wasn't pacing around in it all day like the poor guys out at the camps. But I know I could go running or play basketball in this weather. Now, come July when it is 140 degrees outside? THat is most likely a completely different story.
-The Sharks choked against the Oilers. They were up 2-0 and had a clear path to the freaking Stanley Cup and they choked. That loss hurt man. Hopefully next year, after a full season of Thornton and Carle and maybe a free agent or two, they will finally get that freaking cup in California.
-As a Giants fan there are two things that I crave in my baseball. I want to see the GIants win and Barry Bonds hit home runs. Both don't even have to happen at th esame time. I'll settle for one or the other. Now when neither happens, like last year, CHarlie is an unhappy Giants fan. This year Bonds isn't hitting a lot of home runs, but the team is competitive. So I am alright with that. I can't wait for Alou to come back too. No one really talks about them outside of Barry, but they could win this division. Quick side note... The National League West is the only division in sports where every team has a winning record. Just thought I would let you all know.
-There is someone here who we are all pretty sure doesn't have a job. Seriously. I have no idea what his title is. He doesn't have an office. I am not sure if he has work hours. All he does is walk around from here to there and play solitaire on our computers. You guys probably think I am exagerating, but I promise you I am not. We have spent many a morning trying to figure out just what the hell this sergeant does. I told him he could hide out in his room for a month and no one would know. Everyone would assume he is just walking around to a different part of the camp "working." I wish I had his life. Don't get me wrong, 12 hours indoors in front of a computer ain't bad. However, I could be essentially collecting unemployment benefits like the other guy.
-The day I got back from leave my air conditioner broke. Well it didn't actually break, but it would only run for less than an hour before I would have to flip the breaker. No big deal though right, because there is a breaker in my room.
Jokes on you Charlie!!!
That breaker doesn't do shit. You have to downstairs, outside, and around the building. Oh, and it's over a 100 every day now.
Lovely.
But sure enough, they came and fixed it. Now I can crank my AC and shiver in my room. It is wonderful. But I had quite a few sweaty nights while wiating for it to get fixed though. And all they did was clean it a bit and change the breaker.
-We leave in roughly a month whether our barracks are ready or not. Some general or civilian in an air conditioned office with a fishtank and a mini bar has decided that even if the soldiers have to sleep in tents on the side of the road, we will be out of Abu Ghraib on schedule.
Thanks Sir.
Really appreciate you looking out for us and all.
What Sir?
You say that back in Nam you would have been happy for the sleep, let alone the tent to do it in?
Well I don't know about you Sir, but I don't trust any sort of Vietnam era recollections from Americans. True historical accounts are written by the winners.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Bailey's and free wireless internet in the land of my ancestors...
I am currently sitting in the Shannon, Ireland International Airport terminal.They are serving Bailey's about 25 ft from me. I can't drink any though because the idiots who decided to place themselves in charge of our trip home are actually enforcing the no alcohol policy. What a joke. We are all adults, as long as no one gets drunk we should be able to buy a drink. It is not like there is a chain of command anywhere to drop the hammer. What yutzes.
They have free wireless internet though, so that is cool.
And all the British equivolents of Maxim, Stuff, etc. show boobies and stuff.
WooHoo!!!
I'll be home in time for rush hour traffic wednesday evening.
Holla back...
They have free wireless internet though, so that is cool.
And all the British equivolents of Maxim, Stuff, etc. show boobies and stuff.
WooHoo!!!
I'll be home in time for rush hour traffic wednesday evening.
Holla back...
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Yeah Sharks!!!!
Thanks to the Oilers and Avalanche, if the Ducks beat the Flames in game 7, the Sharks will have home ice advantage for the rest of the Western Conferance bracket. Unbelievable.
The Niners had a solid draft; though I wish they drafted Darnell Bing instead of Michael Robinson.
Vernon Davis is going to be a star.
I predict now that the NC State defensive end that the Niners drafted will have a bigger year than the NC State defensive end who was the #1 overall pick. Sorry Houston, you should have drafted Reggie Bush.
Lendale White will end up being the best running back in this draft.
Kings in 6 baby.
The Niners had a solid draft; though I wish they drafted Darnell Bing instead of Michael Robinson.
Vernon Davis is going to be a star.
I predict now that the NC State defensive end that the Niners drafted will have a bigger year than the NC State defensive end who was the #1 overall pick. Sorry Houston, you should have drafted Reggie Bush.
Lendale White will end up being the best running back in this draft.
Kings in 6 baby.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Hodge and Podge (if you click on the links they’ll work)
So I started writing this ridiculously long and detailed account of my current bout with the flu. Unfortunately I was so busy at work yesterday, I didn’t get to finish. The world is a lesser place because of it too.
But on the bright side, I am feeling much better (which is the opposite of how I was feeling two days ago: hating every waking moment).
I am going to be on a plane home in a week. As it keeps getting closer I keep losing more and more interest in this place. It is funny, less than two weeks ago I had no idea when my leave dates were. I might as well have been a 4th grader going to school everyday. This all changed drastically when I saw my name up on the big calendar.
The world I know went from bliss to bleh.
All of a sudden every waking moment, as well as half the unwaking ones, was spent thinking about how great it is to get back home. I started making little lists of all the restaurants and bars I wanted to hit up, little excursions to go on, and normal things from my old routine that I would do just for the hell of it. I can’t wait though. And now instead of thinking about all the great stuff ahead of me, all I can see is all this crap I am swimming in now.
I can’t imagine what the last day of leave is going to do to me. I’ll probably try to run off to Canada or something. Be a fugitive and stuff. Do you think they would send Jennifer Lopez or Tommy Lee Jones?
While I am on the subject, if I were a fugitive I would probably run off to France and “hide out” with Roman Polanski. Can you run from the law for any crime in France? Do they limit it to just the crimes committed at Jack Nicholson’s house? Or is it legal to rape children in France? Do the French at least try to catch French criminals?
Wouldn’t it be hysterical (and before you start writing your damnation of my sense of humor, by hysterical I mean 450 tons of irony) if some American celebrity, we’ll use William Shatner, raped a kid in France and fled to the states? France is screaming for justice, and George Bush replies from his ranch,
“I don’t know about your so called evidence and witness testimony, but you’re not makin’ freedom fries out of Captain Kirk!”
Now I used to be under the very false impression that Polanski had simply been in a consensual relationship with a near adult, and that they got married after she became of age. Then I realized I was confusing reality with Samuel L. Jackson movies.
Seriously though, isn’t an American studio aiding and abetting a fugitive by financing his movies?
Couldn't the US have tried a litle harder to snatch this guy back and let the boys in San Quentin repay the favor?
Sleep sound kids. Your heroes, the San Francisco Giants, beat those idiot Mets today and are in first place.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Kids Write The Darndest Things...
I got a package in the mail yesterday. It had some Easter tidings from kids at my mom’s school. Oh my goodness some of those cards were so freaking awesome!!
This would be a top 5 list…
5. “Dear Charlie, How are you doing in the war? Hope you come back alive.”
This one stood out because it was the only one written specifically to me. All the others were written to everybody in the unit in general. So for ego massaging purposes, this one makes the Top 5.
4. “I feel bad for the people who don’t get letters.”
So sweet. I feel bad too.
3. This one had all of the normal pleasantries, but with a little extra touch: guns firing at each other. The only card that had any sort of weapons on it. I don’t know how it slipped through the cracks. There were other pictures of tanks and helicopters, but this was the only one with deadly force actually being applied. Finally, a child who gets it.
2. “Write your wife or girlfriend and kids and say I miss you or love you.”
I think this one was a plant. Mom’s subtle way of letting me know something. Terrible that she exploits a child though.
1. “Have you killed any people that are bad?”
Whoooooooooooooooaaaaaaa!!
This one was the run away winner.
Not even close.
Everyone loved this one.
I have to admit that it would be great if I could tell this little Patton that I was running around like Rambo. Alas, I have not gotten to kill any of the bad people.
It is hard when you are essentially a desk jockey. Hell I am not even allowed to carry my weapons when around the detainees.
This would be a top 5 list…
5. “Dear Charlie, How are you doing in the war? Hope you come back alive.”
This one stood out because it was the only one written specifically to me. All the others were written to everybody in the unit in general. So for ego massaging purposes, this one makes the Top 5.
4. “I feel bad for the people who don’t get letters.”
So sweet. I feel bad too.
3. This one had all of the normal pleasantries, but with a little extra touch: guns firing at each other. The only card that had any sort of weapons on it. I don’t know how it slipped through the cracks. There were other pictures of tanks and helicopters, but this was the only one with deadly force actually being applied. Finally, a child who gets it.
2. “Write your wife or girlfriend and kids and say I miss you or love you.”
I think this one was a plant. Mom’s subtle way of letting me know something. Terrible that she exploits a child though.
1. “Have you killed any people that are bad?”
Whoooooooooooooooaaaaaaa!!
This one was the run away winner.
Not even close.
Everyone loved this one.
I have to admit that it would be great if I could tell this little Patton that I was running around like Rambo. Alas, I have not gotten to kill any of the bad people.
It is hard when you are essentially a desk jockey. Hell I am not even allowed to carry my weapons when around the detainees.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Just something I was thinking about at work today...
At what point will "American" become its own nationality/race?
Interactive Fun (The link works now; I promise)
Click on the link and read the article. Then please leave a comment which will explain to me how the in the blue hell this is newsworthy. Seems to me that the first three paragraphs were written only to provide an excuse to write the fourth.
Detainee Dies At Abu Ghraib
Detainee Dies At Abu Ghraib
Time Flies When It Has No Choice...
It’s been a while. Though, circumstances led to my absence; the internet in my room has down (again!!!) for over a week now; I have been filling in for the shift leader over a week now, and so I don’t get all the idle time at work I once did; there was an ordered blackout of all communication from the base for two days.
I’m back now though, that counts right?
Anyways, I have discovered the key to being happy here. It involves going to work, and then going right to bed. I swear, my mood has improved exponentially since I stopped trying to go to the gym and started sleeping 8-10 hours a day. It is really great. I go back to my room after work and read a book or magazine, or maybe watch a movie in bed. Sure I won’t look like your stereotypically chiseled veteran when I get home, but I will be a jolly old fat man, like Santa…
So, any of you that have talked to me know that I am looking at becoming a homeowner when I return from abroad. Quick side note, I was watching the amazingly cool HBO show Rome last week. In it, Julius Caesar gives al of his returning vets their own plots of land. Sure the land was out in the middle of nowhere, but it got me thinking. Dubya should give all of us returning vets our own plots of land in like Oklahoma or Texas or something. I have no idea what I would do with a plot of land out in the middle of nowhere, but it is an interesting idea. Or maybe they could give out government repossessed homes for those of us that like the city.
Back to reality, or at least my latest version. Like I said, I want to take all this money I will have saved when I return and buy a house. A friend of the family who is a realtor has been sending all the different listings so I can see what is out there. All I see though, is that any area of Sacramento that I would actually like to live in is out of my price range; and it isn’t even close. California is just too damned expensive. I am not the kind of person who would want to buy a home somewhere I would hate living just for the sake of owning a home. I don’t like the suburbs. I don’t want to live somewhere that requires driving everywhere. I want to live in the downtown area. I want to be near all the action. I am thinking about moving to Cincinnati. I really liked my visit there over the summer and I think it would be a good place for me. It reminded me a lot of Sacramento, but with snow and a horrible baseball team. It had an awesome river area and a good downtown. A home would also cost half as much as in Sacramento. It has me seriously thinking about relocating…
It’s been so long since I have had real salsa that I enjoy Pace Picante sauce…
I’m back now though, that counts right?
Anyways, I have discovered the key to being happy here. It involves going to work, and then going right to bed. I swear, my mood has improved exponentially since I stopped trying to go to the gym and started sleeping 8-10 hours a day. It is really great. I go back to my room after work and read a book or magazine, or maybe watch a movie in bed. Sure I won’t look like your stereotypically chiseled veteran when I get home, but I will be a jolly old fat man, like Santa…
So, any of you that have talked to me know that I am looking at becoming a homeowner when I return from abroad. Quick side note, I was watching the amazingly cool HBO show Rome last week. In it, Julius Caesar gives al of his returning vets their own plots of land. Sure the land was out in the middle of nowhere, but it got me thinking. Dubya should give all of us returning vets our own plots of land in like Oklahoma or Texas or something. I have no idea what I would do with a plot of land out in the middle of nowhere, but it is an interesting idea. Or maybe they could give out government repossessed homes for those of us that like the city.
Back to reality, or at least my latest version. Like I said, I want to take all this money I will have saved when I return and buy a house. A friend of the family who is a realtor has been sending all the different listings so I can see what is out there. All I see though, is that any area of Sacramento that I would actually like to live in is out of my price range; and it isn’t even close. California is just too damned expensive. I am not the kind of person who would want to buy a home somewhere I would hate living just for the sake of owning a home. I don’t like the suburbs. I don’t want to live somewhere that requires driving everywhere. I want to live in the downtown area. I want to be near all the action. I am thinking about moving to Cincinnati. I really liked my visit there over the summer and I think it would be a good place for me. It reminded me a lot of Sacramento, but with snow and a horrible baseball team. It had an awesome river area and a good downtown. A home would also cost half as much as in Sacramento. It has me seriously thinking about relocating…
It’s been so long since I have had real salsa that I enjoy Pace Picante sauce…
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Day The Music Died
The Epic Music Wars ended before there was really a chance for bloodshed.
"Management" informed us that we were no longer allowed to have music playing at anytime.
Huh?
Dude that sucks.
Vengeance was never mine.
The bigger picture though, is that now we are stuck in a windowless room for 12 hours without even the small luxury of a soundtrack.
Un-freaking-fair!!!
The detainees have radios and TV's in the camps. Yet I can't listen to music at work.
Should I be surprised though? I think in every job I have had, silly rules have been made by people who really aren't there enough to be making them.
It was the guy with the assigned parking spot at the mall who said employees have to take the shuttle bus from the offsite parking.
It was the district manager who had never actually worked in a stock room, who made us where shirt and tie, yet wouldn't reimburse us if they were damaged.
It is someone working an 8 hour shift in an office who tells the people working 12 hours outside that they can't send people home when they are not needed.
It is someone who doesn't even work in the building and comes in only a couple times a week for a few minutes at a time, who tells a grouped of people stuck in a room for 12 hours a day that they can't listen to any music.
All I can say is that happy soldiers are motivated soldiers. This is the sort of thing that causes undue stress.
Why piss everybody off?
Why punish us for nothing?
Who did the music hurt?
Why can't they just let us run our shift?
Why can't the Giants or the Kings win a championship?
Seriously. It is starting to get frustrating watching my teams fail to put it all together. I work with a lot of Bay Area folks so I have others who feel my pain. I remember every let down like it was yesterday...
In 1989 the Earthquake let the A's reset their rotation and Stewart and Moore kicked the Giants' tails twice.
In 1993, the combination of the fucking Padres giving Fred Mcgriff to the Braves for nothing and Solomon Torres getting shelled on the last day of the season kept a 103 win team out of the playoffs.
In the late 90's they kept losing in the first round of the playoffs to teams they had better records than; losses to the Marlins and Mets are prime examples of this.
Then there was 2001. Oh the humanity!! The Giants are on the verge of a historic World Series Title. Bonds is hitting home runs. JT Snow grabs the baby bat boy as he crosses home plate. Less than 9 outs from the title. Then Dusty out thinks himself. Brings in a reliever who gets absolutely shelled. Giants lose game 6. Everyone in America knew they didn't have a chance in Game 7. That was devastating man. So close.
Don't even get me started on the Kings. The might bring me to tears.
Speaking of tears. I am in a dead silent room. All I can hear is the whirr of the fan, the buzz of the lights, and the sound of the detainees in the other room watching the Incredibles.
"Management" informed us that we were no longer allowed to have music playing at anytime.
Huh?
Dude that sucks.
Vengeance was never mine.
The bigger picture though, is that now we are stuck in a windowless room for 12 hours without even the small luxury of a soundtrack.
Un-freaking-fair!!!
The detainees have radios and TV's in the camps. Yet I can't listen to music at work.
Should I be surprised though? I think in every job I have had, silly rules have been made by people who really aren't there enough to be making them.
It was the guy with the assigned parking spot at the mall who said employees have to take the shuttle bus from the offsite parking.
It was the district manager who had never actually worked in a stock room, who made us where shirt and tie, yet wouldn't reimburse us if they were damaged.
It is someone working an 8 hour shift in an office who tells the people working 12 hours outside that they can't send people home when they are not needed.
It is someone who doesn't even work in the building and comes in only a couple times a week for a few minutes at a time, who tells a grouped of people stuck in a room for 12 hours a day that they can't listen to any music.
All I can say is that happy soldiers are motivated soldiers. This is the sort of thing that causes undue stress.
Why piss everybody off?
Why punish us for nothing?
Who did the music hurt?
Why can't they just let us run our shift?
Why can't the Giants or the Kings win a championship?
Seriously. It is starting to get frustrating watching my teams fail to put it all together. I work with a lot of Bay Area folks so I have others who feel my pain. I remember every let down like it was yesterday...
In 1989 the Earthquake let the A's reset their rotation and Stewart and Moore kicked the Giants' tails twice.
In 1993, the combination of the fucking Padres giving Fred Mcgriff to the Braves for nothing and Solomon Torres getting shelled on the last day of the season kept a 103 win team out of the playoffs.
In the late 90's they kept losing in the first round of the playoffs to teams they had better records than; losses to the Marlins and Mets are prime examples of this.
Then there was 2001. Oh the humanity!! The Giants are on the verge of a historic World Series Title. Bonds is hitting home runs. JT Snow grabs the baby bat boy as he crosses home plate. Less than 9 outs from the title. Then Dusty out thinks himself. Brings in a reliever who gets absolutely shelled. Giants lose game 6. Everyone in America knew they didn't have a chance in Game 7. That was devastating man. So close.
Don't even get me started on the Kings. The might bring me to tears.
Speaking of tears. I am in a dead silent room. All I can hear is the whirr of the fan, the buzz of the lights, and the sound of the detainees in the other room watching the Incredibles.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Just a few questions...
Can someone please explain to me how a person can support invading a country but not paying the taxes necessary to pay for it?
Would anyone care to elaborate on the concept of a person having the audacity to support sending troops 11,000 miles from home as long as their loved ones aren’t among them?
What if American’s had to have a national vote to go to war?
Everyone who votes “Yay” is entered into a draft to randomly select those who would have to go and fight.
Everyone who votes “Yay” has their taxes increased in order to pay for both the battle and the reconstruction.
How would it work if civilian contractors were eliminated from the equation and all jobs were done by the military? Or if all profits gained at the expense of a conflict went to the families of the soldiers who died?
Would the government let KBR ring up two bowls of cereal to the Army for $30 if all the profits went to a fallen soldier’s family in Oklahoma instead of to corporate America?
Would anyone care to elaborate on the concept of a person having the audacity to support sending troops 11,000 miles from home as long as their loved ones aren’t among them?
What if American’s had to have a national vote to go to war?
Everyone who votes “Yay” is entered into a draft to randomly select those who would have to go and fight.
Everyone who votes “Yay” has their taxes increased in order to pay for both the battle and the reconstruction.
How would it work if civilian contractors were eliminated from the equation and all jobs were done by the military? Or if all profits gained at the expense of a conflict went to the families of the soldiers who died?
Would the government let KBR ring up two bowls of cereal to the Army for $30 if all the profits went to a fallen soldier’s family in Oklahoma instead of to corporate America?
Delaration of War...
There was a declaration of war made the other day at Abu Ghraib. Something so egregious and vile I cannot properly describe it. I shall try though…
The other shift deleted our music from the computer.
Oh the humanity!!!
The scoundrels!!!
We are stuck in this room for 12 hours at a time. Oftentimes the only thing to break the monotony, to keep us sane, to remind us of our civilian lives, was arguing over the radio. How else am I to remember there is a world out there of bad music?, a world of long drives with my friends?, a world of being stuck in traffic with my mom? Arguing over the radio is a basic element in the very foundation of our culture. Now what do we have to do for 12 hours?, work in silence? Forget that noise.
They deleted pretty much all 48 hours worth of music I put on there. All they left was this random crap that gets very old after the first hour. Gone is the jazz, and the rock. All that is left is crunk-pac and folk music.
This is war!!!!
There are two things you don’t mess with:
1) A man’s French fries
2) A man’s radio.
I don’t get mad, I get even.
Beware day shift…beware.
The other shift deleted our music from the computer.
Oh the humanity!!!
The scoundrels!!!
We are stuck in this room for 12 hours at a time. Oftentimes the only thing to break the monotony, to keep us sane, to remind us of our civilian lives, was arguing over the radio. How else am I to remember there is a world out there of bad music?, a world of long drives with my friends?, a world of being stuck in traffic with my mom? Arguing over the radio is a basic element in the very foundation of our culture. Now what do we have to do for 12 hours?, work in silence? Forget that noise.
They deleted pretty much all 48 hours worth of music I put on there. All they left was this random crap that gets very old after the first hour. Gone is the jazz, and the rock. All that is left is crunk-pac and folk music.
This is war!!!!
There are two things you don’t mess with:
1) A man’s French fries
2) A man’s radio.
I don’t get mad, I get even.
Beware day shift…beware.
Friday, March 24, 2006
mmmmmmmmm... cooooooooooookies
I just got some girl scout cookies. I was very dissappointed to find that they were called caramel delights instead of samoas.
This led me to write this long soap box speech questioning what exactly I was over here in Iraq for. What freedoms do we have when someone would get all butthurt and complain about the name of a cookie?
Then I found out that there are two different companies making girl scout cookies, one calls them samoas and one doesn't.
Fair enough, soap box speech deleted.
The girl scouts really need to get their act together and fix this two name thing.
I don't think I could take such a scare again.
This led me to write this long soap box speech questioning what exactly I was over here in Iraq for. What freedoms do we have when someone would get all butthurt and complain about the name of a cookie?
Then I found out that there are two different companies making girl scout cookies, one calls them samoas and one doesn't.
Fair enough, soap box speech deleted.
The girl scouts really need to get their act together and fix this two name thing.
I don't think I could take such a scare again.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Helpless...
Insomnia is a mother fucker when you have to work the next day. I go to bed at 1430 or so everyday so I can be up in time to go to the gym before work. The last couple days I can’t sleep though; so I scratch the gym and set my alarm for later.
I still need my sleep right?
Well someone out there disagrees because it is now 1800 and I am still awake. So I decide I will read myself to sleep. Why waste this time lying in bed?
Ninety pages of my latest Alex Cross novel later, I am still wide awake.
Argh.
What the fuck?
This is the second night in a row that has gone down like this. I lie in bed watching my clock move closer to wake up time. My sleep time is decreasing. This is time I will never get back. It is such a helpless feeling. I can’t call in sick. I can’t just be late. I have to be on time and just drag ass all day.
I hate this.
I hate wathing the time go by and being helpless to stop it.
I try to sleep again.
I just lay there again.
Why does my body reject this sleeping schedule? It has been almost a month. Hell, I am on a sleeping schedule closer to what it was in California. It should be remembering. This should be easier for me, not harder.
I pull out my computer and surf the net. I decide that nothing could put me to sleep faster than the Sacramento Bee and LA Times.
Wrong again Chuck. Not that they were especially exciting. I just can’t freaking fall asleep.
This sucks.
The last time I look at my clock it is after 2100. I have to be up at 0015 in order to be able to take a shower and get to work on time.
Three hours of sleep a night is not good. It is especially not good when your next twelve hours will be spent sitting down in front of a computer.
Like I said, insomnia is a mother fucker when you have to work the next day.
I still need my sleep right?
Well someone out there disagrees because it is now 1800 and I am still awake. So I decide I will read myself to sleep. Why waste this time lying in bed?
Ninety pages of my latest Alex Cross novel later, I am still wide awake.
Argh.
What the fuck?
This is the second night in a row that has gone down like this. I lie in bed watching my clock move closer to wake up time. My sleep time is decreasing. This is time I will never get back. It is such a helpless feeling. I can’t call in sick. I can’t just be late. I have to be on time and just drag ass all day.
I hate this.
I hate wathing the time go by and being helpless to stop it.
I try to sleep again.
I just lay there again.
Why does my body reject this sleeping schedule? It has been almost a month. Hell, I am on a sleeping schedule closer to what it was in California. It should be remembering. This should be easier for me, not harder.
I pull out my computer and surf the net. I decide that nothing could put me to sleep faster than the Sacramento Bee and LA Times.
Wrong again Chuck. Not that they were especially exciting. I just can’t freaking fall asleep.
This sucks.
The last time I look at my clock it is after 2100. I have to be up at 0015 in order to be able to take a shower and get to work on time.
Three hours of sleep a night is not good. It is especially not good when your next twelve hours will be spent sitting down in front of a computer.
Like I said, insomnia is a mother fucker when you have to work the next day.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Charlie's Updated Deployment Reading List
Nothing new really, this month I was basically continuing to whip though my Alex Cross novels. Three more to go before I can start reading more "high brow" literature. I would love to find someone out there who has read "The Big Bounce." I would really like to get another opinion on it.
Top Books on this list:
-Shadow of The Wind
-Charming Billy
-Tuesdays With Morrie
Worst Books on this list:
-Summerland
-The House of The Seven Gables
-The Road To Wellville
* = new entry
Douglas Adams
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
-Life, the Universe and Everything
-So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
-Mostly Harmless
Mitch Albom
-Tuesdays With Morrie
L. Frank Baum
*The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Erma Bombeck
-The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
-Aunt Erma's Cope Book
T. Coraghessan Boyle
-The Road to Wellville
Geraldine Brooks
-Year of Wonders
John Buchan
*The Thirty-Nine Steps
Caleb Carr
-The Alienist
-The Angel of Darkness
Willa Cather
-My Antonia
Michael Chabon
-Summerland
Agatha Christie
-After The Funeral
Joseph Conrad
-Heart of Darkness
-The Secret Sharer
William Pene du Bois
*The Twenty-One Balloons
John Feinstein
-Season On The Brink
Ian Fleming
-The Spy Who Loved Me
John Grisham
-Skipping Christmas
-The Brethren
Nathaniel Hawthorne
*The House of the Seven Gables
Robert A. Heinlein
-Starship Troopers
Stephen King
-Different Seasons
Elmore Leonard
-The Big Bounce
Alice McDermott
-Charming Billy
James Patterson
-The Thomas Berryman Number
-Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross #1)
-Kiss The Girls (Alex Cross #2)
*Jack and Jill (Alex Cross #3)
*Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross #4)
*Pop Goes The Weasel (Alex Cross #5)
*Roses Are Red (Alex Cross #6)
*Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross #7)
Joe Queenan
-Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
J.K. Rowling
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
H.G. Wells
-The Time Machine
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
-The Shadow of the Wind
Top Books on this list:
-Shadow of The Wind
-Charming Billy
-Tuesdays With Morrie
Worst Books on this list:
-Summerland
-The House of The Seven Gables
-The Road To Wellville
* = new entry
Douglas Adams
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
-Life, the Universe and Everything
-So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
-Mostly Harmless
Mitch Albom
-Tuesdays With Morrie
L. Frank Baum
*The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Erma Bombeck
-The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
-Aunt Erma's Cope Book
T. Coraghessan Boyle
-The Road to Wellville
Geraldine Brooks
-Year of Wonders
John Buchan
*The Thirty-Nine Steps
Caleb Carr
-The Alienist
-The Angel of Darkness
Willa Cather
-My Antonia
Michael Chabon
-Summerland
Agatha Christie
-After The Funeral
Joseph Conrad
-Heart of Darkness
-The Secret Sharer
William Pene du Bois
*The Twenty-One Balloons
John Feinstein
-Season On The Brink
Ian Fleming
-The Spy Who Loved Me
John Grisham
-Skipping Christmas
-The Brethren
Nathaniel Hawthorne
*The House of the Seven Gables
Robert A. Heinlein
-Starship Troopers
Stephen King
-Different Seasons
Elmore Leonard
-The Big Bounce
Alice McDermott
-Charming Billy
James Patterson
-The Thomas Berryman Number
-Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross #1)
-Kiss The Girls (Alex Cross #2)
*Jack and Jill (Alex Cross #3)
*Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross #4)
*Pop Goes The Weasel (Alex Cross #5)
*Roses Are Red (Alex Cross #6)
*Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross #7)
Joe Queenan
-Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
J.K. Rowling
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
H.G. Wells
-The Time Machine
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
-The Shadow of the Wind
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