Depressed

[Richard Weed]

What do you do when you're depressed? Today got some potentially bad news (not going to panic until it is in stone). I quit smoking cold turkey back in 2004 without the patch. Today I bought a pack of ultra lights and smoked a couple. I'm also thinking about spending a lot of money this weekend (4 day weekend yay) on a mini-vacation.

What does everyone else do when they're depressed?

[DaddyTorgo]

spend the cash only if you can afford it, but if you can that's certainly something that I find helps.

doesn't even have to be a ton. Just something like...buying a new game or something. Treating yourself.

I also tend to eat things that I know are bad for me when I don't feel well.

[Karlifornia]

I drink, but that's not wise. Definitely physical activity. Go hit a tennis ball...shoot some hoops...It's hot around here today..go swimming. Rent some tv show dvd's..that makes the time go by.

[DaddyTorgo]

really depends what's got me down though. Sometimes I like to go out and walk through a crowded public place like a mall and just...sulk. Focus on scowling at everyone, that kind of thing.

[MacroGuru]

I eat, and eat and eat...and every once in a while I drink....

But for me, I love to spend the money when I have the extra....

[DaddyTorgo]

I used to drink. Oh those were the days

[Kodos]

I find vehicles with Cowboys stickers on them and key the bastards!

[MacroGuru]

I like to tie green aliens up and have my way with them as well.....

[Kodos]

Oh la la!

[DaddyTorgo]

I also used to have a set of mek'leths and I'd take them out in the backyard and attack the trees and sort of...develop a fighting style.

dunno where those things went. hmm

http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/CD-1703.jpg

[illinifan999]

I take long walks at night.

[illinifan999]

And drinking.

[Richard Weed]

spend the cash only if you can afford it, but if you can that's certainly something that I find helps.

doesn't even have to be a ton. Just something like...buying a new game or something. Treating yourself.

I also tend to eat things that I know are bad for me when I don't feel well.
I'm looking at making an extra $12k next year because of this crap, so I'm going for more than a new game.

I also eat things that are bad for me like Chinese or something.

Beer? Check.

[DaddyTorgo]

I'm looking at making an extra $12k next year because of this crap, so I'm going for more than a new game.

I also eat things that are bad for me like Chinese or something.

Beer? Check.

12k hmm? niiice. Yeah...spend some dough. Hdtv or something? pimped out stereo for your car?

[illinifan999]

I'm looking at making an extra $12k next year because of this crap, so I'm going for more than a new game.

I also eat things that are bad for me like Chinese or something.

Beer? Check.

Anytime you wanna donate to my beer fund you are more than welcome to. ;)

[Lathum]

drink and gamble

[Noop]

Work Out.

[StarBuck]

Work out hard. Swim in the ocean. Get a massage. Laughter (good belly laughs kind) Call up that friend who makes you laugh and spend time with them. Watch something funny.

[Logan]

$12k can buy you an impressive hooker.

[Richard Weed]

12k hmm? niiice. Yeah...spend some dough. Hdtv or something? pimped out stereo for your car?
Already have the HDTV and the stereo doesn't turn me on. Maybe a nice ghetto blaster...

Speaking of which, my kids have no idea what a boombox or ghetto blaster is. That's a shame.

And I'll be working out quite a bit running up until April.

[Lathum]

Work out hard. Swim in the ocean. Get a massage. Laughter (good belly laughs kind) Call up that friend who makes you laugh and spend time with them. Watch something funny.

or just read this over and over

[Lorena]

Definitely go with something that makes you laugh. Or watch your favorite movies... that always does it for me.

That and sleep... boy I love my sleep.

[Surtt]

I find vehicles with Cowboys stickers on them and key the bastards!

I don't know about anyone else, but that cheers me up.

[Lorena]

dola,

Whatever is troubling you, hope it turns for the better... hang in there my friend.

[Lathum]

That and sleep... boy I love my sleep.

I'm with you, I love sleeping.

not sleeping with you, err....

[Neon_Chaos]

I think about the 1 or 2 billion other people in the world less fortunate than I am, and kick myself out of that depression.

[Poli]

What do you do when you're depressed? Today got some potentially bad news (not going to panic until it is in stone). I quit smoking cold turkey back in 2004 without the patch. Today I bought a pack of ultra lights and smoked a couple. I'm also thinking about spending a lot of money this weekend (4 day weekend yay) on a mini-vacation.

What does everyone else do when they're depressed?

Hope all is well. Play some NCAA 2008. Use the cheat cards to really give it to the team you hate the most.

[DeToxRox]

Is that you, Owen?

[Richard Weed]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Hopefully I should find out today if I'm going to Iraq on a MTT (Mobile Transition Team). My first concern is being away from my kids for over a year. My younger two would take it extremely hard. My second concern is the unknown. The MTTs train Iraqis and the ratio of US to Iraqis is about 1:30 or 1:40. So...it would mean that on my team of 10-11, we'd be training 300-400 Iraqi soldiers and have to live with them and trust them. We'd also be hundreds of miles away from the green zone and any other soldiers. It's not exactly my most desirable course of action to get deployed like that. I'd much rather go with a real unit and at least know that there are hundreds of us in one location.

The only thing playing in this is that I go for promotion in 2011. If I go on this (which would begin in January at Fort Riley for training and the deployment would begin in April), then I wouldn't have enough time to get through my requirements for promotion for my first board in 2011. Well, that and I'm pretty much indispensible in my current job. Anyhow I'll find out today hopefully.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Lathum]

Wow RA, I hope you can stay where you are at, this place just wouldn't be the same without you. Good luck and thoughts for you and your family.

[StarBuck]

That really is a tough situation RA. I sincerely hope your allowed to stay where you are because it benefits you and your family the most, especially in the long run. Keep hoping for a positive outcome.

[Richard Weed]

Thanks. There's not much I can do at this point. It's not in stone, so there's always the chance that it could get cancelled. I have my fingers crossed.

[saldana]

drink and gamble

thats all you do when you arent depressed....how the hell is that therapeutic?

[saldana]

RA, i thought your hitch was up...or was that just your deployment that ended a couple months ago?

[sabotai]

Grap some CDs, a pack of smokes and go for a nice, long drive.

[Richard Weed]

RA, i thought your hitch was up...or was that just your deployment that ended a couple months ago?
My hitch is indefinite...it's been that way for about 7 years now. I owe the Army nothing and can submit my resignation paperwork at any time. Unfortunately, I don't think that I can submit it now. I have 12 years in and only 8 more to go until retirement ($50k a year for the rest of my life doing nothing). More importantly, there's a chance that the Army wouldn't accept my resignation. Because of that, I would burn a bunch a bridges if I tried to get out and if it didn't happen I would be seriously screwed. I'd end up like Ardent and go to Africa after Iraq or something (no offense there!).

There's also the side of me that wants to go. Where else do you get to kill other people without going to jail? Also, it's like sports. You go to practice every day and work your ass off, but you never get in the game. You never get to see how you'd do against your enemy. Why'd I join the Army if I didn't want to go out and test myself? Sure, I've already been there, but not in a few years. It's my turn.

The family side of me is winning though. I don't want to be away from my kids and wife. My wife has no one in El Paso and all of my friends have gotten out of the Army. Moving to our hometown is not an option since my son is in high school (the Chapin Engineering Magnet program) and our younger two are still complaining about the friends they left behind at West Point. In a way, it's going to be tougher on my wife than me. She's broken down quite a few times in the past 24 hours and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it except spend what time I (may) have left with her and the kids.

It's pretty soul-searching. I'm torn in two directions and there is no easy answer. The other thing is that if I don't go now, there's a good chance I could be gone during my oldest son's senior year. Which is better? Which is the lesser of two evils? Any way you hack it, it's a tough choice. Is retirement in 8 years worth it? This isn't even considering whether I think this is a "just" war or not. Or whether my actions in training Iraqis will make a difference.

I told my wife that if I didn't go, some other guy with a family would go. It's just how we roll. That doesn't make it any better, but at the same time it doesn't make it any worse. I'm just rambling now. Oh well.

[Richard Weed]

Mebbe I should change my signature. LOL.

[Greyroofoo]

Heck if its any consolation there'a good chance I'll be in Iraq come January

[Richard Weed]

Maybe we can start a two man MP league. It would be cool to have another FOFCer there.

[Lorena]

Wow Aaron, I don't know what to say. I'm crossing my fingers in both my hands and feet, hoping it gets cancelled. I agree with Lathum that this place won't be the same without you... and you too roofoo.

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts, hoping for the best.

[Antmeister]

What decision is made for you or you happen to make, I hope all goes well for you in whatever circumstance you end up with. And please change your name back to Raiders Army. And remember to use more "Heh heh" and less "hee hees". :D

Seriously though, you will do well no matter where you go.

[k0ruptr]

when I'm depressed all I gotta do is listen to "we are the fofc" and I feel better immediatly

[Greyroofoo]

When I'm depressed I watch this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzrzGbG3M8

[Richard Weed]

Wow Aaron, I don't know what to say. I'm crossing my fingers in both my hands and feet, hoping it gets cancelled. I agree with Lathum that this place won't be the same without you... and you too roofoo.

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts, hoping for the best.
Thanks Lorena. For some reason I can't log back in with Raiders Army. Heh heh.

[JeeberD]

Go to the UTEP game this weekend, tailgate like there's no tomorrow, and then revel in the glory that is Trevor Vittatoe.

Wish I could be there with the rest of my family so we could hook up.

Hopefully everything works out for you and your family, bud...

[DaddyTorgo]

if it's any consolation, my cousin has graduated from west point and he'll be in iraq (although the unit he is joining is over there right now from what i gather, so he won't be going right away, as they'll be rotating home first...allegedly)

and i guess he's down in GA right now too

[Pumpy Tudors]

I had no idea that Richard Weed was Raiders Army. Welp.

[Antmeister]

Go to the UTEP game this weekend, tailgate like there's no tomorrow, and then revel in the glory that is Trevor Vittatoe.

Wish I could be there with the rest of my family so we could hook up.

Hopefully everything works out for you and your family, bud...

Jeeber, you are a mod. So help the guy out and renew his password for Raiders Army.

[DaddyTorgo]

Jeeber, you are a mod. So help the guy out and renew his password for Raiders Army.

yes. do something useful with your mod-powers.

and maybe while you're at it...tell us wtf is up with jbmagic?

[JeeberD]

Jeeber, you are a mod. So help the guy out and renew his password for Raiders Army.

I think I offered before, but he declined. Or maybe that's just my imagination. But if he wants me to, I'll be more than happy to...

[Lorena]

when I'm depressed all I gotta do is listen to "we are the fofc" and I feel better immediatly

You mean THIS (http://www.almarks.com/fofrap/fofrap.html)?

[Raiders Army]

Hey, it works! Whatever happened, it works now! A silver lining today.

[Lorena]

Raiders Army is back!!

[Raiders Army]

If a mod can delete Richard Weed, I'd appreciate it. There are too many of 'em out there.

On another note, I picked up Monster Hunter Freedom 2 today. Not a bad game and it looks pretty deep.

[Logan]

I had no idea that Richard Weed was Raiders Army. Welp.

This blew my mind. Welcome back RA.

[Antmeister]

If a mod can delete Richard Weed, I'd appreciate it. There are too many of 'em out there.

On another note, I picked up Monster Hunter Freedom 2 today. Not a bad game and it looks pretty deep.

Yes! Raiders Army is back. Ok, now this feels about right. Welcome back to the forum sir.

[JeeberD]

Welcome back, bud!

As far as I can tell I can't delete Richard Weed, all I can do is ban him. But honestly, I see no reason to do so. But if you really want me to, I will.

[Eaglesfan27]

Welcome back, RA! I had no idea you were Richard Weed, either.

[wade moore]

If a mod can delete Richard Weed, I'd appreciate it. There are too many of 'em out there.

On another note, I picked up Monster Hunter Freedom 2 today. Not a bad game and it looks pretty deep.

Hrmm.. I'm not sure if it will delete your posts or not though.. I'll take a look at it.

[Raiders Army]

Hrmm.. I'm not sure if it will delete your posts or not though.. I'll take a look at it.

Posts aren't a big deal. Thanks! Oh, and I take back almost everything I've said about the Broncos! :D

[wade moore]

Posts aren't a big deal. Thanks! Oh, and I take back almost everything I've said about the Broncos! :D
Broncos? I'm not a Broncos fan ;)..

[Raiders Army]

Hey, so I got some good news today. My resignation has been accepted by the Army and I will leave on June 30 next year. I also applied for an SES job in D.C. today. I've really been in the Army since 1991 so I don't know much else. It's going to be really weird to leave, but I have several irons in the fire right now and life is lookin' good.

[MikeVic]

:)

[flere-imsaho]

Best wishes on life after the army, R.A.

[Passacaglia]

Nice!!

[Passacaglia]

I mean

...

[Lorena]

Hey, so I got some good news today. My resignation has been accepted by the Army and I will leave on June 30 next year. I also applied for an SES job in D.C. today. I've really been in the Army since 1991 so I don't know much else. It's going to be really weird to leave, but I have several irons in the fire right now and life is lookin' good.

Right on that's awesome RA!!!

[path12]

I thought this was going to be a depression diary and wanted to get in on the moping.......

But hey, good news! What kinds of things are you interested in post-Army?

[Raiders Army]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I am looking for a government job so I can buy back my Army years (13 years) towards retirement. I've got some stuff in the works at my current job for a GS-14 position and have an interview today with Future Combat Systems as the Deputy for Materiel (another GS-14 position).

My background is Air Defense, so while it limits me some in what I can do, I think that my overall background as a manager helps me...it's just getting a good job that pays well is going to be the harder part. ;)

[JeeberD]

Congrats!

I guess that means you won't be in El Paso anymore next time I head out that way...when UT comes to the Sun Bowl. :(

[Raiders Army]

Good news on the job front. I will choose tonight whether to take a job in Tulsa or in Lawton, OK. I am leaning towards Lawton, so if anyone has any tips about the area please let me know.

[CamEdwards]

Good news on the job front. I will choose tonight whether to take a job in Tulsa or in Lawton, OK. I am leaning towards Lawton, so if anyone has any tips about the area please let me know.

Lawton is a shithole compared to Tulsa, I have to say. Tulsa's much more of a real city, whereas Lawton is basically Ft. Sill. It's also in an uglier part of the state in my opinion.

[Raiders Army]

True, but my compensation there is $32K a year more not including bonus. With bonuses maxed out, it's $53.3K a year more. That's enough to make me take that job.

[terpkristin]

Hey, so I got some good news today. My resignation has been accepted by the Army and I will leave on June 30 next year. I also applied for an SES job in D.C. today. I've really been in the Army since 1991 so I don't know much else. It's going to be really weird to leave, but I have several irons in the fire right now and life is lookin' good.

SES?

As in SES-Global?

Congratulations on resignation acceptance, and best of luck as you start preparing for the next phase of your life!!! :)

/tk

[Raiders Army]

Thanks. SES as in Senior Executive Service. Didn't make it, but got a good job nonetheless.

[Ksyrup]

My brother is stationed at Fort Sill. He and his wife have been in Lawton for almost 2 years. They hate it. His wife is a nurse, and she has taken a job in OK City 3 weeks a month so she doesn't have to live there most of the time, and my brother spends a week in San Antonio doing surgeries every month to escape.

Other than that, I guess it's a great place to live.

[duckman]

Lawton is pretty lousy.

[korme]

Lawton could have a butthole as the city's official symbol, but for 32k+ of a difference, count me in!

[Eaglesfan27]

My Brother-in-law is also stationed in Lawton at Fort Sill and hates it, but he should be moving from there in a few months. Of course, he has limited free time, but he says there is very little to do around the base.

[Flasch186]

with the extra 32K put aside some money for frequent trips to Vegas baby!

[JeeberD]

If you live in Tulsa, you can see UTEP football play there every other year, and Miner hoops every year! ;)

[lordscarlet]

Thanks. SES as in Senior Executive Service. Didn't make it, but got a good job nonetheless.

Good. SES's suck. :)