How the F did I get to this point in my life

The choices I have made over the last 20 – 22 years sure have impacted who I am today. I recently read some things that different friends of mine have written and it got me to thinking about my choices and how they have brought me to where I am today.
So back when I was a junior and senior in high school I started looking at colleges. I applied to 5 and was accepted by 4. The only one that did not accept me, I feel was because it was so close to deadline. It was just a fallback anyway; I had never really considered going there. So I had to decide between the four that accepted me: Ohio State University, Presbyterian College, Virginia Military Institute, and The Citadel.
Well most know that I chose PC. And right there was one of the early choices that impacted where I am today. Had I known then that I would end up wearing the uniform for a living things might have been different! Had I chose to go to VMI or The Citadel I could be a Major or a Lieutenant Colonel right now. Boy how that income would be welcome right now. I could be making a lot bigger impact on things than I am now. I am sure that having that rank on my resume in a few years would have greatly increased my options and earnings potential.
Well, I survived my time at PC and earned my degree and headed back to the Northern Virginia (NOVA) area as I had sworn I would years before. I settled into a bit of a rut for a while. Not really putting my degrees to use. About a year after I left college I decided to join the National Guard. This is the next major choice that would have lasting impact on my life.
I had always been a Patriotic guy. Growing up with a Father who had been a civilian working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I had heard about the military all my life. I decided on the Guard because of their dual role. I like the fact that I was serving the country, while also having the opportunity to serve the state in time of need. (Little did I know then how much of both the National Guard would be doing during my career.) I had talked to my recruiter about different MOS’s and what I wanted to do with my career. I ended up choosing to become an Infantry Soldier. (Had I known then how I would get involved in medicine I would have gone with my second choice of Medic.)
I went through some different jobs after coming back from Basic Training. My Guard job was as a Driver/Radio Operator for the Battalion Commander. (I still stay in touch and he is now a General Officer.) One night I was at Blackie’s in Springfield and made a choice that will continue to impact me for the rest of my life. That was the night I met Joan. That night lead to my three beautiful girls.
Soon after we met Joan got pregnant. Kelsey was almost 2 when we married. That is a choice Joan and I have both since questioned. We chose to bring 2 more beautiful girls, Katelyn and Kyleigh, into the world. Before we got pregnant with Kyleigh September 11 occurred. This lead to me doing some active duty doing security at Dulles Airport. A few months later Joan was pregnant. About the time I was about to end my orders I used a connection to get a job a the National Guard headquarters. My traditional Guard unit was told we were going to GITMO. About this time our landlord decided to sell our house out from under us. So the choice was made to move in with Joan’s parents. This put is in Southern MD. We thought it was going to be Joan and the girls while I was in GITMO. My unit never went to GITMO. I was not too long after this that I took the combat lifesaver course through the Army. I found out I really like the medical fiels.
I ended up volunteering to run our in-house Medical Response Team at work. I decided that I wanted to gain more knowledge about the medical field. Living in Joan’s home town had a big part in this next step. I joined the local Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Joan’s Dad and Grandfather had been founding members of the department. Through the department I was able to get my EMT-B. I also became active in the buildings Emergency Preparedness Team.
My first year with the department I was EMS Rookie of the year. Several months into my second year there, not long into the fiscal year I separated from Joan and moved into the fire hours. This help me be the number 1 EMS call runner for the year.
My choice to end my marriage was not an easy one. I had been considering it for some time. I think she knew too. I even went and talked to a counselor through the Army and when she found out she was mad! I was trying to sort things out, hoping if it helped me stay I could tell her that I had gone and done this to save our marriage! Well, That did not really help and it was soon thereafter that we separated. We did some marriage counseling but it did not bring us back together.
There is a lot that has happened since the separation, but that is a whole other entry!!

Life goes on...

Well...Life has changed a lot since my last post. I Have gone through some changes. There is new stuff in life and some "whats old is new." I am keeping pretty busy. I have been taking a lot of online classes, joined CERT, looking into a local VFD, hoping to start back on Masters in July or August.
Hoping that I can continue to move forward with life. Looking forward to the future.

WOW

Boy has life taken some wierd turns lately. I have sort gone out with two different women since Heather. One did not turn out so well, but can not get her out of my life. The other, Dawn, is wonderful. We are having a great time together.
I had to drop my masters class for now, but plan on going back in January. I thought I might have to have more surgery on my elbow, but we are waiting to see. There has been a lot of pain and the Doc can not figure out why. He knows the pin is loose, but says that should not be the cause.
Hoping to get an apartment in January. Movong forward with the divorce, Joan should be getting papers soon. Hope to everything finalized by sometime in the spring.

Rough Week

Well, me and heather are over. We met a week ago friday to talk. Well, it was going to end, but it could have ended in away that left reconcilliation as an option. Well, I said a few things that make that a non issue now. I blew it. IT has been very hard. I spent that whole weekend laying in bed feeling depressed.
It some ways this might be the best. A lot of my friends feel she was not treating me the way she should, but that does not turn off the feelings I have for her. I worked my way through the week, keeping busy. The weekends are harder when I do not have as much to keep me occupied!
Excited to start my Masters degree in November!! I am hoping to complete a bunch of FEMA courses too. Now work wants me to go TDY to PEC and take some classes through the Army. So I might be traveling some over the next few months.
I am going to start trying to pull some strings and hopefully get myself moved to another job. I would like to get into the Domestic Operations area. This would help to build my post-military marketability.
Right now I am also reading some management/leadership books I had borrowed from Heather. I want to read them so I can get them back to her.

Well, let me know if there is anything else you want to know!!

catching up

Well, it has been about 3 months. Lots happened. We have gone through ups and downs. Looks like we are down for good. Barely spoken in a week and a half. Last Wednesday asked for a "break". Well, I am not going to wollow any more wonder is she coming back or not. Probably gong to go to her house tonight to end it. I have a life and want to live it!!!!
Arm is healing.
Will be starting my Masters in November. And I am working on related classes through FEMA.
Even though I have not hardly worked out sinceI hurt my arm I have put no weight on. Got weighed in yesterday by the Army. 194 lbs and 20% bodyfat! Thats the lowest either number has been in years!!!!
Changed jobs at work at begining of August. New one not bad, just not very challenging. Doing customer service for the Human Capial Management Division.

Well, I will try to be better about updating this.

Busy week

Well Tuesday and Wednesday werent too bad. Thursday I had PT, They are impressed with the increases I make each visit. I am looking forward to a full recovery damit!! I went to dinner with a friend at what has become our regular place. We stopped after at a new place in the neighborhood to see what it was like. Well, we left after midnight. They had a wonderful woman doing kareoke. In the middle of the night I attempted to go to the bathroom. Thought bedroom door was open, big mistake. Stubbed tooe pretty bad (more on that later).
Friday I headed to southern MD to go with Joan and KAtelyn to a dr appointment for Katelyn. As day progressed toe started looking pretty bad.
Hung out with a special friend on friday. Watched TV for a while, ordered food. I was in bed by about 900.
Sat AM toe was very purple, bruising spread to foot. Went to ED at DeWitt Hospital on FT Myer. Toe is broken! Damn, on top of the arm! I am falling apart. In the afternoon went to Leesburg Outlets with a friend. Looking for a gift for her moms birthday next week and something for her to wear to her nephews Christening. After that we head to Charlestown, WV to play slots. We left there by about 1030.
Today spent some time by the pool and got sunburned! Okay now its arm, toe, and sunburn. I do not know what has happened to me lately. Just falling apart!!

Ball at the Ball

Well Saturday was the Army Birthday Ball. I had a great time. We drove down early to the Hotel to get ready there and avoid the hassles later. Got in the room. Registered for the ball and then showered and got dressed. We met some friends before dinner started and had a drink with them. Dinner and entertainment were good. I missed a lot of the entertainment, but did get to hear Daryl Worley sing "Have you Forgotten" which always moves me. We had a formal picture taken and hit the dance floor. Really nice time.
Spent afternoon with the girls for fathers day. We went out to lunch. Would have done a movie too but they acted up.
So, stopped by Heathers house on way back and just chilled for a while. Actually took a little nap.
I was up early today to be at 730 Physical Therapy appointment.I am getting better every time I go!