Last year at this time, I remember welcoming our seasonal visitors back and looking forward to the milder climate for my recently arrived family during this time of year in Yuma.  Little did I know how fast time would fly since last year because of my busy career, home and auto upkeep, and family.  I’d…

By now I’m sure most of you gamers know that the newest Call of Duty video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops Two was released this past Veterans Day. The expectations and hype leading up to this game were extremely high for the creators Black Ops Two to live up to and in some cases…

As we approach the birthday of our Corps, I find myself thinking more and more about those who have come before us. Recently, I’ve become friends with more and more Vietnam-era Reconnaissance Marines, thanks to some good friends of mine. Their stories of intense camaraderie are truly awe-inspiring. They saw some pretty intense combat in…

I qualified Expert last week at the pistol range. First time I had ever shot Expert on the pistol range in my 26 years in the Corps. This is remarkable (to me anyway) because I barely qualified as a Marksman last August. Colonels don’t have to shoot at the range, but I went because I…

During my time in Afghanistan at Camp Dwyer, the work spaces were filled with motivational posters, advertising the motto: “Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing.” It reminded me of what Charlotte Bronte wrote in her famous novel, Jane Eyre: “Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are…

The other day, I had the pleasure of visiting Five Guys for lunch. I went in a little after 1 p.m., so I pretty much had the place to myself, which was nice. The burgers are made to order while you watch, with your choice of myriad toppings and condiments. There are no strangely-named or…

Ever want to read a book that opened like one of today’s movies or had the plot of a romantic comedy but still had the thrill of an action film? Well then, the book Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is just for you. The story is bold and funny and is a prime example of…

Is ALL travel to Mexico prohibited and why is there such confusion regarding this policy?   No. Certain areas are restricted and some areas are not.  All areas require permission from at least an O6 and other travel requirements must be met. Where are military members authorized to travel within Mexico without command approval?  There…

In the spirit of Multicultural Heritage Day, why not review a movie that’s all about being multicultural? Or at least about how when multiple cultures overlap, the results can be tectonic. Anyway, Crash is an easy sell for almost any film buff; the Academy Award winning movie is an ensemble tale about denizens of Los…

Halloween is over but not the disturbance I feel over rereading a childhood classic. Who remembers Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? Who remembers pulling it out of the school library with adolescent bravado and smirking at the title? Who remembers that smirk dying when you get to the illustrations? Yes, it’s all about…