So... I'm back · 4:36am Sep 9th, 2015
A couple of you have sent me PMs about this, so I guess it’s time for a blog post.
Yes, I’m back.
Not having been in the military before, I guess I sort of got intimidated and freaked out a little bit. I mean, I’ll say it. I was scared. Scared of where I’d go, what I’d be asked to do, who I’d become. I never really realized what the Marine Corps is actually like because, well, I wasn’t a marine at the time.
But now I am. I’ve gone through boot camp, I’ve gone through combat training, and now I’m learning my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). Oddly enough, MOS school leaves me a large amount of free time, and since my room mates were willing to pitch in money with me, internet access
Sweet, sweet internet access.
MCT (Marine Combat Training) was fucking awesome, let me tell you. I threw a live grenade! I don't know how to tell you how exciting that was. The sergeant who briefed me on safety beforehand ordered me to stop laughing. I was just so wowed by the fact that I'd just thrown a real M67 fragmentation grenade and the sound... man. Those things are LOUD, and sound fucking amazing when they go off. Then of course there's the M203 grenade launcher. I didn't have much time to enjoy that one, but I did hit 4 out of 5 of my targets at 400 meters. And my personal favorite, the M240B machine gun. There is nothing quite like the ratatatata of a fully automatic. I had a blast at MCT. We did other stuff, but the guns were definitely the highlight for me.
But now I'm sitting in beautiful southern California, enjoying the cool summer heat, and typing horsewords at a screen. I’ve actually been back for a while now. I’ve been at my current duty station since mid July, but it had been a good five months since I’d had the opportunity to write something, and I still wasn’t quite sure I wanted to get back into it. Some friends of mine encouraged me to keep at it, but it wasn’t until I saw some old friends get back together that some hope rekindled in this burnt out little heart of mine.
I think what really did it was during AMAT (Alpha company Marines Awaiting Training) our Gunny asked me what my favorite TV show was. Without so much as a blink, I responded “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” and the entire room went quiet. Gunny asked me to say it again so I did, and he went on to (attempt to) humiliate me in front of the whole class. He’s funny that way. Afterward, he said he couldn’t understand why I’d like it, but his daughter watches it so he understands that some people do, and good on me for having confidence about it.
A wonderful conversation involving some great life advice followed. God I love marines. They’ll tear you a new one, and then give you the best advice on life you’ve ever heard two seconds later. Maybe that’s just because I am a marine.
Anyway, I wanted to say something sooner, but with no stories to put forward, what could I really say? I’ve said I would update in the past, and then never did, so I didn’t want to make empty promises this time. I probably wouldn’t even have anything written if not for a challenge from a good friend of mine.
That’s what really did it, I think. Gunny made me realize I still love this fandom, despite my distance over the last year, and when Tangy said he might make a comic of a particular scene if he enjoyed what I wrote, well, that was all the motivation I needed.
So there it is, three weeks later, close to 9k words down. I think I’m ready. I hope I’m not shooting myself in the foot as I say this, but I’m going to try really hard to update TPOTW soon. REALLY hard. If you get tired of waiting, send me something moto to remind me. It’ll be easier if I know I have support.
And thank you so much for the support. Over the last six months I’ve gotten lots of PMs and skype messages wishing me luck wherever I go. You guys are the best. I love all of you. Thanks for being there, and of course, thanks for reading.
Damn. More man than the rest of us. Welcome back, BR!
Hah! That is badass
Welcome back, and that's a story I didn't expect but can easily believe
3379744
That's why I'm a marine
3379851
Which one?
3380453
You telling the room you like MLP. And sticking to it. I think that, too, is a marine.
I hope it doesn't get you to disrespect all other people who are non-Marines, which is an occupational hazard of doing what you're doing. I suspect a lot of us end up looking weak to you, in the end.
But I gotta say I respect you speaking up for your truth in a situation like that. I call that integrity.
3380453 шелцоме бацк цомраде (welcome back comrade)
Welcoma back there Bleeds. Gonna call ya Bleeds from now on, as it is as fitting a name for a marine and it still is technically part of your original callsign. Heh.
At any rate, been wondering where ya had gone. Good to hear form ya though. Hope ya enjoy the overnight shower. Even here in the mojave, we got our share of the thing. Lots of lightning too. Plenty of cacti went up in flames from it. Fun times.
Gotta say, you sticking to your guns like that in front of a room full of devildogs took cohones. A shame I was never accepted to the corps because of my sinus situation (freaking operation cost an arm and a leg!). Respect man. Respect.
At any rate, hope ya keep well. Will hopefully be speaking to ya soon.
3379744
3379851
Also, heyo guys. Long time no see, no? Yes, I am still around and kicking, even if I come and go on what seems to be a scarily often basis nowadays. Hope ya'll keep well, even if ya don't reply to this or even remember who ol' Garnot is (or was), heh.
3381738
goddammit
http://pastebin.com/CBF8x0Gk
Hey there, Garnot. Yeah, it's been a while. I didn't even have access to a computer until July. Although I do have to correct you; my original callsign was Minjask, and there are still a few a/fic/ionados who still call me that.
3381016
Good to be back.
3381785
True, but I think I knew ya more as 'BR' than Minjask. Besides, 'Bleeds' sounds better in my book. Altough, "Blood Drop" also sounds quite nice as well...
Wait, did we ever actually settle on that name? Don't quite recall that. Then again, I was out for quite a while.
3381935
Are you kidding? I kept a review thread under that name and made reviews in the Training Grounds for a good year until I finally dropped it. Not to mention I hadn't come up with BR yet when I first hit burnout. You were there for that. Then there's the write offs where I posted under Minjask for at least five rounds. It was a pretty iconic name for me.
3381956
Ah yes, I do recall some of that. Still, 'BR' rings as more familar for some odd reason. Not that "Minjask" was bad or nothin'—it just feels like it was mentioned long ago and almost like it was in another life and such. Then again, it could have been, considering what happened to me that one time with the meds and the heart. There's also the time away due to the issues I was having at the time. Guess in the end I might just have a bad memory when it comes to finer details such as names. Never was good with them concepts anywho, as I have forgotten the names of people hours after learning them.
3381991
Whoa whoa whoa, hold the phone! You are telling me that story. I need to hear this.
3381996
I didn't tell ya? Huh... could have sworn I did. Then again, maybe I didn't and just believed I did. Would not be surprised if that's the case.
Well, long story short, 'bout a year to a year and a half ago, I had a med-incuded case of heart failure after a really bad infection led me to taking antibiotics I probably shouldn't have. Can't quite recall most of the finer details off the top of my head right now, but my ticker stopped for a few good minutes before it got kickstarted again thanks to CPR administered by my mother.
So, I guess that technically counts as dyin', right? If yes, then that means I've already kicked the bucket—in a way, I guess. If no, then horray for not failing at life.
At any rate, things got hectic, as expected. A hospital was involved, and a week of recovery following that. Have not had issues with my ticker since, but I was left wary of meds in general.
That's the short of it. I'll tell ya the longer version next time I have access to Skype and yer 'round. Or maybe even via a PM. Whatever suits ya best.