Goosebumps. Defined.

The Marines have always had the best commercials of all the armed forces - probably because they are the most deeply steeped in their own ethos. This newest one that has been playing for months is by far the best because it ties those unique ethos to a deep desire to serve and protect America. I found the extended version of the America's Marines commercial while I was tooling around this week and felt it was too good to not share.



"There are those who dedicate themselves to a sense of honor, to a life of courage, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. They have always defended this nation and each other. They still do. The few. The proud. The Marines."

The Past Creeps Up on You Every Once in Awhile

This part of my life seems like so long ago. The lessons it taught are a very part of my person, alongside the values I learned from my parents and from my faith. But the reality of being a Marine seems foreign to me now. Because of that distance, it's hard for me to come to grips with stories like this:



"AL ASAD, Iraq (Jan. 21, 2008) – Sgt. Maj. Susan Bellis, sergeant major, Marine Wing Support Group 27, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, retires MWSG-27’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony Jan. 21. MWSG-27 transferred authority to their west coast based counterpart MWSG-37."

You see, I first met (then) Staff Sergeant Bellis at Fort Devens, Massachusetts in the Fall of 1991. She was the NCO in charge of the students sent there to learn Signals Intelligence as a Military Occupational Specialty. She was fresh off the drill field in Parris Island as a very accomplished Senior Drill Instructor and I was fresh off the drill field in San Diego as a very young Marine struggling to come to grips with the difference between being a recruit and being a Marine.

Needless to say, I have fond memories of SSgt Bellis in that role, but make no mistake, she was the toughest Marine I had come across to that point and she scared the living daylights out of me. I graduated a few months later and I thought we were saying goodbye for the last time. Not so.

After a few years in Misawa, I was stationed at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. Gunnery Sergeant Bellis was there as well and I ended up in MEWSS platoon where she was the top NCO. She was still tough as nails, but I think my maturity and her time away from the drill field allowed us to communicate more effectively and from my perspective, our relationship really helped me to make the absolute most of my six years in the Marines.

Now, here I am, an out of shape "civvy" and she's still a Marine - making the world a better place to live for me, my wife, my children, and everybody. She's the reality of what I could have become had I chosen that path. I didn't choose that path - but her leadership and her guidance is still a very important part of the man I am today.

Semper Fi, Sergeant Major Bellis.

Taylor Made Photography

Check THIS out. I've never been a huge fan of being on the other side of the lens. I'm much more comfortable being the person taking the pictures. That's probably why if you look through our archives of digital photos, you won't see many of me at all. Of course, I always think my wife and kids take beautiful pictures. As the husband/dad, it's my cosmic lot in life to be completely and utterly enamoured with them in pictures.

We probably don't take many family portraits because of my irrational fears of the mystical device stealing my soul, but we should. But we've been getting the itch for about 2 years and finally snapped the shutter a few weeks ago with Taylor Made Photography in Pflugerville.

The result is nothing more than flabbergasting (I'm sure that's a blurb she'll use on her website):



We spent about two and half hours or so with Tracey one Saturday morning and we had a blast. During the consultation appointment, she took the time to understand what we were looking for, so she was ready to go when we arrived on Saturday morning. She really paid attention to figure out what our individual personalities were and the result was the above photo. Sure, she coached us a little bit, but in general she let us be us. From my non-smiling smile, to Amy's look of motherly serenity, to Keely's arm-under-arm pose, to Reagan's "get your hair out of your face" look, to Gavin's "I'm just Gavin" nonchalant look - she nailed all of us!

I've never enjoyed looking at myself so much. In the words of Ron Burgandy, "MMMmmmm... I look good. I mean really good. Hey everyone! Come and see how good I look!"

During the review session where we saw the results, I couldn't help but count the dollars as they slipped out of my wallet - one for each of the tears that Amy shed. And for the record, I let one slip out when Amy or Tracey weren't looking. In the words of Marcelo, my neighbor, "Stupid allergies!"

We can't wait to see the final products, and don't worry all you family and friends, we won't forget about you. You won't be getting this one - this one will only ever exist above our fireplace, but we'll make sure you get some goodies.

Thanks Tracey!

Star Wars According to a 3 Year Old

This is just too good to not post here. One of my favorite movies of all time reduced to a board book...