All my latest news...

[mijan]

So, let's start with the small stuff.

First, I have a sunburn.  Which sucks, but I'll survive. 

Second thing is better; the reason for the sunburn.  I spent the day down at the horse-farm, and had a good time removing rocks from the main paddock, as my way of working off the fee for the lesson.  (I got the sunburn while working in the paddock.)  I rode Western this time, because the horse I was going to ride (Jim, a bay thoroughbred gelding) had been ridden Western by this guy who didn't have a clue what he was doing.  Kept blaming poor Jim for his own imcompetance.  It's like, "Hey buddy, just because you don't have a clue how to ride, don't blame the horse!" 
Anyhow, I rode for the first ten minutes or so without stirrups.  It's a good way to develop balance, seat, and all that fun stuff.  I actually do it pretty well.  I hate doing it in a Western saddle, because the damn saddle is so big, I don't feel like I'm in contact with the horse.  Plus, they're nowhere near as comfortable as English saddles.  I'm also not terribly fond of Western bits.  I hate neck-reining.  I far prefer direct contact with the horse's mouth for control, with both hands on the reins.  I'll be riding English on Thursday, thank goodness.

In other news, I've done another edit to the fic I just posted, one LJ post back.  I'm still waiting on my beta.  Oh, and for "Eclipse," Lucinda has apparently been quite sick lately, and hadn't actually been working on it.  I wish she'd told me.  Anyhow, she promises the chapter by next Saturday.  I hope you can all be patient with me.  I'm as anxious to get it posted as you are to read it.

Comments

[oconel]

*hugs*

I'll miss you and your post, girl.

I don't mean to pry but why did you get involved with the military?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I've been in the Army for three and a half years. Since BEFORE September 11th. I "got involved" for several reasons, not the least of which was that I wanted to serve my country. I can write another post sometime, but the whole thing is a very long story.

Either way, I take a lot of pride in what I do. I'm a commissioned officer in the United States military. Yes, there are problems going on right now, but nothing's perfect.

[oconel]

I'm afraid you misunderstood me. I knew you had been in the Army, the thing is that I never asked why before. My question had nothing to do with Irak if that was what you were thinking.

I asked because I wouldn't like to be trained to be a soldier. I don't like guns and I'd like to understand the reasons why somebody decides to do it. Just that. Sorry if my question bothered you somehow.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Oh no, it didn't bother me at all! I just misunderstood.

Initially, I had considered the Army, but the thign that pushed me to join WHEN I joined was when my first university went bankrupt. My family had no money, and I was stranded with a pile of loans and half of a degree plan completed. I needed to do *something*, so I decided "hey, I can do pushups," and I joined the Army. It was that simple.

Call it the tough-guy mentality. I've always been a physically competitive person. I play sports, I LOVE challenges, and the Army presented me with a wonderful challenge. It's not all about guns, believe me. It's about learning skills, teamwork, learning to give and follow orders as part of a team, putting your fellow soldiers before yourself, and putting your duty above everything. It's about trying new things, learning to conquer fears (not that I ever really had any), going new places, meeting new people, experiencing things that most people will never do.

Honestly, I don't like "guns" either. Civilian hand guns, specifically. I fire an M-16 A2 rifle, not a "gun." I don't like civilians with guns. Too many accidents. For soldiers, weapon safety is one of the BIGGEST priorities in the Army. That aside, I DO like to shoot. It's a skill, and I'm very good at it. I also like to throw grenades. What can I say? It's fun.

In contrast, I hate makeup, shopping, expensive clothes, shoes, and other girly things that you would expect most 23-year-old women to enjoy. So, I guess, to each their own. Hope that helps!

[oconel]

Well, it does help and I agree totally about civilians with guns. I can imagine firing a gun or throwing granades as funny, but I can't see myself following orders that meant that I had to kill someone (I know that's not the only thing soldiers do, but it's the one I have problems with). I'm not so naive as to think that I couldn't kill anybody under any circumstance, but still I don't get it.

Anyway, it's your career and it makes you happy. That's what matters.

I totally agree about makeup, expensive clothes, shopping and stuff. I hate to be labeled as a woman so that the people expect some kind of behaviour because of that.