My Alibi

day two...

and still no word. I'm not surprised, but a little disappointed.

I have letters to send already but I am hesitant because I'm afraid the address will change while the mail is en route. We'll see.

and a wake-up...

he goes into work at 9 this morning, then to the airport at 4. then he is gone. today i am sad.

its christmas eve...

We aren't really celebrating anything this year.

photo by Zachary Cleland

That is a Buffalo, a mine/bomb/IED resistant vehicle.

Great Washington Post article about returning troops in the Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

this might get boring...

Zach is leaving in less than one week, to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom. I will probably be writing about this frequently, for the next year.

Links:

http://hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa/

Weather in Afghanistan

http://www.defenselink.mil/

Texas Recruiters Commit Suicide

Army Times

"Something to Write Home About"

yawn...

war is different for everyone...

for some it is oil, politics, freedom, terrorism, liberation, duty, patriotism, and so on.

That is the patch that belongs to my part of the war. Zach is leaving in a little over a week. I'm so worried and scared.

I heard on the news this afternoon that the soldiers are a little mad when they hear the war in Afghanistan referred to as "the other war." I see where that comes from. That was the war, that is where it started. I worry because up until recently, Afghanistan, had rarely been talked about in the last few years.

The New York Times published an article December 6th, mentioning Zach's Brigade, it's the 5th paragraph down, if you're interested.

i have started a new website...

www.alliecarnes.com

However, I will continue my blog here at dissuade. I am very frustrated with "blogging" and the negative connotations that go along with it. I love taking pictures and sharing them with other people, but I hope to move ahead at a faster rate than I am going this moment. With dissuade, blogging, and photography, and everything else. I have been in an everlasting pursuit for education and personal betterment, and I've hit a road block/writers block/blogging block, whatever you want to call it. Maybe the new site will change things, make them better, or make me feel like I am trying harder, but I just want to feel better about what I'm doing, that I am doing it more than for nothing.

Thank you for hanging around.

Allie

i have a cold and insomnia...

i participated in an art show tonight at the 20th anniversary party for skanks skates at 11th and south grand.

another governor, another disappointment...

if you dont live in Illinois this story will be forgotten as soon as the papers go out to the recycling bins. but if you do live in illinois it will be a top story for some time to come.

headlines read:

Message To Blago: Resign Or Face Impeachment

Portrait of a Politician: Vengeful and Profane

'Are we nuts in this state?'

ILLINOIS GOV IN LAND OF $TINKIN'

how can he not resign? i love america as much as the next person, and i understand innocent until proven guilty. but this isnt the first cloud of scandal surrounding the illinois governor.

our last governor, imprisoned on federal charges of racketeering and fraud, is still in the news, because he is trying to have his prison sentence commuted by president bush.

your forever...

another reason to like the midwest...

i have yet to take any pictures of all the snow here, but with the almost 2 feet already on the ground i doubt a few more inches will be noticed. but this is the forecast.

check back for pictures.

not enough...

wiki article on the "service flag"

hear no evil see no evil speak no evil...

note to self: do not give someone that doesnt matter free rent in your brain.

i didnt know what to say...

dear santa,

i have tried to be on my best behavior this year. and all i would like for christmas this year is a timing belt for my car and a dslr camera.

thank you.

allie

i might be in an art show soon...

not drawings. but photographs.