I sold my soul to the Devil

...and all I got was this lousy certificate.

So, I have re-enlisted with the Army. My new get-out date is Sept 26th 2011. That's two and a half years after my return from this up-coming deployment. Well, that certificate isn't all I got either. I get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that my family will be sheltered and fed for another 4 years. Also, any kids we have in that time will be paid for. So, Go Army, or Army Strong, or Army of One, or whatever they say these days. Army slogans are gay. Whenever I hear one i think, "You should've Aimed High." Oh well. One other good thing born of my additional three year enslavement is that I am getting a change in job. I will be moving away from sick-call and into air medivac. I am excited about that. That's the biggest perk. Anyway- things are going well. "Bat-Girl" Valli has been really supportive and hasn't shown any signs of depression or leaving/killing me. I appreciate everyones congratulations and condolences.

Mud, mud, glorious mud.

This was a big week for mud. On Tuesday, I got my truck stuck in the mud while taking on off-road trails in the back roads on post. "I just couldn't help myself" didn't seem like an acceptable explanation. The other Harrell was justifiably pissed, but she was still a great sport about the whole thing.  I called Brian to bail me out after my co-worker Kenny and I spent a couple hours digging, rocking and making a mess. Good times. Friday night the Wife and I went rappelling at Kings Point Bluff, and Saturday we went caving in Austin Peay (pronounced "pee") cave. Again... lots of mud. It was really awesome. However, something about my wife is extremely attractive to bats. Every few minutes she would make some comment about getting blasted in the face by the wing beats. I hardly saw one the whole night. What can I say.

The opening in the cave was out in the middle of a cow field. It had a pit type entrance that a couple of the guys fast roped down and the rest of us rappelled in. There was no dead dog bones at the bottom of this one, but a whole cow. Pretty amazing. Enjoy the pictures. Also, I am getting seriously tired of calling my wife "the Wife". I just can't take it anymore. It's so stupid.  
Your suggestions for a new interent code-name are extremely welcome.




Kenny, the really good sport.

Brian, my hero!




Me and that girl.




Christine and whats-her-name taking a break.




I don't know how she managed to stay this clean.




Eternal caving companions.  James and Tammy.

Sorry Honey!

"Sorry honey, sorry honey, sorry honey!" Heard tumbling from Dave at high speed, high volume and pitch. In sync to his person barreling from the bathroom, through the house and out the front door.  Upon further inspection to this spontaneous event Dave was 
discovered on the lawn having just put out a small fire. 
Located in the bathroom trash can. 

It took at least an hour to be rid of both the chuckles and large silly grin.



Rationing the matches may be in order. Does anyone think that extreme?

So helpful.

I called my wife on the way home from work earlier this week and she told me that she had a surprise waiting for me when i got home sitting on the living room table.  My first thought was that it was candy.  Because I love candy.  Then I thought it was some mess I made and didn't put away that she moved to the foreground, thereby helping me to remember to clean it up.  She is very helpful.  But what to my wondering eyes should appear, but an altogether different species of what-the-crap.  It was a cute little bird nest about the size of a softball, with two little peanut M&M-sized eggs.  A note next to the nest said that she found this belated Easter surprise in the dryer vent.  Hot freaking dog.  That explains why our clothes were not getting dry.  She is so helpful.



This is the picture she took before extracting the nest.  It was about a foot in from the duct cover.  The cover flaps were melted by the intense heat of our last dryer.  We only used it once because we thought it might have a meltdown or explode.  Then our new posh dryer blanked out for a while and sometime during that episode a little bird build its nest
...of death.
Anyway- Happy Labor Day everyone.